Hi Guys,
Wow! When I said complete halt, I meant it.
I have done nothing with my decluttering at all. Not a good feeling.
This is when it makes it ever so difficult to get stuck into it once again. It feels like you are starting from scratch again and drags you way back to where you don't want to remember. But life will get in the way and I had to get over that virus for once and for all as it also was holding me back from the 'doing' of all things decluttering.
Have had a weeks break up in Sydney to remove myself from all the duties and day to day routine. That and family reasons.
It will be my big sis's 60th on 2 June and I needed to plant something on her grave in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney to celebrate her milestone. Which I did.
The last plant I planted was 10 months after she died and now almost 2 years on it was still alive! You have to choose hardy and tough plants that thrive on neglect. My niece, her daughter, has 3 little ones and doesn't live close by to the cemetery and do not wish to add to her 'workload'. I must say the grave still looks wonderful due to my sister's work. She is placed with her first born, Lija and Sylv made it look like a Japanese tranquil garden and I am mindful to uphold her vision and work. Sylvia loved lavender, but the soil and spot just doesn't like it so I chose a low lying Grevillea with these gorgeous small but plentiful pink star like flowers that flowers and flowers for long periods of time.
Anyway, the break was great and in an area of Sydney I had not ventured into much before now. Where I stayed the place was like 'Home Beautiful' out of a magazine. Simply gorgeous. My friend has worked hard to get her place to be just as she wants it to be and has had 'stuff' issues of her own. Through the death of loved ones she also has inherited 'stuff'. It has taken her all of 2 years just to go through the paperwork and shred it. But finally that part is at an end.
My friend used to live in a very small house and only recently moved to this new location. The house backs onto a slope and so has this huge enclosed area under the back part of the house and decking, which enables her to store the 'over flow' of items till she can deal with them.
This is what I am lacking and I too would look like a 'home' and not a 'mess' if I had the use of such a space. But I am not in a situation where I can up and move to better digs just yet I am afraid, but it did show me that I am on the right track at least.
I have just recently come back from Sydney and immediately started in my new 'casual' position for The Peter Mac Cancer Foundation asking for funding of their Research area in the detection, prevention and treatment of cancer. This again is timely as I have to travel far to do this work, albeit parttime.
I will be, however, starting my foray into all things 'eBay' tomorrow with a little help from one of my beautiful friends! I am hoping that this is the solution to all that ails me in my cluttered home. The deal will be I place said item up for sale and if it goes, all well and good and if it doesn't, off to the Sallies (Salvation Army) it goes.
Up and out!
I also have to get the last of my Mum's boxes from my neighbours garage over to my carport, which I will organise some help with next weekend to sort through. Once the garage is clear of all my gear, it will be in one place for the first time in 5 years! So I am down sizing. Before this I had 'stuff' in 4 locations, now soon to be 1!
My friend who I stayed with also has some very large furniture pieces and assorted gear stored near Newcastle, which she will need to deal with eventually as it is costing her in storage fees. Her dilema is distance. We strategiesed as to what to do etc and I know that soon that will be sorted out now that she is at a certain point with her home front.
None of this is ever easy. Decluttering and getting rid of stuff especially after loved ones dying is never a pleasant road to travel. It is just one hard slog.
I have tried to do this with humour.
I have tried to do this without whipping myself.
I have tried not to worry how long it is taking.
And I try not to get tired of trying to deal with it constantly!
Life is far too short for that. Live for today for I am here.
Yes, there is work to be done, but all in good time. I needed these last few weeks to improve my health and my state of mind. Without it you just would simply curl up and stop trying altogether and then you are in a world of trouble of another kind.
Little by little you know you will get there.
Little by little you see your way through that tunnel.
Little by little you begin to see the slivers of light.
Little by little you know you are achieving the impossible.
Little by little you know you will get to the end!
It has been my friends who have been instrumental in helping me emotionally, mentally and at times physically through this ordeal. It has taken it's toll, but if not for my friends I do not know what I would have done or where I would be.
I have some of the best friends anyone could possibly have and it is to them that I say a simple 'thank you'.
No more words required. Just the knowledge of how lucky and thankful I am to have what I do have and not to ever take them for granted.
Life is for living.
Life is for sharing and I mean not of things, but of each other.
I would like to crack a joke right now, but just cannot think of one that lends itself to what I am writing about. Maybe next time eh.
I am off now to go look for items to place on eBay tomorrow and bring it on... sell sell sell... and hopefully people will... buy buy buy... my 'stuff'!
Toodles for now
A much rested and a tad more together Anita.
ps - My new motto ... Stuff - be gone!
Okay it needs working on... cheers...
Friday, 27 May 2011
Thursday, 5 May 2011
A complete halt!
Hi Guys,
My lingering virus has reared itself yet again and has jeopardised my new found pace...
It takes so much to get going and to have this lurgi interfering in my progress is extremely annoying to say the least. I have finally stopped and will spend the next few days just resting to give my body the chance to completely recover rather than rebound back into the abyss.
I will have to get my son to bring some of the boxes with papers in them next to the couch so I can slowly toss what is not needed. Well that is the plan. That at least I can do. As I have said in ealier posts... it is the paper that is the most time consuming and now that I am on an enforced rest period see this as an opportunity to tackle at least part of this pile.
Hope all are staying well and do not have this rebounding virus like I have.
Till then it will be paper cuts for me... now they hurt! Box of bandaids at the ready then...
Chiz
Anita
ps - have a deadline to meet - oh dear.
My lingering virus has reared itself yet again and has jeopardised my new found pace...
It takes so much to get going and to have this lurgi interfering in my progress is extremely annoying to say the least. I have finally stopped and will spend the next few days just resting to give my body the chance to completely recover rather than rebound back into the abyss.
I will have to get my son to bring some of the boxes with papers in them next to the couch so I can slowly toss what is not needed. Well that is the plan. That at least I can do. As I have said in ealier posts... it is the paper that is the most time consuming and now that I am on an enforced rest period see this as an opportunity to tackle at least part of this pile.
Hope all are staying well and do not have this rebounding virus like I have.
Till then it will be paper cuts for me... now they hurt! Box of bandaids at the ready then...
Chiz
Anita
ps - have a deadline to meet - oh dear.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Finally finding my pace!
Hi Guys,
Well, the school holidays, the son's birthday, Easter and ANZAC Day are almost over. My virus that has been lingering like a bad smell for months now seems to be turning a corner as well, but am still being cautious as last time I said that I had a set back. Several in fact.
A very dear and long time friend, Sue, came to help me with the last corner of the Carport that I have so far not addressed as yet. It was my 'block'!
I have to go back to 2007 in order to help you understand or grasp my 'block'.
