Week End

T Minus 162

Weeks Fly By

I cannot believe how fast time is going – when we started this blog  it was T minus 190 – 28 more days have flown by since.

Last week went by fast – this week has flown by even faster. I think having a focus i.e. our leaving date is part of the reason. Once the house is put on the market – I am sure time will fly even faster. That still is a way off though as we are still house clearing.

This week Anita has been off work and her parents (Heather and Geoff) were up. Between them they have done so much:

Heather has helped us clear surfaces and the kitchen is looking suitably sparse.

Tidy Kitchen

Cleared Surfaces!

Also the Bathrooms have new floors replacing the tired old ones – thanks to Heather.

New Floor

Geoff has helped with various DIY tasks I just never got around to – the door frame in Bex room and the upstairs banisters have benefited from his hand. Additionally cupboard doors have been repaired and skirting boards painted  along with aforementioned banisters and lots of doors. It’s funny how you live with things for so long and only get around to getting them fixed before you leave.

New Door Frame

Banisters replaced

Warning Wet Paint

Bruce (my brother-in-law)  came over one day to help painting – so a big thanks to him too.

As for Anita – lots of paperwork scanned and shredded – lots of clothes, DVDs and  games sorted and books boxed.Grouting and oven cleaned.

Games ready for sale

After all this  tidying the loft left overs still clutter our lounge and conservatory. It seems never-ending.

Stuff to sort in the Conservatory

Even bears have to go!

Part of the lounge

Tonight and tomorrow, my job is to carry on sorting and dumping whilst Anita is out on Band business. We have an evening off attending a Birthday Bash / Charity Fundraiser of which more tomorrow evening.

Next week Anita is off work again so more of the same.

Geoff and Heather plan to come back for a couple of days next week too, to finish some uncompleted tasks and the following week my mum (Jane) will be down helping inside and (weather depending) out.

We could not do this without their help and it’s great they can be around. Our aim is to have everything sorted for next weekend.

Next weekend is a big weekend

On Saturday we are having an Open House / Garage Sale from 10:00am to 6:00pm –  the plan is for people to come over get some good bargains and we can lose some of the enormous quantity of goods which fill every corner. Anita has sent out invitations via Facebook and hopefully folk will come.

On Sunday we will be  heading to the Car Boot Sale at the Bowl – with an aim of getting rid of much of the rest. Anita and I will be assisted by Mum,Heather, Geoff, Stephen,Fiona, Mel and Bruce – so between us we hope to be successful.

If the next week is anything like the last two we’ll be at the Car Boot Sale in hardly any time at all.

Let the Clearance Begin

T minus 189

Today is the start of Half Term and the start of the long process of clearing the accumulated detritus of 26 years in my own house (and 16 in this one). We have been ruthless! Anita in the bathroom clearing out numerous bottles of lotions and potions some of which are years old – including some small bottles of aftershave which I will miss 😦 . I on the other hand started on the Garage (with Mum who is down for the weekend). Several trips to the dump later we have made inroads – though there is a long way to go.

More garage tomorrow and then the loft – that is going to take a long time – some of the stuff came straight from the loft of our previous house 16 years ago and has not seen the light of day since.

It may seem a long time until we go – but a holiday week like this is a golden opportunity to get started. Certainly we are considering the options as to whether to rent or sell and may need to leave the house  before the summer depending on the best option.