Am I just keeping that for sentimental reasons?

By the end of last week our new house was well organised and tidy. Everything had been deboxed and put away. Pictures were up on walls. The fridge and cupboards had been stocked. We had even put up a few blinds ad curtain rails. We had a dinner party on Sunday and I was proud of the house.

So why this morning was everything in a mess again?

The answer is the elephant in the garage. Readers of this blog may remember the photo I posted when we moved in, with the garage stacked floor to ceiling, front to back with boxes and furniture. This week I opened every box and moved the contents into piles for charity, for the tip, to keep in the garage and for the house.

What I discovered was that we have literally hundreds of things we do not use but which we carry round from house to house, loft to loft, shed to shed. It all takes up space. It all needs looking after. We just keep it for sentimental reasons. Pictures that the boys painted when they were toddlers. A table and chairs that Mandy’s Dad made. My own Dad’s collection of antique newspapers. Robert’s expensive coffee machine that is never used. Martin’s weights set that gathers dust under a bed. Mandy’s exercise bike from when she had her knees replaced during Covid. My golf clubs that I kid myself I will get back to one day.

I give myself the excuse that one day these things will come in useful. And hey, maybe I am right. But this week I have certainly got more pleasure from giving things away. Our oak bench seats have gone to my brother in law to be made into a seat and shoe rack for his hall. The golf clubs to my sporty great nephew. The old cutlery drawers have gone to “Save the children” to go in their window. A fridge, freezer, table and packing boxes are going to a friend’s daughter who is about to move house. Hundreds of puzzles, games and CDs are going to charity. An old leather chesterfield sofa and chair will hopefully be fetched by the British Heart Foundation.

I have felt ruthless and proud of what we have done. And still, the garage still hosts those old newspapers. And my old model railway in boxes. And Martin’s old snooker cue. And a table tennis table that went in the charity pile and somehow returned to the garage.

Maybe they will come in useful.