Mum was ill, I was her only Carer for many years after Dad died, along with managing a job, children and my own health issues and basically was thoroughly exhausted. It was that year we found out Mum had been living with cancer for years now from having worked with a chemical (carbo-tetra-chloro-etheline) in the textiles industry without any safeguards provided from said company. Had we known earlier she would have been able to have a liver transplant, but that option was now no more. The company has since gone off shore to avoid litigation and a mute point.
It was at that point in time that it was decided that my son and I had to move in with Mum and quickly.
My long time friend, Sue helped me clear 2 rooms to facilitate this. These rooms were filled to the brim. I come from a long line of hoarders, but secret ones that operate from behind closed doors and cupboards. Sue and I had to work fast as when we were packing Mum's precious 'stuff' into boxes to be placed in the neighbours garage Mum insisted on sitting in the corridor near us to talk about each item. The history. From where. By whom. And so it went on. Most of it was fascinating, but I did not have the time to go through the sheer amount that was there. We managed to get it done nonetheless. I would never have thought that it would take years to get through everything when I started this. But here I still am.
The Sallies lady Merle said she would organise help for the beds and bedroom furtiture to be moved from my Bentleigh rental to Mum's house. The night that this move took place, up rocks Merle with her husband! No problem... they are both in their mid 70s!!! Me and two 75plus man and woman! I will never forget us moving the big heavy stuff with me driving behind the trailer on that dark winter night. I still cannot believe it even to this day. But we got it done. We were now esconced in Oakleigh, in my old childhood bedroom, to take care of Mum.
At this time I had to give up work as I just couldn't care for Mum as well as all the other stuff I had to do along with a job. In the last months of work being that my workplace was sort of near enough to Mums home, I would drive home at lunchtimes to feed Mum. Before moving in with Mum I was driving to her place in the morning prior to work to help her dress and breakfast. None of which was in a direct line or close by. At least some of this running around was cut down, but I still had to get my son to school!
This meant my son had to be driven to school in Bentleigh. Thankfully another friend allowed him to stay after school at her place so he would walk to her place and I would pick him up from there. It is all the 'little' things that add up.
After moving in with Mum, I shut the Bentleigh rental door and kept paying the rent as usual as I had no time to do anything other. I was being Scarlett O'Hara... tomorrow... I will think about it tomorrow... tomorrow is another day... but the days grew into weeks, then months... it was only 7 months on after Mum died that I finally was able to organise getting rid of that rental to move all my furniture and gear to be stored under the Carport to start the look of 'Steptoe & Sons'.
Why under the Carport you are more than likely screaming to yourself.
Well, my wonderful healthy and still living amongst us sister who never liked me much since the day I was born decided to contest the Will, which is her right. However, she knew I had nothing and in a hard place financially as I had been looking after Mum for the last 6 years giving up work many times over including this last year. She put the dagger in by tying up much needed funds with this contesting to try and make me submit to her demands. And to make matters worse it was not long after my other big sis died about 3 weeks prior to Christmas that I was reported for fraudulent behaviour to Centrelink!
Hmmmm... I think... I smell a rat...
The questions that they asked me were about... my mothers car, my mothers money, my mothers house and my (now this made me laugh) mothers antiques!
More like I drove my car into the ground while caring for my Mum, as without me helping, Mum would've been lost and when my car went 'boom' Mum knew that she needed me more than ever due to all the doctors appointments etc and as it so happened Mum could not drive any longer so she decided that I should use her car as I was unable to afford to buy another and Mums car was of equal value to mine and in order to continue to look after Mum I paid for the car's roadworthy and transfer. The money that was there dwindled due to the contesting - what little there was. I was living in the house, yes, which has no heating, the stove doesn't work along with the rangehood etc etc. And as for the antiques well if you call saved christmas wrapping, christmas cards, bread plastic bags, old stockings, plastic containers and so on antiques then yes!
All claims were deemed unfounded and apologies to me profusely for having done that to me along with a letter stating such. I had informed Centrelink of all my changed circumstances as they happened as I had nothing to hide.
So who would wish my son and I harm in such a way! Vexatious is too mild a word to describe the person or persons who placed this claimed about me to cause such pain. What was the purpose? That I will never know. All I think is Centrelink should come down hard on those that put in false claims for personal vendettas to task and harshly just as they do to those that do 'fraud' the system and benefits.
My sister and I went to mediation in the middle of 2009 and she finally albeit begrudgingly not long after this agreed to all the stipulations in the Will as stated by our Mum. My sister did not break me and I honoured my Mum's wishes to the letter in full as she made me promise her all those times while in palliative care.
I do believe I know what little helpers made that 'dob in' possible, but in a way it made my resolve to uphold my Mum's wishes even more so. Hence, I dug my heels in even further. That dagger in my back only served to make me stronger.
There is loss here, but not the kind my sister would realise. To her it was loss of money. To me it was the loss of trust with my sole surviving sister. The split with her was now sadly complete. The fact that she cannot see the harm she has created and nor will I ever be able to help her understand that money is not a measure to measure against 'love'.
But I survived. Even though this sister tried with every measure to push me to the brink without a thought about me and less so my son, we still survived even though I was now deeper in debt, but eventually that can be dealt with.
To survive the period of contesting I did this by whatever methods I could to make ends meet. I sold my strand of pearls among other personal items. Many many friends helped me and so on. One can get very inventive when one needs to.
In the meantime, health wise, I was a broken woman. Yet this did not stop me from doing 'a little' at a time to keep reducing the mammoth amount of 'stuff'.
So I found myself bereft of cash and my 'stuff' in Bentleigh and no way to get rid of the rental that was costing me money yet housing my 'stuff'. Catch 22!
Many of my friends and there was an army of them that came to help pack up my volume of 'stuff'. Heaps went flying into skips that charity organisations provided me with and much more given to specific families in need. It really was a very hectic time. In the end all that was left was the question... how to move what 'stuff' was left.
Fortunately, my ex offered to use his work truck. Not ideal, but I had no choice. If you saw the truck I am talking about you would understand. It took several trips and my ex packed it well under the carport. First one side with boxes and then the other with furniture. The last trip it was getting dark and we were, my ex and myself were getting rather tired by now. He ended up throwing all my plastic bags of clothes into the back part of the carport in this last corner. I did my best to protect these things from the elements, but hey I expected to get to this soon ... not years later.
And there the clothes remained for 4 more years. There is much more to this 'block' than that, but I think you will get the picture.
I had only packed what I thought I would need for 6 months and minimal at that. I can hear you laugh there Kez!!! Anyway, most of what was under the carport has been dealt with with the exception of that last corner where the clothes were tossed all those years ago. I felt sick thinking what had perished. But finally the day came and Sue was there to help me through it.
