A disappointment and nice haircut

 I have done a bit more packing today, I managed one box of bits and pieces around my rooms with no particular place to go! I boxed up all the prop squad cuttings ready to take to Sher. We made sure all the stuff was ready for the guys from the reclamation centre, I needed to be sure what we were trying to get them to take in case Tina wasn’t back from church. Just one man came in the end and he arrived about the same time as  Tina but sadly didn't want to buy anything, which was a bit disappointing.

One of the men from church arrived the same sort of time and he dismantled the rotten large bench so that we could get it into the skip, so another job done.

I took the cuttings round to Sher at Botany and then prepared dinner as Carol was coming to cut my hair at four. She was feeling down about the latest trouble with her daughter so became very emotional when we said goodbye. Very nice cut again and a good thinning out.

Taking it easy now and looking forward to TheTraitors.

Deliveries and give aways

 Today we were moving things around as the auctioneers were collecting our items. We had it all organised and they were clearly surprised that everything was accessible. Early there was a delivery and it was my beg leg wellies, I can get them on with ease!

We also took the covers off loads of videos that are now in the skip and the covers in the recycling bin. We  put out quite a lot of stuff for free for people to take from the front of the garden.

We loaded the car with stuff for the charity shop and took it down, by the time we got back that wooden tree had already  gone!

When Tina was at a meeting the packing boxes arrived. A FedEx driver who was very helping and got these massive packages into the house.

Tina hd messaged me to say a lady was coming to look at the bookshelves we were giving away, they hadn’t been cleared so I got on with that quickly, in the end she didn’t want them so they went out the front s well.

Sher came by after work to collect the stuff that she was having. We have the local Antique and reclamation guys coming tomorrow, what they don’t want will probably go outside a well!

The house is looking emptier now!

Successful trip to Beverley

 I caught the bus into Beverley as I had an appointment with the hearing aid lady. I said that logistically and financially it would probably be easier for me to find someone who deals with the aids I have and pay them for my yearly checkup and hearing test. She agreed and was really helpful getting in touch with a friend who now lives in Scotland and said she would let me know when she heard. She also gave me enough filters and head to last me for a year. She did phone and told me that there is a company in Strirling that will take me on. After that I had about forty five minutes before the bus and wanted to get some new pull on jeans. I didn’t find jeans but did find some cords in the sales. I did take a couple of photos in Beverley as it might be my last visit.

When I got home Tina had been busy on the office and sorting stuff for packing so we went and had lunc in the parish hall cafe. I then went to Mondo and spent an hour with Julie and Jacky which was good.

I have done a bit of clearing and will do. Bit of an aching this evening. The auction house will be collecting some items of furniture and my Beatrix Potter ornaments tomorrow so we will have a bit more room for boxes!

There are snowdrops in the garden, can just about make them out.

I spent a while trying to delete things from my phone  as it take an age to take a photo. Got it down to less that half used so hoping it may speed up a bit!  Tina was at the school this morning and got some flowers, so will finish with that.

Not too much to tell

 I didn’t feel great yesterday and went to bed soon after nine. Then I was up late. I have done some sorting and filled a couple of boxes but I am not feeling the motivation at the moment. I did have a chat with Anya which always cheers me up.

After lunch Tina was resting so I suggested to Darren that we go and have a drink at Mondo. We actually had a drink and a cream scone, very naughty but nice. I did clear some sides and wanted to polish the trolley in case anyone would like it but have either disposed of or packed any polish I had!

I have some daffodils in but which Tina got with the shopping. They are a pound a bunch at the moment, I bet that will soar when Mothering Sunday comes along!

Will watch Throw Down and then probably get to bed early again. I have to go into Beverley in the morning, think I have binned th bus timetables too!

Short entry today, will try to do better tomorrow!

A lacking motivation day!

 I am not sure if it is being constantly tired, or being overwhelmed with how much I still have to do, but I have struggled to get stuck in today. Tina found some very small bonsai pots yesterday which were very mucky, so I spent a while cleaning them up and cleaning the path near the back door which was very muddy. We thought Sher would like the pots so when they were a little more presentable I took them round to the shop for her. She was happy to have them and we had a brief chat. It was trying to rain when I got back so decided against sorting out the garden stuff in the outhouse. I got some stuff ready for another box and took a lot of rubbish and recycling to the bins. It had brightened up outside so I did get sorting the stuff to move with us and what was going by the front wall for people to take away. I went down the garden to get a little hedgehog ornament that had been forgotten and took a picture of the flowering fatsia which has grown really well.

After lunch I thought I would mend a couple of ornaments with super glue and promptly had two finger sticking together, managed to get them apart but the glue isn’t going anywhere!

Have done a bit more half hearted clearing, will endeavour to be a bit more enthusiastic tomorrow.

