Tuesday 26 November 2013

De-cluttering, Renovating and Moving

I'd like to say that I don't know where the time has gone since I last posted - but I do know - it's been taken up with looking at homes and going back to homes to measure and see what will fit where and painting (oh the blisters from painting for 3 days) and weeding and more weeding and getting the front garden ready and the front front garden ready and the back garden and the house.

Thank goodness I was able to take 3 days leave last week to get some of the above done but it seems that every time I turn around, there is something else that we 'have' to do before we put our home on the market.

The de-cluttering has been good - and so cathartic.  It is also very stressful because I am married to someone who likes to hold onto things.  I'm not sure if you would call him a true hoarder but he doesn't like to get rid of things - even if there is only a very teeny tiny possibility that we may use it, he likes to keep it - just in case !!!!!!  It does drive me insane but I am sure that there are things that I do that drive him insane - so we sort of cancel each other out like that.

I am enjoying going through our stuff and finding little treasures that I had forgotten about - a letter I wrote to my Upstairs Gran when I was 4 yrs 8 mths old, photos of family members no longer with us, writing paper/notelets I never even knew I had, 50c stamps that I will need to buy 10c stamps to go with on a letter and so it goes on.

The bookshelf, which is floor to ceiling and 1500mm wide - is full to overflowing with books - some of which we will never read again so Lifeline will get those as well.  I know that there is someone out there who will read them.  The ones we don't give to Lifeline, will get packed away so that we only have shelves that have books one row deep instead of two rows deep !!!

Ideally I would love to live in a minimalistic home, but I understand that living with someone who likes 'stuff', it probably isn't going to happen.  All I can do is hope that what we keep is worthy of the space that it takes up.  And really, do we really have to have more than two sets of anything - be it towels, linen, table cloths, place mats, coffee machines etc etc.  I am sure you get the picture.  It seems that Lifeline is going to be getting a lot of 'drop offs' over the next couple of weeks - I know that there are people who will actually make a lot more use of these things than we do, having it sitting in our sideboard, linen cupboard, bedroom cupboard or kitchen.

We have taken a storage shed that we are moving 'stuff' into this weekend which means that this week is the week that I pack up as much as I can and send it off to storage.  I know I can take it into storage at any time but I would rather do it all now and then they will cart it there for me instead of us having to do it later.

I don't know how much I am going to be around over the next couple of weeks - last week we worked pretty much until we collapsed into a bath and then into bed.  There is nothing quite as exciting as weeding by torch light - but it was so much cooler than what we had put up with from 8-11 in the morning !

Joining in with Jess for #IBOT because it's Tuesday and I like to join in with such a fun linky !

Have the best week !!

TFTD : Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.

51 comments:

  1. Aww I missed your post about moving! What a huge undertaking! It must be exhausting but a little exciting. I am a bit like you and I can easily throw most things out but hubby is a bit of a hoarder. He keeps all the gifts the kids have ever given him. I am slowly decluttering our house. What a beautiful letter to find, they are true treasures. I hope that you have a great week! Eleise

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    1. It is exciting but oh so stressful - I know that it will be good when it is all finished - it's just to get finished first !!!
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  2. I was wondering why you had been so quiet. I can't believe you're moving!!! And I suppose you're doing most of it yourself with A away? You could probably get rid of half the "stuff" and he'd never know what was gone! ;-)

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    1. Thankfully he is home at the moment so is helping. Unfortunately he would know if I got rid of something because he has the memory of a bloody elephant - I can't believe the stuff that he remembers and knows he has and exactly where it is !!! I wish I could remember stuff like he does !
      Have a fantastic week !
      Me

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  3. Sounding really exciting things are happening in your house, can't wait to see what will happen next :)

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    1. Yes, it is definitely exciting and scary at the same time !!!
      Have the best day and take care of yourself !
      Me

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  4. good luck with the move - i love the little discoveries you have made like the letter xxx

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    1. Thanks Deb - the letter was so cute - may be to photograph it and post about it one day !
      Have a great week !
      Me

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  5. Sounds exhausting! I'm pretty good a decluttering and love going through things and finding little things I'd forgotten. Good luck with it all.

