Hi Guys,
Well, I don't believe it! After 3 months in my new job I have actually started on the inside of the house. Will wonders never cease!
This current wave of activity is somewhat due to my daughter's insistance. Her boyfriend wants to meet me and she wants the place presentable. I just say to her, explain my situation. That and had she included some time into her busy social calendar earlier then this would be a mute point.
She set a day aside last weekend taking into consideration my back and that I had to go to work so chose a Saturday so I could recover on the Sunday prior to work.. We started methodically in the lounge of what was still there plus the corridor. Alot of it was papers that had to be looked at. I threw out alot of things including getting rid of anything remotely broken and items for the Sallies.
We had to move furniture at one stage to make the room work better. My son helped out with cups of tea and lifting heavy boxes. My daughter before starting this had visions of tackling the lounge as well as the kitchen! She realised later that day that that was not going to happen. It is finally starting to sink in the magnitude of the job and the energy and time required in which to do it.
Sadly, I had to let go of my Grandmum's wooden rocking chair. I just don't have the room at the moment.
The lounge area we started on is looking presentable. However, we didn't even touch on what was behind the buffets cupboard doors. That is for another day. We really only skimmed the surface. And that took us ALL day.
Those in this situation generally need assistance to get this job done. As it is, there are now piles of rubbish bags outside under the carport to fit into bins, which will take several weeks. I only have a small council bin. Along with the bags filling the porch to go to the Sallies. And last, the broken items that need to be sent to the tip or into a skip. My daughter will take the bags and bags to the Sallies and I will work on the rubbish. As for the broken items we will have to figure that out later on as my council only provide one hard rubbish removal a year. Very inconsiderate and inconvenient.
When I moved the last of Mum's boxes from my neighbours garage back under my carport, I tossed heaps of magazines along with fabric, wool, kitchenware, furniture, clothing (baby, childrens and adult), shoes and anything else you can think of. On reflection, it does get somewhat easier. I cannot believe I only left myself with 6 pieces of my furniture in the end from the garage, which includes a spare fridge. Which looks like my daughter will take when she moves out later next year! Bright side is, after I get through with what is still left, which by the way is still abundant, I can start afresh. Woohoo. But I cannot celebrate just yet. Ahhh, that distant tantilising light.
I just want all this to be over now!
The day spent with my daughter was fantastic. We worked like a well oiled machine with not one disagreement throughtout. It is a relief to finally have her on board with a positive outlook rather than the negative one in the past. Such a difference to the outcome. This meant no matter how tired we were we were relaxed to handle the task at hand.
In the past I felt like I had to fight to be understood as to my methods and sequence of going about my humoungous downsizing. This growth in her is remarkable and feel so proud of her for taking that leap of faith in trusting my process.
I am trully blessed with 2 of the most wonderful children. They now embody what I have been trying to impart to them all these years. But a mother's job is never done and neither has my decluttering for that matter.
A person in amongst my friend circle has suffered a blow in that his entire house was fire bombed and lost the lot. I will be giving him one of the Christmas trees that is still its box unopened that Mum had along with some key items to get his family back up. These items can be replaced for those they would like, but in the meantime it means my Mum's things will serve a purpose and that idea I really like.
A friend has offered to come over in the holidays to speed up this process and we will work on downsizing what's in the cupboards in the lounge and if possible including the kitchen area. Then when I go through what's left of my boxes - if it doesn't fit - I will have to either give it away or change it for an item in that cupboard. I just don't want to end up with only my Mum's stuff. I still want my items as well. But you don't need 5 dinner sets. I have already given away 2 sets and I think I am down to 3 so one more to go. This is where the hard part comes. Deciding which to keep!!!
It truly is a dilemma of all magnitude. I may have to resort to 'eany meany mo' method! No joke.
Then there are the Latvian books. There are soooo many. I will keep the historical ones for sure. The dictionaries, bibles, history and geography books, but will have to seriously look at the novels. I just cannot keep them all. Another huge job in itself.
