Hi Guys,
As I said, I was going to get the last of the boxes from my neighbours garage over to my place.
Sue, my buddy, who was the first to help over 4 years ago now to pack up the 2 bedrooms filled to the brim so I could move in quickly to be with Mum to look after her 24/7 in her fight against cancer. It was Sue who helped me pack up the 2 rooms along with Mum sitting in the corridor watching and checking what we were doing. This process took awhile as Mum had to tell me the story about each item, who it belonged to, the event attached to it and what provinance it had to our family.
There I was in the garage last Saturday, realising that these were the very first boxes that Sue and I packed together with Mum what now seems like all those years ago. Talk about emotional.
We got the items over to my place and I knew that even though it wouldn't take long to sort through it, it was still bittersweet that we were now full circle. Sue and I took these boxes to May's and now here we were bringing them back. I didn't plan it that way. It just happened.
There are now only 6 items of large pieces of my own personal furniture left. I have given all the rest away to others who would more than likely never be able to afford these pieces of furniture. At least I know they are well used and appreciated.
On top of all this I have been weeding the front garden, which had run away from me. John who came to do the job had done one fantastic job along with my and Zigis's assistance. Now to mass plant some hardy plants and heavily mulch and the front yard will look well kept once more.
As for the last of the boxes, well, apart from the 6 pieces over the road, all my stuff is finally all in one place for the first time in 5 years!
I think I can safely say we have arrived at the hump of the load of 'stuff'. If only I could make headway by Christmas, I then would be one very happy woman.
I would like to enjoy my family home before I have to sell. Well, that is the plan.
Now I have to make sure I go through the boxes and not just let them sit there. There is that danger as this has pricked up some emotional parts in me. Even though you know your loved ones are gone, for those who hold onto 'stuff' this then can be made an attachment to that. I do not want to be bogged down ever again and have to make sure I do not dawdle in sorting through these particular boxes.
I don't think I am in danger of that and more than likely is why I am writing it down here to force me to not dwell, but to move forward as I have been doing.
You cannot and I mean cannot take all this 'stuff' with you. All you can do is leave the good stuff and not ALL the stuff to loved ones.
Mum knew what she had left me. It was Mum and I who sorted through her Mum's place that took the best of a year to do taking 2 to 4 days each week to achieve it. No one else in the family was willing to help us so we slogged on together regardless. She didn't mean to leave me in such a mess, but cancer robbed her of her time and plans. Never leave it as you just never know what is around that corner called 'time'. Some things you just have to do there and then.
Now I have reached my 'hump', it is all uphill from now on. Or is that downhill? Let's see how I do and how long I take! This is my challenge to me.
Cheers for now
Anita - who now has to pull her finger out!
And getting closer to being 'unloaded'.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Waiting for warmer days!
Hi Guys,
Well, the cold can certainly put a dampener on getting anything done. Especially if it is outside one has to get things done!
I have taken other new activities on that get in the way of my task of decluttering, but one that in the end will help me with gaining much needed energy required to achieve my task of decluttering. Yes folks, I have joined a gym! Don't fall over you read it right.
I have worked under the carport to remove some rubbish and more clothes off to the brotherhood recycle bins. Along with that have also started to spruce the look of the place to get ready for the sale of the house in 2013. The first area to be tackled was the front garden bed that really needed attention as the photo below shows... it truly was a disgrace... I kept the garden together for 3 years and in this last year it just got away from me.
Here you will see the front and most of the side deweeded. Next is to replace my very sad letterbox that nearly isn't a letterbox. Ah, the jobs never finish.
So loads of new projects to tackle. Who says I overload myself? Oh, that would be ME!
It is difficult to get motivated in this Melbourne cold winter weather to get out there to get the work done. This weekend my girlfriend Sue is coming over to help me bring back what's left of my Mum's boxes for me to go through from my neighbours garage. Soon all my Mum's stuff and my gear will be finally in one spot only and not all over Melbourne.
I am hoping to get the bulk of this work done by Christmas, but looks like I will have a job that will probably slow that down. This is a good thing as with the job will come much needed funds that I can then pay others to get certain jobs completed in a more timely fashion than I ever could. At least that is my theory.
