Tag: Getting rid of stuff!

Moving in..

Well I am here! After a very stressful few days of clearing my house I have moved to my caravan.

I am surrounded by boxes and bags. There is definitely too much stuff here! Because of unexpected trips to Hereford, I could not do the number of charity shop and tip runs that I had hoped for. I cannot work our how to operate the oven: my bathroom light isn’t working and I have very confused pets.

But I love my caravan. I think that I will be very happy here. And doing this has allowed me to hand in my notice at work… a start of a new life.

This couple of weeks have been so stressful and hard. My Dad. His funeral. Trips to Hereford. Packing up a house. I am so grateful to my friends who have helped me. Also those from my Sangha who have been there for me. I have been boring on the subject I am sure but people have been there ready to help me in whatever way they could. It is times like this when you learn who are truly your friends. Some could do nothing practically but contacted me most days to make sure that I was ok. This meant so much.

So a step on my journey! A giant step after such a horrible 16 months.

Movement on the house selling front..

After a couple of viewings and a price negotiation, I have accepted an offer on my house.  The relief is immense but it is coupled with the knowledge that nothing is in the bag yet and that the next few weeks will be busy and full of waiting.  The need for patience will be great – and I think you now have an inkling of just how good I am at that.  I have done all that I can for now – I have instructed a solicitor (who sounded very human and approachable on the phone! He does come highly recommended).  And I look forward (not) to having a pile of forms to complete.

As well as that – I have to start seriously sorting my life out.  I am completely downsizing – as in a static caravan downsizing.  Everything that I own will need to fit in that caravan (without the caravan seeming to be cluttered in any way) or in a small shed which I believe that I can have on my plot.  There will be no storage facilities in my future.  All of my furniture will have to go except for one very precious dressing table which will need to be kept safe.  My Great Grandfather built it.  He was a woodwork teacher, I believe.  One of those teachers who was allowed to (and apparently frequently did) throw the board rubber at naughty students.  I noticed the dressing table in my Grandad’s house when we were moving him out to a flat in my late teens.  It was in poor condition but my Dad did it up for me and I have had it ever since.  Not sure if it will fit in the van but it may.  If not I will need to find it a home – maybe with my girls.  Apart from furniture there is a heap of other stuff to go.  Books ( I am allowing myself 10 as I have a kindle); DVDs (I will watch and store online); clothes (will need to cut down by half at least); kitchenware and so it goes on.  There will be several trips to the charity shop and the local tip over the next few weeks I am sure.

It is now very tempting to start living in the future….  But I must remember to live in the present.  Things can still go wrong, get held up or not happen at all.  It will take a couple of months at least to go through – although having no chain will help considerably!  Just (just lol) one buyer to buy one house. In the meantime life goes on for me and my girls.

Patience and living in the present