Simplifying Life - Mark II

mary43

charis - where we live is a small market town.........most things to hand like doctors dentists supermarkets and its fairly quiet.
But our house really would be too big for just the two of us.............huge kitchen/sitting room - computer room/den and huge lounge.........not to mention the 'building site room' off the kitchen, then four bedrooms upstairs.
The garden sort of looks after itself with the wildlife bit at the bottom that I happily let ramble freely. Most of the rest is concrete and tubs - fairly easy to maintain - be even easier if it wasn't for our clutter collecting garage and shed ! Honestly. I'd do away with them, have a small shed just for garden tools and a small piece of lawn in their place.............the 'everlasting' kind that never needs watering or mowing. Oh there are loads of things if I look around that would make the whole place easier to live in and keep clean.
I hardly dare look above eye level.....................lol
Neighbours are good and thats a lot to be thankful for nowadays I think.
Haven't de-cluttered since earlier this year and sadly things are starting to pile up so thats next on my list.
It is a lovely feeling to rid yourself of something you thought you needed and realise it was more of a burden.............:o

ceridwen

:rotfl: :rotfl: and Charis....at this rate...you'll prove a role model to us all....:rotfl:

Hmmm....Buddhist nun eh? Well...you work out what you will be....and I'll work out what I will be......and then we write our life stories do we?;)

mary43

ceridwen and charis - yes, go for it.............put pen to paper -I'm sure you both have had a life worth knowing about and you earn yourselves a tidy sum, who knows.

I'd love to do that but no-one would ever believe it......................lol

Well, this weekend is anything but simplified ! Youngest lad refusing to go to his Mums..........in and out like a yo yo as is the oldest on ! Peace ? Whats that I'm starting to wonder.................still, I did lay in bed till 10 this morning -big mistake really as I woke with dreadful headache and cursed OH for not waking me earlier...........then I spotted the weekly bunch of lilies he's always bought me since my dad died...............what could I say ? something are best not said I feel.
I've had another cough-free night ...........bliss but oh this cough suppressant does knock me out ! Daren't take it in the daytime if I'm on my own. Still, think I'm on the mend now, as long as I'm careful, keep warm, plenty of fluids etc. Not easy as something, maybe my throat, is giving me dreadful heartburn so its painful to drink, let along eat !!

Well, little moan about me and mine over ...............christmas is getting tidier by the day..............must tell myself not to concoct anything else this year ! (Thursday bought a baby pair of trainers to turn into shoe fresheners for teenage grandson...............lol)
Anything else I see and feel I 'must do' I'll put on a list for next year.
I;ve told myself that I will not be rushing around like a headless chicken at the last minute..............I shall be sitting in a cafe looking out of the window and watching everyone else do that.....................lol

ceridwen

Hi Mary

Your comment about sitting in a cafe with coffee - I sometimes like to take the chance to sit somewheres with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and just people watch.

As for writing the story of my life - hmmm......I think some of mine also comes under the "you'd never believe it" heading...correction: some of it definitely does.....and...er.....just how many "skeletons in the cupboard" are we allowed each?;) . I guess most people would "gloss up" things a bit...if we're halfway human that's for sure (I've made a lot of the "mistakes in the book" in my time - though I guess most of us could say that). Actually.....my memory wouldn't be good enough anyways to do so...which may be just as well:cool:

mary43

ceridwen - some years ago Mum got me a folder and paper (through her monthly magazine) in order to record memories, starting with the first thing you can ever remember.
Well, I did it and it's amazing what you suddenly recall that you thought was long forgotten. Major skeletons ? Camouflage over them a bit but everyone seems to like to find something a bit amiss if they're pouring through someones life.
Sadly, mine came too a standstill when Dad died in 2000 but I'd got it up to date by then and somehow never got around to adding the years 'events' from then on.
I do intend to keep a diary next year though. I say this year after year but I'm determined this time. It's very theraputic to record thoughts and feelings as well as whats happened that day/week. So that (and further de-cluttering) are so far my new years promises to me - oh and plus having a go at cross stitch. Something I've never done and I always try and give myself a little 'challenge' of sorts each year...............so far I've done water colours, taught myself the computer (???) family history, and card making.
Good fun to have a go at something new.

AnnesWitterings

Just popped in to say I have just finished reading all the posts on Simplyfying Life right from the begining....fantastic read ~~kept me occupied all weekend, and have now turned my beady eye on the junk aka clutter thats now hanging around my flat:eek: :eek: :eek: .

Have joined local freecycle and local charity shops will be receiving donations, I went BR recently and now need to trim the junk I have accumalated in my spend spend days...:o goodness knows what I spent my money on...amongst the silly buys were good ones..breadmaker/slo cooker and silly ones like too many clothes they will be keeping me warm for many months to come as I cant afford new ones...am blowing the dust of sewing machine and rediscovering skills I had nearly forgotten to use ie sewing baking and am looking forward to reading the continuing pages of the forum in the future...
A

ceridwen

Hi Anne

Welcome - and don't forget to include coffeebreaks whilst doing your decluttering!:D

sarahs999

Welcome Anne. It's quite addictive, this simplifying!

GOt rid of a big bag of stuff this morning to charity pickup, but why do they all now say 'no bric-a-brac'? It's bric a brac I need to shift! But a load of bedlinen, old curtains and even a tae kwondo outfit just went out.

Made my christmas cake yesterday - smelt SOOOO christmassyi n the kitchen, I felt really festive.

mary43

sarah - know what you mean -we've always loads of 'bits' that need getting rid of (beats me where they keep coming from) but all the bags left at the door say 'no bric a brac'.............trouble is, put it all together and it weighs too much to take to charity shop in one go and if I end up going too many times there's the temptation to buy something else.................my weakness...........lol
Once Christmas is is over and my spare room and den are back to 'normal' I'll be able to see what I've got and what needs getting rid of.
I know in the spare room there are drawers full of curtains (why did I buy them ?) but sheets etc. I tend to keep for decorating - need something to cover the floor with if someones painting.

What I really need is a spring clean of my mind - that would make the world of difference.....................lol

2cats1kid

If you're not too fussed about where things go you could stick it on Freecycle as "ideal for boot salers" and watch them queue up at the door! Then at least they are still in circulation, as it were, and not in landfill.