Decluttering

Oh no!!

Its such hard work (for me!)
Because I have to get the water to consistently good levels, I have house plants roots in the tank, which grow their leaves outside it, and act as filters, and under water plants growing in potting soil, with a layer of gravel over it.

It's all wasted now.
I will need to dismantle, clean, and set up the whole system again, and wait for the right amount of beneficial bacteria to grow, so that the tank itself is like a living being.
Blah, blah, shrimp, plant, blah, nitrate, nitrite, blah blah, ph levels blah blah... zzzz zzz zzzz

Sorry to hear that, MissA. Are the shrimps those sea monkey things that used to be advertised in the classified ads of comics back in the day?

Ah, it'll come right in the end.
It blooming costs, though.
Usually £5 here, £10 there, that kind of thing, £15 or 20 for a light to ensure the plants grow.

Mine are nano cherry shrimp.
Bigger than sea monkeys, and all kinds of colours. (Mine are red)
A lot of mine had babies, and they're all gone.
Some pregnant females, all dead.
So, it will be quite an outlay to start things up again.

MissAdventure

Maybe a school or a village hall
could use your tree. It deserves somewhere with enough space and to bring happiness to as many as possible. I hope you find it a living home.

Oh for an edit button !

Charity shops are always looking for bedding as it sells well.
My decluttering habit is simple, I have a new rule that each time I go to the charity shop I volunteer in each week I have to take a bag of things I no longer need. I have to do it as it’s the law !

I am away at the lodge now, and have decluttered here, as I can't do it at home. I have clothes that have been in the cupboard since last summer - I've basically used the wardrobes here as storage - and I've gone through them to get rid of anything I won't wear next summer. It's surprising how many there were.

I'm planning to sort out the million DVDs we have here. The internet connection can be a bit iffy, so when the weather's bad the TV sometimes drops, and we have DVDs to watch instead. Again though, they've crept across like refugees from home-based culls. There is a sideboard full of them, and they are now taking up space in bedrooms, so I'm going to get rid. The site has a system of putting things like books, toys and DVDs in a central place for people to take if they want them, so to be fair to everyone I'll do that at the weekend when there are more people around. Mr Dog can take the clothes to the local charity shop.

I know this is daft, but I need to phone up and book a car for a hospital appointment, and I feel as if I can't do any decluttering until I've done that.

Ridiculous. Utterly bonkers.

I keep putting it off, though!

MissAdventure

I know this is daft, but I need to phone up and book a car for a hospital appointment, and I feel as if I can't do any decluttering until I've done that.

Ridiculous. Utterly bonkers.

I keep putting it off, though!

Yes. I’m like that, too. Which is probably why I’m in the mess I’m in now. Also facing the prospect of having to have a knee replacement and living in a house that wouldn’t be out of place in one of those extreme hoarder programmes.

MissAdventure

I know this is daft, but I need to phone up and book a car for a hospital appointment, and I feel as if I can't do any decluttering until I've done that.

Ridiculous. Utterly bonkers.

I keep putting it off, though!

No, it's not ridiculous!

It's normal, well, I think it is but then I'm probably bonkers too.

I've done it!!

The thing is, I'm supposed to have had a blood test when I go for the appointment, but I can't find the blood test form in all this clutter!!!

MissAdventure

I know this is daft, but I need to phone up and book a car for a hospital appointment, and I feel as if I can't do any decluttering until I've done that.

Ridiculous. Utterly bonkers.

I keep putting it off, though!

I am the same. I'm told that this is a symptom of ADD - I forget what it's called, but it involves not being able to do things if there is an appointment later in the day. I now make appointments as early as possible, if I have control over them, or a 3.00 hair appointment would write off the day.

I annoy myself, but I can't help it.

I cleared a kitche cupboard a few eeks ago, found tin of soup dated 2002.

Did you throw it out, or are you going to risk it?

I'd risk it. If something passes the sniff test I'll eat it.

I found a jar of very out-of-date salted caramel spread in the cupboard.

One spoonful tasted delicious. Should I persevere and eat the whole jar?

Waste not, want not.
I think you owe it to the environment,somehow (I haven't thought of how or why yet) to eat it.

Thanks.

Never mind the calories!

MissAdventure

Waste not, want not.
I think you owe it to the environment,somehow (I haven't thought of how or why yet) to eat it.

Have it with ice cream. Calories are halved on Saturdays, so save it till tomorrow?

With a spoon from the jar
With icecream sounds like a good idea too.

Ooh yes.
I'm still shrimp saving, here.
I have decluttered some of the tank equipment, so I suppose that's something.

I'm afraid it went in the bin.
I could have sold it, probably, but I'm wary of selling things, in case the dwp think it's fraudulent to sell things which I bought in the first place!

So, it's give or dump, and I've been grumpy, so dump it was.

If you are just selling some unwanted items that have been laying around your home, such as the contents of a loft or garage, it is unlikely that you will have to pay tax.

Gov.UK

I had a lovely time yesterday reading all nine pages on here of decluttering, yes I know I lead a sad life. I was looking for pointers to declutter. I'm fine with clothes and the Salvation Arm take literally anything. At least I think it's the Sally Army but must phone to check before I ask my DD whether her husband will take another load. I found the hardest was when I had to let my lovely husband's things go. It was the thoughts of them getting all moth eaten and being no use anyone. I sent photo's to the children first did they want any of his jumpers even just as an extra warmth and keepsake around their houses. Oh and all his tools etc went stayed here to be used by various friends who live in the flats here. The rest went to the Charles Thompson Mission and I was fine until I gave them the last bag! They were very happy with them and I gave them some of my stuff, they don't just take men's. Anyway it's cupboard drawers I accumulate so much, I'll think I'll keep these few plain pieces of paper for lists. Prescriptions they' send with the medicines, Christmas cracker rubbish I do keep binning that but! Palm Crosses, order of Services. tea lights used from some service at church, Old batteries for recycling. Glasses cases. You get that type of stuff. Then there's the little drawers in a handy container I thought would keep nail varnish, hair rollers other hair accessories and other etc. in. A tin with The Tetley Tea Folk, soft toys. Etc Etc Etc. Like so many of us on here I don't intend going yet, although it's not my call, but I really don't want my DD who lives near me and maybe my DGD to have to clear out lots of junk and did I mention photo's? although I am going through them slowly. So thanks for other grans insight ☺

Welcome to cluttered corner, jd79

I have had a man round to look at the big cupboard in my kitchen. I can't reach all of it, and as I get older I don't want to be getting heavy items down from high shelves. He took one look at the inside, having been appreciative of the workmanship of the doors etc, and looked aghast. He tentatively pointed out that I'd have to 'have a sort out', which is the understatement of the year.

I'm looking forward to it being finished and less crowded. The current possibility we are exploring is putting the shelves on runners so they pull out - a bit like drawers without the constraint of a 'lid'.