Sue and I took out all the bags and placed them all around and both of us began to tackle one bag at a time with the view to toss what was obviously beyond redemption with others to go to the Sallies that were in good condition and some that I still wanted to use and lastly some very retro items to eBay if at all possible. Sue kept me in check and even got rather territorial as I kept coming over to what bags she was dealing with and being unceremonially ordered back to the bags I was dealing with. I am glad she did this as I could see the funny side and made me laugh instead of cry.
In the end, surprisingly only 10% was beyond help. 60% went to the Sallies. 20% for eBay and the final 10% that I could still use. I was totally amazed at how well these clothes had survived. There were only 2 items of note that I am very sad that got ruined. But I had to accept that I had left it all this time and what that meant. The fact is where these clothes were water goes rushing down when it pours and these clothes had weathered 4 winters and I just couldn't bear to brace myself for a fifth.
Anyway, there you have it. Another part done. Another part achieved.
I have now organised the eBay boxed items in that corner and will deal with the furniture in front as soon as I can find a willing 'male' to help me. After which time I have to learn all things eBay. As good fortune has it another good friend has already talked to me after reading my blogg's asking what was the hold up... and well, it is because I have no idea and too much to sell... so she is going to show me the way. She believes I will be the next eBay Queen and you know what she probably is right!
I went out with a friend today and he noticed that there was much less 'stuff' under the carport and even commented as such. If another notices, then I am making that dent.
Finally, I sigh!
Now I have to wash and dry all the clothes for their intended purpose and destination, which will take some time. Then it starts all over again... to the next batch of boxes to be dealt with.
Tommorrow is another day and in my case with less clothes and blankets this time round.
But no rest for the wicked for there is still MORE MUCH MORE to sort through! Lucky ME!
Cheers to all who bother to read this and that is me presuming some do. Feedback is always welcome, even if it is about others that you see in a 'sinking' house of 'stuff'.
Till next time...
Ah, life is wonderful... I just might get what I wish for.
Anita
Well, the school holidays, the son's birthday, Easter and ANZAC Day are almost over. My virus that has been lingering like a bad smell for months now seems to be turning a corner as well, but am still being cautious as last time I said that I had a set back. Several in fact.
A very dear and long time friend, Sue, came to help me with the last corner of the Carport that I have so far not addressed as yet. It was my 'block'!
I have to go back to 2007 in order to help you understand or grasp my 'block'.
Mum was ill, I was her only Carer for many years after Dad died, along with managing a job, children and my own health issues and basically was thoroughly exhausted. It was that year we found out Mum had been living with cancer for years now from having worked with a chemical (carbo-tetra-chloro-etheline) in the textiles industry without any safeguards provided from said company. Had we known earlier she would have been able to have a liver transplant, but that option was now no more. The company has since gone off shore to avoid litigation and a mute point.
It was at that point in time that it was decided that my son and I had to move in with Mum and quickly.
My long time friend, Sue helped me clear 2 rooms to facilitate this. These rooms were filled to the brim. I come from a long line of hoarders, but secret ones that operate from behind closed doors and cupboards. Sue and I had to work fast as when we were packing Mum's precious 'stuff' into boxes to be placed in the neighbours garage Mum insisted on sitting in the corridor near us to talk about each item. The history. From where. By whom. And so it went on. Most of it was fascinating, but I did not have the time to go through the sheer amount that was there. We managed to get it done nonetheless. I would never have thought that it would take years to get through everything when I started this. But here I still am.
The Sallies lady Merle said she would organise help for the beds and bedroom furtiture to be moved from my Bentleigh rental to Mum's house. The night that this move took place, up rocks Merle with her husband! No problem... they are both in their mid 70s!!! Me and two 75plus man and woman! I will never forget us moving the big heavy stuff with me driving behind the trailer on that dark winter night. I still cannot believe it even to this day. But we got it done. We were now esconced in Oakleigh, in my old childhood bedroom, to take care of Mum.
At this time I had to give up work as I just couldn't care for Mum as well as all the other stuff I had to do along with a job. In the last months of work being that my workplace was sort of near enough to Mums home, I would drive home at lunchtimes to feed Mum. Before moving in with Mum I was driving to her place in the morning prior to work to help her dress and breakfast. None of which was in a direct line or close by. At least some of this running around was cut down, but I still had to get my son to school!
This meant my son had to be driven to school in Bentleigh. Thankfully another friend allowed him to stay after school at her place so he would walk to her place and I would pick him up from there. It is all the 'little' things that add up.
After moving in with Mum, I shut the Bentleigh rental door and kept paying the rent as usual as I had no time to do anything other. I was being Scarlett O'Hara... tomorrow... I will think about it tomorrow... tomorrow is another day... but the days grew into weeks, then months... it was only 7 months on after Mum died that I finally was able to organise getting rid of that rental to move all my furniture and gear to be stored under the Carport to start the look of 'Steptoe & Sons'.
Why under the Carport you are more than likely screaming to yourself.
Well, my wonderful healthy and still living amongst us sister who never liked me much since the day I was born decided to contest the Will, which is her right. However, she knew I had nothing and in a hard place financially as I had been looking after Mum for the last 6 years giving up work many times over including this last year. She put the dagger in by tying up much needed funds with this contesting to try and make me submit to her demands. And to make matters worse it was not long after my other big sis died about 3 weeks prior to Christmas that I was reported for fraudulent behaviour to Centrelink!
Hmmmm... I think... I smell a rat...
The questions that they asked me were about... my mothers car, my mothers money, my mothers house and my (now this made me laugh) mothers antiques!
More like I drove my car into the ground while caring for my Mum, as without me helping, Mum would've been lost and when my car went 'boom' Mum knew that she needed me more than ever due to all the doctors appointments etc and as it so happened Mum could not drive any longer so she decided that I should use her car as I was unable to afford to buy another and Mums car was of equal value to mine and in order to continue to look after Mum I paid for the car's roadworthy and transfer. The money that was there dwindled due to the contesting - what little there was. I was living in the house, yes, which has no heating, the stove doesn't work along with the rangehood etc etc. And as for the antiques well if you call saved christmas wrapping, christmas cards, bread plastic bags, old stockings, plastic containers and so on antiques then yes!
All claims were deemed unfounded and apologies to me profusely for having done that to me along with a letter stating such. I had informed Centrelink of all my changed circumstances as they happened as I had nothing to hide.
So who would wish my son and I harm in such a way! Vexatious is too mild a word to describe the person or persons who placed this claimed about me to cause such pain. What was the purpose? That I will never know. All I think is Centrelink should come down hard on those that put in false claims for personal vendettas to task and harshly just as they do to those that do 'fraud' the system and benefits.
