Mudcat Café message #3688410

The Mudcat Café ^TM
Thread #156419 Message #3688410
Posted By: Stilly River Sage
21-Feb-15 - 12:17 AM
Thread Name: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
Subject: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache

It is going to take me a while to clean this up, but I'll post it all here now with a different title so it won't mess up the original if it is recovered.

Subject: Declutter & fitness- 2015 -January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 12:42 AM

There are more readers than there are usual participants in these threads, but every so often we hear a great story from someone who has been lurking, decided to act, and the first thing we hear from them they've cleared up their entire house, or emptied a room of everything that was piled up, or simply made the first baby steps to get going on organizing their surroundings.

Katlaughing was the friend and Mudcat moderator who started these, and when she became ill we kept them going because she enjoyed reading them. For anyone reading these who has been slow to act to remedy a clutter problem, if you decide to begin your own personal intervention on your own on yourself, this is the place you can read along, report in, or ask for comments.

We'll run this quarterly and see how that goes. If you're using a device other than a computer and this thread has more than 50 posts, you'll see an asterisk and a small "d" after the number of posts (i.e.,57* d). Click on the number and the thread will open in 50-post pages, oldest at the top, or click on the d and the posts will open from the most recent first in pages of 50 (d for "descending").

Here is the thread that ran through November and December of 2014. You can click back through previous threads by finding the link back the the earlier thread, usually in the first post.

Good luck everyone, in reaching your fitness and decluttering goals!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-2015-January-March
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 06:57 AM

Well - I was getting somewhere with the decluttering - a bookcase emptied and given to my grandson - at 5 years old he is acquiring books and the ones he's outgrown are being kept for younger brother, but then my husband wanted to change the car and I had to find the registration documents.

I thought they were in a folder in the front room - no, he says.

So I look in the filing cabinets, I search the conservatory, the back bedroom, the downstairs middle room and the back room - I start to turn out all the cupboards and the storage boxes - desperation was setting in with less than 24 hours to go to the switchover, I was pulling out furniture and searching with a flashlight -

and then himself appears and says it was in the front room all the time.

So we have a new car and I have a week of sorting out and putting away to do to get back to where I was.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness- 2015 -January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 11:16 AM

Rum, that is a timely reminder - I need to have my vehicle inspected (due at the end of last November) and go get the annual registration (due by the end of this month). I was waiting for the registration paperwork because supposedly this year you only need one sticker on the car - show the inspection paperwork to the registration folks and the sticker covers both. But I don't think this new plan is in place yet. Maybe next year. I have a small car and would like to have less stuff on the windshield (windscreen).

I was in bed last night just before midnight, but then my phone on the bedside table started making noises as my kids texted me happy new year wishes. :)

The kitchen and that dining area are in great shape - my gift to myself is a clutter-free kitchen. Now I'll move to other parts of the house (dust, vacuum, mop), and after I finish that in the living/dining room I'll set up is a work space (for the time being) on the dining table. I have sewing I need to spread out for cutting. I have some furniture I want to move (after the rooms are dusted) and as usual, have paperwork to finish and mail, email, or fax. Since the temperature this rainy morning is 31o I know this is an indoors day. What looks like rain drops on metal and glass will soon be sleet or freezing rain.

Despite the cold weather outside, there seems to be an active ant nest coming through or in an exterior wall that is sending little pests up into my plant window area. The last thing I need is to try to clear out my potted plants soil, so I've put down ant bait on little cards along their pathway. This liquid has borax (called "Terro" and a bottle is $3 at Home Depot) that has worked well throughout the rest of the house. Bathrooms, kitchen, closets, I'm slowly knocking them out. Perhaps this is the last hurrah.

Have a healthy, happy, ingenious and prosperous New Year, everyone. Don't just clean and declutter your houses, offices, etc, also get exercise. Take a class or take a walk, set up a box and do step exercises in front of the television, do SOMETHING that helps you reach the body image you know is the healthiest you.

