How time flies!

Hi Guys,

Been over 2 weeks since getting more decluttering achieved.

We have had extreme heat of over 40 celsius combined with strong hot northerly winds, which put a stop to any further progress.  It has felt like much of Australia is on fire with vast bushland and forest areas burning in several states.  To now have Queensland flooding once more as I write this.

We have this Australian poem called that describes Australia perfectly.

'My Country' by Dorothea MacKellar - here it is.

The love of field and coppice
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies 
I know, but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise. 

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!

The stark white ring-barked forests,
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon,
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops,
And ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When, sick at heart, around us
We see the cattle die
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze ...

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand
though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.

Here in Australia we tend to know the second verse of this particular poem the best.  We tend to do that with our songs and poems.  With our National Anthem and Waltzing Matilda we all know the first verse to only go hmmmmhmmmhmmhmhm and mutter and make out we all know the words of the second verse, but most of us don't.  Hilarious and dreadful all at the same time when that happens.

Still have only one element to heat up my water for tea or coffee.  Still find cups around the place when in the middle of decluttering.  Here is one I found earlier.

Kind of describes how I am decluttering.  No 'wrong way' though.

Anyway, after the heat, I got stuck into watching more VHS's and have had a ball reminiscing old movies, programmes, doco's and finding old footage of the family before and post children.  My son just couldn't believe his eyes seeing his big sis as a baby or toddler.   Something he had seen in photos but not in film.  And as for me he felt my voice had changed.  Body yes.  Not so sure about the voice.  Maybe deeper.

The videos will take a long time to get through and don't want to focus only on that.  That is something I will do periodically.  Need to get the computer out of the Dining Room and into the Study.

Today my bestie Sue came to help me move 2 big items to get the next part going, otherwise I will be at a standstill infinitum.  I showed her the logistics of what I wanted and even she thought we would have a hard time at first.  But like with any puzzle it really is just a matter of step by step and following the right steps as you go.  

First we moved the stuff out into the LoungeRroom onto the second couch.  I vacuumed as we went bit by bit.  Then moved the furniture around in the Study to make way for the other piece to be moved from my bedroom into the Study.  We then manoeuvred the items within the room to be in situ.  

The rest is now up to me to get the place back to some ship shape normalcy.  I will show via photos with before, during and after when I am finished with this round hopefully in the next post.

After that, next will be moving the glass cabinet from the corridor and camphor chest under the dining table to be moved to my bedroom and then and only then can the Lounge Room be rejigged.  

All sounds so simple.  But it is also very time consuming.  Patience is the key element required.

I am trying to get as much done before I get a job as I know the minute I get a job it will be on for young and old for me to try and find time to do any decluttering.  Trying to make hay while I can and utilise my downtime wisely.

Sue was surprised in the end how well we actually did.  Even she thought we wouldn't get this lot done just by looking at it. I am so grateful for her help as it means now I can get on with my next piece of the process and get closer to my vision.  Very cozy and comfortable.

The computer table is chockers and needs to be cleared so that we can move the computer there.   The couch will need to be dealt with asap so that my son can watch TV also.  That and any visitors if I and when I get any.  Something I don't encourage due to the stigma attached to clutter.  It matters not that one has been hard at it for sometime and actively doing something about it.  Just the look and the stare and the stammer says it all.

With the recent winds my backyard now looks even worse than before as the peach tree now has more of the limbs fallen across 2 parts of the yard.  Just glad it hasn't taken out any of the fences as I wouldn't be able to pay for any repairs just yet.

I saw this photo on Facebook and just liked it that I had to share here.

You either love books or you don't.  I do and have to be more selective and have culled several times over.  But I am sure I can do more.  Books and magazines can be the undoing of anyone.  They need space and plenty of it, but boy, when done well it does make a home look homely.

At times when I am in the moment of the action of decluttering I feel like this.

Very overwhelmed.  Sue did say today, even though I was living in a 'mess', she could see that I was making progress.  But 'oi vai' what a mess!

I have said this before and it doesn't hurt to be reminded and say it again to do the following while going through anything traumatic or extremely draining.

However, I would add number eleven and make it- 
11. 'Don't forget to declutter a shelf or draw once a week.  That way the 'stuff' will never get on top of you ever again'. 

When I start to get down and when it seems the going is slowing down, I just remind myself.

I do know what I want to end up with and that is a home that reflects me and makes me feel at peace and in harmony with the world inside and outside.  One that I am on top of and not on top of me.  I am on my way finally.

In the meantime, I intend to keep doing the following.

and

That and hugs do help to soothe ones horrors.