My sister and I went to mediation in the middle of 2009 and she finally albeit begrudgingly not long after this agreed to all the stipulations in the Will as stated by our Mum. My sister did not break me and I honoured my Mum's wishes to the letter in full as she made me promise her all those times while in palliative care.
I do believe I know what little helpers made that 'dob in' possible, but in a way it made my resolve to uphold my Mum's wishes even more so. Hence, I dug my heels in even further. That dagger in my back only served to make me stronger.
There is loss here, but not the kind my sister would realise. To her it was loss of money. To me it was the loss of trust with my sole surviving sister. The split with her was now sadly complete. The fact that she cannot see the harm she has created and nor will I ever be able to help her understand that money is not a measure to measure against 'love'.
But I survived. Even though this sister tried with every measure to push me to the brink without a thought about me and less so my son, we still survived even though I was now deeper in debt, but eventually that can be dealt with.
To survive the period of contesting I did this by whatever methods I could to make ends meet. I sold my strand of pearls among other personal items. Many many friends helped me and so on. One can get very inventive when one needs to.
In the meantime, health wise, I was a broken woman. Yet this did not stop me from doing 'a little' at a time to keep reducing the mammoth amount of 'stuff'.
So I found myself bereft of cash and my 'stuff' in Bentleigh and no way to get rid of the rental that was costing me money yet housing my 'stuff'. Catch 22!
Many of my friends and there was an army of them that came to help pack up my volume of 'stuff'. Heaps went flying into skips that charity organisations provided me with and much more given to specific families in need. It really was a very hectic time. In the end all that was left was the question... how to move what 'stuff' was left.
Fortunately, my ex offered to use his work truck. Not ideal, but I had no choice. If you saw the truck I am talking about you would understand. It took several trips and my ex packed it well under the carport. First one side with boxes and then the other with furniture. The last trip it was getting dark and we were, my ex and myself were getting rather tired by now. He ended up throwing all my plastic bags of clothes into the back part of the carport in this last corner. I did my best to protect these things from the elements, but hey I expected to get to this soon ... not years later.
And there the clothes remained for 4 more years. There is much more to this 'block' than that, but I think you will get the picture.
I had only packed what I thought I would need for 6 months and minimal at that. I can hear you laugh there Kez!!! Anyway, most of what was under the carport has been dealt with with the exception of that last corner where the clothes were tossed all those years ago. I felt sick thinking what had perished. But finally the day came and Sue was there to help me through it.
Sue and I took out all the bags and placed them all around and both of us began to tackle one bag at a time with the view to toss what was obviously beyond redemption with others to go to the Sallies that were in good condition and some that I still wanted to use and lastly some very retro items to eBay if at all possible. Sue kept me in check and even got rather territorial as I kept coming over to what bags she was dealing with and being unceremonially ordered back to the bags I was dealing with. I am glad she did this as I could see the funny side and made me laugh instead of cry.
In the end, surprisingly only 10% was beyond help. 60% went to the Sallies. 20% for eBay and the final 10% that I could still use. I was totally amazed at how well these clothes had survived. There were only 2 items of note that I am very sad that got ruined. But I had to accept that I had left it all this time and what that meant. The fact is where these clothes were water goes rushing down when it pours and these clothes had weathered 4 winters and I just couldn't bear to brace myself for a fifth.
Anyway, there you have it. Another part done. Another part achieved.
I have now organised the eBay boxed items in that corner and will deal with the furniture in front as soon as I can find a willing 'male' to help me. After which time I have to learn all things eBay. As good fortune has it another good friend has already talked to me after reading my blogg's asking what was the hold up... and well, it is because I have no idea and too much to sell... so she is going to show me the way. She believes I will be the next eBay Queen and you know what she probably is right!
I went out with a friend today and he noticed that there was much less 'stuff' under the carport and even commented as such. If another notices, then I am making that dent.
Finally, I sigh!
Now I have to wash and dry all the clothes for their intended purpose and destination, which will take some time. Then it starts all over again... to the next batch of boxes to be dealt with.
Tommorrow is another day and in my case with less clothes and blankets this time round.
But no rest for the wicked for there is still MORE MUCH MORE to sort through! Lucky ME!
Cheers to all who bother to read this and that is me presuming some do. Feedback is always welcome, even if it is about others that you see in a 'sinking' house of 'stuff'.
Till next time...
Ah, life is wonderful... I just might get what I wish for.
Anita
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Now that I have recovered from my mini-trauma!
Hi Guys,
How time flies when you are trying to ignore what is right in front of your face!
I will have to go back a bit to get you all up to speed.
After my dear friend nearly placed me into hospital with a mini heart attack from taking stuff from under the carport willy nilly and I mean willy nilly. No thought, no process, no time, no chance! I didn't stand a chance with this pal of mine. He was quick on his feet and before I knew it, the back of his van was full full full. I had no idea what was in there and my heart started to race and all sorts of thoughts ran through my brain... but more it was the heart thumping pumping and pounding that I felt the most. All I could think was 'Just remember to breathe...' and I tried to remain calm... like that was going to happen! Dah!!!
After having my passport thrown out by a well intentioned friend some years back, I worry as to what is really being chucked out. An obvious hurdle for me to get through and over. I had no problem with the stuff going, but I just would have liked to have not felt so out of control during the process.
Like I said in the previous post, I have licked my wounds and went into hybernation for a short time to recover and regain my composure, which went out the window as I danced around my 6 foot something friend trying to grab items out of his hand! Never a good look. On top of that I have had to fight this virus that has a longevity to be admired... the one that just wont go away...
I have decided - or come to terms with - working on this one last section under the carport to truly cull right back. I have a hard rubbish collection only once a year. This year in mid September!!! I find this incredibly restrictive as my previous abode had 4 collections a year and you could book it for whenever you liked.
When I have cleared that area it will be time to start to learn all things EBAY! I plan to sell 'the good stuff' and some items are very retro or vintage classic items from 50s 60s 70s and 80s era that I am sure that they will be snapped up in no time at all. Giving these items life and use is what I aim for - that and maybe some 'dosh' as well. I hope that in the immortal words from that character in 'The Castle' doesn't bear fruit and those looking to buy these items wont think... '.... she's dreamin'!'. If it doesn't get snapped up, then off to the Sallies (Salvation Army) it goes.
I will be glad to finally one day get rid of the last of my Mum's moth ball smelling boxes. No offence to my gorgeous Mum and you have to hand it to those of that era, as they certainly knew how to keep items in pristine condition... it's just that it gets up your nose with the awful smell of the stuff. Camphor is more preferrable, but more expensive and Mum was wise with her pennies, so Moth Balls it was... on mass... even a face mask can't save you from the overpowering waft! My nose is now in perpetual indecision as to be 'breathe-free', 'blocked' on both sides or in the 'dribble' stage! I mean, what's with that... now my body is against me and defying my efforts to dramatically downsize.
