Been over 2 weeks since getting more decluttering achieved.
We have had extreme heat of over 40 celsius combined with strong hot northerly winds, which put a stop to any further progress. It has felt like much of Australia is on fire with vast bushland and forest areas burning in several states. To now have Queensland flooding once more as I write this.
We have this Australian poem called that describes Australia perfectly.
'My Country' by Dorothea MacKellar - here it is.
The love of field and coppice
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies
I know, but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!
The stark white ring-barked forests,
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon,
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops,
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When, sick at heart, around us
We see the cattle die
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze ...
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand
though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Here in Australia we tend to know the second verse of this particular poem the best. We tend to do that with our songs and poems. With our National Anthem and Waltzing Matilda we all know the first verse to only go hmmmmhmmmhmmhmhm and mutter and make out we all know the words of the second verse, but most of us don't. Hilarious and dreadful all at the same time when that happens.
Still have only one element to heat up my water for tea or coffee. Still find cups around the place when in the middle of decluttering. Here is one I found earlier.
Kind of describes how I am decluttering. No 'wrong way' though.
Anyway, after the heat, I got stuck into watching more VHS's and have had a ball reminiscing old movies, programmes, doco's and finding old footage of the family before and post children. My son just couldn't believe his eyes seeing his big sis as a baby or toddler. Something he had seen in photos but not in film. And as for me he felt my voice had changed. Body yes. Not so sure about the voice. Maybe deeper.
The videos will take a long time to get through and don't want to focus only on that. That is something I will do periodically. Need to get the computer out of the Dining Room and into the Study.
Today my bestie Sue came to help me move 2 big items to get the next part going, otherwise I will be at a standstill infinitum. I showed her the logistics of what I wanted and even she thought we would have a hard time at first. But like with any puzzle it really is just a matter of step by step and following the right steps as you go.
First we moved the stuff out into the LoungeRroom onto the second couch. I vacuumed as we went bit by bit. Then moved the furniture around in the Study to make way for the other piece to be moved from my bedroom into the Study. We then manoeuvred the items within the room to be in situ.
The rest is now up to me to get the place back to some ship shape normalcy. I will show via photos with before, during and after when I am finished with this round hopefully in the next post.
After that, next will be moving the glass cabinet from the corridor and camphor chest under the dining table to be moved to my bedroom and then and only then can the Lounge Room be rejigged.
All sounds so simple. But it is also very time consuming. Patience is the key element required.
I am trying to get as much done before I get a job as I know the minute I get a job it will be on for young and old for me to try and find time to do any decluttering. Trying to make hay while I can and utilise my downtime wisely.
Sue was surprised in the end how well we actually did. Even she thought we wouldn't get this lot done just by looking at it. I am so grateful for her help as it means now I can get on with my next piece of the process and get closer to my vision. Very cozy and comfortable.
The computer table is chockers and needs to be cleared so that we can move the computer there. The couch will need to be dealt with asap so that my son can watch TV also. That and any visitors if I and when I get any. Something I don't encourage due to the stigma attached to clutter. It matters not that one has been hard at it for sometime and actively doing something about it. Just the look and the stare and the stammer says it all.
With the recent winds my backyard now looks even worse than before as the peach tree now has more of the limbs fallen across 2 parts of the yard. Just glad it hasn't taken out any of the fences as I wouldn't be able to pay for any repairs just yet.
I saw this photo on Facebook and just liked it that I had to share here.
You either love books or you don't. I do and have to be more selective and have culled several times over. But I am sure I can do more. Books and magazines can be the undoing of anyone. They need space and plenty of it, but boy, when done well it does make a home look homely.
At times when I am in the moment of the action of decluttering I feel like this.
Very overwhelmed. Sue did say today, even though I was living in a 'mess', she could see that I was making progress. But 'oi vai' what a mess!
I have said this before and it doesn't hurt to be reminded and say it again to do the following while going through anything traumatic or extremely draining.
However, I would add number eleven and make it-
11. 'Don't forget to declutter a shelf or draw once a week. That way the 'stuff' will never get on top of you ever again'.
When I start to get down and when it seems the going is slowing down, I just remind myself.
I do know what I want to end up with and that is a home that reflects me and makes me feel at peace and in harmony with the world inside and outside. One that I am on top of and not on top of me. I am on my way finally.
In the meantime, I intend to keep doing the following.
and
That and hugs do help to soothe ones horrors.
So I will just keep on turning those pages to get to the next chapter and know that all the slog will be worth it in the end. This book will have a happy ending. Of this I am going to make happy.
Also, don't stop going out. Life doesn't stop so you shouldn't either!
It helps to share wonderful moments with family and friends. The one's that love and support you. Those are the one's that matter. This helps keep one going while on this journey to declutter or any journey or project for that matter. It gives you time to regroup and re-energise to get back to it. Some fun along the way is a must. Do not stop living. The clutter isn't going anywhere so you may as well not miss out on any of these precious moments either.
This day was one of the most pleasant and joyous days I have had over the years and so glad I got to go to Brooke's Bridal Shower and one that I will treasure for years to come along with many others. Thanks to Lynn who is the best.
One day I will get to enjoy that home I so want to create in all it's comfort and beauty.
I decided to let the sunshine in a long time ago. No negativity, no nasties, no toxins, no insults, no one or nothing that does any of these horrors are actively deflected or ignored. As one dear friend, Ali, said to me many moons ago '... just out nice them or the situation....'. A mantra to be taken seriously.
Only laughter, friendship, respect, giving and loads of love for me. Nothing but as much positivity as possible.
Hope to have a heap done within the next week. Now let's see how I go with that statement!
All will be revealed next time round.
Cheers all
Anita with a huge load on... wish me luck!!!
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