SRS

P.S. I took out the "arrows" I had in the thread title surrounding the year - they were stopping posting unless you knew to take them out. Sorry about that. I'll find some other eye-catching (but mudcat legal) character to put there instead.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 11:44 AM

Mill:
OH MY, Rumncoke!! I fear it did make me chuckle. I'll bet it will not take you that long to put things to rights as it is so much easier when you have already had things in place/organized. Filing cabinet prob has an "Automobile" file but the habit of putting EVERYTHING into it needs to progress?

So far this morning I have managed BF, email-deletion, a couple written, and a fed-up comment on "sugar and Shakes". R is still in the city. It is still too cold to use the studio. I finished the Anti-Cancer book - EXCELLENT! Read a short novel yesterday and am ready to continue reading The Brain that Changes Itself. I also re-organized a large K cabinet. Very helpful! The sewing machine beckons! The snow is falling; I think it is for real today. lovely to see - and know I do not need to go anywhere.

Except to the K for another cup of green tea.

A quick check of FB and then I will be onto the sewing machine and some hand sewing.

Hope everyone is having a healthy day!

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 11:44 AM

Today is the day that some of Jeremiah's toys go into his bedroom so he can play independently. Until now, ALL the toys have been in the living room where he is supervised 100%. He is now almost 5 years old and we feel he is ready for some independent play time. He is VERY excited about it! Mind you, his door will be open and he is maybe only 12 feet away but it will be HIS time and I think it's a good thing!

I'm sure this transition won't happen all at once but today is the day we start!

On the fitness front, my goal is just to move more. :)

Happy New Year Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 12:39 PM

Michelle, public/family space for some activities is a good policy to start early - as they get older it leads to easier habits with technology. My kids had their shared computer in the livingroom until my son was a junior in high school. My daughter is 3 1/2 years older and was always stuck in the living room, but when he was the only kid at home and didn't have to share any more I moved it into his room. When you have kids in high school AP classes you can't tell them to stop doing their homework and go to bed and I couldn't sleep at night for the light and noise from the living room. By that age and with that schedule, we were all ready for the tech move.

Dorothy, that green tea sounds wonderful.

Sleet on the trees now. It looks lovely but is cold and sloppy.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 10:26 PM

Mill:
Clearly suffering today from overdose of disturbed dust yesterday. Could not get my brain in gear to do minor repair to sewing machine so looked at hand stitching and realized eyes were too itchy. Yep, I could have taken an antihistamine and did not; it has been years since I did this to myself. I have to wear a protective mask to organize!? If I am not better tomorrow, I shall take one.

I did manage to do some more organizing of sewing stuff and other things. Washed eyes with dilute green tea once and that helped but now realize I needed to repeat. Mostly just muddled my way through the day with a short call from R and a long one to sil, who has FINALLY improved her diet to the point of - yeah! After 15 years of my bugging her, she had to have a heart attack (last summer) to "get it".

Green tea is good stuff.

R had not been to bed for 30 hours (when he finally called this afternoon) and clearly was not making it down here. Mid afternoon he was muttering about taking a nap and then borrowing a truck and trailer to fetch a fork lift from north of the city! I informed him that he would sleep 'til morning. I phoned him about 8:30 and he told me I won that one and went back to sleep!

I am tired of being here by myself - with it too cold to pot; otherwise I would have felt productive. I am chaffing at the bit. Maybe on Sunday. If I had known R was not going to make it, I could have gone to visit someone but I could not reach him; he left phone elsewhere!

I have managed to read and listen to some music while organizing and spend some time on FB. Now I am ready to give up. About an inch of snow. May be more tonight. Up to 27F but going down again tomorrow - Sunny and cold! Oh well.

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Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: W y s i w y G !
Date: 01 Jan 15 - 11:27 PM

Um.... CRAZY itchy ears have been an issue for me for years and I may be on the cusp of healing the cause and the effect.... skin behind my ears bleeding from scratching. Have tried a million things too complicated to list.

Then I realized I've itched more than anyone I know, since babyhood. Since before ANYthing I could have done to cause it. So I decided that for whatever reason, I must produce too much histamine, and started using topical Benadryl behind and inside ears-- and suddenly I can override the urge to scratch AND sleep for twice as long at a stretch than I have for years and, as we all know, deep sleep heals everything.

