Sunday 14 August 2011

A wake up at the boot fair

Big J and I went and saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (II) last night, after some yummy tapas in our local Spanish eatery. Good film, good food and a lovely night out.

This morning I was up with the birds to go to the boot fair again. Apart from the fact that I love, love, love to browse, I love a bargain and sometimes the things I buy end up on ebay. Not always though, but I do try not to add to the clutter at home. However, bootfairs and just about any other type of shopping can create great angst. Do I need it? Will I use it? Is there anywhere to put it? Is it worth it? etc.

Today's haul was small, and pleasing, but the battery has gone on the camera so pics will have to wait.

One thing that did strike me though and this is where the angst bit comes in. There were so many people selling of piles and piles of things that probably at one time were bought with plans, hopes, dreams, etc and there it all was in a heap on a mat on the grass. Loads of money has been spent, (not my business or for me to judge) but now the items now have virtually no value, only the price that a boot fair buyer will pay. It makes me sad that it is a human characteristic to want to acquire and that we literally pay the asking price for much in our lives we could live without and really, has little value. (Not discounting emotional value here...). I don't want to rant, or sound like a nutter, but it takes me back to times when we seemed to value things better, or did we?, was it just that there was less to have? Having said all that, I got home to find a lovely catalogue in the Sunday paper and thought to myself, 'mmmm, that looks nice'....!! Woops!
Anyway, something kicked in, because I tackled the garage. This featured in the link in 2007. Today I sorted through a load of things that had been earmarked 'BOOT FAIR' (like, when is that going to happen?), and took it to the Red Cross. Then Big J joined me and we sorted through even more. I am proud to say that the very last Crown removal box was disposed off and we have pared down considerably. Big J swept the garage clean of dust and cobwebs and my heart feels a little lighter. Really.

Long has it been my dream to USE my possessions, and to have only those things we need. If I am honest, there is fat chance, but today I feel great.




1 comment:

The Gingerbread Lady said...

I understand how you feel. I LOVE getting rid of stuff. In my dreams, I live in a minimalist IKEA-style Scandinavian vision of white furniture and carpets, dotted with stylish items of colour. In reality, I live in a rat's nest of clutter. I don't know how I do it.