De-cluttering, still at it, still no end

I tackled paperwork today. I always have in mind what my children will have to go through one day. It is a huge task.

I noticed that my local hospice shop was getting rid of neat bags of donations yesterday Cabbie and the other cs was full to bursting

It took me 3 years but *finally*, I did my paperwork today, two big zipped files and stored in a small suitcase. It nearly killed me, took over 5 hours and I was utterly shattered. I have used many more poly pockets and the indexes are working but I had so much out of date stuff

It will be a lot easier to file future paperwork. I now have a lot of paperwork to shred over the next week or so

I was dreading this job and with good reason

I cleared out a cupboard and loaded the boot to take to a charity shop in the next town where I can park right outside. Imagine my disappointment when they weren’t taking any donations. So frustrating as there is more than I can carry to the local shops.

I don`t have much kitchen worktop space and do have a big chunky artisan kitchen aid kettle, 5 years old. On the spur of the moment, two years ago I bought a neat le creuset stove top kettle. meaning to use that instead

I am trialing that today, have put the overlarge artisan away for now in a cupboard. So far so good. I see a lot of extra worktop space but miss the convenience. I will need to measure water into the stovetop kettle

Another upside is much better energy efficiency with much less mass. Fingers crossed that the new system works for me

Wrap the salmon in the paper as you might a present, tucking the ends underneath . They will stay in place without any problem.
Delia suggests the following cooking times
cutting the fat in your diet, steaming fish is definitely for you. You can use either a traditional fan or bamboo steamer. I think steaming – as oriental cooks have discovered – is particularly good for rolled fillets of plaice, sole or trout, as they retain their shape perfectly and remain beautifully moist. Add about 2 inches (5 cm) of boiling water to the saucepan, then fit the steamer over, making sure it doesn't come into contact with the water, and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
Steaming guidelines are

Whole Dover sole, lemon sole or plaice weighing 10-12 oz (275-350 g) will take 7-8 minutes
* Rolled fillets of the above will take 7-8 minutes
* Rolled fillets of trout will take 7-8 minutes
* White or smoked fish, steaks and fillets weighing 6-7 oz (175-200 g) will take 8-10 minutes

That's an idea I'd not even thought of - ie steaming salmon in parchment paper. Tips on how to please? eg how long/how to ensure the paper stays wrapped round it etc.

A bit more done yesterday, I never set out to do it but I did get rid on my oldest small air fryer, yes I know, silly me bought two while they were cheap. Plus I am slowly chucking out the sistema soup mugs after defrosting the soups in them.

Meanwhile I am training myself to go back to the basic old way of steaming veg in my le creuset tri ply metal steamer, together with eg salmon wrapped in parchment paper. That set up consists of steamers over a casserole dish and I can make two steamer layers. That was very good so I can now get rid of two large sistema veg steamers, to the cs with those when I finally decide

Yesterday I made rice and beans and extra to freeze, the 400ml tatay glass dishes with lids are being useful. It is all about me turning the clock back a bit

I have been ignoring paperwork, not too high a pile and all safe. I am completely not in the mood for that. I will do it one day

I finished that session in just an hour. Nothing I do now is really open-ended. wrt time I sorted my cycling kit, kept everything but put bundles of eg thin layers into lakeland zip bags, I `found` 25 of those bags today. All my cycling tops are far too long for me but they have full length zips and all I have to do is pull the hem up to my waist and voila, I have a suitable top for cycling layering

I did my trousers, got rid of two pairs but rolled the others up and somehow made more space without stuffing anything in, relics of Marie Kondo I think. I can wear any of the remaining trousers, if I need trousers

The small drawer for allotment wear is done, just a few rolls again. Jumpers done and all the good woollen ones are protected from moths. I did firstly empty a small drawer and then a large drawer so anything I needed to keep is now more spaced

There is hope, I saw a glimmer of that this morning

I didn`t like the Mr Carrington youtube videos so I quickly unsubscribed. They are full of promotions

The tatay dishes are proving good in the microwave, I did a piece of salmon wrapped in greaseproof yesterday. It needed some more time, the glass takes more energy than the plastic. Veg have done fine. Bin day today and almost all the sistema will be gone, for now I am just keeping two veg steaming sistema in reserve, just in case

I have a lovely week ahead, entirely free from any appointments or visits, ideal time to do some of the difficult de-cluttering aspects and I am thinking trousers, all the lands end stretch trousers, not worn at all this winter as I am loving the OS (old style) skirts and tights. I need to keep 2 pairs for cycling on my hybrid or electric bikes, I wear lycra on my little road bike. For allotment I just wear old jeans

I also have legging and never wear them. I may well be able to empty a full drawer later today. Those leggings are brand new, unworn and from snag. I think I will wrap and post into the salvation army box. First I need to be certain and will test when I wear some new sweater dresses that I made

I am not obsessed by de-cluttering but sometimes get that sinking feeling, knowing that I am now using space and furniture that would have done for two of us, especially in the bedroom, I mean two large 5 drawer oak chest of drawers. We used to have one each, now I have two full ones. Tbh, it is scary

We are decluttering, still loads to do and I hate it, have loaded several boxes and bags delivered to various charities and are now starting on my husbands workshop-come-dumping ground. Sadly my husband is now unable to use his workshop so it will all have to go.

They were selling those glass storage dishes in Home Bargains and I really regret not buying some when I was shopping there recently.

Thank you Maybee Mr Carrington will be an easy and interesting watch on youtube. I will be subscribing. I could do with all the positivity and new ideas

My new tatay glass dishes have arrived, they have a vented lid so will be good in the microwave. I did dither today wrt my bigger sistema containers but had a flashback to the old days when I would happily make custard etc in a pyrex jug.