The there are all the photo albums and negatives as Mum was a prolific photo taker. I will need to ensure who is who in the photos and take stock as in amongst her albums are Grandmum's albums as well. You can see where I am heading here. Yet another time consuming job.
Then there are all the letters and paperwork she kept. I have the original tredle sewing machine she bought in the early 50s in Western Australia. It is still in working order, with the original sewing tin and kit that came with the machine along with the receipt! This totally blew me away. Such history. That will stay where it is and a hex to anyone who removes it. There are some things you just don't mess with.
Oh, by the way, my gorgeous Peter Jago hat did not sell... and yes, true to my word, off to the Sallies it went. Now, that one wasn't easy. I love my hats even if they no longer love me.
Christmas is fast approaching and I am thinking ... would it be in poor taste to gift some of this good stuff! More than likely yes... but hell what am I to do? In the area of cashflow, that side is ever so slowly improving, but again, I am in no way out of the woods as yet.
I have for many years now helped out at one of the Sallies branches for their Christmas drive in packaging and handing out bags of gifts for families so the children will have something under the tree, along with food vouchers and a Christmas fare basket as well. I love doing this as it brings home how hard life is for others other than yourself. It helps shift one's focus on the greater community rather than be self involved. It also means you gain a greater appreciation for when the good times do get to come so you can share... and they come when one's attitude to receive is right. You cannot receive if you do not give.
Some people do go through life without a care or a thought for those around them and never help out their greater community. If you choose not to help out your fellow man, then how can you expect to be helped yourself if you ever fall on hard times. To lend a hand is divine and you gain more than you give. To see a smile or a tear in another is a gift in itself.
I love my Sallies Chapter as they have stood by me and helped me through some very dark times without judgement or pressure. Now that I am able to stand on my own once more is their reward. They help all without question and sometimes I think, but this particular person is obviously going to the market to sell what you have provided. And as one member leant over and quietly said, 'one day there maybe nothing of market value to give and instead a loaf of bread, then there will be no more market, but there will be food'. They will still help these types as there usually are children involved so they find other ways in which to provide so that the children do not suffer. Amazing people if you ask me.
Anyway, while my friend Kezza has been away she lent me her GPS. As I am repping and on the road, even though I know my way around Melbourne more than most, I still have found this contraption invaluable in time saving. I have now purchased one that was on sale and I talked them down for one that also give live traffic updates so I can avoid sitting in traffic. I love it... thanks Kez.. you are a gem. However, I still like the visual of a good old fashioned Road Map and hope they never stop printing them. But I fear that that type of expertise my diminish. Such is progress.
My front garden that was looking gorgeous now has weeds again. Didn't have enough dosh for the mulch. Will have to kill the weeds once the rains die down and hopefully by that time will have the dosh to get the mulch to avoid the regrowth. As you can tell I do not possess a green thumb. That gene skipped me. Living on the land is in my heritage, but it escaped me. Sad, but true.
Four more weeks till my Christmas break which will be for 3weeks. Time to get my projects under way and either complete or more than half way done. Also, have a few laughs and some small snippets of serious downtime with the family. Really looking forward to it for the first time since Mum died.
It is time.
It is time to allow myself to receive joy.
And time has been very kind to me in some ways.
The week prior to Christmas I will be busy with getting things ready for Christmas Eve, but I will be planning on still 'chucking' the stuff out also. Let's hope I actually do it.
The next few weeks will be busy as with my head down and bum (bottoms to you guys overseas) up with the silly season upon us.
Shopping centres are to be avoided at all costs at Christmas time if you ask me. However, my job takes me into this very horror zone each day!
I will survive!
Till next time my friends. Trust your preamble to Christmas or whatever celebration you have will be a fruitful and happy one.
Cheers from less loaded
Anita
xxx
Monday, 21 November 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
There comes a time when ya' just gotta say 'stuff it'!
