Tidy pan cupboard

 I was in a bit of a rush this morning, and posted on the wrong blog. I realised my mistake and took it down. It is now re posted on the correct blog. Sorry for the confusion. 

I had a sort out yesterday in the pots and pans cupboard. Some of these are well past their useful date, and looking very shabby. I bought two new pans a week ago, so it was time to cull the unwanted old pans. They are now in a box on the front, along with some other metal bits and bobs, awaiting the collection of the scrap metal truck. I'm not sure which day they come, but they usually announce their presence with a loud speaker. I don't suppose they give away a goldfish in a bag any more. That tradition is long gone. The cupboard is now only half full so no more rummaging in it to locate the correct pan for the meal I am making. 

I find it so satisfying to scale down possessions. When it's gone from the house, it's gone from my head. 

See ya soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Village boot sale.

We managed to get four hours of dry weather this morning for the village boot sale. At 1pm it went dark and chucked it down. By lunch time visitors had already started dropping off. Most prefer to come early. Some were walking, some came in cars. There were 40+ stalls so to get round them all a car would have been the best option. 

I sold the pet beds, some shopping bags, and other items. I also gave things away from my de cluttering sessions. A bit of cash made for Goodheart Animal Sanctuary. I had an hour in the garden after my dinner tonight. Trying to keep on top of the weeding and hedge trimming. 

I've just been for a late walk but it's raining again so I cut it short. 

Having a glass of wine before bed time. More Yorkshire pics tomorrow. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

6 + 3 = 9

I found a sleeping bag in my wardrobe that I don't need. I washed it, cut it up, and now six pet beds have turned into nine. They are on the village page now. 

I have also put on free for collection, two very nice filing cabinets, an inflatable airbed, and a floor standing fan. Scaling down my possessions, things I don't need. The airbed and fan came out of a skip, the filing cabinets I have had for about 25 years. Time to move things on. 

It was very cold this morning so I haven't been out. The wind has dropped now so I will go out after I have had my dinner. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

An ordinary day

 Mayze has a lie in every morning, or should I say a lie on, when I have vacated the bed. I don't bother to make the bed, she prefers it lumpybumpy, and I just get back into it as I got out of it. I don't like a bed where the covers are dead flat, and I never tuck the bottom and sides in like they do in hotels. So annoying, the first thing I do is pull them all out, I don't like the feeling of being fastened into a coffin. 

Mayze gets up when she feels like it, at around midday.  

One of my recent lunches. That's the last piece of quiche. I had a cheese and onion dip with it.  

I am doing a bit more de cluttering. This little alcove is in the High Street next to my friends house. She has some stuff to get rid of as well. We had some out over the weekend which was taken, which included the big clumpy boots that squashed my bunions. Not much went today, I think weekends are best for this. 

Billy enjoyed his walk today. We went along a field edge, and when we got back he found two very boisterous fluffy dogs to play with on the Village Green. 

I made a pan of deeeelishus stew for my dinner. I seem to be making lots of stew just lately. It is so easy, all in one pan. I put a packet of macaroni cheese in this one. 

The week is going quickly again, the days seem to fly by. Nothing planned for tomorrow, just see how it goes. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.  ilona

In an orderly fashion.

 Another rough and rainy day, and another day indoors. I am not liking this lockdown malarkey in the winter. Didn't mind it at all earlier in the year when the sun was shining, but brrrrrr, not when it's cold and wet outside. 

Oscar has been indoors quite a lot, he has now bagged the sofa as his bed of choice. But my goodness is he being fussy with his food. Tightwad Towers is like the Ritz for cats, any special requests for your meals, sir. Maybe one of these will suite you. Only the best here. Don't like it, well that's a bit of bad luck you're having then. Please yourself Boyo. 

I've made a start on tidying the second bedroom, aka the stockroom. The shelves were overflowing with untidy piles of fabric. It needs sorting and folding straight. I'm going to go through the whole room, it needs organising and possibly passing some of it on. I have got too much stuff.  

