A little pile of Chinese notes found among my travel papers. I'm taking them down to the shop on Castle Street.

Update: I got £3 for the lot! The man said they were still in circulation.

I also took to British Heart Foundation: a pile of plates, a lovely RHS address book (I'm not going to use a paper address book again (unless civilisation collapses), and I've had it for five years hoping that someone would ask for one, but no-one has) and a large book of Edwardian board games.

I put my wardrobe on Freecycle and got a great avalanche of a response. I think I know who I would like to have it... but I'm waiting until the digest goes out before I say yes. I've argued in the past about not minding who you give stuff to, but I do balk a bit at giving to a taker. I've been searching for the names to see what they've posted. It's interesting to see how I make my decisions: I like people who ask nicely; I like people who say why they want it, and offer to give it a good home. I like people who post Wanteds explaining that they're doing it to help someone else.

I think the wardrobe has in its favour: It's from Ikea, so people know what they're getting. It's flat-pack. It's a storage item -- I think some people on FC might have a clutter problem.

I also had a huge clear-out of something nasty that had been hiding under the bed -- a large box of files. I put some folders together -- there was some schoolwork, and some writing from the 1990s in two separate files. I put those in together.

And there was a frightening box file labelled: 'Travel' into which I have traditionally 'filed' all the papers I bring back from holiday. This includes till receipts, ticket stubs, interesting paper bags, packets of photos, travel diaries... you get the idea. I've slimmed down considerable -- who wants receipts and photos that went wrong? But lots of nice memories surfaced as I filed. I suspect there are other packets stashed away, however. I'm going to see if I can't claim a boxfile for myself on Freecycle.

The other horror in this box was a yellow folder of newsletter stuff for TWells writers. I've contacted one of the members and asked if I can drop it round.

I threw away a lot of papers relating to my coaching sessions -- the sessions were great, but the papers were a load of bollocks -- strange diagrams and sentimental poems. I kept a few things I filled in -- a list of 50 things that make me happy (tho I think I've probably got other versions of this).

The sofa went on Thursday, and behind it I found a couple of paper bags containing... papers. I emptied them out -- binned a lot more stuff, kept other things. There were some things I was glad to find, though -- a lot of scraps of pretty paper that I file away for projects.

I read up about fixing a pair of jeans with a busted crotch -- the best advice seemed to be to patch them up with some old jeans. I can ask at a charity shop if they have any rag denim I can have.

1. I sold my desk chair to my old boss.
2. Gave some knives and forks to a friend.

The Facebook notice was not entirely successful -- only one person responded.

I have just looked into the plates I want to get rid of, and it seems they might be worth a bit of money. There's a china shop in Tunbridge Wells (update -- they didn't want them); and I've registered them with Chinasearch. (update -- they didn't want them either).

Might try E-bay, but it's so hard to pack and post these things. Or, I might just decide that it's not worth all this effort for the money I could get, and take the lot to the charity shop.

Facebook

I've just posted the following on Facebook in the hopes that someone will be interested:

I'm moving in with Nick at the end of the month and I own far more things than I can take. Some of it, you can have for free, and other bits, I'm selling. You'll have to collect, as I have no transport. Please email iwantyourthings at threebeautifulthings dot co dot uk if you're interested.

Here's the list:

• Two-seater Habitat sofa in chocolate brown. Very comfortable and clean. -- £50.
• 70cm sq pine table, perfect if you need a kitchen table for a small space -- £25.

Free stuff

• Some trays -- one with farm animals on, the others plain wood / melamine
• An Ikea Aneboda wardrobe in birch effect. Very pleasing and unobtrusive.
• A white frosted bowl-shaped glass shade for an uplighter
• Retro plates and bowls, white and duck-egg green with a design of flowers and grasses
• Stainless steel knives, forks and spoons. The handles are moulded with an unusual bamboo design.
• Videos -- large selection, ideal for lovers of X-files, Simpsons, Family Guy. All carefully recorded onto UK format from the TV by US penfriend in the late 90s, early 00s.
• Footprint Guide to Kenya
• Large mirror measuring 55cm by 45cm
  

I have been a bit bad about posting -- and getting rid of stuff -- these last few weeks. But I sent two books on their way by Book Crossing in this time, so I'm hoping that counts.

Here is what I have done so far this week towards getting rid of stuff:

1. Threw away several unwearable pairs of knickers.
2. Put an ad in two papers to sell my sofa.
3. Book crossed two more books. As I was leaving the park, I saw an old man bending over to look at them.
4. Book crossed another book.
5. Threw away a stash of old envelopes -- I keep them because I like to make notes on them; but there will ALWAYS be old envelopes.
6. Shredded bank statements and bills older than two years.
7. Went through a box of birthday cards and letters and kept only the ones I really cared about. This was hard -- some of the letters stirred up a bit of emotion. But it felt good to shred the ones I didn't need any more. I kept them because I felt they were important. By getting rid of them, I am stating that they are no longer important; I think this deadens the emotions.
8. A dress and jumper that I no longer need to charity
9. A mirror and a shoe hanger to charity.
10. Another book to Bookcrossing.

I have also phoned three removal companies about moving house.

It's getting harder and harder to find things to get rid of, now.

Last night, I asked Nick why there was a stack of videos on the floor -- he explained that he was clearing out some stuff too. I try not to forget that he is making changes and sacrifices to fit me in, but sometimes I do.

Also -- I think we may have got rid of the biggest piece of clutter of all: We've accepted an offer on the flat.

On-going list of things that cannot be got rid of until moving day

1. My wardrobe
2. The collection of plastic sandwich boxes (they are actually quite useful for packing little bits for a move)