Hi Guys,
Almost another month has passed us by. Where does it ('time' that is) go?
Many times I have wanted to jump on and add a piece of news, but this new 'wonderful' job has me busy as. I recently went on my maiden 'virginal' country voyage just last week. Now not having done one of these ever, I had to nut out the timing of the drive and visits to my new customers. I think I went a tad overboard on the first leg of the trip!
The first day was from the inner suburbs of Melbourne down to a place called Phillip Island and then snaked around the lower end of Victoria and then cut through the mid section of Victoria through to Morwell and then onto Traralgon for the first overnight stay in a B & B. Sounds easy enough doesn't it! NOT if it is raining the moment you leave home to almost 11 hours later to your destination! I was a drowned rat and had it not been for the loan of a GPS from Kezzah, I would have been 'stuffed'! Big huge thanks Kezzah!!! It truly was a life saver.
Not only did I have to deal with the rain the whole day long and unfamiliar roads, but at one stage I was sent off, by the police, at a road block off into the National Forrest! Yes, folks, little lonesome me into the wilderness, full pelt of rain, starting to get dark on windy mountainous and at times dirt roads to goodness knows were! At one stage, I had to traverse one section of the road that one half had given way from the side of the mountain... now that was scary... as I didn't know if the road that was left was stable and had no way of going back. I made it through, but this little adventure added another 90 mins to my now already long day and I was getting very weary by now. This is where the GPS came into play. I had no idea where I was or heading and thankfully the GPS kept going and directing me out of this hell hole. It more than likely added kilometers to the trip by taking same strange route, but out I did get.
As much as I found the GPS exceptionally wonderful as a tool. It also spooked me out that some satellite high up in the sky could track me!!! Just a thought.
You would think things would get better from there, but each day I was presented with yet another set of issues, which I wont go into here. Suffice it to say, it was exhausting, enjoyable and glad I got through as now I will know better for next time.
All this driving played havoc with my back and will have to look into ways to support my back better for next time. All a learning curve.
Now, I sit here with a cold and look at 'the stuff' around me and know in my head what I want to do, but my legs are in concrete and my want does not outway my inertia. So I have decided to pack up the things I wanted to eBay and take those 2 huge garbage bin bags to the Sallies (Salvation Army) instead. I have realised now that there is just not enough time to eBay.
So 'stuff it' all, I say. Out it goes.
But just where is my energy?
It is a bugger getting older, as at times it stops you from doing what you really would like to do. In days gone past, I was always on top of all the things in my life and home. Many would comment how welcoming my home was, warm and friendly. But after all the horror of life that got thrown my way in general and a certain person who just never stepped up to the moment along with illness (my son/Mum and myself and the death of my Dad) and caring and then inheriting so much more 'stuff' in abundance - it seems it has all gone pear-shaped or at least south.
I know now deep down, I have made leaps and bounds in this area and made huge progress, but why does it not look that way just yet? It has been 4 years since Mum passed away and I feel so trapped by it all still. Mum so knew how much work she had placed upon my shoulders that had been, not long before, been placed on hers. I dearly would like not to pass this baton on. Mum intended to deal with her lot with my help, but the job (here in Melbourne) she did to get through life, a company she worked with for years instead gave her a blow in giving her cancer by not dealing with the way she worked with a chemical to test the threads, which was her job, via a then known '100% cancer causing chemical' and protecting her. The guys who delivered the 'stuff' were kitted up fully in white 'all in one' suits and full head masks etc. But this company never once put any OH&S in place for the people working in 'Quality & Control' EVER.... NOT ONCE.... shame on you 'and you know who you are' who are now off shore to avoid any responsibilty.
Bastards, I say to the Heads of this company, each and every one of them over those years who decided to forsake the health of their employees for the sake of a profit. I say this without any guilt as I know they know and they have made sure they avoided their end of responsibility in the demise of those employees who were placed in proximit of this substance. Nice one 'you know who'!
