Moon Time Fasting

Full Moon today. I should have eaten a light diet today, but we lunched out at 'The Admiral Rodney' on sandwiches & coffee. Tomorrow I will be working until lunchtime and l intend to do a light diet then, as Christmas day will be full of indulgences. At new moon and full moon times, it is good to do some kind of fasting. If you are not accustomed to this, then perhaps just eat lightly. I will be eating fruit and drinking plenty of water, and having homemade chicken soup for dinner.

After a full moon and during the waning phase the cells are able to release toxins and other unwanted materials, which the body no longer requires. It is also a good time to give up old unwanted habits, while the moon's influence is waning and you gain a stronger will power.

After a new moon and during the waxing phase the cells are more able to take in and store nutrients and take on new thought patterns, so this would be a good time to start new habits, like new life style routines.

Happy Christmas

Clearing My Clutter 8

Well, here I am again. Sunday night and another load of old rubbish. Of course I mean my surplus to requirements, clutter, which is now lining the hall. Today I winkled out an old duvet and a few more clothes. I found my old school exercise books, but put them back for another day. I think I might do a blog about them next year, so I can scan the paper originals and then chuck them out. It's sometimes good to revisit past achievements or just to see how my mind ticked in those days, compered to now.



We also visited my Mum and went out to lunch with her. She too is clearing some clutter, so I helped her, by bringing it home, to take with me to The Bridge End Centre tomorrow! I now have her electric Neptune Bath Lift, which I am going to sell for her, as she no longer requires it. It is fairly new and in excellent condition, so if you are interested here is a picture of it. The Neptune goes down to 2.8 inches in the bath, so you can be in much the same amount of water as without a bath lift. The sides fold up as the seat goes down and they open up again for ease of getting out. It has a lifting capacity of 25 stone and has a battery operated hand control, with charger included. It costs £524.00 New. I am offering it for £250.00, buyer collects. NEW HOME FOUND

Cold Sores and Shingles

Today I noticed, what might be the start of a cold sore. I have only recently started to suffer with these. I always keep a pot of L-Lysine handy, so I began a course this morning, along with increasing vitamin C (2 - 3 MG per day and more if I thing a cold is coming on). L-Lysine is an amino acid, which is used to kill off the zoster virus in cold sores and shingles. Stress is a causative factor, as the virus takes a hold when the body is below par, which is why cold sores develop when you also have a cold. I regularly take multi-vitamins and echinacea to improve my immune system and support my liver in the cleansing process. I cut down on the sugars in my diet and drink lots of water (at least 8 full glasses per day - 2 litres).

Clearing My Clutter 7

The FlyLady talks about Hot Spots. I have identified two in particular. One is my dresser, which over the past few weeks I have done very well at keeping in clear. The other is the bed in this room I use as an office. That became full of Christmas stuff until yesterday, and it has acquired some today. My coat hanger collection took up some space until it was sorted out, and now there are just a few Christmas gifts waiting to be wrapped. I am happy with the progress I've made so far and am keen to continue.

Clearing My Clutter 6

Well, I'm cream-crackered today. Last night we had some friends round for dinner. What a good idea shortly before Christmas. It helped me to gear up my clutter clearing and tidy things away. Although, I realise that I still have far too much stuff, at least it is beginning to move - OUT. It was lovely knowing that my guests could look in every room, if they wished and I didn't have to close any doors or make anywhere off limits, because of clutter.

Today we emptied the dishwasher and tidied away the last of the dinner things, ready for next time. I went out for a wander around town and he went off to golf. We were both a little fragile, hence the cream-crackered. I actually washed, dried, ironed and remade our bed. All in one day! I even managed to fit in an afternoon nap. I have just done a clear out of my coat hangers, of which there are MANY. I decided to keep most of the black hangers and discard most of the others. I filled a carrier bag to bursting and put it in the hall ready for the off. Don't know if the Bridge End can make use of them.

I also put all my current wearing clothes in one wardrobe, with the intention of moving things over as I wear them and then reviewing what is left, to see whether I still actually want them. In the process a few more items went into the charity bag. I think the next job will be looking at my hand bag drawers, (I have two, soon to be one!).

Clearing My Clutter 5

WOW! Phew! Huff! Just finished a marathon task up in the loft. I need to just catch my breath. I am shattered and exhilarated at the same time??