A chat with my auntie, and my sister on the phone today. It's still raining so I am not going out tonight. Going to watch a few videos now. Thanks for popping in. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Basket case ;o)

A corner of my kitchen just after I have had a tidy up. I try and keep it tidy, but this corner gets a bit busy after I have been shopping. In the basket on the left are bananas, onions, and potatoes. Other fruits are in a bowl, and loose. I keep them visible to remind me that I must eat them. The smaller basket in the corner is where I keep the stick blender and a toilet roll, in case I need to wipe up a spillage. The basket on the right is for bread, crackers, buns, cake and biscuits. Yes, I do have the occasional sweet treat, I am allowed.  

As this is the side where I do my prep, the mini chopper is kept here because I use it most days. 

Just along from there on the same side, next to the cooker, are a couple of trays, which I keep forgetting to use. Mostly I walk through to the next room with my meal, carrying  the plate. Four mugs which I saved from a skip. They were about to get chucked and I was there at the right time. You will see that a mug is upside down on a can of cider. I do that if I don't want to drink the cider all at once. Sometimes I drink it over two days. 

My glass chopping board lives here permanently. The picture isn't very clear because I put the flash on. First I put a pillow case or a tea towel down, lay the board on top, then fold it over to cover it. I can leave utensils and plates on the board and cover them up so that it looks tidy. The two knives, one for spreading one for peeling and chopping, always stay on the board. Sometimes I have a couple of spoons there as well. So all I have to do when starting to prepare food is lift the cover without having to go into the drawer for utensils. 

I think it's important to have a kitchen laid out properly so that everything is close to where you want to use it. My crockery cupboard is next to the sink so that when the pots have air dried on the drainer they can be put straight into the cupboard. 

My dried food, canned food, and cereals are in the tall cupboard to the left of the baskets. Easily reached when I prep a meal. 

The cooker is next to the chopping board, next to that is the microwave on top of a small cupboard, and next to that is the fridge freezer. All in a line, all on one side. 

I don't like a lot of clutter on the worktops, so as soon as I have finished making and eating a meal I rinse off the pots and pans, and put them on the drainer. Sometimes I get a bit lazy then I have to blitz the lot and have a big clean and tidy up. 

Kitchen and bathroom and toilets are priority here, they get cleaned. The other rooms do not have to be pristine. I live here, it's my home, it's not a show house. So if anyone comes to visit I point at the sign I have in the front porch, You are welcome to come in, but do not moan about the cat hairs. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Bulging out all over

(Can't get the left align to work here. Annoying) 

My wardrobe is beginning to fill up. After recent donations from friends, I have to lose a few items which I haven't worn for ages, and those which no longer fit me. Starting with the trousers, I tried on 13 pairs. These shorts were given to me several years ago. I'm pleased to say, they still fit so they will stay. 

Ooooh errrrr. I have had a lot of wear out of these trousers, they were my favourites for a long time. Smart, lightweight, look nice with a dressy top. Off to the charity shop then. 

Oh gawd, dark brown cords. Same problem, they don't contain my belly. Got to go. 

That's better. I love these pinstripe flares. Stretchy and snug fitting. Definitely a keeper.

A bit touch and go with these. Yes I can do them up, they are warm and lined, but I can't sit down in them. Maybe I'm not a size 12 any more. Off to the charity shop. 

Ha ha ha ha ha. Side fastening. Oh lordy me. Never ever going to wear these again. 

Phew, thank goodness these golfing trousers still fit me. A bit loose around the waist actually, I need a belt. No, I don't play golf, I bought them for walking. I normally don't like cut offs, but the jazzy colour attracted me. 

I bagged up some other items as well. Not much point in keeping clothes that I am never going to wear again. It's good to have a clear out.

Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later. Toodle pip   ilona

Free, take it if you want it.

 Do you like my little shop? I set a table up, it's full of unwanted toys, rescued from a skip. The house owner is moving out and gave me permission to take whatever I wanted. I can't bear to see useful stuff thrown into a hole in the ground. Some of it is brand new. 

Some of it has been taken. I put a few items at the front of my friends house in the High Street, she has more people passing there, my street is very quiet. 

The skip is being picked up on Thursday and more will be added as they go through the house to empty it. As it is nearby I shall keep going back to have a look if anything else has appeared. I hope to find homes for anything that is useful. 

