General Chat

Island it´s finding the money which is my little perk of the job, shame most of it is foreign currency *sighs* I banked the Sterling and Euros the 1st time I was here, found more the 2nd visit and banked that in my bank as Mum was in Spain and now there is still more and it´s going to pay for my trip over! Not to mention the skip hire, the gardener, the man to do the lifting for me, the locksmith to get in the garage.

No it´s not fair to those who have to do it, mind at least there is only me making the decision about what goes and what stays.

True, Uzzi, you're being a slave (as I've heard her rudely refer to you), but ultimately it will be to your benefit, not hers, I sincerely hope ;-) <3

My parents had to downsize quite drastically when they moved down from the North East to be near to me. It nearly broke their hearts, but there was no way all their accumulated stuff was going to fit into a small retirement flat.
Hubby and I had to be ruthless, but we all came to an amicable agreement. My Mam is gone now, but when Dad goes, at least we know that clearing out will be much simpler.

Geordie I agree downsizing for people must be hard, but there does come a time when they do it or everything just becomes too much for others. It´s a difficult choice and also hard to know when to do it. You don´t expect to get dementia and not know how much clutter you are causing.

Wend that´s me hun just the ruddy slave, she always said I was only born to look after her, Now where was that nearest cliff >>>> Behave Wend or I shall be singing my version of "I wanna be a hippy" again ;-) :-D

In 2005 I decided to downsize to a new three bedroom semi. So a big and I do mean BIG clear out was called for. This was a gigantic task for me, its so diifficult selecting what to keep and what to get rid of because everything had a memory and I have to admit I shed a few tears. I made up my mind then that I would no longer be a hoarder, and now from time to time I de-clutter. Since I moved in with my new OH in 2009 he has talked about emptying the loft. Along with his two sons they finally did this last Sunday. I can honestly say I have never seen so much"stuff" in my life. Forty plus years worth all went in the skip. It's so true, what is one persons treasure is anothers rubbish. I agree with Geordie it can be heartbreaking but at the end of the day someone will have to do it.

My bachelor Uncle died 2 years ago aged 87 and had lived in the same house since 1948. We bought the house in 1988 but he still lived in it, the only thing he allowed us to do was put in double glazed windows but no central heating. We found every electric bill, wage slips, Christmas cards etc since 1948. Tins of biscuits at least 10 years out of date. Cutlery, curtains, bedding, clothes, so much more. The best find was a Rolex watch from about 1980, brand new, never been worn, in its original box, buried under a load of old towels in the bottom of a very large wardrobe kept in the bathroom.
It took us over 2 months to clear the property, 6 skips and many trips to the charity shops. Talk about stress. 6 months to renovate but we have now moved in here and are very happy with it. The house is still full of memories our much loved “Uncle George”.

<3 <3 So many memories Ollie, no-one can take those away.

Alice used to make me a cup of tea when I did my paper round(I was in my thirties). She lived in a farm cottage with her husband and bachelor son and was in her eighties.

Occasionally she would ask me to get her a bit of shopping and I would forget how much it was,then she couldn't pay me because she didn't have much and lived very frugally.

When she died the family the family cleared out the house of all the old bits of string and the ironed wrapping paper and all the unopened wage packets that were hidden all over the place and,when opened,were found to contain £25,000.

Ollie what memories but I doubt I could have done that.

Sharron I am still hoping for the biggie something the tax man can´t get his hands on again ! I shall unwrap every pair of socks and check each and every shoe, book, and bag.

2 years go we decided the 20+ year kitchen really needed renewing. Was a big clear out needed so the units could be dismantled Why did I have so many plastic boxes .pryrex casserole dishes odd cups etc etc. i gave some to grandaughter who has her own flat but we took loads to the tip that were odds and sods or had chips on the plates etc. Was unloading and depositing when the lady in the next car to us saw I had all the crockery and asked me if she could have it . Threw me at first what she was saying ,she said her daughter was setting up her first home/flat and could make use of it . I said sure but some of it is chipped !! she said that's OK I will have it so we swapped it over to her car.

In Sept we had to have the house rewired, It is a 1960,s house and the wiring needed to be upgraded. We did a BIG clear out of the loft and did about ten trips to the tip . Was storing things for grandson/grandaughter and daughter so we told em if you want your stuff you have to take it or its dumped. .

We still have some stuff up there of ours that needs keeping but at least the electricians could work around it to get access to where they needed.

Very satisfying getting rid. You think you arent a hoarder but get a big surprise when you see what junk you have kept.

Have cleared our attic out twice in the past 20 or so years, but we just seem to fill it again!

Bit like my shed Geordie we moved to Spain without one I got a shed hubby de-cluttered, I filled it again we moved hubby decluttered. I am in the UK and hubby the sneak has been in the shed !

Well those who know me well know I am a hoarder of the biggest order and my son is terrified I am going to pop my clogs before I have sorted out all my stuff, I have garages full as well as a house, but have managed to clear two garages into on smallish storage area and set to prune that down soon. Maybe then I will feel motivated to sort some more out and get rid of more stuff. It's so hard tho, so many memories and stuff from my parents home and my late friends' too.

Well done for doing as well as you have so far Uzzi, I have been thinking about you.


Lizxxx

The more space you have, the more stuff you collect. We had a huge new garage built 2 years ago, in the hope we might finally get the car put away. Not a chance! Though I must say, Hubby is having a clear out as we speak, so I live in hope.