You have a BBQ!!!

Hi Guys,

That time again... and fortunately I have some time to sit and write for a change.

This new job has me coming and going from hither to nither and I must say the tiredness has not waned a jot. 

However, I am glad to be gainfully employed.   Things could be worse as many are losing there jobs right now with a very uncertain future.  I have been there at the steps of uncertainty for years now and like the fact that this time round I am not on that Merry-Go-Round.  But that can all change within a heartbeat as I well know by personal experience.

Now what's this title all about ... 'you have a BBQ!!!'. 

Well, I found this quite amusing and perplexing all at the same time. 

Peoples perceptions can be vastly differing to your own and when you realise that it can be either very liberating and interesting or downright confronting.

Let's go back to earlier today, which my dear friend Sue came to help me with my laundry top cupboards, which had all the blankets placed there just before my Mum died.  It was Sue who helped me while Mum told both of us the story of each item as we went at that very time with Mum.  Mum doing this held us up, but we listened patiently with due respect to my Mum's stories all the same and I am so pleased now that we did.

One of the blankets up there was from the war years in Europe.  I think I have mentioned this before about this blanket.  During her time at the end of the war Mum and Grandmum ended up in a German Displacement Persons Camp.  They were given basics, but some items were extremely uncomfortable to say the least.  Blankets were no exception.  No goose feathers here.  Grandmum somehow managed to get some cotton sheets to make the very rough army blankets they had been given into a quilt so that they could use without being scratched to death by the coarse blankets to be able to sleep more comfortably in the confined quarters after WWII.  She sewed them together and to see it now fills me with wonder about the life that had to endure and the moments that they escaped from and somehow lived to tell the tale.

I am so grateful to my friend who calmly and quietly set about getting these blankets down.  I got rid of most of the blankets except for 2 pure woollen Onkaparinka blankets, one Mohair tartan and another from Albany Australia.  The rest have gone to the Salvation Army already as I write this.  Many warm blankets going to good families. 

As for the Quilt from WWII I will take that to the Immigration Museum and see if they have any interest in its story along with a picture of my Mum and Grandmum in said Displacement German Camp.  If not I will keep it with the story attached to it for the family future generations.  Maybe it will survive.  Maybe it wont.  But, at least it will be there for a little while longer.

I will have to take a picture and add at a later date.  Have put it back up and have no way of getting it now that all the tall people have gone for the day.

Sue and I then tackled the Christmas decorations in the corridor to place up in said laundry top cupboard.  We first tackled items under the carport.  Collapsing empty boxes and going through the plastic containers I had, which then made more bags for the Sallies.  With 2 containers and the right sized boxes in hand we boxed up the Christmas decorations, Christmas paraphanalia such as hats (I have many different ones that I like to keep and rotate and use as each chrissy passes by) along with the small Christmas Tree and lights as well as a box with presents that I have bought to be given in the future.  They all now with a spot to live in.

Here is where they have been since the last clear out waiting for the laundry area to be dealt with.

Poof... now they are gone!!!

I also placed my beach stuff up there and will also place my camping gear up there.  Seasonal items that we all use, but on an annual basis.  Being that I don't have a garage it makes sense to place these items in this space till I get up into the attic, which will be last to tackle.

After that was done, my daughters boyfriend came to check out the front and back yard situation.

Now, here is where I got the title for this instalment. 

My daughter says to her boyfriend could he come and have a look at our backyard BBQ to check that it is still in operational condition and if not to be put out with the Hard Rubbish Collection.  To which he responded in a somewhat higher pitch '... you have a BBQ?...'. 

I had to laugh as the backyard is a jungle now and being in desperate need for help to turn the tide of nature.

This is some of how the triffids have taken over...

And this particular plant is still in it's pot!

We walked around discussing my 'wants' and what was required to get the place back into ship shape, including guttering and the roofing and the chopping and lopping and the pruning and the turfing and the list goes on and on and on.  But we have a starting point now and we also can achieve it in a few weekends! 

That first BBQ is looking good as apparently the BBQ is salvagable.

We then set our sights on placing items on the nature strip for the up and coming Council Hard Rubbish Collection.  Sue, myself, my daughter and her boyfriend piled the gear that had piled up under my carport and front lawn onto the front nature strip.  We even managed some stuff from the backyard.  Photos further down.

Here is a picture of daughter's boyfriend pondering what he has got himself into.

Here are some before and afters with the removal of rubbish.

From the above to the below where I now can park my car further up under the carport.

OK, I know what you are thinking... 'but it's not all done!'.  True.  But I take my wins where and when I can.  What is behind all that lot is my eBay stuff.  I would like to make a little cash out of all my hard earns if I can.  Otherwise, off to the Sallies it goes anyway.

More before and afters of the front nature strip and front yard.

From that to this and you can see where my beautiful daughter left her calling card from her car... grrr... anyhoo to this...

and in preparation for Council Hard Rubbish Collection

from this to hohum...

more hohum...

Missy is trying to get in on the act by helping with the rubbish bags, but that window keeps getting in the way...

Sue has helped and on her way with her birthday gifts from Aija and set a time for the dinner for a belated celebration.  You can see more rubbish has piled up to be placed in bins as the weeks go by, but some nice neighbour may allow me to use their space if I ask nicely...

That about wraps it up for this time round.

Will be putting out more rubbish from the backyard next week and booking dates to get the yard back into order.

After cleaning and dealing with inside my daughter feels it is now time for the hoarder whisperer to come back to help me in the lounge room.  So glad she is beginning to see the picture of the domino effect and that it does take time and bucket loads of patience.

My shoulders are sore and my heart is content. 

And so my journey continues.

Till next time guys.  Life is but a journey. 

How long we have or how far we go and what we choose to do it with is all up to sheer luck and our choices.

Well I am echoing bucket loads...

Just love Ladybugs... no other reason for this picture...

Now I am concentrating more on 'times' that make me happy.

I will love and leave you with that one.

Cheers to you all till next time,
Anita
.... who is still getting there!