So I will just keep on turning those pages to get to the next chapter and know that all the slog will be worth it in the end.  This book will have a happy ending.  Of this I am going to make happy.

Also, don't stop going out.  Life doesn't stop so you shouldn't either! 

It helps to share wonderful moments with family and friends.  The one's that love and support you.  Those are the one's that matter.  This helps keep one going while on this journey to declutter or any journey or project for that matter.  It gives you time to regroup and re-energise to get back to it.  Some fun along the way is a must.  Do not stop living.  The clutter isn't going anywhere so you may as well not miss out on any of these precious moments either.  

This day was one of the most pleasant and joyous days I have had over the years and so glad I got to go to Brooke's Bridal Shower and one that I will treasure for years to come along with many others.  Thanks to Lynn who is the best.  

One day I will get to enjoy that home I so want to create in all it's comfort and beauty.

I decided to let the sunshine in a long time ago.  No negativity, no nasties, no toxins, no insults, no one or nothing that does any of these horrors are actively deflected or ignored.  As one dear friend, Ali, said to me many moons ago '... just out nice them or the situation....'.  A mantra to be taken seriously. 

Only laughter, friendship, respect, giving and loads of love for me.  Nothing but as much positivity as possible.

Hope to have a heap done within the next week.  Now let's see how I go with that statement!

All will be revealed next time round.

Cheers all

Anita with a huge load on... wish me luck!!!

Invisible progress!

Hi Guys,

One week now and for looking at the spaces, you wouldn't even know I have done anything let alone made any progress!

This is the time when one can get deeply demoralised and can cause one to stop.  The work you have been slogging at is INVISIBLE!!! 

Even to yourself!

You can imagine how that must make one feel!  The doubt pours in.  The loud resounding questions rolling around your brain screaming 'why am I doing this??????????'.  Well, it is obvious why when we can see it, touch it and feel it.  But not so obvious when it isn't bloody obvious.

This is the very time you have to find ways to make you keep going.  This INVISIBLE can happen a few times through the whole process so this is important to get on top of a strategy that works for you.  Otherwise, one could be doomed to never get out from under the 'stuff' ever!

If all else fails, I highly recommend the 'breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out over a few times slowly' along with a seriously good cuppa tea.

You may ask... 'what has gotten me to this state of fluster after going so well'.

Good question.  Glad you asked.

Have been busy getting teenage son to get involved with his room and in order.  No mean task.  But I take delight in even the minutest task done. 

What with him doing his room and me trying to get the study up and running the whole house looks like a shambles.  Even robbers wouldn't know where to start?  They would come in and say 'What tha' and nick off in sheer terror.  I did mention in a past post that one of the few 'plus' sides to having too much stuff and not in its rightful place is they can't find all of what you might have and really don't have a clue when dealing with a house stuffed to the gunnels.  Even robbers like a tidy home. 

I will state this is no reason not to get oneself back on track though.

So what have I achieved?

Well, my sons cupboard now has 'HIS' clothes hanging up in there, which before had items of my parents, along with Latvian National folk costumes.  These are now hanging in the cupboard in the Study.  I culled more as I transferred and also hung what I intend to sell, along with winter coats, jackets and other seasonal clothing etc and the national outfits that I intend to keep sealed in their very own cocoon. 

Getting more organised does takes time.

I am culling my video tapes as well.  Yes... VHS.  DVD has it's limitations also.  But that is a whole other blog altogether.  I have shows from eons ago, including old movies that you just cannot get and will dub down to DVD.  But the most interesting ones are where I have copied Oprah shows about topics that were important to me back then. How interesting to look back.  The earliest so far has been from 1998.  No joke.

There were 2 episodes of  'Spring Clean Your Life' or along those lines.  I was in the throws of my life spinning out of control, but had no idea it was about to get a million times worse.  If only that crystal ball actually worked.  Looking back sure has its benefits in the plus as well the negative. There were various banners of those who control, those who were OCD and also along with the clutter bug.  The then expert was Julie Morgenstern 'Organising From The Inside Out', and she actually had some very interesting points and tips that made sense to me.

Some that will be helpful to me right now and very timely I must say.

This is her with the then book.

She used the acroynym S.P.A.C.E.

S - for sort first by grouping and no running around.  Have a box handy for items to go back to kitchen, bathroom etc and do in one hit at the end. 
Now that one I will use.  The time it will save will be enormous.

P - for purge by tossing anything broken, missing a part, stained, torn etc as well as donate.

A - is assign kept items and can even assign zones within a zone ie filing for instance.

C - is where you then only go to seek the containers to put said assigned items and if you do not have suitable go buy what fits and looks good in the space and label so easy to see quickly what is inside.
This was interesting, but it made sense to do this last as you invariably will save money and be able to make the intended space look really schmick.