I seem to tackle more clutter on Sunday evenings. I think this might be due to my weekly visit to Bridge End, on Mondays. Today's task was simply to put the Christmas decorations' boxes back up in the loft. However, I decided to have a little look around. Whoops! I spotted clutter. So hey ho and off we go. I ripped open bag after bag and box after box, finding things I forgot I still had and wondering why I did! Yes I do use a lot of exclamation marks!!!



The front hallway is now well and truly cluttered. There's a small path to the door in-case we get callers. I won't be embarrassed if they see all the mess, as I will be able to tell them all about 'Clear Your Clutter' by Karen Kingston.



I now have two clutter clearing Guru's. I felt unfaithful and guilty at first, but then I realised that the art of clearing clutter is the art of letting go. So, I let go of the guilt and carried on.



My second Guru is 'The FlyLady'. I bought her book 'Sink Reflections' by Marla Cilley. It came highly recommended on Amazon. I have to say that I have been a bit sceptical over this book, but continued to read through. I am two thirds through and getting it. This book is yelling at me to develop some routines, which is something I have avoided all my life.

I intend to finish the book and then read it again and start implementing the Baby Steps that FlyLady talks about. Mind you, I have started to wash up before going to bed at night, though I do leave the dishes to drain till the morning. I am happy with that. We have a new kitchen, so it is easier to keep on top, and I have a wonderful DH (Dear Husband for non-FlyBabies), who is retired and does quite a lot around the house. He just doesn't want to feel that he is doing everything! I lean towards obsessive compulsive and every now and then he lets me know I am ignoring him. I get quite engrossed in my new projects, to the detriment of all else. Clearing my clutter is freeing up time to enjoy together. Back to my sink: It is black and I have been instructed not to use bleach on it. So tonight I gave it a bit of a scrub with a plastic scourer after washing up. It looks better and as FlyLady says that disorganised people are perfectionists, so I decided not to perfect it tonight. This bears out when I realise that I often avoid doing a job if I feel I do not have time to do it properly, so it gets left. Or I start jobs and find I am overwhelmed and leave a mess behind. My DH says that I make more mess when I am tidying up than at any other time!

The benefit of using both methods of clearing my clutter is that; with 'Clearing Your Clutter' by Karen Kingston, I am mainly dealing with the clutter itself. And with 'Sink Reflections' by The FlyLady (Marla Cilley), I am dealing mainly with the housework. I am giving out these books as Christmas presents to friends and family, whom I feel would a) benefit and b) appreciate them.

My main difficulty at the moment is winding down in the evening, like now, at 10.30pm. My DH has since retired to bed, which is where I'm headed right Now! Goodnight....Zzz zzz

Clearing My Clutter 4

Received a lovely comment to 'Clear My Clutter 3', from Karen Kingston herself! Have a look see.

I visited my brother recently and took some of my clutter to him, which he seemed to appreciate. It was a nice visit and we went out for lunch. However I noticed he needs some help with his clutter, not that he's got nearly as much as me! His clutter seems to be more connected with household chores. I have bought him a Christmas gift, which I am hoping he will be similarly appreciative as taking on my old stuff. I can not say what it is in case he reads this posting. I'll try to remember to post about this in the New Year.

I phone my cousin, who as you know I have already sent a copy of 'Clearing Your Clutter', which she is thrilled. She is still clearing and wading through her stuff. She sounds most excited and is passing on her enthusiasm to her friends. She has now cleared out her wardrobes; inside and on top! And has bags and bags of rubbish waiting to go to the recycle centres. She told me that her daughter is very happy at her mum's new found energy and uplifted mood. She has even passed on her late husbands clothing, which I think is great. What a woman!

As for myself: Well I have certainly shifted quite a bit, but there is plenty more to go yet. I've been to 'The Bridge End Centre' every Monday evening to drop off a car load. I have also given up the obvious sugars in my daily food intake. I will indulge myself over Christmas, but the urge to scoff sweeties is getting weaker and weaker by the day. The office space behind me is piled high, but that will be sorted tomorrow, when I put the Christmas decorations' boxes up in the loft, (minus the old dec's, which have already gone). I am reclaiming the house in time for guests on Friday and then keeping it that way and more...