Ahhhhhh... relief!!! Worth a few weeks of greasy hair around my ears!!! Thanks to Hardi for that late night trip to get me that cream!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 01:21 AM

Maybe you are also allergic to coconut. That is a big ingredient in soaps and shampoos. My scalp used to bother me, more or less depending on the shampoo, and I finally realized it had to do with the formula and the sodium laureth sulphate. Rather than employ Benedryl, fire the coconut. Or do both for a while.

SRS

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Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 05:34 AM

I just remembered my Mudcat password. Now properly logged in.

Approaching ten year anniversary of Andie's passing. I really have let my health and my life o with the grief. Time to change that.

Major reoganisation of my life starting with physical environment. Main bedroom deep cleaned yesterday and will be completed today. After which the lounge and the spare room aka The Bermuda Triangle of needful thing I just had my hands on a moment ago.

Sometime in February or March new kitchen install, so we need to make space in spare room and lounge to make this happen. It is original kitchen, poor layout, not enough storage or workspace or electric points. Cupboard dors hanging off and sink cracked and leaking.
May post before and after photos if I can resurect my Flickr account.

Started vegetarian on Boxing Day. Meals are smaller and more sensible. High fibre and moderate protien for breakfast. fresh veg and fruit of lunch and homemade lowfat hoummus on wholegrain drybread crackers. Experimenting with lowfat cheese. Dinner last night was veggi tacos with fresh homemade lime and red pepper guacamole. Yum.

Chris retires on the 11th Jan. He will be planning and prepping hearty, high fibre, protien packed low fat soups, salads, etc. Also taking me swimming and for walks on regular basis. Plan is to get fit enough to climb and walk with him in Lake and Peak Districts, maybe even Scotland. Fit enough to visit places like Greece and to climb the Spanish Steps in Rome. Use the caravan more in UK and for extended continental holidays.

Luckily the work I did yesterday kept my stomach feeling full with adrenaline so I didn't feel hunger as much as when I sit and surf the net.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 08:46 AM

May I wish you much success and future happiness with your plans, Virginia.
For myself, I really must get moving more and lose a couple of stones. Also, my flat is still awaiting a little (actually a lot) of attention. My lovely late wife, Ann, was a hoarder of renown and I really must get down to some serious decluttering. It's not always easy to dispose, in whatever manner,. of stuff that may carry memories, but, I'll try and be realistic when push comes to shove.
Good luck to you all with your plans and wishes for 2015.
Charlie.
PS I will go to the gym I joined, honest.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 10:47 AM

Mill:
Susan: itchy generally equals allergy. Perhaps a good book on elimination diet? OR it could be as simple as laundry detergent - I found even those from "whole food" stores can cause itchy so stick with Tide Free and Clear- which works for me. Red clover tea is good for that type of allergy.

VT! sounds like you are ready to start a new phase of your life!! YAY!

Charlie: what an opportunity you have to de-clutter, being careful to sort out the memories to save. I once threw out - in the desperation of moving - letters that I have longed for many times since. On the other hand, my pottery teacher pointed out to me that the car I had to scrap was "only a chunk of metal", the memories are within me.

I am delighted that I seem to be less chronically hungry and my weight, which had gone up a few pounds, is back down to 160 and I see hope. Better health, more chance of losing weight = better health!

About ready to de-clutter my life of 145 pounds of R. Five years ... Thinking of the elderly Quaker lady who, when asked why she had never married, "Because it would take and awfully good husband to be better than none." (We are not married, thankfully!) All I needed was a clear answer, Will we be able to visit A&B for lunch today? At 9:45 I finally phoned him and he... You don't need this!

Turned heat up in studio at 8:15; at 9;20 it had not warmed one degree. No potting at 52F.I am frustrated.

So, what have I accomplished since 8 am: BF, phone call, emails to R & to A, a couple posts on clayart, and a fit of fury. A small pot of green tea. Watched the sky go from white to blue with clouds but lots of sun! 17F with a low of 3 tonight. No potting in my future. Feeling in a quandary of what to do that is useful. Time to fix the sewing machine.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 11:38 AM

Virginia and Charlie, you have big goals! Be sure to set some small steps along the way as well, because you'll need those to help you move forward. It's easy to set goals, then seem them as insurmountable if you don't give yourself a way to see incremental progress.