Just remember to '...breathe in breathe out...' if only I could!
But where to start with this eBay bizo! Is it easy? Is it time consuming? Just sounds like another palava for me to deal with. And do I need another palava... not on your nelly I don't! I want, I expect, I demand EASY PEASEY! Is that too much to ask for after all I have had to deal with. Well, who said life is 'fair' and 'easy peasey' so why in goodness sakes do I expect it to be so now. I just have to stop my moaning and hey, just get on with it. Ha, now I am dreamin'!
Easier written than put into action.
I haven't done much in the last few weeks due to being sick, my son's birthday and the 'trauma' moment, but I have been chucking more rubbish out with each fortnightly recycle pickups and taking the cardboard to a friends place a few suburbs over into her recycle bin. There is so much that it is like the gift that keeps on giving...
If any one has some easy steps to ebay as in 'selling' not the 'buying' side of things, then feel free to send me any advice you wish to pass on. It will be appreciated as in the end it will help me in my quest to have that 'home' I used to have.
No plans other than school holidays, Easter and that one corner of the carport in my 'next' sights.
"Onwards and outwards" to the 'stuff'!
Till the next time...
Cheers to all
Anita who is getting back on the job!
Yep, I can hear you now... '... she's dreamin'!', but still optimistic (another word for dillusional maybe...). You know what I mean... now stop.
;->>>
How time flies when you are trying to ignore what is right in front of your face!
I will have to go back a bit to get you all up to speed.
After my dear friend nearly placed me into hospital with a mini heart attack from taking stuff from under the carport willy nilly and I mean willy nilly. No thought, no process, no time, no chance! I didn't stand a chance with this pal of mine. He was quick on his feet and before I knew it, the back of his van was full full full. I had no idea what was in there and my heart started to race and all sorts of thoughts ran through my brain... but more it was the heart thumping pumping and pounding that I felt the most. All I could think was 'Just remember to breathe...' and I tried to remain calm... like that was going to happen! Dah!!!
After having my passport thrown out by a well intentioned friend some years back, I worry as to what is really being chucked out. An obvious hurdle for me to get through and over. I had no problem with the stuff going, but I just would have liked to have not felt so out of control during the process.
Like I said in the previous post, I have licked my wounds and went into hybernation for a short time to recover and regain my composure, which went out the window as I danced around my 6 foot something friend trying to grab items out of his hand! Never a good look. On top of that I have had to fight this virus that has a longevity to be admired... the one that just wont go away...
I have decided - or come to terms with - working on this one last section under the carport to truly cull right back. I have a hard rubbish collection only once a year. This year in mid September!!! I find this incredibly restrictive as my previous abode had 4 collections a year and you could book it for whenever you liked.
When I have cleared that area it will be time to start to learn all things EBAY! I plan to sell 'the good stuff' and some items are very retro or vintage classic items from 50s 60s 70s and 80s era that I am sure that they will be snapped up in no time at all. Giving these items life and use is what I aim for - that and maybe some 'dosh' as well. I hope that in the immortal words from that character in 'The Castle' doesn't bear fruit and those looking to buy these items wont think... '.... she's dreamin'!'. If it doesn't get snapped up, then off to the Sallies (Salvation Army) it goes.
I will be glad to finally one day get rid of the last of my Mum's moth ball smelling boxes. No offence to my gorgeous Mum and you have to hand it to those of that era, as they certainly knew how to keep items in pristine condition... it's just that it gets up your nose with the awful smell of the stuff. Camphor is more preferrable, but more expensive and Mum was wise with her pennies, so Moth Balls it was... on mass... even a face mask can't save you from the overpowering waft! My nose is now in perpetual indecision as to be 'breathe-free', 'blocked' on both sides or in the 'dribble' stage! I mean, what's with that... now my body is against me and defying my efforts to dramatically downsize.
Just remember to '...breathe in breathe out...' if only I could!
But where to start with this eBay bizo! Is it easy? Is it time consuming? Just sounds like another palava for me to deal with. And do I need another palava... not on your nelly I don't! I want, I expect, I demand EASY PEASEY! Is that too much to ask for after all I have had to deal with. Well, who said life is 'fair' and 'easy peasey' so why in goodness sakes do I expect it to be so now. I just have to stop my moaning and hey, just get on with it. Ha, now I am dreamin'!
Easier written than put into action.
I haven't done much in the last few weeks due to being sick, my son's birthday and the 'trauma' moment, but I have been chucking more rubbish out with each fortnightly recycle pickups and taking the cardboard to a friends place a few suburbs over into her recycle bin. There is so much that it is like the gift that keeps on giving...
If any one has some easy steps to ebay as in 'selling' not the 'buying' side of things, then feel free to send me any advice you wish to pass on. It will be appreciated as in the end it will help me in my quest to have that 'home' I used to have.
No plans other than school holidays, Easter and that one corner of the carport in my 'next' sights.
"Onwards and outwards" to the 'stuff'!
Till the next time...
Cheers to all
Anita who is getting back on the job!
Yep, I can hear you now... '... she's dreamin'!', but still optimistic (another word for dillusional maybe...). You know what I mean... now stop.
;->>>
Saturday, 2 April 2011
What was I thinking!
Hi Guys,
Once more I find myself in a state of trauma! The home maintenance took a twist and turn to the 'dark' side.
Allow me to expand.
I am not well and am trying to recover from dreaded lurgies and Mark, a friend, came over on Saturday (the only time in the immediate future he had) to fix the carport roof and a few other odd bits and pieces. That part was fine. It was what happened later, much later that was problematic for little ol' mwoi.
The carport in one corner was lifting up and out of and not tethered to the pole it was supposedly anchored into. Another problem was some 4 years ago my ex decided to remove some packing from the other middle end of the carport roof and never bothered to fix what he had done! Finishing things was never his strong suit so why start now!
Anyway, Mark fixes that end first that needed packing and then onto the corner that was my main concern along with Zigis's assistance. Such a relief to have it done finally after all these last 4 years watching it lift up and bow in the 100 km gusts of winds. I remember talking to my much beloved big sis Sylvia once while it was happening and I could see it was about to fly off into the neighbours house or further even. She offered to pay for it to be fixed, but this was while she was battling her aggressive bowel cancer that took her away from us just months later. I never allowed her to do that as she had to concentrate on her. But helping others made her feel good, but I said I would take care of it. The money never came to do so and grateful that Mark could and did. And here is Sylvia who always looked out for me now looking out for me yet again even in her darkest hours. Miss her so...
