Blue and white porcelain - sayonara

Really should but probably won't post a photo of the conservatory. Just can't bring myself to bear all that exposure.

But today two BIG bags of items went to the charity shop. The dinner is on, it is late afternoon and I am going to pack up my entire collection of blue and white porcelain that I have carried with me around the world, and put it away. It does not work in this house. There may be a place for it one day, but not now.

Later in the evening:
Here it is on the patio table, just before it was packed. The truth is there is more, but it is used regularly for eating off, serving food etc.  It is now in two boxes in the loft.
I spent time unravelling and winding up a huge tangle of yarn. It is all packed neatly in a ziplock bag now.

There is a UFO in there too, a crochet one, and today it struck me that it can be salvaged. Still working on Han's blanket, so not yet, but it lifted my spirits to think that something that had been given up on completely could be finished and used and loved and NOT WASTED.

Little steps

How many times has this blogger moaned about 'stuff' and 'clutter' and having too many things? About getting the house sorted and freeing up space, not just physical space, but emotional space. Things weigh us down.

Well today she came home from work feeling rotten. A powerful headache and a bit queer. A short siesta did little to take the edge off, and rather than sit in front of the TV she took herself off into the conservatory and took those first few steps. I like to think they are the first few. This weekend, Big J is away and it seems kind of nice to use the home time for creating space.

Loads of magazines have gone. Why do I hang on to them? (To be honest - I rarely buy them, too extravagant for me, but I like hand me downs from friends). Sometimes it is one tiny article/picture/idea that appeals in one, but the whole things stays, curling at the edges and fading, eventually becoming so sad looking that it eventually ends up in the recycling along with the 'I could make that' plan that will never come to fruition.

I dream of a more simple home/life. I believe fewer things will mean less stress and maybe less to do (less tidying). I am not a natural at order, but space speaks loud and clear to me. Over the next few days I am going do something about it. Just watch!

I am in deep now!

A day away from work

The dentist has been at me again, bless him! Indeed, bless him. He is great, careful and thorough. AND he is off to Morocco (again) to treat kids there with dental issues. He is raising money for a dental bus, they will be able to treat 600 kids from it, so he got some help from me.

I then found an Orla Keily skirt in the charity shop for a song - truly a song.... it is lovely. Her designs really appeal to me - but the prices do not!

Sadly, one of the older clothes traders in town is closing down, another lovely family business going. They sell jeans and for the first time in many, many years, I bought a pair of real jeans that are CUT FOR MY SHAPE...Whoooppeeeee. At half price too. Then Big J met me for coffee and I took him in to the shop and he got some trews.  We found out that the owner is in a BOWIE tribute band and they have a show coming up soon in our town.  We are signing up for it with our teens who are so into his music.

Both girls are in London today, Em for her final work experience day (she made shortbread to take to the office) and Han who is catching up with a friend she went to school with in Hong Kong, who lives in Canada, but is visiting his sister in the UK this summer!!

Ads is working long hard hours and needs to be fed large amounts of good food. That means time to don the pinny!

The Olympic flame has been and gone

This morning we stood outside the hospital and watched the Olympic torch pass by. It was fun, more fun than expected. I thought it would be a loan runner with the flame held aloft, but there were sponsors vans (OTT all of them) and lots of police on bikes and occasionally a completely confused and embarrassed looking cyclist that had wondered onto the road at the wrong time who got a huge cheer!! Bet they have made a mental note to check the route of any future flames!!
The athletes are gathering and London is being watched by the world and tested on many levels. The folk in and around the city are being tested too, with major disruptions to work and travel.

My other half is beside himself with excitement. He loves sport at the best of times, he LOVES the Olympics, and is very proud that they are being hosted here. I like many of the events, I love to see athletes from very far away, small countries who may have a lot less than we have. They look so proud, and it really moves me.

If it was really, truly all about sport and being the very best one can be - nothing would be better. It is not great that only certain food and drink sponsors can ply their substandard excuse for food and liquid refreshment at the venues. It is not good that a drink or a bank or a burger gets to share any moment of glory. I guess they paid for the priviledge......pity.

WOW

Biggest ebay day ever! Goes to show you never can tell who wants your stuff!!

Sunny Sunday

Toys of old

Barbie has never really done it for me. Sindy was nicer, a bit safer looking, and in my era, dressed like my mum! All above the knee, geometric shift things. Even so, the outdoors was a heap more fun and pretending to be a DAKTARI vet in the African bush, the best of all! It was ironic that we did live in the Nigerian bush for many years on and off, but it does not have the Noah's Ark of safari animals found in the east and south. Why the pondering on toys and games?

This week on E-Bay I have listed a Barbie doll dressed as Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. It has been with A for a long, long time, in a cupboard, unopened. Never Removed From Box!! Some research on this wet afternoon tells me that there are lots of folks out there who LOVE Barbie and all her bits and pieces, Ken included. Each to their own. The 'winner' of this delightful creature will no doubt be pleased and so will A, as he gets some dosh.