At least life is not boring and now that I have sorted out my ratbag side of the family, as in removing myself from the equation, I can now get on with the job at hand unencumbered of their angst and judgement. Ah, the freedom. Just like fresh air. You can't get enough of it.
To turn a page like that takes time to get to, but I can highly recommend it. My heart is finally getting that holiday from stress that it so deserves.
You may wonder why I mention all these things. Well, it colours how you cope and how and when you get things done and to a large extent ends up effecting your health. Decluttering is a stressful action for alot of us and to have added stressors thrust upon you just makes the situation even more worse and can compound in ways like effecting your health. In my case my heart.
It wasn't easy to get to that place and to finally let go as it involved members of my family, which I hold dear to my heart. But a few were active in making my life more stressful than necessary and the only way around that was to get out of it altogether. Now that I have cognitively done so, I have laughed, I have slept better, I have not cried as much and most of all I feel more relaxed within myself. Sure I have lost some family members, but look at what I have gained. I have gained 'me' again and the road to better health and more than likely the ability to finally get on top of all that has held me back.
To those family members I have let go I still hold within my heart, but just only the good times. If they ever one day want a relationship with me and that is 'if ever', then for me it will only be possible if they enter into it without the condemnation and judgement of the past. You can't lose horror. You have to remove yourself from the horror.
To be released in such a way has really helped in the decluttering side of things. I view things more clearly. I am able to decide without angst or intrepidation. It really is a relief.
Life goes on regardless whether we like it or not. Why not make life work for you rather than against it!
For some this journey wont take as long as it has for me. And for others even longer. But all the pain, tears and worries have been not for nought and very much worth the tricky journey.
One thing I have done is be true to myself. The other one thing I did that was a negative was dwell for too long in that negative. Never again.
Now if anyone knows anyone who is hard up and needs a working lawn mower, please let me know as I would be happy for mine to go to a well deserving home.
I am now in a place that I see the joy in the process. Now all I have to do is get the energy to hurry it all up!!! Getting old is not for the faint hearted was said to me once and now I have a glimmer of what they meant by that.
So farewell from a more settled 'me'.
Cheers
Anita who is literally shedding the baggage, but still very much tired...
Well, the cold can certainly put a dampener on getting anything done. Especially if it is outside one has to get things done!
I have taken other new activities on that get in the way of my task of decluttering, but one that in the end will help me with gaining much needed energy required to achieve my task of decluttering. Yes folks, I have joined a gym! Don't fall over you read it right.
I have worked under the carport to remove some rubbish and more clothes off to the brotherhood recycle bins. Along with that have also started to spruce the look of the place to get ready for the sale of the house in 2013. The first area to be tackled was the front garden bed that really needed attention as the photo below shows... it truly was a disgrace... I kept the garden together for 3 years and in this last year it just got away from me.
Here you will see the front and most of the side deweeded. Next is to replace my very sad letterbox that nearly isn't a letterbox. Ah, the jobs never finish.
So loads of new projects to tackle. Who says I overload myself? Oh, that would be ME!
It is difficult to get motivated in this Melbourne cold winter weather to get out there to get the work done. This weekend my girlfriend Sue is coming over to help me bring back what's left of my Mum's boxes for me to go through from my neighbours garage. Soon all my Mum's stuff and my gear will be finally in one spot only and not all over Melbourne.
I am hoping to get the bulk of this work done by Christmas, but looks like I will have a job that will probably slow that down. This is a good thing as with the job will come much needed funds that I can then pay others to get certain jobs completed in a more timely fashion than I ever could. At least that is my theory.
At least life is not boring and now that I have sorted out my ratbag side of the family, as in removing myself from the equation, I can now get on with the job at hand unencumbered of their angst and judgement. Ah, the freedom. Just like fresh air. You can't get enough of it.
To turn a page like that takes time to get to, but I can highly recommend it. My heart is finally getting that holiday from stress that it so deserves.
You may wonder why I mention all these things. Well, it colours how you cope and how and when you get things done and to a large extent ends up effecting your health. Decluttering is a stressful action for alot of us and to have added stressors thrust upon you just makes the situation even more worse and can compound in ways like effecting your health. In my case my heart.
