We are told by our Council that items placed out ready for collection from our verge should be placed in two neat piles. People that come sorting through couldn't care less if the piles are neat or not but often distribute bits and pieces hither and yon. I feel we are fortunate that they have taken so much of ours and doubt there will actually be sufficient left to even make one neat pile, let alone two.
I am so delighted I finally managed to gently manouvre Phil into the shed to "please do begin to sort out some of the stuff in there" as I'd been asking him this for a few years. I did begin talking about it a couple of weeks ago and then it got very hot last weekend but then a coolish week arrived when I thought he'd begin but no, he waited till it began to really warm up again and today we nearly hit the century mark!!
He is a wonderful husband and I shouldn't complain but what is it that makes men act quite contrary at times. I am really so pleased he went to the trouble to make inroads into all the 'stuff' he no longer needs or uses but why oh why wait until it got hot again? Perhaps, although they will react to what you want, they also need to do in in their 'own good time' so it appears it is really their own idea.
No matter what, we are finally well and truly downsizing contents of house and shed and I am sure if I go through my clothes I will find even more that come under the heading "Oh, I just may wear that again one day" and, if I do, then out it goes. I'm a home body now as going out can be a bit of a pain (literally) so I just don't need 'all those things' any more. I am seeing space where there has been no space for years so something must be going right at last. Big sigh of relief.
They are fascinating creatures aren't they? (read with a note of sarcasm)
ReplyDeleteYou see cars/utes etc cruising the streets as soon as there's a verge collection due. I had a friend that used to do that years ago. I often think she brought more home than she'd put out of her own. Unbelievable!!
DeleteOh I can so relate! We have so much to get rid of and hopefully will find a way for others to make use of them. I like the idea of this kind of recycling. Good for you on making a start and here's me keeping my fingers crossed that we can follow suit soon :)
ReplyDeleteI feel at our age we need to have less in our home as nobody can foretell what is going to happen in days/months/years to come. When that times comes the less there is to deal with the better. I know that sounds serious but it has to happen for the sake of others.
DeleteI'm sure you will do the same when you feel the time is right. :)
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh dear, this rang bells with me, having just had a go at getting dad to clear out the garage; my boxes arriving from OZ was enough of an incentive to at least open the doors. It is three quarters full with woodbits. Most of it not at all viable for future use. We through - oohhh - maybe a dozen bits out. Heheheheh.... I told him we kids would use it for his funeral pyre. He thought that was a good idea!!!
Well done - any declutter is a good declutter. YAM xx
Your dad sounds a little like my Phil. He said he could be buried in the back garden....would help the plants grow. lol
DeleteWith you moving around so much you must have to keep on decluttering all the time don't you?
Hope you can toss a few more bits out of your dad's shed before you leave there. xx
Hari OM
Deletehehehehe, yes I suspect they are birds of a feather... and I didn't spell check did I? I of course meant 'threw'. But you got my drift; and yes, I am very good at decluttering. The few things that remain with me have been with me almost forever. The rest is simply use and pass on. Yx
Doesn't it feel good a good clean out, both my children have moved in the last year so they have left things in my shed so I have lots of others peoples stuff in there. l not sure it will ever go.
ReplyDeleteMerle.............
It certainly is good for what ails you to get rid of surpluses. Wish I could do the same with my weight!!
DeleteHopefully your children will eventually settle down enough to come and take their stuff. You should make a time limit perhaps?
Congratulations. And yes, on the doing it in their own sweet time front. No matter how bizarre that time is.
ReplyDeleteThanks EC. I am convinced it is because they then think it is all their own wonderful idea to do whatever it is. I guess the thing is to suggest the idea weeks before you actually hope to have it done. : )
DeleteI always feel so much better after a good cupboard/room cleanout. I remember a few years ago I cleared my wardrobe and had over a dozen empty hangers where clothes once were. I hadn't worn them in years. did the same with my drawers, out went old socks, t-shirts that had worn thin they were so old, shorts too raggedy to hold together for one more wash. I do tend to wear stuff until it 'dies'.
ReplyDeleteI too wear things for years and I do think the older stuff was made of better materials so lasts longer than modern clothing. I have several pairs of slacks that are still near-perfect and so comfy and I remember wearing them when in New Zealand back in the early 1980s. They weren't expensive either but just last and last.
ReplyDeleteI have a drawer full of socks for some reason and I don't wear socks!!! Some are years old. Do you need more socks perhaps? lol
I probably now have a dozen or more empty hangers and hope to have even more in the coming months when I go through my winter things.
Karen had lots and lots of clothes that were too big when she lost all that weight and the op shop (Vinnys) were delighted as they have trouble finding enough large size women's clothes for their stores.
With me though they get the things that no longer fit me. Sad that.
More socks? Let me check.....no, I think 36 pairs is enough. Thanks anyway. I agree about older clothes being of better quality so lasting longer. Now even the expensive shops don't carry the quality they used to. The stuff on their bargain tables looks pretty flimsy sometimes.
ReplyDelete