Thanks for popping in, Toodle pip.   ilona

Sometimes you have to chuck

Hello. On the search for the right socks suitable for walking a lot of miles, I emptied my sock drawer on the bed. What, how many chuffin pairs of socks have I got? I knew the drawer was stuffed full. I don't like to throw them out if I can get a few more wears out of them, but honestly, do I need 62 pairs? 

Marie Kondo whatsit thingy not needed here. I went through the lot and decided to be brutal. Worn heels and toes, holes, grubby ones, all got the chop. I managed to get it down to 30 pairs. Still too many, but at least I won't have to buy any more for the next few years. 

While I was in the vicinity I thought I might as well cull a few more items of underwear from the other two drawers. The top drawer is for pants, that was not a problem, only three pairs in there, the rest were in the wash.

The bottom drawer is miscellaneous, tights, knickers, bra's, leggins and other odds and sods. There was stuff to throw away in there too. Tatty old bra's, knickers that I will never wear again, and holey tights, they have to go, they are no good to anybody. I came across this pair of black silky lacy knicks. blimey, it must be at least twenty years since I last wore those. Wonder if they still fit.

Yep, still fit, with a little bulge here and there. I won't show you my flabby bum from the back. This is how you need to pose if you are modelling. One leg crossed over the other to give the illusion you are slimmer than you really are. If you look at professional models you will notice that they all look like they want to pee. They stand there in front of the camera with their thighs clamped together as if they might wet their pants at any minute. Sometimes they cross over their feet, that sends a message to the photographer to hurry up because they can't hold it much longer. That line down the middle of my belly is my hystericalrectomy scar.  Having your lady bits taken out has it's positive side, you get a free tummy tuck.

 I have four pairs of bra's left, too pretty to throw away. I only wear them on special occasions, like when I dress up to go out, which is not very often. All other times I like to feel comfortable. Wearing a bra feels like I have a vice around my chesticles and gives me trapped wind. What a relief to take it off and let the wind make it's way south and exit into the outside world.

I feel a whole lot better now having downsized my undies. I only need the basics, functional and cheap, that's me.

Thanks a lot for the amusing comments on the previous post, they made me chuckle. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Dump it, sell it, or give it away.

Hello. I have stuff that I don't need, stuff that I don't want, I am sorting it into piles, at some point it will leave my house to go onward to the next place. Some of it will go to charity shops, some will be sold on the cat rescue stall, some I will put out on the front with a label on saying free please take, and some will be made into something new and given away. I have stuff scattered on the floor, I have too much.

If you are suffering from an overload of stuff take a look at this video. You may be inspired to take a fresh look at your stuff and decide if you really need to keep it.



On the other hand, you may wish to keep your stuff because you may be able to sell it, car boot sale, ebay or whatever. Thanks to Anon for pointing me in the direction of this web site, Things I find in the Garbage. The writer lives in Montreal, and scavenges through people's rubbish to find things of value that they can sell. There is also a Facebook page.

I'll leave you to sort out your own stuff, I am bagging some of mine up and it will go to the charity shop this afternoon. I have some stored in boxes to sell in June at the Village Fair, and I will keep some things for my arts and crafts.

Have a nice weekend. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Happy with my bills

Hello me hearties. I haven't got any fresh veg left because I want to eat out of the cupboard and freezer for a few more days. I have plenty in the freezer to keep me going, seems daft to leave it in there forever and a day, it's got to be eaten sometime, might as well be now. 

Frozen chips indeed. Yes I bought a bag of these as something different, can't remember when I last bought them, that long ago I have forgotten. Yes, a bag of potatoes would have been cheaper, but I don't make real chips in a pan at home, I don't have a chip pan, and I'm certainly not doing them in a frying pan on the hob with all that oil spitting all over the place. These oven chips are cooked under the grill, turn once. Half a tin of spag hoops, and two scrambled eggs, my dinner tonight. I just fancied this and it was very nice. 

I am sorting out my spare room, aka the fabric store, plus all manner of stuff I collect because it might come in useful. It's going really well. The ladies at crafty club took some of my excess off me this morning, things I knew I was unlikely to get round to using. I've found some bits for the charity shop as well.