Visits and a little packing

 I did a couple of chores before going to see Bel. She was fine and looking forward to having her hir permed this afternoon. Back home I gathered up my cookery books to look through later. Had an early lunch with Tina as Jacky was coming round at one to help Tina dismantle the plastic storage cupboards in the garden. I left just after Jacky arrived and called in to see Sher before walking to Jeans. Sher has had norovirus and has been really poorly. I went to Jeans via the sea front, a very grey day today.

Bit out of sync again, forgot to post the pictures of the curious cat!

Had a good chat with Jean, next week another friend is going to join us when we have our catch up.

When I got home the skip was full, Tina and Jacky had done a fantastic amount of clearance.

Yesterday when I met Anne she gave me couple pieces of artwork she had done which she thought I might like to put on the wall. I will probably frame one and have it on display as it was a sweet gesture.

The other nice surprise yesterday was my late Christmas present from my sister. It is a brilliant book and I will put quotes from it on the blog occasionally, starting now!

An election is coming.

Universal peace is declared,

and the foxes have a sincere

interest in prolonging the

life of the poultry.

George Elliot(Mary Ann Evan’s, 1819-1890)

Last trip into Hull?

 I got a few more things into the tip before we set off for Hull. Tina had appointments today and she dropped me in the city centre as I had arranged to meet Anne for lunch. She had been one of my residents when I ran a support house in the nineties. I had a couple of hours before meeting her so had a drink and did a bit of shopping. We had lunch and a good catch up over lunch it the cafe at the Ferens Art Gallery. Her mum will be ninety five this year, they have careers morning and night but .Anne gets their lunch each day and generally helps out. We did look at a few exhibits before she walked bag to the bus station with me.

I was nodding off on the bus but managed to be awake for my last ride down Dancing Lane. The shoes I was wearing made my bunions really hurt after a few hours so was very pleased to get them off!

After a rest I went to collect my prescription at the chemist.

Tina is out for a meal this evening so I got dinner for Darren and myself and I will watch Traitors in a bit.

Back to front photos now, a shot through the window this morning and a winter clematis that we have had for years had decided to flower for the first time.

A meet up and more stuff gone

 Iwas up quite early so got some washing on and took a few things out to the tip. Put some more stuff in the front garden with a free sign before heading to the hub to meet Linda.

It was very frosty today so I took it steady, don’t want to be having any accidents..

Nice pic into the sun.

Had a nice chat with Linda and we exchanged addresses. I had taken some expensive coins with me as Tina had thought there was a valuation event at the Floral Hall but when I went there it was closed. I walked back home, dropped off a bit of shopping then went to Botany to see if Sher was back at work. She was going but had a cuppa and a chat with Haley.

Back home I got another box packed then went round to the shop a couple of doors away with Tina as the owner had interest in a few of our bits. So got a bit of money for some stuff and she also had what was left of the stuff outside.

I got on with dinner and am getting the blog done before watching The Traitors with Tina.

Going into Hull tomorrow and meeting Anne who was one of my residents in a support house many years go,

Skip day!

 I was up quite early and cleared some of the stuff near the back door and added it to the pile in the front ready for the skip. Jacky arrived ahead of the skip and helped my get the bonsai trees into plastic containers and gather the stuff together that will be coming with us.

He skip arrived about 9.30, it amazes me that many drivers have trouble with out drive, especially when reversing but guys like the skip man make it look easy!

He was a delightful young man, couldn’t have been more obliging and thanked us for using the firm I did start putting things in, but Jacky ws on a roll and was in and out of it sorting the belongings. She soon banished me to go and pick a box as she was in her element and and didn’t want me overdoing it!

I made a sign and we put usable stuff at the top of the garden, everything had been taken by the end of the day and a couple of guys came down to see if they could find anything else in the tip!

On a different note Jacky got in touch with a friend to tell her about the sewing machine and this friend has offered to sell it for me and came and collected it. If the school hd taken up the offer more quickly I would have missed that chance.

After lunch I went to see Sarah and David, hadn’t seen them since before Christmas. We had a good catch up and David had decided he didn’t want to keep the rollator so I took it straight to the charity shop.

I intend to get another box packed this evening, it has been a pretty good day.

Parcel posting and garden clearing

 I had the pottery all packed nd ready to go and decided to get to the post office although I had had a rough night thought the fresh air and a walk would do me good. I actually found it quite tiring today so came back via the sea and had a drink before walking home.

I took this one while sitting inside the cafe, than another one before I walked home.

I felt really exhausted when I got back so sat in the chair for a while and joined by the cat. She was so happy that even her tail stopped wagging.

After lunch Tina and I went out to start trying to clear stuff from the garden. The walled garden took and age and Tina asked me to ring Jacky to see if she would come and help. She wa great and a couple of hours later we had mountain of stuff in front of the house. Tina has ordered a skip to come in the morning and Jackybis going to come and help. We have it for several days so we won’t have to go too mad at it. Tina got in touch with the allotment folk and some came to take stuff away.

Feeling pretty tired now, so no packing tonight!

More packing and parcelling!

