Let's get culling

In case you hadn't realised, Mr J and P and  my good self are dreadful hoarders.  Mr J and P is a terrible one for his books and I'm just terrible with everything.  Yes, dear readers, it's official:  I've got too much stuff.

I hereby declare to cull my collection of jars, for a starter, which are cluttering up the kitchen work top.  Lovely though they are - some are just sitting there EMPTY - and I haven't got anything to put in them because everything is in jars or some such container already.  I know, it's madness.

I'd like to show you my collection of vintage sheets which I'm massing at a steady rate in order to make a patchwork duvet cover.  However, they're stuffed in bags in my wardrobes (yes, I have two - a constant irritation to Mr J and P who is not happy with his mere one) and I can't get to grips with them.  I can't shut the wardrobe doors properly and every time I open a door something falls out.  It's very annoying.

I need to get organised.....

I need to cull......

and, more importantly, I need to make room for more stuff..............

So, what have I been buying? Well, take a look at this 1970s "Revelation" vanity case complete with its tag and never used (ebay £9.99):

The inside is pristine

It even came with these plastic containers which I'm inexplicably overexcited about

It now houses my little collection of perfumes:

Look at my lovely orange plastic snack tray thingymebob.  The little trays spin round.  This makes me inexplicably overexcited too.

I love this picture.  It's big and much more vibrant in real life:

Bernard Cathelin:  Red Anemonies on a Blue background

I found the large genie bottle decanter in a charity shop for £9.99.  The smaller one was 50p at a car boot.

One last thing before I go and tackle my jars.  I'm joining Kylie and Donna's RETRO COOK OFF:

 

 

Why don't you join in too?  Go on, you know you want to....xx

Clutter Clearout

Hold the front page!

Decluttering Debacle at J and P Towers!

Little Miss J and P spent three days, last week, emptying her room of STUFF.  I'm trying to convince myself that this is a good move.

When I asked in a small tremulous voice "What the heck are you doing?", she replied "Mum, I'm having a clutter clearout."  When I asked, incredulously, "Why?" (clutter clearouts are few and far between at J and P Towers), she replied "Seriously, mum, I'm not a hoarder like you!".  Well, that told me.

Mr J and P and myself have been observing this daily de-clutter with horror and something resembling fear at the teetering PILES OF STUFF that have been DUMPED on the landing outside her room (and ours) making the landing and stairs a danger zone. 

I thought that decluttering was meant to be carthartic and liberating.  Quite frankly, dear readers, this exercise has been a complete nightmare for me. 

I've ended up going through the piles and dividing them into more piles than you can shake a proverbial stick at.  At one point we had:

1.  a pile for the charity shop

2.  a pile for recycling

3.  a pile for the bin

4.  a pile for a possible car boot sale

5.  a pile for ebay

6.  a pile to give to friends

7.  a pile which Mr J and P and myself have lovingly rescued containing puffin books (some of which belonged to a little Mr J and P) and annuals (all of which belonged to a little moi).

Apart from the piles for the bin and the recycling, nothing else has left the house and stuff is still languishing on the landing or in bags in our bedroom until I can:  a) get to the charity shop, b) see our friends, c) find somewhere to store the items destined for ebay and the boot sale, d) find shelf space for the lovingly rescued puffins and annuals.

On the plus side, Little Miss J and P's room has become some sort of minimalist haven.  Although, Mr J and P has just reminded me that no-one has tackled what might be lurking under her bed.  Aaaaaargh!   I think we'll be needing a white coat, surgical mask and gloves to investigate the horrors under there......