Three bills dropped through my door last week which will be paid tomorrow. I'm not too bothered by regular bills because I know more or less how much money they want from me. I email my gas and electricity readings in monthly, and they use these to calculate an amount. I last emailed on 25th September and the bills were dated 5th October, so there is a bit of a gap there. I see they have estimated what I have used during that gap, and they are pretty close so I am happy to pay them.

I get both gas and electricity from SSE, they are the suppliers, but my account is with Ebico, a not for profit organisation. I have no penalties for paying quarterly, and I have no standing charges. Everyone pays the same price per kwh. So, my gas bill is for £4.04, and my electricity bill is for £36.75. My electricity bill is always more than gas, probably because I have this computer on a lot. It rises slightly in the winter due to lights going on earlier.

My gas bill is obviously low in the summer months because I don't have any heating on. It will go up a bit in the winter. I think it is so low because I have been having a lot of meals which require little or no cooking. A lot of salads, and one pan meals, the shorter the cooking time the cheaper the meals are. Even a pan of veg stew made with fresh veg only takes about ten minutes on the hob, and if I use a big pan to make four portions, three of those will get heated in the microwave.

I only heat a tank of water if I am going to have a bath, why do I need to have a tank permanently full of hot water? I can boil a kettle to wash a few pots in the sink or wash my hair.

The other bill I have received is for £28.10 payable to Severn Trent Water. This covers the period from April to October, and is for surface water drainage. I will get another bill shortly from Anglia Water, it will be around £37, that's for clean water into the house, and a small amount of that will be sent on to Severn Trent for removal of dirty water through the sewers. Being on a water meter works best for me because I am in control of how much I use.

All cats are in for the night, they don't seem to want to go out much these days. Mayze spends a lot of time on my bed, she loves snuggling under the top cover, I often find a bump in the bed when I get in. Heidi is due for a vet visit later this week, we are getting to the end of her tablets. Best let the vet check her over and get some more. Bugsy is still camped out on the living room table right next to me. Boy does he yowl when I don't serve up the right food. Today they got a treat, I buy bags of cheap frozen white fish and microwave it for them. They love it.

Right, I'm off now. It's not yet 7pm and dark already. I still have to go and do my walk. I could have a day or two off but I don't want to drop behind. The extra I did last week has boosted my total, I will finish October over the target. Hope you are all keeping it up, no slacking now the weather is getting cooler. A good fast walk will keep you warm.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Breath in

Hello. I've got the sloppy habit of draping my trousers over the banister, because I can't be bothered to put them in the wardrobe and keep taking them out. I wear trousers all the time, alternating between four or five different pairs, so to have them handy makes dressing and undressing a lot quicker and easier. 

Some of them I haven't worn for ages, so I thought I had better try them on and see if they still fit. I think I have gained an inch or two around the middle, so best to check. 

Oh heck. These are my last pair of black denim jeans, it must be over five years since I last wore them. At one time I was always in denim and I preferred black rather than blue. They are a size 12 and the label inside says waist 26 inches, hips 37 inches. Looks like my bottom is not a size 12 any more. Nope, it isn't, the tape measure says I am 29 waist and 39 hip, so that's more like a 14. 

Maybe if I just breathed in I could perhaps manage to fasten them up. Yep, can do that. However, I can imagine that spending any length of time with my insides squashed up like a vacuum packed trussed up chicken would result in horrendous abdominal pain as my wind struggled to find the way out. I also doubt very much that I could sit down. Nothing for it, these will have to go to the charity shop. 

I don't think I need to be too worried about an extra inch or two, these are a perfect fit and so comfortable. They are lightweight and lined, with elastic around the back and a drawstring at the front, and supposedly a size 10. Very strange. It pays to try on clothes before you buy, not all labels tell the truth.

I had visitors this morning. Brenda and her family called in on their way to a caravan and camping rally at  Sandringham. The car was loaded up with three bicycles, they are hoping to get some rides in while they are there. I hope the rain stops for them and it brightens up a bit. Brenda very kindly gave me a bag of fabric which she doesn't need. I'm having fun sorting through it and adding it to my piles in the stock room. I'll take some to crafty club next week to see if the ladies can find a use for it.

