Chez Printemps, we have a hoarding problem in the name of Roberto, my hoarding husband. He just will not throw anything out. Take, for example, his wardrobe. It is completely stuffed to the gunnels. He has far more clothes than I do. On closer inspection you will find piles of 1980s shirts which he says he still loves and will fit into when he has been on a diet. I even found a knitted Starsky jacket (remember Starsky & Hutch?) that his mother, the late great Beatrice Printemps, knitted for him in the late '70s. Actually, I quite like the Starsky jacket and have been wearing it myself on cold days.
I know it's nice to keep certain things because they hold happy memories and I'm not a totally heartless de-clutter queen but honestly, the stuff Roberto keeps! In a shed we have that used to be my sewing room, there are boxes and bags of the late great Beatrice Printemps' things. Just ordinary things like boxes of blankets, sheets (multi-coloured flowery '70s sheets, that is), kitchen stuff. Roberto just won't part with it. He says it will all come in useful some day. I think, 'yes, useful for someone else.' I admit, and I'll give him that, I did find her old hairdryer in there when mine broke the other week and yes, I grudgingly admit that it has come in handy...but what the fluff can you do nowadays with a mink coat?
There is a '70s flowery lampshade that the late Beatrice tried to offload onto me on numerous occasions because she couldn't bear to throw it out. Margot Leadbetter from the Good Life would have been proud to own it
So, I have decided mes amis that, starting with the offensive '70s lamp (see photo below), Operation De-clutter will commence in 10...9...8..
Happy de-cluttering/hoarding! A la prochaine.
Ha, good luck with that..... I don't even venture down to the shed at the bottom of the garden. All I know is Himself goes down there occasionally, says he is having a sort out, but if I go and peep through the window, it still looks a mess and how he ever finds what he wants is a mystery!
ReplyDeleteMen's brains are definitely wired differently aren't they? I just can't see the point of keeping things packed away in boxes for years. I'm going to succeed in my de-cluttering quest for 2014.
DeleteOoooh the shade is nice but needs a different base and trim perhaps? I love a good de-clutter that's quite easy for me. It's the non replenishment that poses a problem:)
ReplyDeleteJean x
Hi Jean. I am the same. I think of de-cluttering as making room for something new. Love your blog, by the way.
DeleteBest wishes from Carol
Men's brains are wired differently? At least they're wired!
ReplyDeleteMarcia, the native Memsahib, is the one who loves hoarding. If it was limited to hoarding in boxes, I wouldn't mind but she likes to hoard things on the floor, on my bookshelves, even on my desk. And you should see the bedrooms! Now that I stay at home and she is in town every day, I have my chance to de-clutter and I am ruthless and sneaky. First I hide things then, if no missing item list is filed in triplicate within a reasonable period, it goes onto the back of the truck and down to the tip.
I was caught out once when Marcia saw a local wandering about in an old outfit of hers. Couldn't see what the fuss was about. She never wears it and I thought he looked rather fetching in a Harvey Nicks wrap front dress.
Oh, I asked Marcia what she thought of the lamp. 'Nice' she said.
DeleteI am now quite worried I told her she could be in charge of the décor of the new cottages.
Ha ha..I do the sneaky de-cluttering as well. Luckily I haven't been caught out yet.
DeleteI have arranged for shipment of the lamp to chez Hippo family.