By the time Mum found out, it was too late to make them accountable. That and the fact that they were already operating off-shore by now. One day I hope to make this chemical common knowledge like asbestos, so it can help others. I just have to find a way how... along with everything else I have to do. So feel free to pread the word about the chemical (called 'carbotetrochloroethaline' and is used in textiles, tanning and dry cleaning industries that in the end is like asbestos--- a death sentence... slowly).
This is where I have to be careful and try very hard to stay positive. The negative and low feelings is the very time that things can slip back or stay static for way too long in the area of decluttering. Even if I just get one item or bag out a week, in the end you keep the habit of letting go keep on going instead of doing nothing at all, which means you go nowhere fast.
This is the exact time it is the hardest to get going again. And get going again I must. So muster up Anita.
I talk about my situation and know that many have the same issues that they work hard at hiding. Be it if you created it or inherited it. I would love for this to not to be such a shameful thing to go through any longer. TV shows like 'Hoarders' show the extremes and only serve to perpetuate the shame rather than help the many who suffer. I do believe this is not there intent. The intent is to entertain. But in the end it still ends up being not helpful. If in some small way I could put a dint into de-stigmatising this type of plight, that in many cases are not so extreme for many many years and then one day the balance tips too much for a moment into the almost going into the horror side of things for a variety of reasons, to make it so no one feels like a leper, then that would be my payola.
Due to my recent experiencewith eBay, I have decided eBay is too time consuming. If I had the time then it may work, but being time poor now it just is not feasible. Take for example my 'hat' that I had up for sale... didn't sell... all that work... and poof... nada... nothing! Kind of sad really. So as promised, if it doesn't sell, off it goes to the Sallies. I will pack these said items up and get my daughter to take them to the local drop off area nearby. I am also going to fold down all these boxes that are taking over the carport from all the product I have received recently from my new job to give away into the recyle bin. Yet another side issue to just make things more interesting... like I need that like a hole in the head right now.
My parents car that went to the local used car yard only a couple of weeks ago has already sold! The guy bought it off me and it didn't even cover the rego price, but I didn't mind as it meant it was gone. He slapped $1,900 on it after a polish etc and I must say looked really nice when I drove by the other day and saw it in the yard there for sale. Hope whoever has bought it gets to enjoy it and gives them another year or two of life.
I did get the marble top to that garden setting by the way. Will post a photo soon once I can afford the garden looking nice and together.
I am making a promise to me, that I will have those items packed for the Sallies by the end of this weekend... not 'the' weekend - as that could be 'any' weekend. Along with the empty boxes into the recycle bin that is due this week to be picked up.
Once, I get on top of the bills, I will look into paying someone to come and help me declutter. Now who could it be now! Some one ruthless or gentle! That is the dilemma. This I will have to give some serious thought to, as I do want a more reasonable carport area and a decent lounge to set up the Christmas tree this year. It is time. However, I don't have enough hours in each day to get it done on my own with all the other day to day commitments I have. My guess is it will take at least 2 to 3 days with 5hours each day would do it along with my daughter taking the 'stuff' as we go to the Sallies.
Now this is going to sound like an oxymoron to you all, but I really cannot stand the 'stuff' sitting around once it has been gone through! Yes, you read right. The trouble is, if it stays, once it is tended to there is a temptation to start sniffing around those 'thrown out' bags etc and start to 'regret' tossing said treasures away and retrieve them. So, in my case I prefer them gone asap (as soon as possible) to resist taking the already thrown out item back once more. Now you know that, the oxymoron should make sense. Well, at least I hope it does.
Well, guys, tomorrow is another day and the last day of this weekend to get my promises to myself done.
So, I state.... 'stuff it'! Stuff the lot. Let's see what happens... and till then... here goes...
