Update after a break.

I finally managed to get rid of the bulky leather suitcase which was taking up space next to my side of the bed, some curtain fabric I decided not to use and an antique paper knife which I had nowhere to store but my windowsill, lol.  Anyway, I had an Ebay week and ended up having to have help to go to the post office because some of the parcels were heavy or bulky (wah, all that space I feed up!) I put another charity bag out with a few bits in and of course my packaging pile for ebay has got smaller too.

I haven't blogged recently because, believe it or not I have been doubting my ability to do this - I mean to live more simply.  My urges to go out and buy or acquire things are very strong and although I'm aware that I'm sabbotaging my efforts sometimes I can't always stop myself.  Mostly, I try to buy consumables, things I'll use up so they won't become stuck in my space, or I'll use the one in one out policy (if something comes into the house then something similar must be let go of).  Or I'll buy more due to there having been natural wastage e.g. clothes or shoes wearing out and needing replacing.  I buy books if I need to but I'm fairly careful to get them out of the house once I've finished with them, they are great dust gatherers and I don't have time to read a lot of books.

My comfort buying urges also have underlying causes of course.  Recently my teenage daughter has been very challenging, causing regular stress over how loud other family members have the tv (we all keep it very low) and throwing tantrums at the meal table over eating noises which she says she has a phobia about.  My mind is also full of thinking about applying for the next stage of counselling courses which would be a big committment.

No, I haven't totally let go or ruined my decluttering efforts of this year but I'm aware that it's not just the stuff I'm having to work with, it's also myself.  After all it was me who got me in the mess I'm in today.  Just me. 

Thoughts on a Rainy Evening

I took three parcels to the post office and will be taking three more as soon as the buyers have paid up.  There are, of course, always incoming things like the knitting patterns for instance and new school clothes for Zoe.  I am choosing not to view knitting patterns as clutter.  For one thing they have a use and thankfully take up very little room.  Even so, I will look through my patterns and give away or sell any I don't want anymore.  I do try to operate the one in, one out policy in the house so that it doesn't silt up with stuff.  Zoe's wardrobe needs a sort through so that the old school uniform can be outgoing either to fabric recycling or to charity.  There are only really a few pockets of wild clutter left in the house - the untamed stuff which lies about with no fixed abode.  Although of course I'm not counting the loft which is groaning with 16 years of  toys.  These days I'm verrry careful what we put up there as I know I'm only storing up problems for later.

We have had a lot of rain here this evening, I can hear it pouring down even now.  Cherry is feeling anxious as she is starting college tomorrow.  I have just dyed her hair and earlier bought her some new false eye lashes.

The End of Two Eras

I am having a bittersweet day.  It's the first day back at school for my youngest and it looks like my school run days are over as she is now old enough to want to be independent and go with a friend.  I'm pleased she's organised this with a girl in her class but of course it means I no longer have those walks with her and that familiar structure to my day (I've been doing school runs for 12 years).  So I suppose I'm in mourning in a way.  The days of small children are past.

The other bittersweet thing is that I am knitting some baby things for a friend of mine and - sorry I can't remember if I've blogged this before - I've been getting really interested in vintage baby knitting patterns as a result.  They turn up in charity shops quite a bit and I am starting to view them from a new perspective.  Modern patterns tend to be rather dumbed down at times and can feel a bit half hearted in terms of being a bit cobbled together, I don't know if that makes sense.  Vintage ones from the forties and fifties are so beautiful and they seem more patterned and as if more care went into the little details.  I am feeling as if I'd like to knit from these patterns and maybe sell or give away to charity what I produce.  Anyway, to get to the bitter part, I visited my mum this morning and she had gathered together her old baby knitting patterns to give to me as she seems to have no intention of knitting baby things ever again.  This gives me a big pang of sadness as, when my girls were born she knitted some truly lovely cardigans and matinee coats which I used and used and treasured.  As the girls grew older I didn't part with them and, in fact, they are now under my side of the bed in my old baby changing bag but you can't see them in my picture (previous post) as they are tucked well under.  As I cycled away from my mum's I thought she looked old and tired and I wondered how long I would have her in my life.  She, too, is clearing out but not so that she can live in peace .......

So it's an emotional day with strong feelings and awareness of the passage of time and the end of two eras both at once.  I'm not keen on this time of the year, I prefer Spring into Summer.

My Side of the Bed and a Peek in my Drawers

Here is my bed side area and top drawer.  A few months back the chest of drawers was dusty, crowded with soft toys and books with all sorts of stuff on the floor in front of it and in the drawers.  I still have a problem or two to sort out and if the camera was pointing in the opposite direction it would tell a different story, but I'm proud of this space I've cleared in my life through simplifying and decluttering.  I sorted out the top drawer by emptying it out, vacuuming it, lining it with a lovely scented drawer liner I bought at a car boot sale (people never seem to get around to using these and yet they look and smell great every time you open the drawer!) and replacing only what I use regularly.  It used to contain old cassette tapes I didn't listen to and books I didn't like but thought I ought to read.  The middle drawer used to house my financial papers and school letters and certificates.  I made room in our study for these by getting rid of books no longer used and now it has become a drawer where I keep my latest knitting projects. I like to knit when I am relaxing so it's good to have them to hand. In the bottom drawer I keep nightwear - I have far too much but I'm working on that.  I've sold two kimonos on Ebay today and at least now the rest will fit nicely into the drawer.  My radio is a much loved object, I listen to it at night when I am going off to sleep.  The vintage basket on the floor contains what I have sold this week on Ebay.  And that's about it really.  I'd love some comments and more followers, is there anybody out there?

Personal Space

Some of my things are selling well on Ebay and it will be good to package them up tomorrow and send them out to people who want them.  Anyone who shares their living space with others knows how important the few small areas that are only ours are.  It's important to work towards keeping those clear of clutter.  We can work outwards from there.  My personal space is getting better than it was and I'm finding that because I have less what I do have is behaving itself better!  Onwards and upwards!  I'll try and take some pictures of my little bit of the world.

An Ebay Week

It's been such lovely drying weather I stripped off the covers of our sofas and chairs and ran them through the washing machine as my official washing day had freed up line space for the rest of the week.

I've been focusing on my Ebay sales and I managed to list another couple of things yesterday.  At the moment the house isn't emptying out as fast as I would like and in fact a couple of people have brought us things!  My neighbour was clearing out his own space and knocked on the door with a stack of paper which he couldn't bear to throw away and he thought the girls could use it.  My heart sank because I had had a thorough sort out of old notebooks and paper but I didn't make a fuss, at least it's "consumable".  Then my best friend left an electric guitar and amplifier for my eldest to have a go with but we couldn't get it working and it is now sitting propped up by my bedroom door ready to be tripped over.  And last night in the middle of the night there was a loud thud which woke us up, it was my leather suitcase plus my clothes stacked on top falling over onto the floor having finally toppled under its own weight.  I need another surge of decluttering power now and it will come, it always does.

Hard Work

It's been hard work today doing the laundry.  I had lots of it to catch up with.  I looked at the old ironing pile and decided to just re-wash it and let the creases fall out on the line and I also worked my way through a mending pile (this included putting a zip in a skirt).  Now I am tired but I am ahead of the game, there is fresh laundry folded in the airing cupboard and the last couple of loads are drying on the line in the last of the afternoon sun.  I have watchers on some of my Ebay things and there's a charity bag coming in the morning so I'm going to have a look around and see what I can let go of next.  I have not been shopping although I normally "comfort shop" if I feel at all low - which I do today.  I think that although I'm grateful nobody got hurt in our car crash I'm sad about my car, it was the best I've ever owned.