Preparing for Winter V

SuzeQStan

Funny enough this thread has made me think - I’ve got a few unopened Christmas gifts (smellies) in boxes that i got last year. guess our local CS should take those so i will drop them off 

Fruball

SuzeQStan said:

Amazing your toms are still going @Fruball!  We’ve already put the (v small) greenhouse to bed for the winter but the mild weather makes me wish we had held out now!

Winter prep wise we are ready now (I hope!) just waiting on the cold weather but enjoying the milder temperatures long as they last! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

the last thermal curtain is finally going back up this weekend after more ceiling painting.  

Also planning to declutter some Christmas deccies ornaments, unwanted gifts and some still serviceable clothes/coats/gloves scarves, bedding, towels, and give them away on Ol!o / Trash Nothing / Free cycle etc apps.

 I love the free apps as you know that generally the person collecting will use it and hopefully prevent things from going to landfill. 

I used to take donations to charity shops, but when I realised the high percentage that are thrown away by them I had to look at other options. 

Good luck working on that signature list 

happy weekend everybody 😊👍🏻

Thank you!  It's my first time growing tomatoes as I didn't used to like them but i've been really impressed with how long they've been going for.  Definitely an experiment but a worthwhile one! 

I do need to toss the other ones into the composter though. 

A friend and I did a charity shop tour round two local towns a few weeks ago and some of the prices are ridiculous.  They need to do better IMHO.  

That said, my friend got some very underpriced, old kitchenware that is collectable and I... totally by accident, dropped the bag on her pathway and smashed two of the three.  I was absolutely mortified.  
Fortunately, she is a very good friend and dismissed it as just one of those things and worse things happen.  She's right, of course, but I still cringe.  The remaining item is now a cat treat container! 

SuzeQStan

I reckon we can all relate to that feeling Fruball - bless you!  At least the cat got some treats out of it 🤣😻

The CS in next town over sounds a bit like yours - I found a log basket in there last winter and saw the same (Brand new) basket being sold on Big River website for MUCH less 😳.

Ended up having a word with myself and getting a rigid shopping basket for less than a fiver from middle of l!dl. 

Green_hopeful

We did a survey of charity shops and take appropriate items to the appropriate shops. I always ask if they want anything unusual for example I had a lot of dinner jacket suits. I checked that our local formal charity shop would take them. They said they keep some stock upstairs and will get it out if people are looking for something specific. I know they try to sell stuff because I frequently find my items for sale. I also give lots of homeware and furniture to our local charity which furnishes accommodation for homeless people and whatever they dont want goes to a local upcycler or freecycle. I cleared a six bedroom house last year with only one car load to the tip. 

Laura_Elsewhere

Wow, @Green_hopeful - lucky you!!

a relative has had to clear two homes of recently-deceased family in the last three years, in the Scottish Borders, and ended up having to take almost everything to the council tip, after filling their own small home trying to keep stuff until new homes were found, but they just couldn't get anywhere to take anything at all- they tried refuges and suchlike, thinking saucepans and crockery would be wanted, but nope, only if it was new and in full sets, packaged...!!

it's incredibly frustrating, throwing stuff into landfill because nowhere will take it...

SuzeQStan

 watched a tv programme about a recycling centre tip that had its own shop which I thought was an amazing idea - I am a right wombler 😅 and would be willing to pay for some of the wonderful free finds I’ve had over the years. 

Went to a fab CS in Chorley (wish it was closer to us!) which specialises in wedding and occasion wear @Green_hopeful - they have a whole room dedicated to it with nice trying on rooms. Keep meaning to take my wedding dress there - nice to think of someone making use of it rather than mouldering in a loft.

Apologies if we have gotten off track from winter prep - but in a way decluttering a space is to me a part of preparing for winter when we are inside so much more and it’s too cold outside to escape the mess 🙄😂

Green_hopeful

@Laura_Elsewhere I have cleared many houses for family, dead and alive, and found somewhere for most of the items. We live in Peterborough where there are quite a lot of people with not much and they are mostly grateful for items. Sometimes they are taking them to sell but I don’t mind that. We are moving one of the grown up kids on Sunday so I guess we will have another go. I hate going to the tip and seeing so much being landfilled that people could use.