Cheers all
Anita... hoping I can keep my promise to myself ... at least this time round...
Almost another month has passed us by. Where does it ('time' that is) go?
Many times I have wanted to jump on and add a piece of news, but this new 'wonderful' job has me busy as. I recently went on my maiden 'virginal' country voyage just last week. Now not having done one of these ever, I had to nut out the timing of the drive and visits to my new customers. I think I went a tad overboard on the first leg of the trip!
The first day was from the inner suburbs of Melbourne down to a place called Phillip Island and then snaked around the lower end of Victoria and then cut through the mid section of Victoria through to Morwell and then onto Traralgon for the first overnight stay in a B & B. Sounds easy enough doesn't it! NOT if it is raining the moment you leave home to almost 11 hours later to your destination! I was a drowned rat and had it not been for the loan of a GPS from Kezzah, I would have been 'stuffed'! Big huge thanks Kezzah!!! It truly was a life saver.
Not only did I have to deal with the rain the whole day long and unfamiliar roads, but at one stage I was sent off, by the police, at a road block off into the National Forrest! Yes, folks, little lonesome me into the wilderness, full pelt of rain, starting to get dark on windy mountainous and at times dirt roads to goodness knows were! At one stage, I had to traverse one section of the road that one half had given way from the side of the mountain... now that was scary... as I didn't know if the road that was left was stable and had no way of going back. I made it through, but this little adventure added another 90 mins to my now already long day and I was getting very weary by now. This is where the GPS came into play. I had no idea where I was or heading and thankfully the GPS kept going and directing me out of this hell hole. It more than likely added kilometers to the trip by taking same strange route, but out I did get.
As much as I found the GPS exceptionally wonderful as a tool. It also spooked me out that some satellite high up in the sky could track me!!! Just a thought.
You would think things would get better from there, but each day I was presented with yet another set of issues, which I wont go into here. Suffice it to say, it was exhausting, enjoyable and glad I got through as now I will know better for next time.
All this driving played havoc with my back and will have to look into ways to support my back better for next time. All a learning curve.
Now, I sit here with a cold and look at 'the stuff' around me and know in my head what I want to do, but my legs are in concrete and my want does not outway my inertia. So I have decided to pack up the things I wanted to eBay and take those 2 huge garbage bin bags to the Sallies (Salvation Army) instead. I have realised now that there is just not enough time to eBay.
So 'stuff it' all, I say. Out it goes.
But just where is my energy?
It is a bugger getting older, as at times it stops you from doing what you really would like to do. In days gone past, I was always on top of all the things in my life and home. Many would comment how welcoming my home was, warm and friendly. But after all the horror of life that got thrown my way in general and a certain person who just never stepped up to the moment along with illness (my son/Mum and myself and the death of my Dad) and caring and then inheriting so much more 'stuff' in abundance - it seems it has all gone pear-shaped or at least south.
I know now deep down, I have made leaps and bounds in this area and made huge progress, but why does it not look that way just yet? It has been 4 years since Mum passed away and I feel so trapped by it all still. Mum so knew how much work she had placed upon my shoulders that had been, not long before, been placed on hers. I dearly would like not to pass this baton on. Mum intended to deal with her lot with my help, but the job (here in Melbourne) she did to get through life, a company she worked with for years instead gave her a blow in giving her cancer by not dealing with the way she worked with a chemical to test the threads, which was her job, via a then known '100% cancer causing chemical' and protecting her. The guys who delivered the 'stuff' were kitted up fully in white 'all in one' suits and full head masks etc. But this company never once put any OH&S in place for the people working in 'Quality & Control' EVER.... NOT ONCE.... shame on you 'and you know who you are' who are now off shore to avoid any responsibilty.
Bastards, I say to the Heads of this company, each and every one of them over those years who decided to forsake the health of their employees for the sake of a profit. I say this without any guilt as I know they know and they have made sure they avoided their end of responsibility in the demise of those employees who were placed in proximit of this substance. Nice one 'you know who'!
