Decluttering

I searched for over forty years for a book from my childhood. When I eventually found it on eBay someone could easily have thrown it away, it was so tatty but I was overjoyed when I received it. I did find a copy in better condition but they are the only two I’ve ever been able to find ( it was an American book which is why I struggled to find it in the UK). I guess that’s why I struggled to find to part with books. Over the years I’ve found several of my childhood books; a film annual, Bunty annual, a book about a wild mustang. And a collection of Ladybird Thomas the Tank books along with Ned the Lonely donkey and a few others. I’ve got an old Mothercare catalogue that my daughter used to flick through as a baby; slightly chewed too. I know it needs to go but I can’t do it. I’m sure it’s all because mum and dad moved from one council property to another so everything from my childhood was discarded over the years. I know a lot of my clutter problem is because of this.

Another set back. A lovely second hand clothes shop in the next village is closing down. It did sell good quality clothes and the money went to charity. I had planned to take some of my clothes there.

Oh blast!
There must be somewhere that will snap up those clothes.
In the meantime, maybe you could find another little corner of clutter to focus on?

I'm going to move onto colin cabinet now, because a lot of "stuff" has been shoved in there, out of the way.

I'm a very haphazard sorter outer.

Four bras (quite new ones, too!) have gone today, along with some microgreens i was growing, and have eaten a few times.

I went through my by bra drawer the other night ( that’s what led me on to the dresses). Having lost a lot of weight as per usual the first place it goes from is my bust and the last place my hips and thighs. Thankfully I have got a couple of smaller ones that I kept but have a bad feeling that I did take some to a shop that rehomed them. Including my Gossard wonder bra which I could probably do with now. I might find it in a bag somewhere. The shop that’s closing used to take in old bras and passed them on to someone that used the lace to make lacey things.

How annoying. Many charity shops don't take bras, yet they are expensive to buy, so might be useful to someone on a tight budget.

I'm away just now, so can't declutter, but I've been chatting to my son and encouraged him to ask his dad for any tools or garage-based 'stuff' he needs, rather than buying it himself. We tend to get people in these days when something needs doing, and Son has recently bought a house, so is in the DIY stage of life. The 'stuff' would be better off with him than us, and would help to clear some space in the garage.

That doesn't help with my wardrobe space though. I do need to get onto that when we get home.

One of our shops had a box outside where you could put unwanted bras.
They were taken to somewhere where women don't own these sorts of things.

www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/recycling/bra-recycling

This charity accepts second hand bras - just pop in a jiffy bag and post! (Not a Freepost service)

Thank you.
I'm not out and about, for now, so it makes all of these things difficult.
(And me more inclined to get bogged down and end up losing the will to live!)
I'll have a look at the donating instructions though, so i might be able to collect up my bras, bit by bit and do a taxi run.

NOT trying to organise you, MissAdventure, but you do know you can get Royal Mail to come and collect stuff for you, usually the next day?

They'll even bring the label for you ready-printed if you want - and sometimes it's cheaper on line.

send.royalmail.com/

I don't know much about anything these days, ixion.
Thank you: i didn't know that.
I'll have a good read of what you've posted

There's a bra shop in the nearby town that takes in bras and sends them to third world countries. I struggle to walk round there these days though. I cleared out lots of old food yesterday thanks to the new recycling system. Old tinned vegetables etc. Don't understand why the dresses that came out of the wardrobe don't fit back it. I've got a lovely Lara Ashley coat that I bought when my husband left. It was meant to last a lifetime but I carried on wearing old faithful which was much more 'me' so it's still in a bag. I might try it on tonight. So many memories with some of the clothes, mainly my daughters wedding. I've never had cause for vanity but I really did look good that day. I used to make an effort at some occasions in case my husbands girlfriend was there; the first one was banned from family do's but the second one never wanted to accompany him even though she was welcome. I've got all the childrens fancy dress clothes...I used to love making them costumes for village fetes and carnivals. I wonder if I wouldn't feel so sad if we were still a family?

I'm sure you're onto something there, MayBee.
I think it's nostalgia for more carefree times that prevent us from moving on in some small (or large) way.

MissAdventure

I don't know much about anything these days, ixion.
Thank you: i didn't know that.
I'll have a good read of what you've posted

PM me if I can help. I use the service frequently when I am too lazy to walk out

Ah, thank you.
That's very kind.

I have been collecting bras for a few years now and have probably handed over to our local collection point about 500.

It`s a good de-cluttering day today, raining and I am in the mood. The boot is full and all off to re-cycling tomorrow, I dismantled a very nice but heavy appliance, it is electrical so dismantling for the tip was best as I cba to carry it anywhere and they can recycle the metal. All the accessories are going too, no point hanging onto stuff, just because

My DDs are both over 50 and really don`t want any more stuff, best to catch them while they are younger btw

My DDs are both over 50 and really don`t want any more stuff, best to catch them while they are younger btw

Mine are younger. But still dont want most things!

My mum hasnt died yet.
Not sure how that is going to work out, decluttering wise.

No decluttering here today.
I was going to make a start on colin cabinet, but have had two friends pop in.
They're like buses - nothing for ages then two turn up together

Feeling decidedly out of sorts today, anyway.
Maybe later a surge of energy will happen.

No heart to do anything much today.
Feel unwell, sad at the state of both my home, and the world in general, with added "can't be botheredness' with gransnet.

Can barely keep up with my housework (frankly, i can't anymore) amd the clutter and mess is overwhelming me.

Oh MissA - I'm so sorry you're feeling down although you've certainly been through a tough few months health wise as well as other sad issues over time.

Eat comfort food, curl up on the sofa and watch rubbish television.
Just be kind and gentle to yourself.

Sorry you are feeling overwhelmed at the mo MissA.
I agree that outside events are overwhelming and dispiriting as well.
Take a day to hunker down. Keep warm. Be kind to yourself.

Can you get some cleaners employed short term?

I cant find a cleaner for love nor money.
I'm loathe to pay a bomb to an agency, but i think I'll have to.

My new (secondhand) robavac waa delivered today.
What a thing of beauty!
If my old one was akin to a push bike, this one is an absolute rolls royce of vac!!! What an absolute bargain.
Now if i can just work out how to use it....

Wish you & your robovac happy times together MissA.

If they're anything like robomower, first step is to charge it second step is to ask google how to make it go?