dust – ffiftypluses

Things you don’t need

Published on May 27, 2023May 27, 2023 by FfiftyplusesLeave a comment

Or at least things I don’t need. In the process of redecorating the house (these things we do when retired) there’s always been that charity shop bag by the door. I had a notification this week to say that, with gift aid (a tax back scheme for charities in the UK), the things we’ve chucked in this bag and walked to one of the shops in town had raised over £170 for the charity. How’s that for one person’s trash?

I’ve also been up in the attic (loft) and brought down the small library that has lived up there for the last 15 years. We’ve had new bookshelves built-in to the living room. Obviously, space is limited, but with some books stored in the office space, there had to be a cull. I hate giving up on books, but here’s the question do I need them? Many have not seen daylight in years. Thankfully, I have lots of friends who are happy to take some off my hands, there are apps that let you sell books, and I’d all else fails that the charity shop bag will be filled.

Increasing our ‘one in one out’ policy is becoming a ‘meh I don’t need that’ policy. The house is slowly emptying. Slowly. Tne decorating, new garden, time spent here because pandemic/retirement/working-from-home means that paying more attention to these surroundings became inevitable. When was the last time you really stopped to appreciate all that you have and wonder what you can actually live without. If nothing else ebay might help you pay for your next holiday!

The Half Life Of Snails

Published on May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 by FfiftyplusesLeave a comment

So tonight I’m at a book launch for my friend Phillipa Holloway’s book. (Title of this post) It is wonderful.

Going deco

Published on December 1, 2021December 3, 2021 by FfiftyplusesLeave a comment

Not a SCUBA reference which is strange for me. I’ll come back to that at some point. No, today is the day of the festive festooning of the old homestead. The cats are excited, boxes that must be investigated and, of course, ‘sat in’ added to the smell of cooking. Clearly they believe this is a good day.

The annual trip into the attic (technically bi annual as the Halloween decorations are up there too) has been undertaken. It’s been a week of ladders since I cleared out the gutters too. My hands are covered in welts as my dust allergy kicks in. What larks. After 30 not so grumpy minutes the tree is up and resplendent now the real fun begins. Is it me or is the best bit wrapping parcels? Mind you I can obsess. I did once wrap a teddy-bear so that it was teddy-bear shaped and the recipient (my uncle) said he had no clue what it could be. How we laughed. Those were simpler times. Nothing too challenging in the first tranche mostly fully square, boxed and books….although there was that one package. Can’t say too much.