SPRING-Clean Declutter - Need Help

Hi @Former-Member I've kept re-stocking the baits in the roof. In fact I've never had to put so much bait up there (in the past).

There should be enough to bump off an army of rats - the problem is that they don't seem to be eating it.

I've seen signs of some nibbles at the bait, but most of it seems untouched.

The rat noise at night in the walls has reduced, but some are still going in there (I still here them).

So it's been a long & frustrating process. Climbing into the roof through the man-hole (people hole?) is awkward, & it's dusty & hot up there.

I'm fairly certain that the roof is the only access point to inside the walls, & that's where they come in.

Yet these rats are either very crafty, or they're super-rats that are not affected by baits...

Adge

Oh @Former-Member That's not good.

I have floor boards too, Jarrah, which they haven't put in houses for decades - because it's too scarce now.

The good thing about Jarrah is that it's so hard that termites cannot eat it - unless it's been exposed to the weather for years, & is softened or rotten.

We get a lot of termites here - they chew any timber that is in contact with the soil.

I have about a metre space under the floors, but rodents don't seem to be able to gain access from under there - they come in through the roof.

Adge

Hi @Former-Member, thanks for thinking of me, you are very kind and appreciated. I have been having a very hard few weeks, but i am battling on. As you have probally experienced yourself, its overwhelming to think how i will find myway through my situation & mess sometimes, but i keep trying. thanks for your encouragement. Kind Regards, @1stepup61

There is so much wisdom in your post @Former-Member - and your pics as usual are right on the ball

Treasures - uh yes - there was a man who found a treasure in a field and he sold all he had to buy the field - I love that verse and for years I wondered what that treasure was an dfound that I had done the same - I found my strength in Biblical teaching and went to church often - did Bible studies - taught Sunday School and CRE - I was a youth leader and sang in the choir - it seems I had that treasure but time was to pass before I knew what it was and I did

So when I still lived with my parents I was dragged out of bed for early church - then sang in the choir at the Sung Eucharist and went to the Youth Service in the evening and my mother told me I would grow out of being a Born Again Christian - but I grew into it - and found out at the end of Dad's life I was called "The Churchy One" - and then realised I had the field with the treasure and it came at a huge cost but it is mine today - it's all in the Bible and I wasn't even looking when I found it

What a rant!!! -

So summer is nearly here Lapses - and I am wonderding what your summer-thread will be called - when you started the thread you didn't know what you were going to uncover - the stuff with your Mum and Dad was waiting for you right in the middle of your de-clutter

So are you selling or not - I think about you a lot -

Personally I de-clutter as I go along and then there are days like today when I have to get organsied to go away - today I am getting ready for hospital and want things tidy before I leave - I am guessing I won't want to move around much for a few days after getting my knee attended too

So store up the stuff that makes for a great spiritual life Lapses - I am wondering where I can get Biblical Passages myself and store them up in my computer - right now I don't think my computer wants me to copy pics but I will work that out

Catch up later Lapses

Dec

Hi @Owlunar, good to see you 💜 Rant on all you like 😀 Thanks for the encouragement: "wisdom in your post and your pics as usual are right on the ball" wow!

I'm glad you find strength in Biblical teaching too Dec. Its ancient writings that have stood the test of time. People forget that.

Yes, i did church, bible college, RE - sang in the choirs / bands / weddings. Played piano for church, and weddings... All while working full time, then I had children, and it all stopped 😞 lol.

We do have lots in common. Lasting treasures are the ones we can't see I guess (WHICH EXCLUDES ALL MY CLUTTER 😤 lol).

Sometimes the things our parents "drag" us to can work out for the best. Becoming "The Churchy One" - growingvinto it - making itcwork for you.. yep, you sure found the field with the treasure 👍. Mine came from being broken & seeking out God & found genuine spirit filled bible based believers.

Do you think I should start a summer-thread? Really? Summer is my sad time now. It would have to be upbeat with a Summer title. I'd wanna call it 'summer sadness' - lol. 💡I know, maybe I can call it 'Summer Survival' lol.

Youre not wrong about some red herring / a spanner in tve works of success. Whatever project I start, something bowls me over mid way, I fall on my face and feel shame. My hubby declared me one of those people who " just don't cope with life " that May be true, re MI, but only since I met him 👎 Some people are just pure poison. Anyway, life has its curveballs and my life energy is running very low these days, and my heart hurts. There's not much I care about since my girl died.

As for selling up: I'm locked into a 2/12 contract with the REAgent, so technicly I'm trying to selI up - till mid Dec, then who knows, think i need help to clear out but there isnt any such help to date. I have a feeling she's blaming that for no offers this last 2months, I think her boss had a ho at her, maybe.

DE-CLUTTERING 'AS YOU GO' ALONG is undoubtedly the best way to go. I have put a box in in each room now, to drop things for charity when it comes to me, 'as i ho so I've started doing just that. Trouble is for me - i got 20yrs to catch up on. AND, I keep buying stuff. Yesterday I brang home x3 outfits from the op shop 😞 No matter how much I tell myself they are better than anything I own, and so cheap $2:50 each (geans & a top) - its still not OK, not really, and the 'little buzz' i get from my 'little win' quickly wears off & I feel conflicted within again, hate myself.

Where you 'go away' to? - other than hospital? I like having things tidy before I go away too, nice to come back to.

Good advise reinforces Dec, to "store up the stuff that makes for a great spiritual life"

Thanks again my precious forum owlfriend💜. I'll be keeping the candle burning for you and for @soul this coming week, all the very best with it, you'll be fine 💓🌷💐💜

Hi @Former-Member

I havew woken up with a headache and I didn't do much yesterday - I need to get organised because my TV man is coming to fix my DVR which is new and and not doing it's job and there is this idea I have: if I get myself organised early he will not be likely to turn up until late and if I work in my dressing gown he will turn up early - so atm - still in my dressing gown.

Pretty sure I am feeling the tension building up pre-op - yes - I love the owl pic and I seem to be falling of the perch over the last few days - I have felt a lot better that's for sure

If you need a title for your summer thread - just Summer De-cluttering with January in the middle - I find January a tough month - I always have - it seems the world falls silent - people go away for holidays and I don't want to go away in the busy season - but it passes - I think I will feel better than I have since I was in Sydney and hurt my knee which was already fragile - I will try getting the bus down to the beach and collecting weathered glass again - I am sure walking on the beach will help lots of things

Like you I have my son in my sights - his birthday which is in a couple of weeks is not a big deal really but we adopted him in December and that date is right before Christmas and hits me with a hard bang just as you get those moments - not the same but similar I think. I can be quite useless at times

I get it - you don't find many things to be interesting since your girl died - likewise - though I went back to university soon after my son died and that was really hard work - I went through things in a daze - you know that terrible pain you had - I kept saying - I will feel better when I get to class and then I will feel better when the class is over and then - I will feel better when I have lunch and then I will feel better when I get home and on and on through the days and weeks and months and I can tell you it does get easier with time

I have to catch up with @soul - I haven't been up to things lately - I guess a week's warning for an operation is not much time to get acclimitized - but hey Soul - if you read this - I am adding my caring to Lapses'

Gotta get sorted for the day - I need my coffee I think and I am just about ready to through things into my overnight bag for hospital and it will be over before I know it

All the best Lapses - and thanks so much for your uplifting thoughts

Dec

Well I have achieved something in my girls room. Cleared off the bed. Found clothes I forgot I had. Dragged out a mountain of blankets, pillows & cushions I don't really need, or use. Like 5 carbafe bags full. Rediculous. Can't bring myself to collapse her bed getting distressed - so closing the door. But that's pretty good for today I think. 💜