I digress. Then we tried to fix the rangehood that had stopped months ago and had been using a little personal fan at the side when cooking so the steam would not set off the smoke alarms. Anyway, the bearings have gone and will need to get that fixed along with Zigis's room that has no 'light' now for 2 years!!! Oh dear, how am I going to deal with all this. The hot water service is from the early 60s and is such an old boiler and the house has no heating. Say no more....
Oh well, will have to do a Scarlett O'Hara and think about it tomorrow for tomorrow is another day.
Then onto attach what needed to be screwed, but we didn't get the coat hanger thingy up in the hallway! Bugger and that was the one thing I really wanted done after the carport roof. Trust me I am extremely grateful to Mark that all this was done. If nothing else the carport was fixed and I can be at peace when the next big winds/gales hit.
You are more than likely asking by now, 'What trauma?'.
Well, Mark, turns around and says. 'I have the van here empty, let's fill it up right now and I will take it to the tip for you.'
OK, this sounds all good and hesitate just for a fraction of a second, which is all that Mark needed to launch into piling things into the van. I had forgotten what Mark was like and capable of. Before I knew it, this and that was in the back of his van. I was there digging certain items out - a kitchen thing from the 50s and very retro for ebay etc and the last one was a 50s watering can that was real cool and that went as he shut the hatch before I could grab it. I did, however, retrieve one thing I had kept that my Granddad had made for me. I had thrown everything else out of his that I had kept except this one last thing from when I left Bentleigh some 4 years before. Granddad had made it with his own hands and it still meant alot to me.
Some of my friends will accolade him and I can hear one of you reading this and you know who I mean cachortling away at my demise.
For some memories work for them. However, for me, I prefer more tangible ways to remember long lost loved ones.
Nutty you may say, but my goodness did my heart leap into my throat while this madness was going on. I was happy for 95% of it to go, but my decisions on some where unceremonially taken away from me. No matter how well intentioned my wonderful friend was being and he really was being wonderful, I realised as I was jumping around him to grab stuff off him I was still not there yet.
Actions speak louder than words and by the looks of it I still have a long way to go.
Lesson for me is as they say in the Scouts 'Be Prepared' and I will have to add from now on 'Be On Guard' as well!
I am now licking my wounds and finding solace in the comfort that it is all for the best.
It will take time for me to get back to it... my paceand rythym has been mucked up. However, there is Aija, who I am sure will, once she wakes up will insist on getting 'something' done today!!! Oh, please give me a break!!!
I will have to work on a mantra that helps me get through these torrid waters to help me accept the things I cannot do... etc etc etc... is that similar to Alcoholics Annonomous? Hmmm... am I addicted now to what has been thrust upon me. Food for thought and to ponder.
Till next time and hopefully I will be out of this 'dark' twist and turn.
Cheers all
Anita
trying to remember it is good to achieve 'onward and outward'.
Once more I find myself in a state of trauma! The home maintenance took a twist and turn to the 'dark' side.
Allow me to expand.
I am not well and am trying to recover from dreaded lurgies and Mark, a friend, came over on Saturday (the only time in the immediate future he had) to fix the carport roof and a few other odd bits and pieces. That part was fine. It was what happened later, much later that was problematic for little ol' mwoi.
The carport in one corner was lifting up and out of and not tethered to the pole it was supposedly anchored into. Another problem was some 4 years ago my ex decided to remove some packing from the other middle end of the carport roof and never bothered to fix what he had done! Finishing things was never his strong suit so why start now!
Anyway, Mark fixes that end first that needed packing and then onto the corner that was my main concern along with Zigis's assistance. Such a relief to have it done finally after all these last 4 years watching it lift up and bow in the 100 km gusts of winds. I remember talking to my much beloved big sis Sylvia once while it was happening and I could see it was about to fly off into the neighbours house or further even. She offered to pay for it to be fixed, but this was while she was battling her aggressive bowel cancer that took her away from us just months later. I never allowed her to do that as she had to concentrate on her. But helping others made her feel good, but I said I would take care of it. The money never came to do so and grateful that Mark could and did. And here is Sylvia who always looked out for me now looking out for me yet again even in her darkest hours. Miss her so...
I digress. Then we tried to fix the rangehood that had stopped months ago and had been using a little personal fan at the side when cooking so the steam would not set off the smoke alarms. Anyway, the bearings have gone and will need to get that fixed along with Zigis's room that has no 'light' now for 2 years!!! Oh dear, how am I going to deal with all this. The hot water service is from the early 60s and is such an old boiler and the house has no heating. Say no more....
Oh well, will have to do a Scarlett O'Hara and think about it tomorrow for tomorrow is another day.
Then onto attach what needed to be screwed, but we didn't get the coat hanger thingy up in the hallway! Bugger and that was the one thing I really wanted done after the carport roof. Trust me I am extremely grateful to Mark that all this was done. If nothing else the carport was fixed and I can be at peace when the next big winds/gales hit.
You are more than likely asking by now, 'What trauma?'.
Well, Mark, turns around and says. 'I have the van here empty, let's fill it up right now and I will take it to the tip for you.'
OK, this sounds all good and hesitate just for a fraction of a second, which is all that Mark needed to launch into piling things into the van. I had forgotten what Mark was like and capable of. Before I knew it, this and that was in the back of his van. I was there digging certain items out - a kitchen thing from the 50s and very retro for ebay etc and the last one was a 50s watering can that was real cool and that went as he shut the hatch before I could grab it. I did, however, retrieve one thing I had kept that my Granddad had made for me. I had thrown everything else out of his that I had kept except this one last thing from when I left Bentleigh some 4 years before. Granddad had made it with his own hands and it still meant alot to me.
Some of my friends will accolade him and I can hear one of you reading this and you know who I mean cachortling away at my demise.
For some memories work for them. However, for me, I prefer more tangible ways to remember long lost loved ones.
Nutty you may say, but my goodness did my heart leap into my throat while this madness was going on. I was happy for 95% of it to go, but my decisions on some where unceremonially taken away from me. No matter how well intentioned my wonderful friend was being and he really was being wonderful, I realised as I was jumping around him to grab stuff off him I was still not there yet.
Actions speak louder than words and by the looks of it I still have a long way to go.
Lesson for me is as they say in the Scouts 'Be Prepared' and I will have to add from now on 'Be On Guard' as well!
I am now licking my wounds and finding solace in the comfort that it is all for the best.
It will take time for me to get back to it... my paceand rythym has been mucked up. However, there is Aija, who I am sure will, once she wakes up will insist on getting 'something' done today!!! Oh, please give me a break!!!
I will have to work on a mantra that helps me get through these torrid waters to help me accept the things I cannot do... etc etc etc... is that similar to Alcoholics Annonomous? Hmmm... am I addicted now to what has been thrust upon me. Food for thought and to ponder.
