I don't know how I wandered into my Junk Mail folders in 4 email accounts. All I know is that going in there felt like I was confronted by a screaming mob.
Why do I get emails from SilverSingles? SeniorSingles? AIG, Fidelity and other Insurance Companies? Walk-inBathtubs? Someone wants me to go back to work as a Lyft driver. I thought I blocked the pompous clump of words called 'the Irish Times'. 'The Guardian', too, to whom I once donated 5 pounds and instantly regretted it. 
Thousands of them, like stinging bees.
It took me an hour to block them all. 
I remember why I opened up the folders, to look for something from BooksGoSocial about Kindlepreneur. I get so many emails from the former I marked them as Junk, as most of them are ones I'm disinterested in. But occasionaly, there's a Gem. However, I didn't find what I was looking for. 
It's my birthday, having a glass of wine now...here's to writing!

I'm pleased to report that on three or four consecutive days, everything I looked for has been in the expected place. A paper-cutter, rarely used, sat meekly in the craft box in the cupboard. An Irish grammar book - the corner of the guest room, in a stack of similiar Irish-themed books.  All bathroom items very easy to locate in their drawers and cupboards.
​Success!
The two mail-ready letters I am missing turned up at the bottom of my handbag. I found them at Mass when I was looking for the collection envelope. However, I'm indulgent with myself about these - I was jetlagged when I put them there. Less forgivable however, is that I didn't look for them properly in my bag. They had sunk to the bottom. I often think the interior of my handbag has a force of gravity greater than found anywhere outside.

This was my most successful decluttering project yet. Basically, I pared my Savings Account down to the bare minimum, and it was so easy, just a signature in the Bank. Of great help is the Revenue Collector General's willingness to relieve me of nearly all of it. Indeed, he demanded it! I cleaned it out well and it's gone for good, into some black hole in the Irish Government, and some Government Minister will probably wine and dine a EU VIP on the strength of it. My Tax Money! 
Seriously, as long as they do not use it for nefarious purposes, one of which they are now engaged in. 'Onward!' as the Minister for Health said today, like a General at the Head of an Army, swinging his sword as he advances. Who is the Army about to cut down? 
It doesn't bear thinking about. Happily, the army is deserting. One doctor after another, one hospital after another, are saying they don't and won't do abortions.

Have several small balls of wool (now they call it yarn) some of which, the green and mustard, and a full skein of gray, evidently traveled in my Trousseau 23 years ago. The reason for this is - I was working on a long jumper (sweater) it's very pretty and my own design of a cottage, gray wall, yellow thatch, green hill yonder. Unfortunately when it came to the sleeves, something went terribly wrong. I forget what, but  now it's a sleeveless jumper never finished. Sometimes I wear it around the house. But I digress. 
I used up bits and pieces over the years. Now the proper thing to do with an assortment of balls of wool is to bundle them all up together and donate to a thrift shop. But I thought I'd use them. I began a Tea-Cosy with the mustard. I soon realised that the yarn isn't chunky enough to keep our Royal Doulton china teapot warm and moreover, there isn't enough of it. 
Three trips to Joanne's later, this Tea Cosy has become a rather expensive and involved affair, but I can't give up now. The leftovers have been discarded in favour of chunky new black and red yarn. It was necessary to buy a book on how to crochet nice edgings and flowers. I have long since abandoned the left-over balls of yarn. Off to the thrift shop with them, unless I can somehow embroider the sleeveless jumper...

As usual I was left with a lot of candy at Halloween, for the following reasons:

• My being sure I would run out early so bought more; ​
• Only a dozen children showed up at the door instead of the roll of the local elementary school I had obviously been expecting;
• Vigilant, interfering parents accompanying small kids to the door and telling them how much candy they could take.

The result is that we were left with opened bags of Fun-size Kit-Kats, Oreos and others. But I did stick St. Vincent de Paul with most of it, last Sunday. I made sure nobody saw me put it in the box just inside the hall-door.

I just hope everybody else didn't do the same thing. They would have to put a notice in the bulletin - 'Please check the Wish-List before you make a Donation of Food. Leftover Halloween Candy is not on it.' 

Decide my Diary should be Diary of an Irish-American'. But since I’ve been here 23 and a half years, regretfully decide I should have begun it in 1995. (I do have travelogues, bits and pieces of this and that; a record of my last 100 Days of Paid Work and First 100 Days of Retirement). Maybe write Diary of a Retired Irish-American. On the other hand, might just stick to Diary of a Declutterer. (horrible word, declutterer...have to think on that).

Husband I am sure doesn’t want to be written about. (I haven't asked him but I know the answer), I have no small children who wouldn’t even know their lives are being recorded. Anyway, nowadays that’s Social Media. I do have  neighbours, but not keen to incur wrath, should any of them see it.
Nor do I have servants to complain about and kindly mimic, who are not likely to buy Time and Tide, in which I don't write anyway. I wonder if it's still in print.
In fact, keeping a Diary at all in which anybody else features seems like a Bad Idea, if I want to keep my ‘Friends and Relations’ happy!
How did EM Delafield get away with it? ​

BOOKS are not clutter. A large collection of Books is called a Library. We have a Library. No matter that all the books are not in a room by themselves. They are scattered everywhere. It's still a LIBRARY!
Here's the delightful book I found in my father's house last month, and which he gave me to keep. It was published in 1942. My Goodreads Review is HERE.
​

ACURE ULTRA-REHYDRATING SHAMPOO
Am I justified in keeping the empty on my shelf, just because it looks good there? 

OCTOBER 31ST
A daily declutter. Today, this bag which has been at my feet for - ? The last known use was 3/31/2018, as on that date I bought a tall coffee and a danish at Barnes & Noble. 
A brief history as to why I have this bag at all - i once bravely deiced to bring my handbag (purse) as handluggage across the Pond, and realised in SeaTac that it wouldn't do at all, especially after making some purchases during a delay. Hence the SEATTLE bag, and I think you'll agree it's very attractive. Last winter I used it all the time, then abandoned it.
To the contents - a missing lipstick (Revlon Super Lustrous Toast of New York) 'Inis' Ennis, Ireland Energy of the Sea, eau de cologne in a little jar) half-packet of tissues, unopened travel toothpaste, new travel toothbrush, and one long dark hair which would definitely convict me.
At one time I thought it would be very sensible to stock several handbags with all I needed except my wallet, so that I could switch from one to another easily depending on my outfit. But that isn't my style; in fact it's confusing. I use a neutral handbag that goes with everything, and carry lots of other essentials. Phone, sunglasses, etc. Unless I am going to triplicate all? Now that is confusing!
But what to do with 'Toast of New York'? I have Revlon Coffee Bean which is very similar. Which do I love the most?