Yet again, I have had a long absence from keeping you all in the loop. Forgive me.
Winter months are always difficult to get moving and motivated. Difficult, but not impossible. I made a decision not to let winter be dormant in my progress this year.
A fellow friend has shown me the ropes of the 'what to do' and 'what not to do's' in taking my wares to the Sunday Markets here in Melbourne. We started off in Oakleigh and have been looking into others. We did give Cheltenham's a go, but too many of the same stalls were there for us to make it worth our 'whiles'! Over the few markets I have done has meant more 'stuff' has gone. Usually, I just cover my outlay. If you take in the effort it really isn't worthwhile. But seeing the mound outside my front porch slowly diminish is!
Apart from that, people know there is a 'price' on the items for a bargain. I can tell them about what they are buying if they care to know. One person said that is new! Of which I had to explain that it was actually 40 odd years old and been very well looked after. Some items are even still in the original box. I am letting things go for a steal and a song and a prayer. Really is a good feeling. I also get to meet the market stall vendors and get to chat to the passing potential customers. All good fun and the bartering is fabulous. Just love that. So far we have chosen days with no rain. But the cold and the wind, well, that just kills.
We have settled for Oakleigh for the time being. It maybe small, but it packs a punch and has a variety of traders that makes it interesting for the customer and vendor alike. And we can see potential for when the winter months start to become warmer.
Here we are with our first attempt at Marketdom!
Our second attempt!
Didn't even bother taking a photo at Cheltenham.
I am just pulling out what is next and taking it. No rhyme. No reason. Just getting rid of it. I have found some fantastic treasures. Now I will go through the fabrics that my Mum and Grandmum had. Some are over 40 and even 50 years old. I only kept what I thought useful or vintage. Some pieces I know the cushion people will want to grab.
I had to complete this course that kept me from making much progress, but finally it ended last week. I have been out of work now for 9 months and have come close to gaining work over the last few weeks. Something has to break soon before I do.
In the meantime, I have come down with that dreadful virus and am sick as a dog. Meanwhile, I am staying warm at home and have started finalising my filing that I had piled up again in the lounge room. I did this so that I could not avoid it for long. It will be liberating to have all my papers in places that I can find at a moments notice rather than rummaging through goodness knows what.
This is more like a mini catch up. Will try to find my photos and download them so you can see what I am writing about, which makes it more interesting.
Went to the doctor's to get a few things sorted and my blood pressure for the first time was perfect in years! She wanted to know what I had done. Simple I said, just got rid of all the toxics from my life and working on my own projects for a change. Now the person/s I am saying whom have been in my life for years are very negative and due to my infinite patience and caring and wanting to do the right thing let them get away with it. But, recently they renegged on a promise to me that mattered and that was it. Final. No more taking advantage of me any longer. So what I have done is also working well with my all over health. Added bonus.
As Spring sets in the time spent at the markets should improve and in no time my carport will be almost bare. Then to empty what is in the small shed and lean-to. Then and only then I start on what is in the attic. That will be the last of the stored 'stuff''. After which it will be time to decide what to keep and what not to keep within the 'filled to the gunnel's' cupboards. No rest for me for quite some time.
When I mention the word 'Hoarder', it certainly gets a variety of responses. Many go straight to the extreme. I cannot blame them, as that is the only time we really ever get to hear of a situation that involves Hoarding and Hoarders.
Sadly, this last week there was a fire in a home that many had been complaining about for some years to the council that was too that 'extreme'. Apparently, the stacked boxes and items hindered the fire fighters and those items added more fuel to what would have been contained earlier than what proved to take place on this occasion. Apparently, the fire started due to an open candle.
This is the article via The Australian Newspaper http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hoarder-warning-after-house-fire/story-e6frg6nf-1226687378916 .
This is when help is needed of a serious kind.
This is a timely warning and not one to be complacent about. I have since known the dangers of what this 'stuff' can do. I do not have candles around due to this very reason. The fact that people are hurting financially is what is driving many to takes such measures leading to horrific outcomes. I am striving to ensure this does not happen to me. I don't use electric blankets either and haven't for many decades, as these have been known to cause house fires due to being left on during the day. If an electric item looks iffey or the cord frayed, well that gets tossed immediately. The stuff is just not worth your life. The two apparently got out, but with some injuries.
If you are struggling with too much stuff as well as under financial hardship then take care to not place yourself and others in harms way. I mean, I have a Kerosine Heater, but I wouldn't use it. The very thought of a fire horrifies me, hence, why we had no heating in this home till this year. That meant 6 winters in the cold for both myself and my son. I would rather wrap myself up in a blanket with a hot water bottle than risk a fire. I must say having proper safe heating for the first time this year has been wonderful. I have been conservative due to the rising costs of electricity. But, all the same, it is nice to feel warm for a change.
Life is to be enjoyed. Not endured. And I am getting closer inch by inch to that enjoyment.
Just have to remember my big sis here. August 1 will be 5 years since we lost her to an aggressive Bowel Cancer. She was my rock and I was her shoulder. I miss her every day and still go to call her to tell her something funny that just happened. Sylvia had such a zest for life and gave to those who were less fortunate and saved all in the animal kingdom. She was a teacher of young souls, but most of all she had her family whom she loved dearly. She was a natural beauty with so many talents too numerous to mention. Will have to make sure I listen to some Elvis and remember the funny times to have that laugh with you once again.
Here I am her one and only Bridesmaid on her Wedding day, Strathfield, Sydney December 1977. We had had the best morning together getting ready for that day. Treasured memories forever.
Dusi saldi mana mila Masa.
So stay back to what this is meant to be all about... and that is 'surviving getting rid of your stuff'' and that is to stay safe while you 'unload' that 'stuff'.
Cheers
Anita