By the time Mum found out, it was too late to make them accountable. That and the fact that they were already operating off-shore by now. One day I hope to make this chemical common knowledge like asbestos, so it can help others. I just have to find a way how... along with everything else I have to do. So feel free to pread the word about the chemical (called 'carbotetrochloroethaline' and is used in textiles, tanning and dry cleaning industries that in the end is like asbestos--- a death sentence... slowly).
This is where I have to be careful and try very hard to stay positive. The negative and low feelings is the very time that things can slip back or stay static for way too long in the area of decluttering. Even if I just get one item or bag out a week, in the end you keep the habit of letting go keep on going instead of doing nothing at all, which means you go nowhere fast.
This is the exact time it is the hardest to get going again. And get going again I must. So muster up Anita.
I talk about my situation and know that many have the same issues that they work hard at hiding. Be it if you created it or inherited it. I would love for this to not to be such a shameful thing to go through any longer. TV shows like 'Hoarders' show the extremes and only serve to perpetuate the shame rather than help the many who suffer. I do believe this is not there intent. The intent is to entertain. But in the end it still ends up being not helpful. If in some small way I could put a dint into de-stigmatising this type of plight, that in many cases are not so extreme for many many years and then one day the balance tips too much for a moment into the almost going into the horror side of things for a variety of reasons, to make it so no one feels like a leper, then that would be my payola.
Due to my recent experiencewith eBay, I have decided eBay is too time consuming. If I had the time then it may work, but being time poor now it just is not feasible. Take for example my 'hat' that I had up for sale... didn't sell... all that work... and poof... nada... nothing! Kind of sad really. So as promised, if it doesn't sell, off it goes to the Sallies. I will pack these said items up and get my daughter to take them to the local drop off area nearby. I am also going to fold down all these boxes that are taking over the carport from all the product I have received recently from my new job to give away into the recyle bin. Yet another side issue to just make things more interesting... like I need that like a hole in the head right now.
My parents car that went to the local used car yard only a couple of weeks ago has already sold! The guy bought it off me and it didn't even cover the rego price, but I didn't mind as it meant it was gone. He slapped $1,900 on it after a polish etc and I must say looked really nice when I drove by the other day and saw it in the yard there for sale. Hope whoever has bought it gets to enjoy it and gives them another year or two of life.
I did get the marble top to that garden setting by the way. Will post a photo soon once I can afford the garden looking nice and together.
I am making a promise to me, that I will have those items packed for the Sallies by the end of this weekend... not 'the' weekend - as that could be 'any' weekend. Along with the empty boxes into the recycle bin that is due this week to be picked up.
Once, I get on top of the bills, I will look into paying someone to come and help me declutter. Now who could it be now! Some one ruthless or gentle! That is the dilemma. This I will have to give some serious thought to, as I do want a more reasonable carport area and a decent lounge to set up the Christmas tree this year. It is time. However, I don't have enough hours in each day to get it done on my own with all the other day to day commitments I have. My guess is it will take at least 2 to 3 days with 5hours each day would do it along with my daughter taking the 'stuff' as we go to the Sallies.
Now this is going to sound like an oxymoron to you all, but I really cannot stand the 'stuff' sitting around once it has been gone through! Yes, you read right. The trouble is, if it stays, once it is tended to there is a temptation to start sniffing around those 'thrown out' bags etc and start to 'regret' tossing said treasures away and retrieve them. So, in my case I prefer them gone asap (as soon as possible) to resist taking the already thrown out item back once more. Now you know that, the oxymoron should make sense. Well, at least I hope it does.
Well, guys, tomorrow is another day and the last day of this weekend to get my promises to myself done.
So, I state.... 'stuff it'! Stuff the lot. Let's see what happens... and till then... here goes...
Cheers all
Anita... hoping I can keep my promise to myself ... at least this time round...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)