Was I lost? I have been gone for some time. So what happened to me to be away from here so long? Well, what hasn't happened to me!
For starters I started that job I mentioned I had an interview for in the last blog and this time FULL TIME!!! I cannot cope! It is too much! Four days work and 3 day weekend was just perfect. That extra day gone is doing me in to no end.
Not only do I have less pay and for more days I also took on a new territory - the North/West whereas I used to do South/East. So not only will I have new products to learn, I will be learning a whole new territory, the people, the parking and so on.
First off, I have yet another confession to make, I promised to take photos last time of the before and after shots from when the Declutter Whisperer was here - the wonderful Kim. I must admit when she sent them to me I kind of, sort of, well..... didn't want to post them. Hopefully, by the time I finish writing this I can find the 'hutspah' to share them with you here. OooAah, this is more confronting than I first thought. This letting it all hang out isn't what I thought it would be cracked up to be ... hope that makes sense!
Anyway, this is what has transpired since last I posted. Now where do I begin....
It has been almost 2 months and am determined to do at least one blog for June end, which is only hours away by now.
Well, I had plans of putting in the heating only first and stagger the jobs to make the money last longer and build up as I go so I had a buffer. Best laid plans never go to plan! Do they now? Well, not for me.
As luck or timing had it the old original copper boiler in the ceiling from 1961 decided to give up the ghost. Did I dare say that Heating would win first... well the hot water system had other ideas in store for me.
I had no idea till I called the plumber that water was pouring out of a pipe at the side of the house as to how serious it was till he ordered me to turn off the water immediately and fortunately for me, Ray came to our rescue the very next day. Sure we lived without water for a few days, but it could have been worse. Due to the fact that he was here anyway and also installs split systems, I decided to do all the jobs at once and put in the HWS and Heating along with hooking up the toilet to utilise the tank water as well as the washing machine, which can use mains or tank as the need suits.
This has meant dust and plenty of it. Dust everywhere. So over the dust.
My daughter was spared all this pain as she was overseas enjoying herself in the sun. Boy was she ever lucky.
As with all jobs one problem usually shows up many more and I found out the pipe behind the toilet system was about to burst so yet more expenditure. Also, I have been slowing paying back smaller debts that have been outstanding for some time with some very patient debtors.
I was hemorrhaging money left, right and centre.
But the pressure of the water has been worth the pain. And as for the heating!!! Unbelievable. I just hope it will end up cheaper to run that the oil column heaters that I have had to use all these years in this house. The next bill will tell all. Here's hoping.
I will get more solar panels put on the roof at some stage to help reduce the electricity bill. But that will have to wait a little while longer now. Will get a quote to see if it is doable now or as I suspect later on.
I haven't drawn breathe since Kim was here to assist me in decluttering the lounge room, which is where we decided to start. After this experience I will have her back again in blocks as she really was a gun. At one stage I think she looked a tad overwhelmed, but forged on forth without complaint. She was onto all my tricks and niggles and allowed me some of my more 'emotive' moments. I in return let her do her thing so I could see the final 'canvas' most of which I have left as I like it that much.
We worked together solidly for nearly 5 hours. She achieved much more than I ever could have in as many months. By trusting her I got alot done. There was stuff for the bins, stuff for the sallies and stuff to go to specific areas. It felt good and better still it looked good.
The surprising thing was my children's reactions when they saw what we achieved. They were truly blown away. My daughter's boyfriend wanted to know if I had been robbed! Now that was hilarious.
She actually listened to what I had to say and as to how I wanted it to feel like in the end. We will do this in stages as most hinges on when my daughter moves out early next year. Like a domino effect.
When my daughter does move out, I paint that room and move in. Then I paint my old room and move all the computer and other furniture that is to go in there making more room in the lounge and dining room area instantly. I then plan to paint the corridor, bathroom, laundry and toilet areas. The last will be lounge and then the kitchen/dining area. This will take years, but I don't mind.
This coming weekend I will attack the laundry area and then only put back in there what belongs. Then what is left in the corridor most of will then go to the Sallies. Her boyfriend will in late July start helping me srt out alot of the major pruning of the garden in stages and hopefully wont need to pay a huge amount for a gardener. I so want that BBQ area set up by Spring to enjoy finally.
Ray the plumber had an electrician here who quoted me for some fix up jobs and a friend a carpenter to fix the attic surround and then I should be done for a while. There goes my holiday for the moment. But it will be all worth it.
In the meantime, I start my new full time job and my head is spinning. I also had to attend a conference at the Gold Coast so I really was turned upside down in my day to day routine.
OK... I will be brave and show you my before and after shots of the lounge room, which still is a work in progress.
This is of the book shelf area near the kitchen... the heater you see is an old oil heater that is no longer in use. Just there for decoration now.
Before
After
This is looking from the dining room area into the lounge area where I keep all my DVD's, VHS's (and yes I still do use them), CDs etc and you get to see my Mum's old Tredle Sewing Machine. This will go into my room once I get to move into the main bedroom once my daughter leaves, hence waiting, waiting and more waiting. But I have waited this long I don't mind helping my daughter get back up on her feet once more.
Before
After
Since this area has been decluttered the cat now curls up in that bowl!
Well that wasn't so bad was it? Well yes, but I have to share in order to let go and move on.
For the time being I will have to get myself used to working full time, the product information and the huge amounts of kilometres in travel. I am still managing to participate with Wrokdown at least, which is my love job. We have a show for 21 July. Just a little something else to do.
I am glad that the Will has been finalised, but it still has twinges of bittersweet feelings wrapped up the whole saga.
I have lost my Dad some years ago who I miss dearly. I have lost my Mum closely followed by my much loved sister in crime not all that long ago. My remaining older sibling who never liked me took this opportunity to crucify me and place me on the outer of her family and my much loved sisters daughter. How could this happen. Quite easily really if one holds enough loathing within them.
I miss all three who I was extremely close to and have finally accepted there is nothing I can do about the living and the breathing relo left standing. This next picture is of a quote that I find profoundly fitting.
Life is way too short to pander to the demands and bullish behaviour of a so called blood relative. So I have finally chosen not to and in so doing have lifted the gloom and doom from my life.
This part saddens me to no end, but I cannot any longer allow it to dictate my day to day life or future. Time is finite. I have way too much still to do and achieve without this worry. Saying goodbye is never easy. However, there is no other way.
To recap I haven't done all that much, but I have done much.
Hopefully, the job and my energies will settle in and I will be able to call upon Kim's talents once more to instigate phase 2 of the lounge room reorder. This time it will be 'what is behind those cupboard doors'? Will post those picture next time.
Well, I at least intend to.
Will not leave it so long next time till my next post.
Cheers to one and all.
Anita
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