E - is Equalise but I put my spin of evaluate.  This part is an ongoing part of the acroynym.  Maintain, reassess with period tune ups so as to avoid later massive catch ups. 
Now this sounds all good to me, but haven't quite gotten there as yet, but is still very much my ultimate aim.

Julie said to organise one space at a time.  This makes sense if you are not in overload everywhere like myself.  But I will use this to my advantage eventually and do the current space a few times till I get it to what I see in my minds eye.

Here are some statts she stated, which I am sure still holds true even today.  Remember this was from 1998 that had some very interesting hairdo's!

The time wasted taken in searching for items is a minimum of 12 weeks per year and this was conservative.  I would agree to this. 

The fact that you cannot find things costs you more money.  Again, I would agree with this.
As I wrote earlier my son is going over his room.  We had to return books and one was missing and he said he lost it.  Lost it alright.  Had to pay the school money for the lost book when school broke up prior to Christmas.  My cherub sheepishly came out of his room with said book behind his back.  I am sure that once we return the book the monies will be refunded, but this is a perfect example of monies being wasted.  There are many more, but hope this makes the point clear. 

More money in our pockets is a great incentive to downsize, purge, declutter, get sorted no matter how you say it.

Mess is stress.  Well, dah!

Now this expert impressed me as she accepted that there were those who liked abundance around them and actually were wired that way and needed it.  I liked how she said it.  ABUNDANCE.  How nice is that.  No shame, no stigma, just said nicely.  She said this can be achieved as long as you streamline the above, which is what I do anyway.  But the fact that she added this and allowed for abundance and our differences was for my mind blowing.

The discussion got to when you are doing the business of sorting etc that there will come a point where one becomes overwhelmed.  She said that this is an important point in the process, but never got clearly clarified in the discussion.  For me it means you are about to break the camels back and head to better parts of the process.

There was a guest called Victoria Moran 'Shelter For The Spirit', who said to design your space from your soul... sounds very Oprahish now doesn't it... I see it as setting your room/space with all the things that you love.  Maybe that is the same thing, but thought it was worth a mention as at times a key sentence or phrase will make sense to one and yet not to another.  Very weird, but very true.

Here is Victoria on that very show.

And her book.

There were several 'SFTS' with different subtitles.  I am guessing that this was the one being referred to at that  time.


There was discussion as to why this habit is and one sentence bandied around was that it served to not to deal with clutter meant you could use that block to avoid something else that was an even bigger bother to you.  Interesting.  Yes and no.  For some yes.  For ethnics no.  We keep for the recession, food shortages, strikes and wars etc.  Reasons can vary, but this is also still valid.

Another point that I myself don't do strictly is set time limits.  Time your to do's so as to avoid unfulfilled intentions.  My timelines are rather vague, but as time goes on and my pile gets smaller I will more than likely have to take this strategy on board at some stage.  Just like a marathon runner who paces every step of the way to when upon entering that arena to do that last lap as a sprint to get to that enticing finishing line.

Now I am not keeping this VHS as I have now noted the more interestings aspects of its contents here in my blog.  Who knew this blog would be more useful than at first glance.  Gotta love that!

After I remove all items out of the study the next step is to move the furniture to their new zones/homes. 

Then next the domino begins.

Next will be the computer to be set up.

Only items in assigned places placed back in.

Re do the entire lounge.

Finalise the dining room.

Then that part is over and I take a short break before tackling what is under the carport.

After my birthday gathering the other day one said when is the garden bee for a few offers of help with the backyard to be expressed, so will have to organise a gardening bee with a BBQ at the end as a thank you in there somewhere as well.  This sounds like fun to me as I have helped at a few garden bees myself for others and have seen what can be achieved first hand.

As you can see my work is cut out for me.

After the carport I will call upon my trusty clutter whisperer to help in the kitchen.

In the show I watched as they sorted a kitchen like mine and it took 5 women, one being the expert and 2 days to complete and back then the quote to do this was $1,500 US dollars when it double the value of the Australian dollar, so it would have cost here $3,000!!! 

Did I say avoidance was an option?  No, just joking.

I have strategies to get this cost down to an affordable minimum and in doing so means it will get done over many weekends instead.

OK, have to go and the next lot done and get myself a cuppa tea while doing this.  Try to avoid having many cups of tea around the house while you do this as you will find cups all over the house at the end of the day.

In this case 'just over halfway to finishing'!

One cup at all times only, otherwise you will be finding cups for days afterwards. 

Been there, done that.