Virginia, there are no timelines on grief, but when you decide the time has come, then I think you'll feel much better, and know that Andie would be proud of your progress.

Charlie, my parents had more than a touch of the hoarding instinct, as children of the Depression. We have over time distributed a lot of extra stuff. I also inherited from elderly great aunts and I kept a lot of family stuff to simply learn about the family. Over time I have decluttered, but on this journey I've learned about the things I kept before I let them go. I had to decide that I am not a private museum, so as I research collectible oddities from one of the family homesteads, I appreciate the item, then let it go. Let me tell you one story:

I have a trunk with oddball small items from my great aunt's home, and one of the things was a small green box with a heart-shaped perfume bottle and a turquoise green glass stopper. I had been selling stuff on eBay for a while but wasn't able to find any past reference to this bottle. I finally found the online perfume bottle collecting site where I sent a photo and asked if they knew anything about the bottle. I've left photos on Flickr so that they can be found when collectors are interested, so I'm still sharing my great aunt's bottle.

I don't collect perfume bottles, but I understood this was old and unusual. I heard back from a collector who told me "I've heard about that bottle" - so when I listed it on eBay I let her know. The fact that my aunt had kept the packaging made it all the more unique, and it sold for a substantial sum. What I realized was that I was putting something back into the world - that a collector now had a bottle they had only heard about, and it was with great pleasure that I let this item go to a good home.

Not everything you clear out will have such a robust story. After my father died I took a couple of large U-Haul boxes (moving cases) of clothes and shoes to a local charity shop - they were thrilled because winter was coming and many of the homeless men who they supported would be recipients.

The point is, take what information you can from these items you don't need, then pass them on. Keep a photo if you want to remember the story.

Good luck to both of you as you take the steps necessary to reach those goals. You'll enjoy your re-worked homes and the time and ability to travel. Please at least read along here, and participate when it helps.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 01:23 PM

Thank you. To be honest the place could do with some serious sorting, not to mention a good dose of housekeeping - before the Miss Havisham effect kicks in. My stepdaughter belongs to a church in Durham which has a sort of charity shop branch so 5 carrier bags of books, dvds and videos went there, but, it looks like I will have to make some inquiries regarding old electrical bits and pieces, kitchen equipment, bedding and other domestic items. There is always the family but it's difficult not to be seen to favour one over the others. I know of some people who simply donated or dumped vast quantities of 'stuff' but that's not really the way I do things.
This isn't a situation which I lose sleep about but I'm certain that once I make the initial'push' everything will sort itself out.
My thanks again from Charlie the Eternal Cock-eyed Optimist.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: GUEST,PattyClink
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 03:34 PM

Thanks for the inspiring and welcoming new-year posts, SRS, many of us 'needed that'.

I've done some big rounds of decluttering in the past, but this time I am needing to repair/repaint a whole house/garage/shop both outside and in, and get ready to seriously downsize.   It is a little overwhelming to say the least.

This week I got 'stuck' as I started to pack up books just so I can move the bookshelves out and get a room painted.   The 'easy' books have mostly been given away long since, these are the ones that I mostly want to keep. But I'm sure about 20% really don't need to go into storage, and besides I'm not ready to undertake the cost of offsite storage. Yet to agonize over each one is just dragging out the process of getting the stupid room cleared out!

Maybe I should go steam some wallpaper.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 03:55 PM

I once saved up some interesting items I thought the grands might like. When they came to visit, I let them take turn choosing. Maybe, Charlie, you could sort out what you want to keep and then invite people to come and take what they want.

Well, I have not done nothing. I was stymied from repairing the sewing machine by having to go find a screw driver the right size and configuration. I decided to empty the commode into the distant toilet and put on warm clothes to do so. OK so far but then I needed water to flush and the pump is not working. I got some hot water and finished that job but a call to R - find a light bulb and a lamp and turn off the hot water heater at the breaker because if the pump is not working... I fetched bubble wrap, a quilt, etc to add to protection around water pipes.