It wasn't easy to get to that place and to finally let go as it involved members of my family, which I hold dear to my heart. But a few were active in making my life more stressful than necessary and the only way around that was to get out of it altogether. Now that I have cognitively done so, I have laughed, I have slept better, I have not cried as much and most of all I feel more relaxed within myself. Sure I have lost some family members, but look at what I have gained. I have gained 'me' again and the road to better health and more than likely the ability to finally get on top of all that has held me back.
To those family members I have let go I still hold within my heart, but just only the good times. If they ever one day want a relationship with me and that is 'if ever', then for me it will only be possible if they enter into it without the condemnation and judgement of the past. You can't lose horror. You have to remove yourself from the horror.
To be released in such a way has really helped in the decluttering side of things. I view things more clearly. I am able to decide without angst or intrepidation. It really is a relief.
Life goes on regardless whether we like it or not. Why not make life work for you rather than against it!
For some this journey wont take as long as it has for me. And for others even longer. But all the pain, tears and worries have been not for nought and very much worth the tricky journey.
One thing I have done is be true to myself. The other one thing I did that was a negative was dwell for too long in that negative. Never again.
Now if anyone knows anyone who is hard up and needs a working lawn mower, please let me know as I would be happy for mine to go to a well deserving home.
I am now in a place that I see the joy in the process. Now all I have to do is get the energy to hurry it all up!!! Getting old is not for the faint hearted was said to me once and now I have a glimmer of what they meant by that.
So farewell from a more settled 'me'.
Cheers
Anita who is literally shedding the baggage, but still very much tired...
Monday, 11 July 2011
In a blink!
Hi Guys,
Been over a month since I posted anything about decluttering, get rid of, purging, tossing out, throwing out, selling or giving away of all my worldly stuff.
To put it bluntly, I have been too busy with organising the Wrokdown gigs and frankly way too cold to get motivated. Along with the fact that I have finally started at a gym in my quest to improve my health. Once my health has improved and I have lessened my clutter load I will be one very pleased gal.
That being said it now has to continue to be done. The declutterng that is. Along with all the things and duties that I have had on my plate I had a personal 'family' moment (crisis) that now has made my task of decluttering all that much easier.
I have been persona non grata with my immediate family for the last 4 to 5 years. This is through no fault of my own, but thrust upon me by my Mum before she died due to her Will. Without going into the nitty gritty's I have been tarred, feathered, shunned, ignored, called a liar and blamed for what someone else decided. And the 2 people who placed me in this position apologised to me just days before they died for what they were about to put me through and the other for what they did to me. Life and families. Never easy.
I have tried in one direction of the immediate family to heal the rift, but 3 years on to no avail without any effort from their end either. I see no point in continuing with this endeavour as the attitude is well entrenched and I do not care to surround myself with person's who think so lowly of me of which is based on perception and not fact.
Life is way to short to be toxic like that and not good for one's health, wellbeing and peace of mind.
This has now been 'put to bed' on my part and will now venture forth with a clear view of life with the freedom that it affords me. Now all I have to do is get what is on the exterior to catch up with how I think and feel.
As for the stilleto shoes - they did go to a new home. Phil from NSW just had to have them. And I could understand. I also sold some more clothes, but being the end of financial year it was a bit hohum and slow to go. Out of 4 items 3 sold, but no profit to be had. Just broke even. EBay is not looking crash hot in helping me to get on top of things.
I have regrouped and will sell items at times when there is a market. Like my hats which will be put up for sale in September just in time for the Spring Racing Carnival.
As for sorting, it is so cold now that it is very uncomfortable to do. In light of this it is off to the gym instead. May as well make use of the time in a positive way.
Well off to have a cuppa tea and then the gym...
Chookas
Anita who still grapples with her 'stuff'.
Been over a month since I posted anything about decluttering, get rid of, purging, tossing out, throwing out, selling or giving away of all my worldly stuff.
To put it bluntly, I have been too busy with organising the Wrokdown gigs and frankly way too cold to get motivated. Along with the fact that I have finally started at a gym in my quest to improve my health. Once my health has improved and I have lessened my clutter load I will be one very pleased gal.
