A 2nd autumn/winter goal I’ve set myself…

Hi. I started my autumn deep clean when the Grandchildren went back to school but lost my mojo half way through ! Good job it’s only a small house. I just have the lounge to do now but I’m waiting to buy a new carpet first.
The summer planters need emptying and replanting, their looking at me through the patio doors 🤦‍♀️

A great idea Witzend - and the sort of thing I would like to do too. I tend to do it in dribs and dabs BUT I'm going to give it a whirl.

Two years since I had a brand new kitchen, and I have accumulated so much and intend to go through each cupboard and drawer and shelf in there throwing out things that I never ever use. So one space a week during winter. Also want to produce a family photo-book on my laptop. Never produced one of these previously so will be a learning experience

I'm a terrible procrastinator! My house is in an awful state and I need to do major decluttering. However yesterday I got up to the patio doors totally covered in condensation so I decided to dry them off - it is usually only the bottom bit so must have been really cold overnight. Anyway once I started the cloth was coming away black! Can't remember when I last cleaned them! So I've completely cleaned them and I'm loving the difference it has made. I still need to do outside but it has made me think I need to do some major housework that has been neglected for far too long!
I reached 70 on Friday and am aware I've really let things slide after a knee injury back in May which still gives me trouble occasionally, but looking out into the garden through a cleanish window has inspired me to make the effort and not give in to old age!

Cabbie21

October’s task is to prepare the sitting room for the decorator, which means moving and getting rid of a lot.
I then plan to finish sorting my late husband’s study by about Easter. That will be two years since he died. I may not manage it, but it will keep me busy over the winter.

Cabbie I have just cleared out my late DH’s study /work room and SiL has redecorated it. DH died over 4 years ago ! I now have the third bedroom back …

Mine is to finish decluttering and to read more

Katcoffee

Well I was 70 a couple of weeks ago and my goal is to start decluttering this Autumn/winter but where do I start? I keep being sidetracked! Any suggestions gratefully received

Ahh, you sound like me. I have been following the decluttering thread and i have adopted the '2 items a day' approach. That way i feel no pressure.

I do one or two cupboards/boxes from under the bed a day depending on time and i throw/donate 2 things that i don't want/need or forgotten i had. Yes i have put some things back that should be thrown....the mandolin is back in the kitchen cupboard, i used it once 15 years ago, nearly took my fingers off and it's not been used since But i might do....

Good luck!

PS. The Schumann reminds me of school assemblies. My friend would play it as we all filed in. I was never brave (or good) enough. 😱

I’ll join you on the piano. My muscle memory definitely needs waking up!

I was talking to my granddaughter this morning and said that Aunty C had advised me to get a few jigsaws in for those long winter evenings.

DGD’s reply was, ‘Hasn’t she heard of NETFLIX?’ 😂😂

That’s my girl!!

Already packed away summer clothes and now winter ones are being worn. Nothing too chunky as I always throw a cardigan on if it gets a bit chilly. My aim for these longer evenings is to really get to grips with cross stitch, I started a piece about a tear ago and never completed it.

I'm trying to love this time of year Rosiebee but it's never bee my favourite, I prefer April and May.

My house has been rather neglected lately, it's had a lick and a promise but the past week or two I felt I should carry out the promise so have been autumn cleaning!
Today was the conservatory where spiders seem to have taken up residence.
I've cleaned with a drop of tea tree, eucalyptus and citrus in the water but does anyone else have any good spider deterrents?
Conkers don't work (at least not here.)

Must be that as an ex teacher I always see this time of the year as being a fresh start, rather than January. Just back from holiday so on Monday when all the washing has dried I shall be packing away Summer and bringing on Autumn/Winter. Back to the pool on Monday as well, having skipped it for the school holidays as children, bless them, don't swim in straight lines. Empty fridges await new ideas. Love this time of year.

posset, that was me, only I went back to the piano about 50 years after passing grade 2. I worked on my own (almost had to start again from scratch, so used Carol Barrett’s classical course for beginners) then after about a year joined a group (keyboard) class for maybe 3 years.

Eventually got to the stage of playing Grade 4 and 5 pieces, not exactly brilliantly, but new grandchild care then meant I missed quite a few classes , and stopped going. Then Covid, so no classes anyway.
Very rusty now, but hoping to ‘oil’ it!

I, too, have been thinking of carrying on where I left off the piano............. grade 2 about 68 years ago!
My garden which is very steep and very large keeps me fit, so no need for the gym.
However, I do need to be firm with myself about cleaning cupboards, behind the bookcase and any other et ceteras that pop up, so roll on wet dark days!!!!

I too am completing a book. I intend to get it on bookshelves too. Before gardening starts again. I've been kickstarted by the advice on Tweedlecoate Press which was very helpful to really get the pen moving in the right direction. See you on the shelves, Bertha?

JackyB

That's a good idea Witzend* Maybe I'll join you with the Schumann.

As for decluttering, I shall aim to have the loft cleared by my 70th birthday, which is in November.

Only the first 2 bars so far - but then 3 and 4 are the same. 🙂

Mine is -‘Start that book’ - the one I keep meaning to pen every autumn!

BevSec

Witzend, I will probably think sod it too! My gym atm is further, and the steam room and jacuzzi are gone. The pool is always busy. I am hoping for a membership which will include pools, classes and also jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms.

I’ve been several times so far - there are usually rather more people in the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi than in the pool! Only ever about 3 or 4, but then I go at ‘quiet’ times, not very early or after 4 (family swim time).
TBH I just do my lengths and skedaddle.

Though the other day dh was hosting one of his French conversation groups at home, so I wanted to stay for rather longer out of the house. The DL ‘club room’ came in handy - nice comfortable seating, a tasty sandwich and a pot of tea! I sat there and read my Kindle. 🙂

Witzend

Has anyone else set themselves a task for the cold, dark months?

My first is to tackle one drawer or cupboard every day and get rid of stuff we no longer wear or use. Set myself the same last year but hardly did any. Resolved to do better this year - but that’s for after the clocks change.

2nd, after barely touching the piano for ages (and I was never much good at all) aiming to learn one favourite piece I tried (and gave up on) a few years ago - Schumann’s ‘Of Strange Lands And People’.
I’m going to try to do it by learning very small sections by heart, playing each over and over, until they’re finally dinged into my ‘muscle memory’.
We shall see….

I think when yours are like China with the cold, I don’t think you will be bothered. Unless you are one of the lucky ones who gets WHA

I have just signed up for an OU course in Nutrition and Diet, plan on going through my clothes as part of the summer/winter wardrobe changeover, but that will be after my last blast of medicinal sun in November.

I already do just half an hour of housework every day, to be frank, with just two of us and no pets at the moment, it doesn't need much more.

I shall also continue with my family tree research

I will try to finish a tapestry which has been hanging around for years and make into a cushion.

My autumn/winter goals or hobbies;

I get back into family history during our 8 month winter her. Ancestry, county archives.

I have booked onto a V&A online course on Art History.

Planning next years growing.

Arranging a kitchen sort out and deep clean.

Sorting out spare room.

Well I was 70 a couple of weeks ago and my goal is to start decluttering this Autumn/winter but where do I start? I keep being sidetracked! Any suggestions gratefully received

Witzend, I will probably think sod it too! My gym atm is further, and the steam room and jacuzzi are gone. The pool is always busy. I am hoping for a membership which will include pools, classes and also jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms.

I made up albums with old photos for my daughters one year. I did my best dating and recalling names. My husband died when he was just 37. The girls were thrilled and have added photos of events since.