General Chat

Just seen this. I should have added to it as I have just put up my husbands a horder, same theme but I cannot get him to de clutter. Elaine.

We took 4 small carrier bags of glasses, a sweater and bric a brac to 2 charity shops. (we like to spread it around.)

Took 2 wool M & S straight skirts to charity shop today, loved them, one was red and one in camel - never get in them. Lots more to go!

I have now cleared out my sideboard cupboard, got a box full of glasses ready to take to third grandson who is moving into a flat with uni friends in July, and another load to take to the charity shop. got rid of a load of paper and old note books from the second sideboard cupboard plus a lot of used envelopes I had been keeping, too many to re-use so they have gone for recycling. Found an 1985 diary that I had actually kept up for about 3 months that made interesting reading, Couldn't believe how often we were out in the evenings, despite working full time. Still it was 26 years ago, I was a lot younger then. next I part cleared the airing cupboard and sent some towels for charity plus sheets and pillowcases (navy blue, used to be used for the grandsons when they visited when small) which are going to second grandson as he has a double bed in his flat. Still a lot that could be got rid of but I am getting there.

i am actually a size smaller now Ann
but i dont mind the baggy look in winter
yes it was a surprise Purple
i had completely forgotton about them

shows how much money i have wasted in the past

Georgina, I wonder if there is an old folks home nearby where they have a piano or keyboard so the music could be used?
My o.h.'s stepmum apparently took a load of magazines to a care home the other day, o.h. very hopefully told me and said Don't you think it's a good idea? He can live in hope lol, I am not sure my old Take a Breaks will be of much interest to them, with all the puzzles done. Stepmum's were glossy health mags and such.

I have lots of photographs from my late parents and many of them mean nothing to me but I just can't get rid of them. I think I must make a big effort to scan all the relevant family/friends ones and label them and then maybe the ones left over can be passed on somewhere.
Loads of an uncle of mine with all his friends and work colleagues, he never had a family, and no one else wants the pics - there are only so many I can keep of him! Lots from when he worked overseas during the war and after tho - he was a bit of a character and had many jobs, ran an hotel in England, dabbled with a film company in Portugal and all kinds of ventures!

Lovely to find all those new clothes Joy, I still have several unworn too so should sort them out, lots will never fit me again!

Lizx

Lucky you haven't put on weight then Joy and you've got all those new clothes to wear!

i had a new bolier put in a couple of weeks ago
had to empty out my mirror wardrobes
and found loads of clothes still with the tags on
and shoes and boots still in the boxes all unworn

so decided i will buy nothing new to wear this year
unless its for a special event


then i found bedding in the loft unopened
so three bags of old stuff went out

we are in the process of de-cluttering our loft, we still have our childrens toys, playmobil, leggo loads of cindys and the other one and a cindy house, caravan and all that stuff, sorting it all out for our new g.daughter for when she gets quite a bit bigger, lol. but found some of their baby stuff too so she can play with those.

jean

Thanks Rose. I got banned some years ago from buying any more cookery books. I moved my sugarcraft ones into spare room shelves!
And now I cannot decorate cakes anymore since I smashed both wrists. Have loads of equipment I must get rid of. Everything from tins to cakestands!

None of that is clutter though Bridget, those are all sentimental things, I wouldn't get rid of those. My clutter is real clutter, books I have read, out of date reference books etc. 4 large bags gone to charity this last week.

I simply am no good at declutering if the items have belonged to older generations or if something has sentimental memories,
For example I have my great aunts wedding ring. she was born in 1883 amd was a spinster for most of her life. But tshe met a widower and the married, Her wedding ring is so small that it doesn't fit my little finger very comfortably. It is now very thin and is made of Rose Gold, my favourite, there are two hearts facing in opposite direction and one has my aunts name on and the other has her husbands name, I could not think off disposing of it and hope that someone will keepit when I have passed to another place.
I also have my grandmothers christening outfit including the bonnet all hand made and embroidered,She was born in 1880. Two of my children wore this along with the cape from their fathers family which I also have but as the next two were twin boys it wasn't feasable for them to wear it.
Then I have a lovely complete china afternoon tea and coffee set which is decorated wit beautiful blue birds, It is one of my most precious items.
My elder sister has the littel night gown which my grand mother had made for him sadly he only lived for 3 hours and he was not christened or baptised and my eledest sister has this but how I would love to have it, maybe her husband would take a photo, I hadn't thought of that before
I could go one because I do hoard some things so I will save the things from my husband s family for another time.

I just have visions of it all going in a skip when I depart this earth.

Well when I started out on this genealogy trip I had one file which I used to carry every week to the Family Record Office. 14 yrs on the whole of my youngest daughters bedroom ( yes she has left) is full.
Carol

Lol my OH refused to put up any more book shelves because he said I would only fill them with books!!! I tried to tell him that was the point of book shelves but no, no more shelves.

Sue would advise against a built in wardrobe. That is my downfall, used to have a kitchen that was only about 8 x 6 managed perfectly well for ten years, then OH built one 15 x 16 but of course I then had to fill all the cupboards lol
Carol

I'm a sucker for pretty pieces of china and old-fashioned cutlery - I have some lovely pieces that my daughter has said she would never want:-)) As long as I'm here they stay but I'd love to declutter my books and some unused craft stuff. We intend putting in a built in wardrobe in the spare bedroom so I'll have to have a sort out.

Just a thought - if you are getting rid of something you feel sentimental about take a photo of it. Of course then you have to store all those photos:-))

S x

But the thing is Rose , the line gets blurred between good hoarding and bad hoarding doesn't it ....lol
I'm starting to look at the prospect of learning how to sell stuff on e-bay .
It has taken me many a long year to learn how to turn away from a pretty piece of china that I might spot in the charity shop / jumble sale .... if I learn how to do the selling bit I would be well away : )

Oh but that's 'good' hoarding Amanda :))

I am so glad my mother was, and my grandparents must have been, as I have 'In memoriam' cards, a Victorian photo album of family, old photos of places and people ( some still unknown as yet), and various cards and postcards with addresses on, which have been helpful in placing where family might have been at a given time :)

Have to say I am not as bad as OH good thing I have managed to make him keep most of his collectables at end of garden in 5 sheds. Every now and again he tries to put things under bed and sofas. He will go in a shop and if something is a bargain he will buy 4 or 5 and if the children ask for one he says he needs it. He buys batteries like they are going out of fashion, but most things in our house have flat batteries. He then stores the old ones, along with empty pens, envelopes, elastic bands (the ones postman throw on ground) car tyres, in fact anything. Trouble is when he wants something he cannot find it.
He took grandson for walk on Sunday and came back with a bike frame he found on playing field, it is now stored along with 3 others, plus a tandem frame which he was going to repair 35 yrs ago. Even neighbours bring things they want to get rid of knowing he will take it. His excuse for hoarding (I was a war baby you keep everthing) funny his parents were not like that.
Carol