General Chat

I don't move often. My last stay was 43 years, during which I reared a family of four. By the time I sold and moved, OH had passed on, and the children all had homes of their own. The Salvation Army did well out of what I threw out in the way of furniture and 'gadgets' - and after each of the children picked over what they wanted, the rest went to the Council tip.
Although I didn't think I had accumulated a great deal then (allowing for the time involved), it made me make myself a promise that I would go completely through all cupboards and drawers in every room, each twelve months - even going so far as to note it in my diary when this is to happen - and it amazes me how, in only four years, just how much unnecessary stuff I collect with each passing year.

The garden sounds lovely Rose , I hope that as the year rolls on , the garden and the house will grow on you : ))

I don't have any sentimental attachment to any of the stuff my parents left. I got rid of a lot through the local Freegle or to the Air Ambulance for their car boots to raise money. I kept the wardrobe and dressing table that were mine when I was growing up and their dining table and chairs and a large wall unit. I hope to have an extension and will be able to fit the furniture into my extension/new dining room. I wanted it because I liked it and that is the only reason.

I've kept some kitchen stuff and her glass and china. Again I happen to like it and I'll use it. Nothing sentimental between me and the parents. I've kept stuff that was precious to my mother in law as she was a special person.

Jill

Our parents kept a lot of our things when we left home, things we made at school etc, but weirdly nice is a letter written to my Brother by a family friend when he was 3 Months old, telling him all about Mum and Dad, he read it a while ago for the first time and he is nearly 60.

It's a state of mind Amanda lol, I was talking to a friend on the phone last night and she asked if I was settled, and if not why not ;) so same answer, nothing wrong with the house or the place as such, it's 'me'!

The garden's coming on well really, the weigelia, hydrangea and little flowering cherry tree all have lots of leaves, the raspberries are shooting well and my potatoes I planted last month are showing, the two lilacs I planted a few days back are really doing well also:)

Oh dear Rose , I was hoping that you would be feeling a bit settled by now . How is the garden coming along , now that Spring is well on the way , has anything exciting popped up out of the ground ?

Jillian , I have quite a few books , my parents both had a massive amount but I managed not to keep to many of theirs when they passed away .

I've got a few of those Foggy, and they are good. I guess if I decide to settle here I will buy some more lol...but I'm not 'settled' ...as yet...

Hi Jillian and Foggy, I have quite a lot of china that was my grandmother's and mother's , some of which I think can go really. I have sold some jewellery on ebay recently, earrings and brooches from the 40s and 50s , I don't mind so much if it is going to someone who will like it.

Rose,
You can get great plasterboard fixings.
All DIY stores sell them, best ones I have used are the ones that you actually screw into the plasterboard, then screw into the fixing.

Amanda, great collecting spaces those wall units aren't they lol.

I won't replace the glass on that one as when it broke it has put a few scratches on the picture, I've re-hung it on a new pin and as it's lighter might just stay up now.

I have a cupboard full of pictures, mostly heavy framed ones so they won't be going up on these walls...which begs the question, do I stay here without putting the pictures up...or move to somewhere with solid walls sometime lol.

Hi Rose,

Like you I have moved a few times, but luckily nothing got broken.

I have a few family possessions, small things that I keep, but regarding everything else, paintings, porcelain, furniture, etc, they are only goods and I expect when I die my children will take what they want and put the rest in the bin.

You cant beat living a minimalistic life style, no clutter....lol

I think that we should question the reason for the possessions we value. If they give you pleasure and make you feel good, why not have them.

On the other hand if the reason for the possessions is to impress others, their value is somehow lessened.

I have a lot of books, ornaments and other stuff. I bought because they give me pleasure. I'm not looking to impress anyone by my bookshelves.

My father was always concerned about how he looked to others. He found pleasure in being a bully and never understood the pleasure of something like an ornament. He once told me that I should be ashamed of all of my possessions. He never got it that I got them for me, because I wanted them and not because I thought that someone else would be impressed by my having them.

If I could go back forty-odd years and not hang onto stuff or collect what I have, then in hindsight I wouldn't have got everything I have. In the last five years I've had to clear two houses following deaths. What it taught me was the possessions another person loves are just inanimate objects and do not mean the same to others. I love my bits an pieces but I have to acknowledge that they will never mean the same to my kids. So I've decided that as hard as it will be, I may begin to part with them at some point in the future to save my kids from having to do what I've had to.

I hope that you get your picture fixed and if you find pleasure in that and other items, they are very valuable to you.

Jill

I think possessions are a chore and a pleasure Rose .
For neigh on twenty years I've had one of those big wall units , you know the type of thing , display cupboard , spaces for records ( lol ) , drawers underneath etc etc . I had managed to stuff so many things into it that the bottoms had fallen out of two draws , the pull down cubby hole bit was full of old letters / bills etc , the display area was packed to capacity with ornaments .
It was a monstrous piece of furniture really ........ we managed to pick up a very nice replacement one last week , similar size but sleeker and less imposing , it took we six hours to arrange my possessions into it !
I did do a far bit of grumbling and wishing I could go minimalist but now it is all arranged , just so , it looks very pleasing to me and all my precious things look so much better in their new surroundings .

Will you be getting a new piece of glass for your picture ?

Not just the dusting or keeping in good condition but the 'possessing' of something which if it breaks will distress you.

Could you live without your 'treasures'? Asking because a picture fell of the wall last night ( awful cheap plasterboard walls!) it was only a print, but one I especially like. It fell behind the settee and part of the glass smashed to smithereens...but the half remaining in the frame took forever to get out without damaging the picture.

Because I've moved a lot lately some things inevitably got broken and I'm getting to the point where I think it might be better to be very minimalist and spend the time saved in gay abandon lol.