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    1. I have found it exhausting and time consuming so am allowing myself more time each night to do what I need to do - also known as doing less than I intended !!!!
      Have the best week !
      Me

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  6. Moving is so much work, and working out what you want,(or even harder, what you don't want) takes up quite a bit of time. Good Luck!

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    1. Thanks Claire - that is definitely what I have noticed. Last night I packed a huge box of towels and blankets - when it was all closed up I said to A - do we really need so many towels. He said they are swimming towels. I reminded him that we probably got into the pool about 10 times last summer so I didn't think we needed to have over 20 towels to use when we do swim. When we get the other side and there is no space - they will go to Lifeline !!!
      Have the best day !
      Me

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  7. Of course you know we have written on the same subject today as you've already commented on my post today. Catharsis!! Soooo looking forward to that stage. Yesterday's start made some headway but also set off a near asthma attack. Mental note: face mask!

    Good luck with all the work and finding your new home #teamIBOT

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    1. I have to agree - my hayfever played up so badly when I was doing the book shelf - sniffling and sneezing all over the place !!
      Good luck with the rest of the garage !
      Me

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  8. I love the feeling after declutter, but the actual doing it is gruelling! Good luck with it. Maybe a picture or two could be added so we can see how it is going?

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    1. Thanks for the reminder - when I looked at the book shelf after I was finished I thought I should have taken some before photos as well !!!! Will try to remember and do that tonight in the loungeroom.
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  9. Such a big job, good luck with finalising everything. I need an excuse to do a big clean out but the thought of what's involved is a bit daunting. My husband sounds like the opposite of yours, I pretty much have to anchor stuff down or it will be out by the curb side within a month :)

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    1. LOL - I'm definitely like your husband !!! And then sometimes regret it when we need it not long after I've tossed it out !!!
      I think the trick is tackling it in small chunks so that it feels more manageable - then as you get some done and see the difference, it motivates you to keep going.
      Have the best week and good luck !
      Me

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  10. I really feel for you, you poor thing. I'm forever decluttering. Just as soon as I declutter it accumulates again. Doesn't help being married to Steptoe either.

    I hope everything falls into place for you real soon.

    I shouldn't laugh - but gardening by torchlight:) Conjures up an image of a mining helmet.

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    1. And that is nearly what it was - A has a light that is on an elastic that he puts around his head - it works a real charm !!!! I do hope that this de-clutter, once done, doesn't accumulate again !! The house we are really interested in doesn't have much storage space so we may just HAVE to get rid of stuff that we thought we could keep !!!! (I can always hope !!!)
      Have the best week !
      Me

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  11. My favourite part of decluttering is also the special things you find along the way. Although I often get a bit too sidetracked and things end up more cluttered than before!

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    1. That is what I am battling with - getting sidetracked and not finishing what I set out to do. I have now started to allow myself more time each night to do stuff - also known as doing less each night !!!!
      Have a fantastic week !
      Me

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  12. Glad you settled on your decision to move - it is a huge job, especially since you've been there a long time. Even under your exhaustion, I can sense that you are feeling lighter having made your decision and in de-cluttering and remembering. I think that's the great (if only good) thing about cleaning up - you narrow down what really counts and find treasured things you have forgotten. Weeding on the other hand....good luck!

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    1. That is exactly right - it's good to have made the decision and, while I was really reluctant to start the de-cluttering process because I knew it was a big task, now that I have started it is moving along steadily - if not quite as fast as I had originally planned !!!!
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  13. How nice to discover those unexpected little treasures in the midst of all that chaos. I am ruthless at throwing things out as well... sometimes a little too ruthless that down the track on I catch myself wishing I didn't throw out that 'thing' that might have come in handy. But in general I like to think less is more. Happy decluttering!

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    1. I have been caught like that before - luckily A isn't one to say "See, if we hadn't of thrown that out ...." I also think less is more - especially around my home !
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  14. I'm exhausted just reading that L, and knowing you work full time too - UGH. I bet you are glad a decision has been made, now you just have to get it done, easier said than done though I'm sure. Weeding in the dark, my mum would be proud! xx

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    1. LOL - I must remember to tell my folks because they would be proud too - especially as they know how much I love gardening ............ not !!!
      Have a fantastic day !
      Me

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  15. I was just thinking I hadn't seen you around for awhile. I'm exhausted just reading this. Good luck with the de-cluttering and weeding. At least you've been able to take time to enjoy the little treasures along the way. Your letter to Upstairs Gran sounds very interesting and sweet :)

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    1. The letter was very cute - I can't believe I wrote it but apparently I did !!!!
      Have the best week !
      Me

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  16. Good Luck - moving is meant to be one of the most stressful things you can do!

