Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

What a lovely surprise to hear from you @NatureLover . I'm so glad the wedding went well. As I said in my post that crossed yours, a colossal achievement.

Oh gosh, @Dimity - a Council OH&S check today! I hope it goes well 🤞

You have been doing so well, working 3 hours a day for over a fortnight. I'm glad you can see some clearer surfaces, however temporary.

Thank you for saying it was such a big achievement to get through the wedding. I really appreciate that ❤

I woke at 8.30am then went back to sleep and woke at 12.30. Need recovery time so just reading today and maybe a laundry wash.

I hope you have a successful day...

Time to relax and recover @NatureLover .

I just had the OHS check. Verdict: the smoke alarm isn't working and the house is "a little cluttered" (but she didn't see the spare room). Gosh I guess she was being kind. But now having got this far I really think I'll have to start over. I'll try to rethink my approach.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Sounds like you passed the OH&S check, @Dimity ?

But what do you mean, "start over"?

The smoke alarm needs to be fixed or replaced before they can start. Otherwise yes I passed the rest of the OHS check @NatureLover .

The house is as clean as I could manage, which is an achievement and now hopefully I can maintain that going forwards. But I'm obviously going to have to reassess the clutter. It feels as though I'm going to have to start again with a different approach. Starting home help seems to reset my deadline - it's now open-ended again. It's yet another new beginning.

Well done on getting the house as clean as you could manage, @Dimity .

Do you mean your different approach needs to be stricter with clutter?

@NatureLover sorry to be obtuse but I really don't know what being 'stricter with clutter' means. I stopped accumulating new stuff years ago, I try to keep up with chores now although I'd slacked off when my depression was worse, and I've made a big effort over the last few weeks to get to where I am now. I realise it's not enough but being stricter - more disciplined? punitive? is a bit triggering. I've been desperately hoping to discover things that "spark joy" or suggest new possibilities by chipping away everything extraneous, but it's a bitter struggle as I see so much of my life's work was worthless.

I've done necessary chores today but nothing more. On reflection the assessment was quite stressful, and I was pressured to sign forms I couldn't read. I didn't have the presence of mind to get a magnifier. It's an odd feeling to have suddenly

hit this wall - I'd been banking on working for the remaining 3 1/2 weeks before my procedure, but I don't know what to do next.

Actually that's not quite true. It does feel intimidating but for 3 days or so I've been writing a task list, rather than just working to the timer. I should probably call it a day, and look at the task list tomorrow.

Enjoy your weekend.

@Dimity I'm so very sorry to trigger you, please forgive me 😥

I was only worried that you might be harder on yourself than you already were, due to the pressure about the upcoming Council visits. Hence my questions.

I was not at all thinking it wasn't enough, what you've been doing. I think that your best effort, which you've been doing, is enough.

And I'm sorry to hear you feel a lot of your life's work was worthless 😥🫂

Sending care...

Thanks @NatureLover . I apologise if I upset you by saying I was a bit triggered. Strictness carries a bit of baggage for me.

I don't really know how to move forward with decluttering other than by persevering with daily efforts and trying to spend more time on it. I didn't do any yesterday, and did only a token amount today. But I did quite a lot of gardening today. I've decided to clean and maintain the birdbath again, and was thrilled when a magpie and noisy miner.

found it. Well the magpie pleased me more than the noisy miner. I also seem to have a blackbird looking into the backyard, after years without them.

I'll try to resume decluttering tomorrow. I'm not sure what to do or where to start...

I'm glad you told me you were triggered, so I don't inadvertently do it again @Dimity .

The birdbath and birdlife sounds nice, especially the magpie and blackbird.

Yesterday I did 3 hours' gardening and watering and 3 hours on the house. I'm going back to work on Monday and am alarmed at the house not being done, as much as I wanted.

Today I have a lunch out and hope to do a bit more on the house. Good luck deciding what to tackle...