Cheers all
Anita

ps. Just found out that my kettle has bitten the dust.  Ugh.  Lucky I still have one element on the stove in which to boil some water the old fashioned way.

Do Clutter Buster Experts help?

Hi Guys,

Having a heatwave here in Australia.  In Melbourne we got just over 40 degrees Celsius yesterday.

That's 104 Fahrenheit for all you guy's still using imperial.

Along with the heat we get slammed with these hot northerly winds from the deserts from the center of Australia and boy are they oppressive.  The gusts of winds can reach incredible speeds and this time round since our Black Saturday back in 2009 is no exception.  Very scary as we are all tinder box dry and all it takes is a spark to start what can turn out to be devastating.  Hence, why I have not made any progress with my 'downsizing' since.


By the way 43.5 Celsius is 110 Fahrenheit.  We are expecting 41 on Monday and have had up to 48 in 2009.  In South Australia and Western Australia they can go up and beyond 50!  Harsh conditions indeed.

I get the Oprah newsletters via email and noticed a recent article of sorts with Peter Walsh.  An Aussie doing well in the USA with his helpful clutter hints.  I would dearly love to know if he ever went through this himself.

I have listened and used some of these tips myself  (however I tweak them to suit).  They always come across as not really understanding that we all are not the same.  These tips do not suit nor fit all.  My advice is to use the tips given and toss out that don't.


For example here is one of his quote's from the article...

..................“The only kind of clothes you should have in your closet are clothes that fit you, clothes you look great in, and clothes that garner you tons of compliments when you wear them. Don’t have 'wish' clothes in your closet. Those clothes exist for only one reason: to mock you.”

— Peter Walsh

I don't agree that this is the case.  I have a lot of clothes that I rotate and change.  I have loads of dresses that I haven't worn for a long time and now am just getting back to wearing them.  This can be a seasonal thing.  It is also well and good if you can afford to just toss everything away.  Things can be altered or changed or sold.  Not everything is this black and white.


Next up is...

...............“We believe if we let go of the object, we’ll lose the memory. You need to shift your mindset...If someone has given you something, that person wants you to be happy before they want you to hold on to all of this stuff.”

— Peter Walsh  

Obviously, Peter never met my family!  In this instance he doesn't seem to include those from many walks of life especially those from ethnic backgrounds.  We hold onto everything.  When my family elders gave me presents they expected them to be in the family for generations and become heirlooms!  Seriously.


Next quote...

.............“Find the treasures in your sentimental clutter. Take photographs of the rest, and let it go.”

— Peter Walsh

I agree with this one wholeheartedly.  Not easy to start to do, but once you do it will make your decisions of what to let go that much easier and will help you through this process with less angst and heartache.


Next quote...

..................“The secret to successful decluttering is this: You will never get organized if you don’t have a vision for the life you want... Ask, 'Does this thing create that vision or get in the way of that vision? If it does, hold on to it with all your life. If it doesn’t, why is it in your home?”

— Peter Walsh

This one I am on the fence with.  Not the best position to be in, but it is not always that simple, especially for those that rent.  You may not have the earning capacity to make everything great for each residence.  For example, curtains.   I always had loads of curtains in varying shades and sizes to fit the windows of where I lived.  I have saved an enormous amount of money by this alone.  If I tossed them every time I would have kept the shop Spotless even richer and me poorer.  I do get what is meant here, but not always achievable.  This I would tweak for the renters out there.


Last quote for this section...

................“What I know for sure is that when you declutter—whether it's in your home, your head, or your heart—it is astounding what will flow into that space that will enrich you, your life, and your family.”

— Peter Walsh

This is where we all would like to head and get to.  Once there some will feel it instantly.  Others wont.  But that is okay.  Just which journey we choose to get there is the choice we make that will help us enjoy what you have when you get there in the end.  In my case I have chosen to take my time so I can enjoy life along the way and be involved with my children as they grew/grow.  I know I wont regret this choice to actively purge the 'stuff' slowly.  Having read on one would believe that everyone has a plethora of help and assistance or huge families with hubby's at the ready, willing and able to help.  I am alone and help is not always so freely available.  That and I don't want to overtax my friends and hey... keep them as friends.  Some things you just have to do yourself.  And that means time in abundance is needed along with patience.


If that isn't enough this article had a quiz which I decided to take.  Both ways as in twice.  My goodness how to win and influence people to be proactive.  Give me a break.  Why do people have to use sarcasm as a form to motivate.  That is the last thing that would help me out of my doldrums.  If this is any indication of the 'help' I could expect, then I would run for the hills.

Took this test twice to see what would happen.

First time did it for real and this came up.

...................Your Result:

Good news. You're a clutter victim.

