weekend targets: expired medicines, tablecloths

[fred_mouse]

This weekends clean-out targets have been the medicine 'shelf' in the fridge (yesterday) and the two storage boxes that I keep all my tablecloths/table-runners/doilies in when they are not in use (today).

expired medicines: 3 nasal sprays; 2 asthma inhalers; 1 lacteeze (which I gave up on and just stopped eating the offending food); 1 children's antihistamine. These were all taken to the pharmacy today for disposing of. Replaced - the anti-histamine. Net out 6. 

tablecloths - too much emotional attachment. Was only able to identify three items for rehoming. However, the boxes now close, so I'm happy. 

Also - the tablecloths pile, I tried the 'does it bring me joy' question. Turns out that just taking them out, looking at them, talking to youngest about my grandmother (one of the sources of these items), and then putting them back in the box until the kids stop decorating the tablecloth with food (or until we get in the habit of using placemats again) does bring me joy, so I've kept more of them than I was expecting to. 

Comments

[peaceful_sands]

Well done - always good to stay on top of the medicine situation and I think you've also made a good choice with regard to the tablecloths. I know I'm getting rid of loads at the moment, but the important part is to only get rid of things that aren't important to us, thereby leaving us free to appreciate and enjoy what we still have. I doubt any (many?) of us want to live in bare rooms, but we do want to be able to find the things that make us happy and not drown under that which no longer does.

[fred_mouse]

'on top of' is possibly an exaggeration, as at least one of the items was several years out of code, but I'm glad to have caught up.

And I agree about keeping things that are important - I was just surprised about how many of the tablecloths had actual stories to go with them!

[tanaqui]

Well done on your progress!

I agree with peaceful_sands that it sounds like you made the right choice about the tablecloths -- they clearly have value to you beyond the purely practical, and it sounds like they're not taking up more room than the value they provide. (Plus properly closing boxes! Always a good thing!)

[fred_mouse]

thank you! And yes, keeping the tablecloths is good, for now.

[nou]

Yay, someone else who takes medicines to the pharmacy to be disposed of! I think most people here just put them in landfill. Last time I took some (to a new pharmacy, first time after I'd moved house), they seemed to think this was very weird, but they did take them off me.

[peaceful_sands]

I always take ours to the pharmacy - in fact locally that is encouraged so that they are disposed of safely and properly for all concerned.

[nou]

One time I took some to be disposed of, and the staff member leaned over the counter and whispered to me “Are they controlled drugs?” in a very cautious voice! I'm sure it's recommended here too, it just seems that nobody takes much notice.

[fred_mouse]

pretty sure it is Strongly Encouraged here. I've certainly never had anything other than pragmatic responses to disposing of any of mine.