I forgot to take a photo while they were here, but Brenda has one so I'm sure it will appear on her blog when she gets a minute to write up her trip report. Her link is on the sidebar, but here it is if you want to look out for the picture.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

I can't possibly throw her out.

Hello. I need to do more decluttering, I have too much stuff. I keep revisiting cupboards and drawers, going through things over and over again. Do I really need this or can it go. Maybe I should keep it, it might come in handy. I have had this a long time, and can't let it go, always excuses as to why I should keep things. I have too many pairs of socks, why do I keep the holey ones? Some of my sweatshirts are faded, stained, and worn out, maybe they will be useful for wearing around the house. 

Sometimes I am in a brutal mood and put things in bags and take them to the Age UK shop, but no matter how many times I do this, I still have far too much. Things find their way into my house when I am not looking. I need to balance it out and take more stuff to the charity shop. 

But what to take? I've found a few things here that I have had for many a year, they have moved house with me several times, I can't leave them behind, or give them away. 

My first and only baby dolly,  it must be about 60 years old. It still has the same romper suit on, and it has a lazy eye. I called it Amanda after my German Grandmother. Poor dolly is losing it's stuffing, the rubber arms and legs have perished and it's falling apart. I can't possibly throw her out. 

My jewelry box from when I was about 13. It's got a red silk lining with a tray dividing the top and bottom. I never had any proper jewels to put in it, just a few chains and beads. This has to stay.

My mum's musical jewelry box, she had it for as long as I can remember. I love to lift the lid and listen to The Blue Danube. Mine to keep forever.

Mum's transistor radio. I always used to nick this and take it to bed with me and listen under the covers. She used to put it in her handbag and take it with her when she went out anywhere. She was a big fan of Derby County Football Club and always listened to the match on it. I have to keep this.

These books belonged to my dad, he had a big collection of film books which he kept in a cupboard in the living room. we weren't allowed to read them, but often sneaked them out when he wasn't looking. I got into trouble once because I scribbled in one with a pencil. After he died we had to sort his few belongings out and his book pile was thrown away. I kept these. What a shame that I didn't keep them all, they would have been collectors pieces now. I might as well keep these, they are not taking up much space. 

Oh well, back to the drawing board, these things stay, but surely there must be more stuff lurking in my house that I can move on. I'll have a check round.

Do you find it easy to declutter, or do you hang onto stuff? How do you decide what you actually need to keep, or what you can manage without?

I haven't done much in the garden today. Crafty Club this morning, and I took Rocky for a check up at the vet this afternoon, and to get some more medication as we are just coming to the end of the bottle.

I was tired last night after all that brick humping so I didn't do a walk. I must go and do it now. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Domestic help wanted, must be cheap.

Hello. I do have some cleaning equipment in the cupboard under my kitchen sink, but every time I open the door a hot sweat comes over me and I go all fluttery. My brain starts to panic at the thought of actually reaching for a cloth and a bottle of whatever. I take a few deep breaths and try and focus. I say to myself, 'come on, you can do this'. I was not put on this earth to drag a Dyson around, or flick the dust off the picture rail. There's no fun in that, but today I made an effort. I have some people coming this week, so I need to tart the place up a bit. 

First this mess on the table. There's allsorts of crafting bits and bobs here. I'm sure it can't be me leaving things lying around, I wonder who is doing it ;o)

The window is clean, inside and out. I have moved a lot of stuff upstairs, and put a clean cloth on the table. It's a bed sheet by the way, This is a work table which the cats jump up on to sit in the window sill, so no point in putting a posh table cloth on, it would get ruined, and I have plenty of bed sheets. The window sill cover is also a bed sheet, folded to fit.

Remember the four years of dust, well it's gone now. Imagine all the time I have saved by not dusting it every week. The mantlepiece has quite a shine on it. That will do nicely for another four years, or until I get some more visitors.

Tomorrow I have the bathroom and kitchen to clean, they won't take long as I am not quite so slovenly where food and washing is concerned. Housework does not turn me on one bit, if I could afford it I would employ a cleaner. Now that's an idea, I'll have a look at the budget to see if I could stretch to a fiver a week, ha ha. They don't cost much, do they?

Thanks for popping in. Catch you soon. Toodle pip.