Till next time and hopefully I will be out of this 'dark' twist and turn.
Cheers all
Anita
trying to remember it is good to achieve 'onward and outward'.
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
I spoke too soon!
Hi Guys,
In my last blogg I said that the corridor was finally clear and echoed with the vastness of space. Well, I spoke too soon as only a few days later Aija placed what little there was left in her room into the corridor.
At least it was clear for a few days! Should have taken a photo for proof!!!
It is almost a week now since Aija moved back in with us. There are still things to be done to make this transition more comfortable for us all. The loungeroom is back to looking like a dogs breakfast and then there is the corridor along with the carport area to be dealt with. Ahh, more fun to look forward to.
Anyway, a pal, Kez, came over to help me with a few things and to pick up items that I had of hers. She helped me with Aija's TV/DVD and my VHS - yes I said VHS. Aija arrives home from work while we were in the middle of all this and we start talking about my blogg.
I ask Aija, 'Have you read my blogg?'
Her reply was an emphatic, 'I AM LIVING "THE" BLOGG!' What can you say to that!
Anyway, there is still much 'stuff' to be rid of be it rubbish/treasured or otherwise.
In the meantime, there is some home maintenance to be done. My Carport roof in one corner has detached and when the next 100km winds come along I can see it peel off like a top of a can and fly away! Hopefully, the guy who is helping me will still be able to come and reattach it this Saturday along with a few other odd jobs. My son has been living in a room with no bedroom light for over a year now. I need an electrician, but also need the dosh to pay an electrician. Again, hopefully, this problem can be fixed soon, but bear in mind I also said that a year ago.
After that a friend has offered to help with the decluttering during the school holidays for one or two days. Now that Aija is living here she can take the 'stuff' to the Sallies. Very helpful. Fresh eyes is always helpful and now that I am further down the track I think I will be able to deal with how she operates. She is ruthless. But I do trust her. I am just not so sure about me.
Even though this mess was thrust upon me I have found this process to be emotionally difficult still to detach items from emotion/image or memory. This is where the hoarder within attaches to you and holds you back from getting ahead. Most of what I think and feel is normal. Had I not got this huge mess I would be fine. I still have to deal with it. I have been dealing with it for some 3 year now. I am trying not to get negative or bitter about it. I have to realise that there is so much more to go and not to allow this thought and doubts to make me lose momentum. This I know sounds like gobbledigook, but it does describe how it feels.
Patience. And I was never patient!!!
Big ask. Big job. Big deal.
Right now it is all about 'keeping on going' just like Berger paint!
Ironic, how my Carport roof and what I am personally grappling with have a certain symmetry about them. One has to be reattached and the other has to allow detachment. Well, it seems like that to me.
One day at a time, breathe in breathe out and she'll be right.
Onward and outward is my new motto!
Cheers to all
Anita at the halfway mark!
In my last blogg I said that the corridor was finally clear and echoed with the vastness of space. Well, I spoke too soon as only a few days later Aija placed what little there was left in her room into the corridor.
At least it was clear for a few days! Should have taken a photo for proof!!!
It is almost a week now since Aija moved back in with us. There are still things to be done to make this transition more comfortable for us all. The loungeroom is back to looking like a dogs breakfast and then there is the corridor along with the carport area to be dealt with. Ahh, more fun to look forward to.
Anyway, a pal, Kez, came over to help me with a few things and to pick up items that I had of hers. She helped me with Aija's TV/DVD and my VHS - yes I said VHS. Aija arrives home from work while we were in the middle of all this and we start talking about my blogg.
I ask Aija, 'Have you read my blogg?'
Her reply was an emphatic, 'I AM LIVING "THE" BLOGG!' What can you say to that!
Anyway, there is still much 'stuff' to be rid of be it rubbish/treasured or otherwise.
In the meantime, there is some home maintenance to be done. My Carport roof in one corner has detached and when the next 100km winds come along I can see it peel off like a top of a can and fly away! Hopefully, the guy who is helping me will still be able to come and reattach it this Saturday along with a few other odd jobs. My son has been living in a room with no bedroom light for over a year now. I need an electrician, but also need the dosh to pay an electrician. Again, hopefully, this problem can be fixed soon, but bear in mind I also said that a year ago.
After that a friend has offered to help with the decluttering during the school holidays for one or two days. Now that Aija is living here she can take the 'stuff' to the Sallies. Very helpful. Fresh eyes is always helpful and now that I am further down the track I think I will be able to deal with how she operates. She is ruthless. But I do trust her. I am just not so sure about me.
Even though this mess was thrust upon me I have found this process to be emotionally difficult still to detach items from emotion/image or memory. This is where the hoarder within attaches to you and holds you back from getting ahead. Most of what I think and feel is normal. Had I not got this huge mess I would be fine. I still have to deal with it. I have been dealing with it for some 3 year now. I am trying not to get negative or bitter about it. I have to realise that there is so much more to go and not to allow this thought and doubts to make me lose momentum. This I know sounds like gobbledigook, but it does describe how it feels.
Patience. And I was never patient!!!
Big ask. Big job. Big deal.
Right now it is all about 'keeping on going' just like Berger paint!
Ironic, how my Carport roof and what I am personally grappling with have a certain symmetry about them. One has to be reattached and the other has to allow detachment. Well, it seems like that to me.
One day at a time, breathe in breathe out and she'll be right.
Onward and outward is my new motto!
Cheers to all
Anita at the halfway mark!
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
How many 'one step at a time' add up too?
Hi guys,
I have had so many 'one step at a time' "STEPS" that I am beginning to feel like a 'Step Master'!
Well, maybe not. But you get to a point in the process of handling and dealing with the 'stuff' that you begin to doubt you will ever get to the other end.
Lately, a few of my friends have said, 'You must be feeling better now that you are ploughing through the half way mark'. But to be honest, at this moment 'No'.
It occurred to me, I would often remember my Mum in her palliative bed looking at me with such sadness at leaving me with this ginormous and thankless job ahead and say, 'I am soooo sorrryyy'. She had had to deal with her Mum's house and had intended to deal with hers. Even though she brought alot of her Mum's 'stuff' back to her home and I do suspect she may have struggled herself with the process. But Cancer stopped that intention and took my Mum away 15 to 20 years too soon.
It only just occured to me when my friends said this, that I realised, I will feel better when I don't have boxes all over the place and furniture in my neighbours garage. Only then will I start feeling better about this process.
In the meantime, my daughter Aija and I did go shopping for that bed base and mattress for her, which ended up being fun. It is being delivered one night this week and looks like she will be esconsed back home by the weeks end! And we have managed to do all this without killing each other!!! (...almost)
Last night we dealt with the corridor which is now near empty and echoes! Very strange indeed.
