(((seanyboy))))

Hope you are doing OK, seanboy. Take it one thing at a time. Get help if you need it. Physical things always seem to break and/or never fit into the allocated space. That's why I prefer code to reality. Well, actually, I prefer coffee and donuts, but that's another thread.

That plaster dust will destroy any normal household vaccuum cleaner, so that needs to be done by hand (sweep and mop... a lot), or you need to get a "shop vac" that can handle it. If you get a shop vac, just make sure it's a size/kind capable of handling plaster dust, and find out whether it needs a special "fine dust" filter.

But, really? How many times in your life are you going to need a shop vac? So you know what I would do? I would take that money, and some more, and get a cleaning crew in to get you sorted - the whole house. Tell them about the plaster dust situation - they'll have the right equipment. If I were you, it would be worth whatever the price might be to get things straight and then be able to make your goals all about maintaining, rather than trying to effect a whole house transformation all on your own - it has to do with your physical and mental health, and as good as (probably better than) a holiday. If you think about it that way, the expense may be easier to swallow.

The only thing I would do, though, before getting the cleaners in, is spend one whole day - or even two - doing nothing but throwing things away. Throw things away as if you were moving somewhere far, far away... so many things are just not worth transporting - and you know what? They aren't worth keeping, either. Every bit you throw out, is a bit less burden on your back.

That's my bestest, bestest advice. Throw away a ton of stuff, get the cleaning crew in. Then make your goals about keeping it clean (bunnies can help with tips on this).

Also, go to a place (or places) that sells washing machines - a large appliance kind of place, not an "everything" place, and tell the salesperson(s) about the space you have, and see what kind of info you can get from them. If they don't seem knowledgeable or interested, try another place. Life without a washing machine (or a laundry service) is hellish in my book. Unless you have a pub/laundromat downstairs.

haven't been able to listen to the show yet... 6 a.m. here; will get to hear it later, after household wakes up

About the desk... if there's an Ikea in your neck of the woods, their flat-pack packaging makes a lot of items relatively easy to carry out on your own, even on public transportation... might work for a smallish desk.

But this place has desks, and delivers for only around £5, apparently - though it's definitely not speedy.

We've always carried old furniture out to set beside the city bins... though technically, I'm sure you're not supposed to (what else is there to do if you don't have transportation?). It hardly matters, though, because I've almost never seen anything not get picked up by someone before the garbage trucks roll around - no matter how bad or broken. But if you are not in the city, if your neighborhood is a little more suburban, it may be a different matter. Just call the proper city department, and they'll tell you what to do - there might be a special day to put certain things out, or something.