It was my mother’s idea, to get rid of surplus. It’s scheduled for Saturday morning (when I’m conveniently not here), and she’s roped in help from Andre and Coralee-Ann so I’m staying out of it completely. I didn’t even think it was a particularly good idea at first, not realising quite how much unnecessary STUFF she has. But as I’ve seen the pile growing in the lounge, I’ve started to come round – and have even been adding to it myself. With increasing abandon, I have to be honest. It’s a bit addictive, actually, looking at something and thinking, “When did I last use this?” or “Where did this come from?” or even “What the hell is this thing?”
What have I been contributing? … clothes, books, a set of ceramic bowls given to me by an aunt I could never stand, a wrought-iron fish-shaped plant pot holder that I found at a junk shop and thought would be just the thing, handbags I’ll never use again, chipped and unchipped tea pots (I don’t drink tea), candle holders, side tables, pots and pans and flan dishes…the list goes on. It’s too good an opportunity to unburden myself before packing up and moving house at the end of May!
A couple of conversations have run along these lines: “Wait, what’s that grey furry thing?” “It’s a hooded poncho, I offered it to Karen but she didn’t want it“. “Well, I’m not Karen and I do want it. Thanks“. And then, “Do you really not want your braai?” “No, Philip has one just the same so we don’t need two.” “Maybe I should keep it then…” “Mom, you’ve never used a braai and you don’t even eat meat.” “I know, but it’s just that I don’t have one…”
Here’s to an emptier house, tidier cupboards, and a little bit of cash :)
Nice piece of work 
Oh, I wish…. but I am married to an inveterate ‘Just in case’-er. The car no longer fits in the garage. I am not allowed to give away repellant plates, disgusting old trainers, gumboots with holes in them, clothes which are too small, empty boxes…. I pine for a large skip and then a series of garage sales. I have actually considered resorting to subterfuge!
Your husband and I would get along very well indeed :)
Really? You keep grungy old trainers too? No, no, I see you more as someone with a generous supply of gorgeous knicknacks and vintage fabrics.
The subterfuge does work. I had to use it with the last husband. He had 3 outside storage sheds and the garage. He never missed anything I got rid of. I was careful not to touch the garage but shoes with holes, holey t-shirts, worn pants, etc, just disappeared. I had to wash new pants a lot to make them seem like old pants. He would buy things we didn’t need at the second hand stores and I would donate them back. It was a crazy obsession.
Mine’s not quite that bad. And if a shirt or pants are so bad I can’t mend them, I just tell him they have to go, and I throw them out. It’s more the accumulation of tools and hardware that bother me, as they never seem to acquire proper homes.
There are often conversations like that in our house when I am having a chucking out session. Mr Snail is remarkably sentimental about things… worse than me. I am, however, planning to have a good go through my work room… I just need to get motivated.
It’s hard to start, but really once you get going…the ruthlessness just kicks in :)
Oh Jill, I know exactly how you feel. That’s too funny that your Mom would say, because I don’t have one. That’s something that I might hear at my house too. :) Thanks for sharing and good luck with purging.
The purging continues BUT I have had a couple of friends ask if I’m getting rid of any “craft stuff” – there I have to draw the line, I’m afraid. Not a single bead or reel of cotton or scrap of fabric will be leaving without me :)
It’s very addictive, isn’t it? Whenever I head to the charity shop with my stuff it’s always in two or three binbags full to bursting!
It is. And the funny thing is, when I try and think later about exactly what I got rid of, I can barely remember any of it!!
I only feel up to a clear out when I’m moving house. Good Luck with your Garage Sale!
It’s already started – someone came round this morning to buy the food warmer we’d put on facebook, and ended up buying couches, chairs, glass tables and leather boots!!!
Oh my, well done both of you. I too have unused tea pots and mugs in their 100s, well 10s. Just yesterday Mr E parted with 4 broken coffee making machines.I had them to the recycling centre before he could change his mind!
FOUR coffee machines? Such a nice empty space in your cupboard now :) Well done to Mr E. <3
Good luck with the garage sale. I’ve done my share. Some were successful, many not so much. Depends on your neighborhood. I finally ended up just taking it all to the thrift store. Good plan to have someone else do the selling. Hope to hear good news at the other end of it.
Thanks Marlene, some stuff gone, some came home again!
Send me the wrought-iron fish-shaped plant pot holder if it’s not gone! 😉
Sorry for you, Miss Sarky, that got snapped up first.
Drat!!!!