The loungeroom, however, looks like a dogs breakfast once again. There's that holding pattern happening once more. I wont place it back into the corridor as while it is in the loungeroom I will be more inclined and motivated to deal with it, whereas if it stays in the corridor as the saying goes, 'outta sight outta getting rid of time' comes to mind. Yes, I know I have played with that saying a tad, but trust me I get those sayings wrong all the time... I tend to mix 2 and even up to 3 in together and yet they still make sense! Go figure.
Tonight, Aija is cleaning her room. Washing windows, walls and vacuuming. I have washed the curtains and will put them back up and tomorrow night my part in that room for the moment is done once the bed arrives.
Back to the loungeroom. Hmmmm, it will take time to deal with the 'stuff', but being in my face and space it will force me to do so sooner than later. Then for a brief break from the decluttering so my back can recover. After all, I have a job to find as well. But I do have to take advantage of this time to get decluttering done. As once I start work again that will definately get in the way in finding time to deal with and getting rid of 'stuff' big time.
In a way, I am glad my daughter has to move back in for a while. It forced me to deal with the main bedroom that was full to the brim like a storage container! A huge job in itself. And then the last of what's under the carport, shed and neighbours garage. Trust me that is nothing now compared to what I started out with. I had the whole carport full and it is a huge carport (now next to nothing there) along with a full lounge room (storage style) and the dining room chockers. These areas I dealt with first as it affected our day to day living. Suffice it to say that when the loungeroom keeps being encroached annoys me to no end as I feel like I have this constant Groundhog loungeroom feeling.
Dealing with an enormous load like this while living in it is not easy at all. But with time and patience it can be done. The trouble is people think this is the way you 'like' to live, which couldn't be farther from the truth. I try not to think about it and when I find myself saying to whoever comes to see me, 'Oh, please excuse the mess... blah blah blah...' I have to stop myself as I know what is the true story and shouldn't feel ashamed of what was thrust upon me through circumstance. I no longer feel the need to apologise. If those who visit choose to judge me so be it. I know that one day if they find themselves in the same or similar situation they wont be judged by me is all.
If I give it some thought as to the amount of 'steps' so far and to go... well 'one million steps done with a million more to go'!
Am definately at the halfway mark or more and looking forward to the 'feeling better' one day soon.
I will end on a quote that I find funny, but am not wanting to offend others. Hopefully, you will take this in the humour in which it is intended.
'People who live in immaculate houses live dull lives'! anon
Or how I like to put my twist on it 'People who live in immaculate house have hired help.' Anita Sulcs - feel free to use...
Cau to all especially those who have the same struggle
Anita
ps - must admit I liked it as my daughter vacuumed - my back was smiling. My back and I have made a promise... once home is in order set money aside for one luxury... not massages, but cleaning help!!!
I have had so many 'one step at a time' "STEPS" that I am beginning to feel like a 'Step Master'!
Well, maybe not. But you get to a point in the process of handling and dealing with the 'stuff' that you begin to doubt you will ever get to the other end.
Lately, a few of my friends have said, 'You must be feeling better now that you are ploughing through the half way mark'. But to be honest, at this moment 'No'.
It occurred to me, I would often remember my Mum in her palliative bed looking at me with such sadness at leaving me with this ginormous and thankless job ahead and say, 'I am soooo sorrryyy'. She had had to deal with her Mum's house and had intended to deal with hers. Even though she brought alot of her Mum's 'stuff' back to her home and I do suspect she may have struggled herself with the process. But Cancer stopped that intention and took my Mum away 15 to 20 years too soon.
It only just occured to me when my friends said this, that I realised, I will feel better when I don't have boxes all over the place and furniture in my neighbours garage. Only then will I start feeling better about this process.
In the meantime, my daughter Aija and I did go shopping for that bed base and mattress for her, which ended up being fun. It is being delivered one night this week and looks like she will be esconsed back home by the weeks end! And we have managed to do all this without killing each other!!! (...almost)
Last night we dealt with the corridor which is now near empty and echoes! Very strange indeed.
The loungeroom, however, looks like a dogs breakfast once again. There's that holding pattern happening once more. I wont place it back into the corridor as while it is in the loungeroom I will be more inclined and motivated to deal with it, whereas if it stays in the corridor as the saying goes, 'outta sight outta getting rid of time' comes to mind. Yes, I know I have played with that saying a tad, but trust me I get those sayings wrong all the time... I tend to mix 2 and even up to 3 in together and yet they still make sense! Go figure.
Tonight, Aija is cleaning her room. Washing windows, walls and vacuuming. I have washed the curtains and will put them back up and tomorrow night my part in that room for the moment is done once the bed arrives.
Back to the loungeroom. Hmmmm, it will take time to deal with the 'stuff', but being in my face and space it will force me to do so sooner than later. Then for a brief break from the decluttering so my back can recover. After all, I have a job to find as well. But I do have to take advantage of this time to get decluttering done. As once I start work again that will definately get in the way in finding time to deal with and getting rid of 'stuff' big time.
In a way, I am glad my daughter has to move back in for a while. It forced me to deal with the main bedroom that was full to the brim like a storage container! A huge job in itself. And then the last of what's under the carport, shed and neighbours garage. Trust me that is nothing now compared to what I started out with. I had the whole carport full and it is a huge carport (now next to nothing there) along with a full lounge room (storage style) and the dining room chockers. These areas I dealt with first as it affected our day to day living. Suffice it to say that when the loungeroom keeps being encroached annoys me to no end as I feel like I have this constant Groundhog loungeroom feeling.
Dealing with an enormous load like this while living in it is not easy at all. But with time and patience it can be done. The trouble is people think this is the way you 'like' to live, which couldn't be farther from the truth. I try not to think about it and when I find myself saying to whoever comes to see me, 'Oh, please excuse the mess... blah blah blah...' I have to stop myself as I know what is the true story and shouldn't feel ashamed of what was thrust upon me through circumstance. I no longer feel the need to apologise. If those who visit choose to judge me so be it. I know that one day if they find themselves in the same or similar situation they wont be judged by me is all.
If I give it some thought as to the amount of 'steps' so far and to go... well 'one million steps done with a million more to go'!
Am definately at the halfway mark or more and looking forward to the 'feeling better' one day soon.
I will end on a quote that I find funny, but am not wanting to offend others. Hopefully, you will take this in the humour in which it is intended.
'People who live in immaculate houses live dull lives'! anon
Or how I like to put my twist on it 'People who live in immaculate house have hired help.' Anita Sulcs - feel free to use...
Cau to all especially those who have the same struggle
Anita
ps - must admit I liked it as my daughter vacuumed - my back was smiling. My back and I have made a promise... once home is in order set money aside for one luxury... not massages, but cleaning help!!!
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