Then I had lunch and read and now I am back on computer while brain tries to figure out what to do next. Realize I am just super frustrated at not being able to pot so emailed R about insulating off a section of studio - small enough to heat. Then a message from a friend/shopkeeper asking for mugs - "how bout red for Valentine's" ... NEED to make mugs - red and ,,, OK, so it has not been totally a wasted week but I really wanted to pot and had the energy to pot and ........

There must be the right screwdriver around here some place. This comes in the category of "when I lived alone I knew where everything was." It was a beautiful day - but COLD. I am hanging in for that 50F on Sunday! In the meantime... Oh yeah, screwdriver...

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 15 - 11:41 PM

I made myself sit down in front of the computer and write letters, fill out forms, and pay bills. I still have a set of forms to finish, but I've done enough for today.

I took apart a vacuum cleaner that I rarely used and am going to sell on eBay. I found a box to fit and printed out the owner's manual and added extra bags and filters. Ask a low enough price and someone will snatch it up, otherwise, it goes to the Goodwill. The thing about eBay is that it is nice to be able to get cash for things you don't need or have room for, but you also have to determine what is a reasonable amount of time to fool with trying to sell something before you throw in the towel and donate it. These didn't have the best ratings, but it works for a small apartment and is a cute as can be.

This afternoon I went up to Susie's house and put cardboard over a window her dogs managed to break sometime this morning. A neighbor called me to say she'd seen one of the dogs barking with her head out the hole in the glass! The granddaughter who is feeding them while Susie is out of town wasn't there, so I covered it, blocked the dogs from reaching it, and Susie will be home tomorrow. The dogs were all okay. This is the "it takes a village" part of keeping Susie up and running - she is getting forgetful and losing track of stuff. I think the stress of the last few months (a court hearing concluded a couple of weeks ago) is the culprit. She has been away with family - hopefully a good thing to help her rest up.

I have just Saturday and Sunday left of the holiday break. Now I have to get myself back into gear for going to work on Monday.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 15 - 05:58 AM

My hoarder bent is mostly focussed on what I can use in steampunk. Several Nerf Guns, old leather coats, boxes and boxes of fabric for making carpetbags, all the beads, ribbons, jewelley bits and bobs collected and given to me for year, which must take up more than half the spare room. The rest is books (3 floor to ceiling double stacked shelves full) DVDs, and a few boxes of memories, school papers, ancient computer gaming kit that Chris wants to keep.
Chris has promised to go through his library and I will go through mine to weed out stuff we won't read again.

We have a young friend who lost about £20,000 worth of her sewing and crafting kit for a cottage business she was starting when a busted sewage pipe flooded her back garden and the shed where it was all stored. Thames Water only offered her a tiny compensation.
So our plan is to go though all my sewing and crafting collection and create a big start up pack (couple of big boxes) for her. She can either keep and use or sell at trade events or on ebay. Funnily, some of the stuff I have, I bought from her and never used.

I didn't do much but rest yesterday, as my nose has been busy playing snotfest and the post nasal drip is upsetting my tummy. It is not a cold. It's a recurring sinus infection. Must go back to GP for more antibiotic.

Still being sensible on the food front. Luckily upset tummy is squashing appetite. So that's a plus. Soon to go rooting junk out from under bed and give a good vacuum in hopes easier nighttime breathing. Then deep clean the lounge.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jan 15 - 09:16 AM

Hey VT! Nice to see you! What an awesome thing to do for a friend...sharing your stash!!! I suppose that's part of having a stash!!! I too have an overabundance of crafting things, most of mine is fabric. I don't usually buy fabric unless I have a pattern in mind for it. Trouble is, I don't have enough time/energy to sew all the things I want to sew!!!

We didn't get nearly the amount of toys moved from the living room to Jeremiah's room but I suppose that will happen in time. It's amazing how much energy it takes to do that and how low on energy Pete and I are after struggling with this cold for nearly 3 weeks. So....we do as we can.