The weather has been horrid today wet, so cold wet rain as well. Apart from putting stuff out in the bin I have stayed indoors. Chatted with .Anya his morning and we had dinner at one today as Tina had afternoon services. I had found suitable small boxes yesterday for Anya and family’s pottery pieces. So they are packed in boxes inside a bigger, well padded box! I taped that up today and then wrapped it in brown paper, so I am fairly confident Thayer will arrive safely. As long as the weather is reasonable tomorrow I will get them sent. 

I emptied the large storage box that Mike made and I painted many years ago, probably getting on for thirty years in fact! But still in pretty good shop so hopefully I will find a home for it.

The things that were in there are now mostly packed, although there was some sorting and discarding too. I seem to have done a lot of packing and still have some to do, where on earth did I keep it all!

I sent for a map of the Birnam which arrived yesterday. It is laminated and folds down to pocket size, so I will be able to find my way around in my new area.

I have packed another box and now I am trying to create some order in my rooms. Throw down is on later, we enjoy it but preferred the stand in presenter a couple of series ago.

Charity shops again and family pottery

 The weather has been better today although there was a patch of ice at the top of our drive. I went down for the usual Saturday morning shopping and then got another box packed. I went to the Botany again but Sher is still unwell but I had another nice chat with Hayly. I had a load of stuff on the landing for the charity shop, so I bagged some of it up and took two trips with a couple of bags each time to the shop. 

I had a message to say the pottery we painted when the family was here was ready for collection. There was still a lot of stuff for the charity shop so Darren and I loaded the car after lunch and dropped it off before collecting the pottery. We had a chat with Rob there and he gave us another box full of bubble wrap. One of the pictures got cracked in the car so we dropped it off at the tip on our way home.

I just have pics of the Peterborough family’s pottery, will take pics of ours tomorrow if I remember, I have been getting their pottery boxed up, I have been getting plenty of practice at packing! I will sent them off as I don’t want to take them to Scotland

Nothing to add today, I am looking forward to the return of Casualty on tv this evening.

Visits and helpful cat!

 Not a lot to write about today. The snow has gone and it has been windy and wet but we have not been hit badly by the storm. I visited Bel as usual this morning, getting another box packed before I went. Bel has been a bit frustrated by not being able to get outside for a week but was going to have her hair done today.

Before lunch I went to see Haley and Sher, but Sher wasn’t well so not at the shop. I had a good chat with Haley though.

Befor Terry came to pick me up to see Jean I started getting another box ready when there was an almighty crash! The chest of drawers in the bedroom has got less in it now and I had some drawers open as I’ve been sorting. Pandora obviously jumped on one of the drawers and tipped the whole thing over. My nicely sorted earrings all over the place along with other stuff. Pandora frightened herself and went running downstairs, frightened but unharmed! I went out and thought I would sort it out later!

All back to rights now.

Jean was okay and we had a good chat over a cuppa and cake.

I have been doing some ordering of stuff this evening and will be glued to Traitors in a bit.

A welcome trip out!

 Today was dry and bright, and although our drive was still bad everywhere else was a lot better. We hadn’t had a trip out of town since before Christmas and we’re glad to get away from sorting and packing for a bit. We went to Beverley and had a nice breakfast and then looked at a few shops. I took a photo to show we had been out!

I got a pair of sparkly Crocs at a charity shop, they are the real thing, not imitation.

I could do with some proper boots that are waterproof so we tried several places in Beverley with success and decided to call in at the local garden centre on the way home as there is. Pavers shoe shop in there. Almost immediate success at a great price, they had two pairs in my size so I bought both. They were already a bargain and there was another 20% off at the till!

We had a drink there and were surprised by this sign, obviously people had been feeding their dogs off the plates or there wouldn’t have needed a notice! We went to the bedding area and I got more bargains for use at the new home.

When we got home Tina went to Boys to try and get some rock sale to use on the drive. She ended up with kitchen sale and was sprinkling it on her way down the drive.

I helped Tina with a bit of sorting and now taking it easy and will go and watch the next episode ot The Traitors with Tina and Darren.

Not going out!

 Darren messaged us this morning saying the drive was bad and to be careful. The drive had become an ice path so going out was off the cards.

I have been plodding on today, I had an expensive unit next to my fridge, it was supposed to be a bin cupboard but it never really held the bags properly. I emptied it as it was a great space for putting things out of the way. I had to move another cabinet out of the way to get it out. Hopefully I will find someone who would like it and is empty and clean now. There was a lot of stuff fallen down the back as I used to pile things on top of it as well!

Then I set about emptying a couple of cardboard storage units. One I had used for sketching stuff and the other for sewing stuff. They are both empty now and ready for new owners.

Inthinned out the calligraphy stuff and left a couple of pens out as Tina wants a decimation written for a book. So onward and upward now. We have so much charity shop stuff, recycling and lots of items to be collected, so the house gets more and more chaotic!