Sorting Stuff

The mission on Friday was to get down and sort out all the stuff we’d stored in the eaves of the garage which was what we did.  But it wasn’t easy; we’d got off lightly in the attic mainly because what we didn’t store in the attic we’d stored in the eaves.  I had quite forgotten how big the space in the eaves was.   I vaguely remember Phil buying some wood from B&Q a few years ago because it was on offer but I hadn’t realised just how many planks he’d brought.  It took us 3 hours to get all the stuff down and once again we ended up with a pile for the tip, a pile for the charity shop and a pile to keep.  The stuff to keep we loaded in the car and put up in the attic in the CF. 

It took 4 trips to and forth and we were knackered by the time finished.  It was gone half one and we had lunch at The Tawny Owl at Walnut Tree because we had a money off voucher and there was nothing in the fridge.  We’re used to have Sue with us when we go to this pub, and it was a struggle without her, to spend 15 quid in order to get £5 off.  But we managed; Phil was hungry and ordered a huge steak and a dessert to follow.  I think he needed something to sustain him after crawling around on his hand and knees in both the eaves and the attic.  After lunch it was back home, Phil caught up with his TV recordings and after giving the garage a good clean, I did another trip to the dump and then went to git some inserts for my Filofax from Staples and lastly, a trip to Lidl’s for toilet rolls and washing tablets.  A very satisfying day indeed. Friday evening was quiet and uneventful.

I was pleased with our progress on Friday and wanted to carry on with clearing and preparations for when we move.  I got up early and started clearing out my white gloss units in the lounge.  I think Phil would have preferred to stay longer in bed but he could hear me filling boxes and was worried I was getting rid of his stuff so he came down to see what was going on.   Phil is not so good at getting rid of things; I have worked on him over the years and he is much better than he was but nowhere near as good as me.  I have no problem with de-cluttering and work on the theory, that if you haven’t used it for a year, then you don’t need it.  It’s easy.  We cleared the units without too many arguments and ended up with 3 boxes for storage and a box of old videos and books for the charity shop.   I whipped the latter into Newport and then we over to Caldecotte to store the other boxes. 

The plan was to go the gym for a workout but Phil was tired and my back was niggling so we just went for a Jacuzzi and a steam.  As it was Saturday morning we expected the place to be packed out with kids but it wasn’t, so that a nice surprise.  We had lunch at home, fish salad and new potatoes and I was thinking that we might walk to the cinema but then the rain came.   Phil wasn’t feeling too energetic and was happy to recline on the sofas.  I felt that I wanted to do something but the rain didn’t seem to stop so I sat down with Phil and we started to watch series 8 of 24.  I do enjoy 24 but it makes me very anxious every time I watch it, which is crazy even though I know it’s not for real.  The sun came out later in the afternoon so I decided to cut the lawn.  I am anticipating our buyer coming round to measure so I am trying to keep the house clean and tidy.

Phil’s mum and dad came down on Sunday.  We had arranged for them to see the bungalows that we viewed last week.  Their first appointment was at 11am so we were expecting them to arrive early and sure enough they turned up at 10am; this was fine, I was ready for them, I’d had time to go to DW for a swim stopping off at the Co-op to buy papers, the veggies for lunch were already prepared and I’d even had time to clean my car and hoover the house.  Mum and dad had a good trip down, they didn’t get lost this time and were lucky enough to get off the motorway at the services.   They had time for coffee and a biscuit and then Phil drove them to see a bungalow at Middleton leaving me to cook the lunch.

This was fine by me but I was getting worried an hour and a half later and there was no sign of them.  Knowing that Phil’s dad likes his lunch dead on the dot of midday, I was ready to plate up and was relieved when they got back at quarter past twelve.  Phil had taken them to see the CF and then he’d gone into Bletchley to take them to BM, his latest favourite shop which he has only recently discovered.  I haven’t been there myself and I know pretty much where to buy the best bargains so I must make a visit if only to see what all the fuss is about.

Lunch was delicious even if I do say so myself; roast lamb, roast potatoes, cabbage, carrots, Yorkshires and green beans from mum and dads garden.  For pudding it was a shop brought rhubarb crumble and custard which again was very nice, so nice that even I had some.  Poor Bet & George were stuffed and probably would have liked a little nap but there was no time as straight after lunch Phil whisked them off for to see a bungalow in Newport Pagnell.

 They didn’t like either one of the bungalows; the first bungalow didn’t have a shed, it didn’t have fitted wardrobes in the second bedroom and they didn’t know where they’d put their fridges and freezers.  But they liked the conservatory and the blinds in the conservatory.   The second bungalow didn’t have a conservatory and Bet didn’t think the lounge was big enough to fit in her dark wood wall cabinet-unit thingie.  And this was a problem because if she couldn’t take that with her she would have nowhere to store her stuff.  Why does it all boil down to stuff??? I know the move, if it ever happens from Melton to MK will be a huge one, but somehow I don’t think we will find a bungalow which ticks all of their boxes, there has to be some compromises and a little room for manoeuvre.  It’s selfish but I’m afraid I’m going to concentrate on our move and more importantly, if our sale does go ahead, where we are going to live. But we had a nice day, it saved Phil’s mum from cooking and they got home safely without out traumas.