Tonight we will have Christmas at our house. Santa came on Christmas Day but that was about it. No presents from us to Jeremiah, no presents to one another...just gifts to Jeremiah from Santa. We just didn't feel good. And while we are both still not at 100%, we are ready to have our Christmas complete with music, candles, a lit Christmas tree, stockings, gifts, Christmas dinner...the works! But first, I have a little grocery shopping to do and we promised to visit a friend. I'm dragging and not wanting to go but I think it's one of those things that we NEED to get out of the house and maybe that will make me feel a little better.

I was up late last night so while the boys were sleeping, I did some chores. Sure is nice to wake up to a clean kitchen, coffee pot ready to go!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Rumncoke
Date: 03 Jan 15 - 09:36 AM

When I was learning to drive my instructor told me about the grandmother of one young woman he'd taught.

When she was ill the family arranged for the removal of several million pounds worth of things packed into dusty old boxes. When she died they found that the house had been left to her husband's nephew, so all their thoughts of developing the large plot of land in a prime location (Sandbanks is one of the most expensive places in Britain to buy a property) came to nothing. There were letters addressed to each of her family detailing the items in the boxes which were to come to them discreetly to avoid death duties.

The man they had engaged to get the house tidied was never seen again, but rumour had it that he'd had a big win on the pools....

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 15 - 11:54 AM

Rumncoke, that sounds like the kind of story Roald Dahl would write as fiction. Have you ever read Parson's Pleasure?

Michelle, the things that make the holiday important are there - family and love - so it doesn't matter that you're celebrating late. I'm sure it will be a great story for years in the future, and it sets a good example about being able to make accommodations when needs arise.

VT, I also have a stash of sewing and craft stuff. You know how when something comes into the house that has an interesting cloth ribbon and pin or cord, that always gets dropped onto the sewing table for "just in case?" A remarkable amount of that stuff gets used, especially when you have a daughter making costumes, but it does indicate where a hoarding weakness lies. Time is also the missing ingredient in the projects I have fabric and materials for. I think it will feel good to send a care package of materials back to your friend. And from now I expect she will be sure the shed is up on stilts or nothing is stored down low. That's a hard lesson to learn.

This morning I walked into my shiny clean kitchen and was appalled to find it filled with trails of ants! We had a heavy rain and thunder storm overnight and that seems to have energized them to come out of some crevice. Completely around the ceiling on three sides of the room, down a spiral notebook from the wall to the fridge and around the seals on the doors, down past the small pantry and the dishwasher and onto the peninsula counter where there were a few microscopic potato chip crumbs. I spent 30 minutes wiping out ant trails then spritzing with diatomaceous earth to repel and kill them. I'll have to put more ant bait out when I figure the source of the latest assault. It's a slow process, but last summer they were horrid in the garden and clearly they moved completely under the house. These are small black ants, not biting. They seem to go for savory, not sweet food, but they also go for water. They were crawling up a tall glass with a straw that I had left on the counter. (A version of this is going on facebook, I don't want to write it twice!) They have been beaten back - the DE does repel them completely.

More paperwork today and getting ready to head to work on Monday morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-+2015+-January-March
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Jan 15 - 01:14 PM

Sorry about the ant attack, SRS.   I just saw a recipe today for a homemade orange and vinegar cleaner that reportedly repels ants.

Couldn't bring myself to drag dust covered stuff from under bed today. The bending over with a sinus infection just too uncomfortable. Chris has promised to help with this task tomorrow.   I did however, replace 4 knackered drawer ruNero on bedroom chest of drawers all by myself.

Yes the hoarding has been in part insurance of having plenty of materials to play with in the event of being made redundant. A threat which has been hanging over me for the last 3 years. Council is working on another 2.5 million savings over next year so still could happen. But I don't need all I have. What I need is space to make best use of some of it.

Went to check on caravan, stored about 20 minute drive away. It is still very clean (no algae or moss) on the outside. No damp inside. Didn't even smell musty. Can't wait for first use in spring. But before then we will use it to store stuff to make room for kitchen replacement.   Better than paying for storage facility for a month for a few boxes of junk.

I've rescued the thread from the Google cache and put horizontal rules in to this point. I'll save the rest as another post and put in rules tomorrow. If the database is restored, new posts can be moved over and this one dropped.

SRS