The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

Dobbieworld ( as I like to call it) is one of my favourite places to mooch round. Although today it was in a transitional state, the last of the sales, and they haven't quite started on spring. There were cardboard boxes everywhere. But it was nice to look in the food section at all the posh jams and sauces, but thinking we'll have a go at doing them ourselves.

The curry was nice, we'll probably do it again, but maybe add a few cauliflower florets another time.

Goldiegirl

How did it get to 4 o'clock already? I don't know where the days go!


I made some mince pies this morning, to use up the mincemeat we had at Christmas - there's probably enough left for another batch next week.


I've photoed and prepped another 4 ebay listings for my friend - will try to keep this up for the next few days


I'm trying to keep up with my decluttering too. Another jigsaw sold on eBay last night, and I've binned a hair styling mousse that I never used, and a worn out make up bag ( not that I wear much make up anyway). That has increased my running total to 71.


I've also been looking at my 'jewellery' drawer. I've moved it round a bit, and the stuff I don't wear anymore is now being stored in a space freed up by other decluttering. These items are gold, and have sentimental value, such as presents from my parents and nan. Even though it's no longer worn, it's very precious to me.


Additional funds raised this week from net eBay sales, surveys, vouchers etc total £30.31, so not too bad at all.


Tonight is soup night - I'm doing potato and leek soup, another new recipe.


Tomorrow, I must do the meal planning for the next couple of weeks. I find that it really does help

Karmacat

I think I need to do the decluttering numbers, the way you and Gally do ... and I'm really starting to think this stuff just needs to get out of the house, rather than hang around for the whole of next year so I can net £25 from all that effort, I could do that in one week of matched betting if I got my act together ... nearly everything I've looked at of mine would net me £1 - £1.50 ...

pah! as they say - life's too short.

Enjoy your soup

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

I agree. I find charity shops sad because they are full of people's treasures, all being sold for 50p. Bottom line is that unless you have something very rare or of exceptional quality, you won't get much for it. Only worth it if you are lucky enough (like Goldie! ) to have the time.

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

I think I need to do the decluttering numbers, the way you and Gally do ... and I'm really starting to think this stuff just needs to get out of the house, rather than hang around for the whole of next year so I can net £25 from all that effort, I could do that in one week of matched betting if I got my act together ... nearly everything I've looked at of mine would net me £1 - £1.50 ...

pah! as they say - life's too short.

Enjoy your soup

Soup was lovely. It was a really easy recipe, but very tasty.

Numbering the decluttered items is really helpful for me. I've always been fairly target driven, and although the 500 items for the year is an aim, not a target, it keeps me on track

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

I agree. I find charity shops sad because they are full of people's treasures, all being sold for 50p. Bottom line is that unless you have something very rare or of exceptional quality, you won't get much for it. Only worth it if you are lucky enough (like Goldie! ) to have the time.

The time is so precious. Since I went part time in 2010, I've decluttered an awful lot. If I had continued working full time, I dread to think how much stuff would have been in this house.

I agree about charity shops - it's the same with vintage fairs and antiques shops. All those things were owned and loved by people at some point in the past. I find the old photos particularly sad. In the past I have bought old photos to stop them being destroyed. I ended up selling them on eBay, but at least they went to people who would look after them

Goldiegirl

We had a little bit of sleet earlier - it's sunny now, but very cold out. We are staying in today.


There's been a flurry of financial activity today.


I had a payslip from my pension people. They only send a mid-year payslip when there's a change. They've confirmed that this months pension will have no tax deducted from it. Hoorah!


A cheque came through for £29.16 for a refund of the car tax for Mr Goldie's car.


A RAC refund of £80.21 has been applied to Mr Goldie's credit card. This is more than we were expecting.


The car insurance refund should be going to his other card, but the statement isn't received until later in the month


I've had an invitation from Royal Mail surveys, which I've accepted. I know I said I was cutting down on the surveys, but this is the first time Royal Mail have invited me, so I may as well give it a go, to see what it's like. The stamps reward will be useful. I'll just wait to see what happens next.


On item decluttered - a pair of socks.


We're just going to relax for the rest of the day - no eBaying, no decluttering Just need a bit of a break from it

ljaneyr

Hi Goldie

It has been interesting reading about others experiences of memory loss and elderly parents as my dad had vascular dementia before he died. I think we are all lucky (including him) that he never got to the stage of forgetting who we were before he had his final stroke. It was so sad visiting him though because he couldn't hold a conversation or discuss the past like he used to.

I used to find the other residents of the home quite difficult too :eek:


I'm still catching up on your diary - I should be done by next Christmas

Goldiegirl

Hi Janey, sorry to hear that you've also had the experience of a close relative with dementia. Any type of dementia is so cruel.


I agree about the other residents of the home - it could be a bit challenging sometimes! Although it could be very sad as well. Some of the residents were always asking when their deceased mum/husband/wife were going to visit. If they asked me personally, I'd just say something like, 'oh, they said they'll be coming along later'. It seemed kinder, and they'd usually forget anyway. But some of the care home workers would always say the mum or spouse had died, so the resident would get upset, every time they asked the question. That seemed a bit cruel to me, it was making them live their worst day over and over again.


Anyway, today I've been furiously eBaying. I've got free listing 18th to 20th January, and I want to get as much of my friend's things listed as possible, to get it out of the house, so that I can continue with my own decluttering.


I've still got more to do, but I'm going to stop for today as I'm feeling a bit punch drunk with it all. If it all sells I'll have to spend ages on the packaging!

Karmacat

Janey, hi ... thats what my dad had, the vascular sort ... we were very lucky in that his personality didn't change. I know what you mean about conversations - it became about reading to him, or monologuing, or chatting "across" him.

My nan had been in the same place about 15 years previously, and it was "interesting", lets say. She never had any form of dementia, but she couldn't look after herself any more (and her kids were in their 70s!) and she could be quite witty about some of the other residents Unfortunately, she herself was also one of the problems the home had - she never stopped smoking in bed, but of course she'd fall asleep, and several of her sheets had holes in :eek: she was a great character, but I bet she was hard work to look after

Goldie, well done on the ebaying - the 3 magazines that were automatically relisted have had a few viewings, but no dice on sales. I think my recycling bin is going to be quite heavy next week

RoaringTwenties

My OH's Granny had dementure almost from the time I first met her, so she slowly deteriorated over 13 years. It was incredibly sad to watch her decline, and incredibly inspiring to watch her faithful husband of 70 years care for her even with his own health problems. He never once got even mildly frustrated with her which is unbelievable given how challenging she became.

The care home that they ended up in asked us as a family what we wanted them to do if her husband died first & she asked where he was, they said they were more than happy to tell her he'd just popped out & would be back in a minute, we knew she'd accept that & it seemed the far kinder thing to do than have her relive the loss daily. In the end she predeceased him by 6 weeks, dying the night they received their platinum wedding congratulation letter from the Queen

I'm glad retirement is still going well Goldie! You are my decluttering inspiration :T