This may not sound like good news, but it means that you, like so many others, have fallen victim to the clutter buildup that's hard to avoid when you have a busy life, diverse interests, disposable income, family memorabilia and a steady influx of purchases and junk mail. Not to worry. With a reasonable amount of effort, you'll be able to get your clutter issues under control and keep them that way. 

Next: How to de-clutter your home for good

Well, no surprises there, but hardly a disposable income.  That is an assumption I would never make.  Otherwise, fairly harmless.  Did go to the next step, but will write about that in a moment.



Next, I did the test and made everything bad as could be and here is the result of the quiz and what was said...

.....................Your Result:

 Uh-oh. Looks like you're a hard-core hoarder.

It's amazing that you found a pen to take this quiz. But don't take it too hard or feel overwhelmed: The first step is admitting the problem. Remember that sometimes a first round of decluttering isn't enough. A few months after your first purge, you'll look at the same stuff you thought you couldn't throw out and realize you haven't touched it since your cleanup. It takes a while to get used to the idea that if you don't use it, if it's not part of your life, if it doesn't serve your goals, then it's just a waste of space. You'll get there!

Next: 5 steps to get in control of your clutter

Well, that just warms the cockles of my heart.  First off, it was an on-line quiz and you would have to question the reference to the pen and person who made that comment.  And after that ... like as if you would read on feeling all warm and fuzzy inside and looking forward to such positive suggestions!  Not.

Why put someone down if your intent is to help?  This is exactly what I object to. Why when someone's down, kick 'em while they are down instead of what had started out as proposing to be helpful.  Now just imagine if I had taken this quiz all those years ago when I was miserable and grieving as to how low I would have felt reading this back then.  This is never a joke when the recipient doesn't feel it and this can seriously hurt people and do more serious damage.

More harmful than helpful if you ask me.

Luckily, I can see it for what it is now, hence why I started this blog in order for all not to feel put down or demoralised in any way.  But rather feel supported through what is a most difficult time in ones life to do.

I wouldn't even bother to go any further.  But I did go to the next step for the sake of the exercise.

Guess what.

The advice was exactly the same for both outcomes.

Really.  Are you serious.  If the outcomes were different why is the help the same?  So why ridicule one and not the other?  This is when I get hot under the collar.

If you cannot say something nice then don't say 'nothin' at all.

This quiz may not have been made by Peter Walsh as this was not in keeping with his style.  However, it is attached to his article.  It is in no way helpful in anyway as I see it.

There is no need to put people down and into little boxes of hardcore loathing attitude.

Just makes me sad when these types of things are out there to keep those who have an issue with 'Clutter' in a state of shame.  It is just so unnecessary.

The lady who came to my place to help me get started in my lounge room earlier last year never and I mean not once made me feel ashamed, but rather looking forward to the possibilities.  This is how it should be done.

So in answer to my question, to a point they help if it is done with kindness of spirit and sincere intent.

Like all advice we must take it with a grain of salt and toss out what does not fit the moment.

If it is said with sarcasm and malice then don't bother with it at all.

I would like to say, even if I don't see Peter Walsh as the guru myself I do not think he was responsible for the quiz.  That would have been some sub-editor's doing and being Oprah I will be sending an email noting what my thoughts are on that.

Chime in with your thoughts on experts and shows highlighting the worst end of this topic.

Well Cheers once more from one overheated in many ways
Anita

2013 AND WE'RE OFF!

Hi Guys,

Mini update to say I am holding true to my easy going resolution.

Here is the my old room part vacated pre-vac...

The old dining table has seen better days and this is the state it is in after being used as a work desk during my daughter's high school years.  At least it got her through all her art work with the space she required.

You know what this means?  My most favourite activity... more sanding... ugh!

Here is the remains of one of her 'doodles'.  Not sure if I will be able to sand that on out.

Table in situ.

Now I know it doesn't look like much now and am still a long way at the bottom of this next step, but am now that little bit more closer to where I am heading.  The next part is sanding the table and staining and sealing.  Oh, how I am going to love that.  Drop sheets here we come.

Discussed my strategy and stages of the domino effect with my daughter yesterday and I now have a plan of action.  Each stage is dependent on assistance or prep work such as now and will take a few weeks.  I am hoping to be finished by the end of January so I can then get started on what is left under the Carport.before Winter sets in.

That light at the tunnel is almost in view.

How are you all going with your 'stuff'.  If you have tossed even just one thing in the bin, then fantastic.  Fear or lethargy can hold one back.  If that is the case just close yours eyes and go for it anyway.  It wont hurt a bit.

Cheers
Anita at Stage 100,001 and still going.