Clearing out

[Oma]

We have been talking for a while about getting rid of stuff that we don't want DD to have to deal with if and when we go,
I have a few good crockery sets that haven't been used for years ,
My DD wants them so I'm going to get them in a box and SIL will come for them as they are very heavy .
We only ever use the same few plates anyway .

B has decided he's selling all his tools, lathe etc and clearing the shed,
He will keep the basics like saw, sander , drills.
But he feels he hasn't got the energy or strength to do big jobs now and they are just sitting there gathering dust.
To be honest I'm secretly glad he's getting rid of the big powerful saws it scares me when he's using them.
We are at a age when we realise anything big we will get someone in to do.

Luckily my Hairdressers husband is a qualified electrician and carpenter ,

It's a big decision for B as he's really handy and can do most things , but his health isn't great and he struggles now.

I don't have a lot of ornaments or stuff I'm not a collector so no worries there ,
When we go there isn't anything ours would want we have totally different tastes.

We keep telling MIL the same , she hangs onto stuff and keeps saying the GC can have it when I'm gone.
They all have modern homes they don't want some dated old fashioned stuff .
She thinks her stuff is worth something, it's all cheap flat pack as she won't spend money,
Her wardrobes are 50 years old .

It's going to be a big job sorting the shed but we will get there slowly .

[Nanto2girls]

I understand why you are doing this Oma,but its not something we would consider just now.
We are in our 70's, but while we have our health things will stay as they are for now.
Hubby is very good at DIY, mending and repairing things, and its something he enjoys.
We do get the nephew in to decorate for the simple he will do a room in a day.
He's a professional painter and decorator. We used to spend several days decorating a room.

[Lizzie48]

Oma, I agree with you and I am trying to get rid of what I can. I have a huge wardrobe that was in my fathers parents home in Scotland it 1900!! I love it, I doubt if my children think the same though, then an art deco tea set and a few other items I would like someone to have.

When DH was ill and having chemo I was sat in the hospital reading a magazine, a lady was de-cluttering her home, she wasn't ill, just knew it would save the children having to do it when she passed away, she was doing it room by room, she asked the family if there was anything they would like then placed their names behind the item, they could either take it or leave it for later, then she got buyers in room by room to buy what she didn't use herself. That has always been in my mind!

[Plantaholic]

Very sensible Oma, I have crockery I need to clear out. We bought a lot of Denby when we moved into the annexe but now I need to clear out things I don’t use, my problem is my DD borrows some of my things occasionally, I feel I am just storing it for her occasional use. I daren’t offer things to my Son and Dil, he says things go out of one door and into theirs. I don’t know if I should get rid of my sewing machine and all the fabric and sewing items. My DD would not be interested in those. I still have quite a few reference books of my OH and people don’t want those, they look things up on the Internet. I have a Beaver Lamb fur coat in the loft, nobody would wear that so what do I do with it?

[Oma]

I have never been a hoarder and I don't like clutter ,
We spoke to our DD about it this morning and she agreed it was time her Dad should give up some stuff out of the shed , she has always worried about him using the big saws and pushing himself too much ,
Especially after the Cancer.
Last year I went through the hundreds of photographs we had ,
I sorted them into albums one with all DDs photos one with DSs ,
One with old family photo's etc
What was left I put in boxes , DD took her Album , when the time comes she can decide what to do with the rest but at least they are in order and boxed.

Plant ,I'm keeping my sewing machine and my embroidery stuff but I will get rid off fabric etc ,
I will give that to the local village hall as I know they run craft sessions and always advertising for donations.

Lizzie
That's a good idea of that ladies ,
I don't own anything very valuable but I would like my Grandfathers Bible , if my DD doesn't want it to go to my niece who I know will cherish it.

We cleared the loft a couple of years ago , all the boys toys went the only thing we kept was the Lego.

I just think it's something we should do.
Not get rid of everything obviously but stuff we have no need of or haven't used for years .

[Lizzie48]

On the other side of the coin, I have kept a diary, each year from my 18th I think, I have them all, in a box, all in yearly order! The friend that recently died said I should write a book and she would have edited it, as that is what she did.

[Plantaholic]

Oma, think your clear out sounds very sensible thinking. I have attacked my wardrobe. Things that don’t fit me anymore and colours I don’t wear now are going, Shoes next on the agenda. Generally I am not a hoarder.

[Gemini]

I'm the hoarder in our house. OH is much better at getting rid of things.

Having had to empty my mum's 3 bedroomed bungalow plus loft, shed and garage of 63 year of accumulated stuff, I agree we do need to begin to get rid of some things. I wouldn't want my family to go through what we did.

[Oma]

That's what I think Gem ,
It's a stressful time to start with without the clearance,

Plant
I'm starting on mine this week I'm going to be ruthless and get rid of lots,
I did give a good clear out a while ago and took ball gowns etc and all my pretty shoes I used to wear on a cruise , but I seem to have left lots behind that I'm never going to wear ,
Plus I seem to have acquired a lot more handbags

[Daisy]

Oma, how on earth did you manage to acquire more handbags? . I'm sure B will miss his shed activities, but he's being very wise in stopping now.

I don't like clutter either and I'd love to have a really big clear out, but OH isn't so keen.