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    1. I am finding that out first hand !!!!! Hopefully it will go through without too many hitches.
      Have the best day !
      Me

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  17. Oh gosh, you sound so busy! It is quite cathartic I think, all of that sorting and shifting, and I love that you're taking time to appreciate the treasures you spot along the way too. Best of luck getting everything done!

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    1. Thanks Lara - it definitely is cathartic which I'm not trying to convince A that we don't need to keep that particular item which has not been used or looked at for the past 13 yrs !!!!!
      Have a great week !
      Me

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  18. Weeding by torchlight - lol, I love it! I agree, decluttering is very cathartic ... I think you need to come to my place to do some of it for me! My Other Half is a chronic hoarder too. Drives me insane. I love going through old photos and letters too :)

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    1. And maybe that is the answer - someone totally removed from the situation should come in, ask when last you used something, and keep or get rid of it based on when it was last used. My SIL has offered to come in and do it (she thinks A won't mind if she tosses stuff out that he wants to keep) but I know that it will lead to scenes so I will continue to work with him on what we can get rid of and what he wants to keep.
      Going through the photos and letters were what took up so much time - but it was so good to have those memories come flooding back.
      Have the best day !
      Me

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    2. I know, going through letters and photos does take up so much time :) I just wanted to let you know that I'm nominating you for a competition too! I know it's really last minute, but I just got nominated myself by Rita over at thecraftexpat.com If you want to take part, the entry has to be in by midnight tomorrow (Saturday) night EST. The details are over at http://www.scti.com.au/southern-cross-travel-insurance-photo-competition I haven't done my entry yet, but I'm hoping to have time to do it tonight. Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

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  19. Busy busy busy!!. Best of luck with it all. I find it very hard to part with books but it is always so therapeutic to de-clutter. You're thought of the day made me smile.xx

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    1. I only got rid of books that I didn't enjoy and am never going to read again - I have 5 boxes of books packed up ready to go to the next house although not sure where we will keep them there as there is less storage space than we have at the moment !!!!!!
      Glad the TFTD made you smile.
      Have a wonderful week !
      Me

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  20. I am awful at decluttering. Probably because I have an insanely strong hoarding gene that I'm constantly wrangling with. Thank you so much for dropping by my blog, and I really appreciated that you left a comment on my son's blog. It really made his day, which is so encouraging for a reluctant reader.

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    1. I think it's so good that he has started a blog - whenever I see entries I will leave a comment - I know how I love getting comments and I can only imagine how happy he would be to see people reading his blog and leaving comments.
      We are slowly working through the de-cluttering process but it is a bit slow given we often have to discuss whether or not we are keeping something and why we should or shouldn't keep it !!
      Have a great week !
      Me

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  21. Good luck with the moving. I am a bit like A and save stuff just in case. Every now and then though I get ruthless and chuck most of it out.

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  22. Good luck with the moving. Hope all goes smoothly.

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  23. ahhhh good luck with the de-cluttering….my hubby is the biggest hoarder ever, thankfully we have our forever home AND he has a BIG shed !!!

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  24. Huge, huge job but feel good at the end (with some lovely surprises as you find stuff/memories)
    Will keep looking out for you but take the time to do what has to be done and don't exhaust yourself...

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  25. I dread the day we move from here! It's going to be a mammoth effort getting rid of all out stuff. How does it just accumulate so much?
    Hope you can get everything done with the most amount of peace possible xx

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  26. Oh I like that philosophy of only keeping things that are worthy of the space. good luck with getting everything organised and finalised huni - such a big thing so take care of yourself through it all ok xx

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  27. Just popping in to wish you an awesome Christmas, and hope you get some down time to enjoy it. Take care and thank you so much for the snail mails this year. I love and treasure them all :)

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  28. Just popping in to wish you a Happy New Year :)

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  29. Popping in to see what you've been up to, so the big move has happened?? Hope you are keeping well x

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Have the best day.

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