Chucking the rubbish, recycling the might be useful's.

Hello. A trip to the vet was called for this morning, Rocky is not having a very good time with his arthritis at the moment. An anti inflammatory injection was administered, and a slight increase in dosage of his medication was advised. We'll see how that goes over the next few days. I took him to the park yesterday and took his buggy to push him around. He had a little sniffle about in the grass and picked up a few doggy smells, then enjoyed his ride. He is happy being outside with me when I am working in the garden, though it is too hot for him at the moment so he sits in the shade. 

I've got round to using up the last of the decorated paper I made at the Crafty Club. The piece was just enough for a paperback book cover. This time I have sewn on a lot of sequins, and the top and bottom are sewn together with a running stitch, instead of a blanket stitch on the previous one. I like the finish of this one. 

I wanted to tone the white down at the front of the Bespoke Summerhouse, so I mixed some dark blue emulsion paint with yellow gloss paint which made a nice light shade of green. Much better. Still the floor to do, looking for some paving slabs. I also cleared out the wood and rubbish at the back of the garage, and painted that a pale cream colour. Looks a lot more tidier now. 

Today I took a load of rubbish to the Council tip. I almost threw this paste table in the car as it was, but then thought if I take it apart I can maybe use some of it for other projects. Some useful bits of wood there, and screws. The tops were the only pieces that got chucked.

Everything I took was rubbish, fit for nothing else, but peering in the huge skips I saw lots which could have been re used. I took a fancy to a wooden sewing box, a lick of paint and it could be given another life. Taking things out of their skips is not allowed, there are cameras covering the site. I asked the man if I could have the sewing box, but of course he couldn't give me permission to take it. When I got home I emailed the council to ask about their recycling policy, why couldn't people take things which could be used again. We'll see what their reply is.

While I was there I got chatting to someone who was throwing some household stuff away from an open top trailer. I had a look in it and asked what this was. He said it's like an underlay for laying floorboards, peel the plastic off and it's sticky, fix the boards to it. I thought it might come in useful for something so he said I could have it.

He also let me have this, a distressed plant stand. I might paint it as I don't like the shabby look.

Glen asked how much weight the cat food box table would take. About eight and a half stone actually, ha ha. The boxes are very strong, and it has many layers of papier mache and wallpaper covering it. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip

Pimp my sun visor

Hi de Hi. Phew, it's been a hot 'un today. I've been busy inside and outside. The garage needed sorting out, it was a right mess. Everything came out, rubbish is now in a pile waiting to go to the tip, and everything to keep is back inside nice and tidy. 

Anyone remember this? I made a little table ages ago, one of my reuse and recycle experiments. Guess what it's made out of? I thought I had thrown it out ages ago. 

Here is a picture of the bottom of it. Cat food boxes. They are so strong, if you fasten them together and cover them with papier mache, and paint it, you can make furniture with them.

 I lost my union jack sun visor, left it on the train when I was on holiday. Daft thing to do I know. That's the second one I've lost. I bought another one for 50p but I don't like it very much, so I've dug an old one out that I recovered. The fabric has faded and it looks a bit scruffy, so I think it's time recover it again. Here are the pieces, stitches unpicked, to use as a pattern.

 Here is the original, twas pink, also faded and scruffy.

I looked in my stash for something which would make a nice visor, and found this. 

If you have a dirty old sun visor and want to recover it this is what you do. Sew the two pieces together, right sides facing.

Turn it the right way and pin it over the peak. Hand sew it on, both sides. It doesn't matter if the stitches aren't very neat because they will be covered up by the band.

Put the middle of the band to the middle of the peak, turn a hem under, pin it on, then sew it on with tiny stitches. Then turn a hem under on the inside and stitch that down. Next fold under a hem all the way along to the ends of the band, hand sew it together to make a flat tube. Add velcro for the fastening.

And there you have it, one new sun visor. Keeps the sun out of my eyes, I love it.

In my mini chopper today....cranberries, dried fruit mix, almonds, and peanuts. As a topper with a banana, grapes, and plain yogurt. This was my elevenses. Very nice.

Must go, got to get the cats in. Catch you tomorrow.
Toodle pip