General Chat

I've got a suitcase on my wardrobe with 'bits & bobs' in - mainly sewing patterns and material. Thought I'd have a look at it this afternoon with a view to throwing stuff out.
At the bottom there was a black carrier bag - put my hand in and screamed!!! It was furry!!
Took a few minutes to look in from a distance and carefully remove the objects - just in case it was something really gross.
Well it was a bit gross.
Ihave just found a fur cape (possibly mink), a stole (possibly american marten) and a large piece of persian lamb fur that looks like it was once a huge collar. They all used to belong to my gran! Totally forgot I had them - I know there's a fox fur stole in the attic.
Not too keen on real fur - but the animals were killed in the 20's - 40's and it seemed a shame to just bin them!

Anyone else find unexpected things whilst clearing up?

Similar experience whilst clearing out a house of the elderly lady who lived next door to mum:

found a lovely top hat box in one bedroom - oval, tin and in excellent condition. Opened it up and there............crawling with gawd only knows what.......................was a fur something or other!! I nearly wet myself - lol

I had no idea what to do with said item, so tipped it on the garden and set fire to it. Drastic measure, but the box was soooooooooo lovely I had to have it!!!

Jac xxx

Lol Maggie bet that was a fright when you put your hand in!!
Last clear out at my mum's we found my diary from 1978 - well I didn't even recognise myself lol what a right plonker - I haven't laughed so much in ages.

Kaz :o))

PS OH reckons I ain't changed that much *tut*

Oooh YUK Jac!!
At least gran's furs were/areclean - stink a bit now though as I must have had the forethought to put mothballs in the suitcase to protect them!

I'm not normally a squeemish person, but the sight of that heaving maggotty mess was enough to make me want to boff!!

I kept the box for years (after it was fumigated of course) and eventually gave it to a very dappy young funeral director in order that he could keep his edwardian top hat in the style to which it used to be accustomed!

I neglected to tell him what had been in it previously)))))

ooh Kaz - I'd hate to think I'd left something as my dairy at my mums!
Jac - what the eye doesn't see etc......

Just realised my gran was full of surprises. My sister & I went to stay with gran once, (we were about 8 and 12) and we slept in her bed. Being nosey, we opened a drawer in her dressing table - and found a parcel labelled 'The ashes of xxxx' - my grandad's ashes - he died 6 weeks before I was born. We didn't sleep well that night!! LOL

Whilst clearing out my grans house after she died, we found birthday and post cards cards dating back to her grandmother - all a bit damp, but I slowly dried them out - mum has them now.
We also found love letters between her and my grandad - that was a BIG surprise - did people do that sort of thing then?

Oh - and we found grandad's ashes - again! Gran wanted to be cremated and her and grandad's ashes spread over The Dell (Southampton FC's ground.)
Unfortunately the Dell had just been demolished and a housing estate build where it had been........so we gave grandad's ashes to my uncle who had made himself executor!!

Dont tell me uncle went round tipping a bit of the cremated remains on every rose tree he could find on the estate? )))

Why not see if there is a charity that will take them?
I had 2 fox stoles that were my aunt's and I sent them to Russia through my friend who's son used to drive with a big van full of donations.I would imagine they would be appreciated there as in the winter it isw so cold and they don't have the same aversions as us.

Brenda x

No idea Jac!!!

Hi Brenda,
I'm keeping them - they're a bit of history - not just family, but of man's brutality.
I have no objection to animals being killed for food and their fur/skin being used as a by-product, but to be killed just for their fur I find a bit nasty.

Glad you're not going to bin them.I LOATHE waste!!!
comes with being brought up during the war!

Brenda x

If I was you I would loooooooove to ask N'Uncie what he did with the cremated remains))))))) I bet he's still got 'em!

Keep hold of those furs! they are so old that they will be worth an absolute mint in years to come and you wont be able to get their like again. Just make sure they are stored properly!))))

I know what you mean about them being a by-product but they are truely scrumptious when around your neck.

Our charity shop wont take any furs - whether man-made or other. I had to take my very old Chinese Rabbit coat (and my mum's) to the tip to dispose of it. Such a waste really, as someone who was desperate for a coat in the depths of winter could have been well-toasty had they had the opportunity to get hold of one or the other.

Jac xxx

I sold the furry things that I found belonging to MIL at a car boot lol.