Hoarding - Springing Ahead

whitewing

Our donations to a local charity shop in the last tax year raised over £100 - not bad considering I can't remember a single thing that we donated.

1 book went to my brother today. 2 unwanted gifts went to another charity shop - feel a bit guilty about one of them in case we get asked where it is, but the giver was given it by someone else she couldn't say no to.

Haven't done too much decluttering and have been on a bit of a downer for various reasons. But we have kept the housework up together and I feel a lot better tonight.

I'm going to be tackling some of the financial paperwork tomorrow and I will feel heaps better when that is done.

Historybuff

You have to stop buying from the charity shops, grey queen. I was a sucker for scouring them for hours...thats how come I have such a large pot collection. I have quit even going into charity shops...i dont need any more stuff.

GreyQueen

I feel a chazzer abstinence session incoming (apart from dropping stuff off, of course).

Found a lovely TED talk which I have just listened to and thought you might enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XRPbFIN4lk&feature=player_embedded

lobbyludd

hello History buff!

well done all who are keeping on, even with small things. I still have a boot full of things for the tip/recycling centre, which may get there tomorrow.

Have been concentrating on DIY stuff and getting the electrics downstairs sorted over the last week. The diy/renovation is another "eating the elephant" thing, like cleaning and decluttering.

But have got 6 bags of recycling, 2 of shredding and the compost bin out for collection tomorrow.

greenbee

GreyQueen wrote: »

I feel a chazzer abstinence session incoming (apart from dropping stuff off, of course).

Found a lovely TED talk which I have just listened to and thought you might enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XRPbFIN4lk&feature=player_embedded

Lent is coming up GQ :cool:

GreyQueen

I'm never reallly sure about Lent. As in what/ when it is, I mean. I'm technically Cof E, insomuch as that was my family affiliation and I was baptised as an infant (registered my disapproval at the time by yelling my head off, apparently). Never did religious observances growing up, tho.

It about giving stuff up, isn't it? When does it start from? I'm thinking as we're only just off the end of the month, I shall start my Chazzer Fast on Ist March. If it overlaps with Lent, so be it.

I am mentally rummaging through my kitchen cupboards as I sit here surfing the net. I have a few things which I think can go to hang out at the chazzer and a few things which could be placed more distantly. Such as why do I need to have enough mugs on the side for all my friends to have tea at once. This is a tiny home and I have a gathering of 5 + mebbe once a year. Might have 4 of us a few more times than that, but that's IT.

One thing I'm growing more comfortable with is to say 'no' when offered something which Might Be Useful by a pal or a family member. I used to accept almost anything I was offered for two reasons, I think; that I didn't want to offend the giver and that I had a mindset where I was in desperate poverty and would really regret it if I didn't accept whatever it was. As in would be in severe want and need.

As the moment, I'm having this mental monologue:

There's the spare CD case, the little one. I don't listen to a lot of music and am happy with the big CD case. I change out CDs, old for new, so the number stays the same but they're not always the same ones. I can't see me wanting to own more than the 30-CD case worth, so the other CD case, cast-off from Mum, is empty. It's always been empty for the couple of years I've owned it. But what if I suddenly change my habits and become music-mad and want to own more CDs than will fit in the big case, and I've got rid of the little case. I'd have to buy another case and that'd be a waste of money.............. It went into a donation bag and came out again last year, I think it can go next time.


And this one.

What about the Pyrex circular flan dish. I don't have much cupboard space at all, so this sits under a stack of Pyrex pudding basins. I don't do the kind of cooking which requires this and honestly it's rarely used. It's out atm holding some fruit. But they could just have easily done in a dish, it's only two apples for cryin' out loud. I guess I got it out yesterday for this purpose because it hadn't been used for anything in the longest time and I thought I might as well use it............ I suppose I might take up flan type cooking but I really can't see it happening, I honestly think this can go to the chazzer.

Or this one.

I have three teapots. The bigger stainless steel one with the teak handle which I use regularly for making flasks (as in twice most weekends) and for company, and the little yellow pottery one which makes 1and bit mugs of tea and which I use several times a day. The lid to the yellow teapot it in 4 pieces and has been glued together for about 3 years now. It's an ugly repair, frankly. But I feel like I murdered the teapot because I knocked the lid off the counter and it broke. I haven't been able to find a yellow teapot the same size in the chazzers or booters, they're all either too big or too small.

But I did buy a smaller stainless steel and teak handled teapot which is about the same size as the yellow one. But what if the tea isn't as nice as from the yellow one? If the yellow one broke the body of the teapot, as well as the lid, I'd just switch over to this little steel pot, but whilst it's intact, I feel I owe it something. The ideal outcome would be a yellow lid which fitted it but that hasn't appeared yet. It'd probably appear right after I binned the teapot, though! Howabout I try putting the yellow pot aside and using the steel pot, just to check it's OK for size and tea taste and maybe (just maybe) slinging the yellow one? Or planting something in it, like a spider plant, to keep on the windowsills I don't have........?

It's a busy place on the inside of my head, never mind the inside of my cupboards...........:rotfl:

greenbee

Lent starts on Weds 5th March GQ (Day after pancake day) and lasts until Easter. Should be long enough to break the chazzer habit

I usually give something up (this year it will probably be eating crap) and also try to do something new or something that benefits others.

I'm not sure the insight into you state of mind is very reassuring though.

Bin the yellow teapot. Who knows what bugs are lurking in the cracks of the mended lid. ANd you have another perfectly acceptable one to use instead (says the person who doesn't drink tea, but has four teapots of varying sizes that ARE used for visitors)

whitewing

I don't think steel ones retain the heat as well as pottery ones but I still vote to bin the yellow one.

GreyQueen

greenbee wrote: »

I'm not sure the insight into you state of mind is very reassuring though.

Bin the yellow teapot. Who knows what bugs are lurking in the cracks of the mended lid. ANd you have another perfectly acceptable one to use instead (says the person who doesn't drink tea, but has four teapots of varying sizes that ARE used for visitors)

Four? FOUR!! Methinks the lady doth protest too much. :rotfl:

That's actually what does go on inside my head, a real window into GQ-space. It's a straaaannnngeee and fearsome area, peopled by peculiar beliefs and habits and The Quest for the Perfect Teapot.

What? You imagined I was as sane and sensible person? Pish, that's just the public face.

I shall now get the smaller steel teapot out and try using it to make sure that the tea is acceptable. That is for tomorrow as I'm about to go offline to read for a while before beddy-byes.

I shall report back later on in the week on the success or otherwise of the teapot upgrade project.

greenbee

GreyQueen wrote: »

Four? FOUR!! Methinks the lady doth protest too much. :rotfl:

One small (one cup), two medium (4), one large (6).

Just about copes with all the different types of tea when I have a house full!