Neither of us is particularly organised, and so far our stuff has tended to be in miscellaneous, unlabelled boxes, drawers, tubs, bags, strewn across the cellar, attic, workshop, bedroom, shoved into cupboards and wardrobes, under sofas, on top of shelves.
We've often thought about 'sorting things out', and occasionally tidy up a little, but, well, quite frankly we can both think of lots of things we'd rather be doing. Now, however, things are different. Now we're really contemplating moving house, and we have declared that Something Must Be Done.
Our friends and acquaintances, of course, are ready with advice. 'Hire a large skip' seems to be top of the list. But we have no desire for minimalism, and didn't spend decades keeping hold of things just to throw them away in one fell swoop.
And anyway, they might come in handy when we move.
So instead, we've started organising, and I thought it might be fun to record what's in our tubs so we can look back in ten years and congratulate ourselves on how useful all those things we kept have been.
:: bike mudguard screws :: car bulbs :: car bits :: puncture repair kits :: odd bike bits :: curtain hooks :: rail fixings :: allen keys :: corks and stoppers :: lift off hinges :: springs :: tool clips :: chains :: hinges :: small handles :: rechargeable batteries :: hinges (chipboard) :: locks :: small brackets :: jubilee clips :: lock and catch d/w (nope, I don't know either) :: brass circle bits :: coat hooks :: corner protectors :: tiny or flat handles :: battery covers :: round metal :: rubber feet :: sockets and drivers :: spray paint :: handles and knobs :: large hooks and clamps :: lighting fixtures :: wooden curtain fittings :: pattress and junction (nope, again, no idea) :: bike brackets ::
Others contain useful household items.
:: clocks :: homebrew locks and taps :: pastry cutters (2) :: decorative brackets and hooks :: 12 volt power :: extension sockets :: small bags :: torches and battery lights :: Christmas ornaments :: fairy lights :: ceramic ornaments :: tv and monitor leads :: bungees, cords and ropes :: Christmas tree lights (separate to ordinary fairy lights...) :: mains cables :: tins :: computer leads :: birthday cards/letter writing :: spare presents :: gift bags :: wrapping paper and cellophane :: Christmas cards, labels and wrapping :: hair stuff :: straps, belts and buckles ::
Peter spends a lot of time making and fixing guitars and electronic musical equipment, so quite a few tubs relate to that.
:: valves :: brass pickups :: bridges and nuts :: pins and strap buttons :: machine head bits :: amp components :: audio adapters ::case fasteners :: metal bits :: decorative brass :: 9 volt AC power :: plugs :: phono and din leads and adapters :: brass machine heads :: knobs :: old port audio ::
:: curtain ties :: unfinished rag rug :: ribbons :: netting and mesh :: velcro :: lace :: fleece (2) :: curtain fittings :: big cotton :: shiny/exotic fabric :: patterned sheets (2) :: furry fabric :: small wool :: big wool :: giant wool :: clothes to dismantle :: flowery fabric :: cotton for dishcloths :: towelling :: shiny Chinese fabric :: unfinished projects (hmm...) :: plain/functional fabric :: small cheery fabric :: velvety fabric :: stuffing :: card making :: blank notebooks :: papery crafts :: paints and brushes :: water colour paints :: pastels and charcoal :: modelling clay :: acrylic paints :: oil paints ::
And then there's the 'other' tubs, full of miscellaneous things that find there way into our house and never seem to want to leave.
I imagine there are plenty of you out there joining the 'hire a skip!' brigade, but I'm afraid we won't be doing any such thing. We both love being surrounded by interesting, useful (and not so useful) things, and you just never know when something you've kept for years will come in handy. We're likely to move to somewhere that needs a fair bit of work, so all those screws, hooks, clamps, hinges will get used eventually, and I'll never be short of a craft project.
Are you throwing your hands up in horror? Or do you have many piles of 'things' like we do?