That being said it now has to continue to be done. The declutterng that is. Along with all the things and duties that I have had on my plate I had a personal 'family' moment (crisis) that now has made my task of decluttering all that much easier.
I have been persona non grata with my immediate family for the last 4 to 5 years. This is through no fault of my own, but thrust upon me by my Mum before she died due to her Will. Without going into the nitty gritty's I have been tarred, feathered, shunned, ignored, called a liar and blamed for what someone else decided. And the 2 people who placed me in this position apologised to me just days before they died for what they were about to put me through and the other for what they did to me. Life and families. Never easy.
I have tried in one direction of the immediate family to heal the rift, but 3 years on to no avail without any effort from their end either. I see no point in continuing with this endeavour as the attitude is well entrenched and I do not care to surround myself with person's who think so lowly of me of which is based on perception and not fact.
Life is way to short to be toxic like that and not good for one's health, wellbeing and peace of mind.
This has now been 'put to bed' on my part and will now venture forth with a clear view of life with the freedom that it affords me. Now all I have to do is get what is on the exterior to catch up with how I think and feel.
As for the stilleto shoes - they did go to a new home. Phil from NSW just had to have them. And I could understand. I also sold some more clothes, but being the end of financial year it was a bit hohum and slow to go. Out of 4 items 3 sold, but no profit to be had. Just broke even. EBay is not looking crash hot in helping me to get on top of things.
I have regrouped and will sell items at times when there is a market. Like my hats which will be put up for sale in September just in time for the Spring Racing Carnival.
As for sorting, it is so cold now that it is very uncomfortable to do. In light of this it is off to the gym instead. May as well make use of the time in a positive way.
Well off to have a cuppa tea and then the gym...
Chookas
Anita who still grapples with her 'stuff'.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Letting you know...
Hi Guys,
Just so you know have had my first item on eBay. How excitement!!!
Here are the little beauties...... aren't they just gorgeous......
I chose to go with a pair of Stiletto diamonte encrusted very very high heeled shoes in Aubergine... very sheek. Any way, the Auction finishes tomorrow. Have had some interest and it looks like they are just sitting and watching... no bids so far. How nerve-racking!!!
A couple of bods asked for photos with feet in them! I hope they don't have a foot fettish!!!
Here are my daughter's feet modelling said shoes...
With all the set up palava one has to go through to get the first item on eBay you already feel like that is the victory and one hasn't even sold anything as yet. Let's hope all the effort is worth it.
This is me (below) setting up the shots for some of the items. It's all about the lighting!!! Thanks to Kezzah and her new studio. Is it still Addis, Addis & Addis?
Tomorrow guys... fingers crossed.
If they don't get sold - it is orff to the Sallies (Salvation Army) they go.
From now on it is '...PIX AND OUT...' sold or not... out they go.
Well, this was a quickie after all... chat soon... jobs to be done... pictures to take... better be careful of what I sell...
Chookas all
Anita
an almost one Stiletto pair lighter!
Just so you know have had my first item on eBay. How excitement!!!
Here are the little beauties...... aren't they just gorgeous......
I chose to go with a pair of Stiletto diamonte encrusted very very high heeled shoes in Aubergine... very sheek. Any way, the Auction finishes tomorrow. Have had some interest and it looks like they are just sitting and watching... no bids so far. How nerve-racking!!!
A couple of bods asked for photos with feet in them! I hope they don't have a foot fettish!!!
Here are my daughter's feet modelling said shoes...
With all the set up palava one has to go through to get the first item on eBay you already feel like that is the victory and one hasn't even sold anything as yet. Let's hope all the effort is worth it.
This is me (below) setting up the shots for some of the items. It's all about the lighting!!! Thanks to Kezzah and her new studio. Is it still Addis, Addis & Addis?
Tomorrow guys... fingers crossed.
If they don't get sold - it is orff to the Sallies (Salvation Army) they go.
From now on it is '...PIX AND OUT...' sold or not... out they go.
Well, this was a quickie after all... chat soon... jobs to be done... pictures to take... better be careful of what I sell...
Chookas all
Anita
an almost one Stiletto pair lighter!
Friday, 27 May 2011
May Days be gone...
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...
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...
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
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