I have to do the chucking out while in the mood and without the dithering. I can easily make porridge in pyrex, no need for the sistema, I have pyrex mixing bowls and jugs

I’ve just discovered Mr Carringtons utube blog about decluttering ( I think he’s on either Sort your life out or Clean it fix it). So I’m going to watch it for inspiration. And the girl from Sort your life out was on This Morning ( which I don’t usually watch) so I’m going to check that out, too. Although I spend far too much time watching decluttering programmes and not doing anything. My current problem is milk as I have had it delivered since the pandemic. I don’t want the milkman to make the journey here just for one pint but I’m not using as much and the milk doesn’t keep as long as supermarket milk. I bought some Purition powder as a meal replacement to use it up but protein drinks don’t fill me at all. I’ve had to turn on a mini fridge in my utility room to store it. I have cancelled Fridays delivery, though. I also have duplicates of everything; lip salve, face creams, toothpaste etc. I need to make a point of using one thing at a time. A lot of it is due to me spending a lot of time at my partners and having stuff at both houses but that shouldn’t be an excuse.

Simple stuff today. I will be disposing of several sistema plastic items, I have ordered a few glass replacements that I could use in the microwave but more sistema going out than glass coming in. That is a win situation for me

I continue with using whatever creams and oils that I want to use up, on my feet and legs. Anything will do, hair oil, face creams etc. I am determined not to waste them

A large unopened bottle of gaviscon went out yesterday. Use by date is long gone. I admit, it was a waste of money, has not been needed

Little tweaks but I need to continue

I think I’ve reached a point of being beyond help.

after some allotment sheds were ransacked

Not nice.

Maybe try tackling one small area at a time—like a single drawer or shelf—so it feels less overwhelming and you can actually see progress quickly.

*Fancythat well done on that forward thinking. First thing I did in my new house was to put all the garage shelving up. It is all very sturdy and was tidy with the really useful boxes we accumulated over 15 years

I am not tidy now, all this war talk has made me reluctant to use up my food storage, in fact I have added tins and water plus stuff for my allotment resides in the garage after some allotment sheds were ransacked. At least my loft is always empty

CS was not taking any more donations, to be fair, the roasting tins are big. Sadly I have binned them and now my bin is very full. At least the metal will be recycled

I am enjoying my new empty spaces in the kitchen and being back into sourdough -making is uplifting, to me and my genes. Life goes on and cannot be devoid of simple pleasures and hobbies

I dont tend to do much in the 3 months before Christmas.
Though I am never off the case so to speak.
Have done a few bits to loft while I have been up there,
And now finally have a strategy as to how I am going to tackle it.

I wrote elsewhere that I want garage shelving for Christmas.
That is how dedicated to the cause I am!

I was just killing 20 minutes this morning, went through the trays and tins I keep in my oven and below the oven

Two big and pristine roasting tins are out for disposal. I remember buying them at TK Max. Nice to use but, honestly, far too big for one person. I am hoping someone can use them for Christmas cooking

I do unearth stuff, day by day, as if by magic

I am struggling a bit today, trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. I am adding a purpose machine to my armoury, I always made sd bread and gave up due to the kneading and hands

I have found a perfect and robust machine that replicates gentle hand kneading and I have bought one

Jiggery pokery in my small utility room earlier and I have removed a basket from a cupboard and will be giving my shark hand held to the cs, it was a sample from lakeland, for a review. I don`t like it and don`t use it

My kmix is now in the utilty room and it looks fine in there. A plumber once said that I have a cooks kitchen and I do. My new house has a kitchen for a non-cook and is very limited wrt worktops. I had to buy a large eddington butchers block to give me more access to worktop plus storage space

I will be putting feelers out but doubt the kmix stand mixer will get re-homed with family, they have the same kitchen problem, lack of worktops

I will be testing my new machine very well, I know it is excellent for bread but also want to test re creaming for cakes etc. If it passes then I will be giving my kmix away, that plus all its accessories

This is a considered purchase and I slept on it the decision before purchasing but hey, cheaper than a holiday

Allsorts I am so sorry. I would just hunker down and enjoy the things you have bought

It will carry on raining for a few days and it is a good time to do some simple de-cluttering indoors. I thought I would do a couple of easy shoe changes, today I have some DB shoes unworn but will wear them now and also throw out my tatty trainers and slippers. I have a good place in my wardrobe for current footwear and the spares are going to come out from under my bed and not from a shop

I bought some bits from Edinburgh skincare last year, pricey in fancy pots but absolutely horrible. Just thick goo, like spreading scented soft lard. I did start using their face cream on my feet last night, with cotton socks on top. I will get through all of it eventually but all of it is going to end up on my legs and feet. No way am I throwing it out

I was doing well until new neighbours bought next door and it's a nightmare, haven't access to my drive, they are in the process, of building huge extension, 12 months and no footings and its restricting access on our shared path way, in so now I am worried my house won't sell. The books have started piling up again and I have bought more clothes which I didn't need. I have all Christmas decoration ready to put up on the first, went out yesterday and bought more to cheer myself up as only me will probably see them, (feeling sorry for myself) seriously considering if I want the bother of another house. I only use four rooms in my house now which in kudos kitchen and bathroom. I would advise anyone to do it sooner than later, I am turned 80 and finding it harder than I thought.

I have done very little lately. I have several piles of things to sort but they have become part of the furniture and I shut my eyes to them.
Lots going on at the moment but I might have a go this afternoon.

Thank you Petra and Beechnut. I have to admit that EBay scares me, probably very silly, but I’ll have a look at it and at Vinted. No antique centres

For nearby but perhaps I can get someone to take me further afield.

I’m never in the mood for sorting cupboards, they only get done when I’m in a very bad mood and feel things can’t get worse!