Week 5

1. A box of old floppy discs. I pulled all the documents off them (mostly school work, some possibly embarrassing junvenalia and -- geekily thrilling, the game I made for my GCSE computer studies project (left). It doesn't work. I'm not sure if it ever did, as the project was only marked on the documentation, not the computery bit. But I actually think that it was one of the most useful things I ever learnt at school, and I thoroughly enjoyed making the game, which was a point and click called The Wrath of Zevrion). They are now stashed on Nick's computer (mine doesn't have a disc drive) and I need to take my podule round this week so I can bring them home. I was about to offer the now-blank discs to Nick, and then I noticed that he has a lot of blank discs already, diligent creature that he is. So I put the lot in the bin, and it felt good.

2. A bag of foreign coins and a fistful of low denomination foreign notes -- to the stamp shop.

3. My great aunt's Pitman's certificates -- ditto.

To come -- there is an event round the corner on Sunday to which one brings a bag of women's clothes, pays £4 and takes away another bag of clothes. I am going through my wardrobe right now.

I woke in the night and looked over at the silhouette of my desk in the grey light prying its way through the blinds. A deep sadness filled me. I'm really, really looking forward to moving in with Nick; but I'm going to miss my bright room and my study space so much.

coming home to roost

I got a lovely email from a lady to whom I Freecycled a pile of children's books. She said that I should have seen her daughter's face when she got home from school and saw them. She is reading a book or two a day.

I'm glad to be able to give a hand-up to a small bookworm.

Shifting my laptop

It appears that I can get a bit of money for my old lappie on Ebay. It's broken, but sometimes they go for £20 or so. I wonder how it should be sent off.

Failing that, there's a man round here who reconditions PCs and then Freecycles them to those in need.

In any case, I need to get rid of my data before I send it off. It looks like this is the application to use -- Darik's Boot and Nuke.

It also has a wireless card that I need to return to Fenella.

Week 4

1. A load of books to Oxfam.

2. An unwanted wireless thingy via Freecycle

3. A handful of old make-up brushes.

4. A cork pinboard (via Freecycle).

5. A rafia pot containing bits and pieces -- some of the bits and pieces I kept, others I Freecycled. The pot I binned (although I kept the interesting clay bead on the front

6. A glass to British Heart Foundation

7. A shoe organiser to British Heart Foundation

8. A jigsaw to Oxfam.

9. A pen handle to British Heart Foundation.

10. Finished a pot of footsoak into my pedicure.

Week 3

1. A pair of ankle boots that never suited me and were uncomfortable. I thought I'd got rid of these ages ago. They were in the boot sale box and they went to recycling.

2. A coat that I bought up on the Tibetan plateau in China for £8. It was wonderful -- both warm and waterproof. It buttoned up on the shoulder, which was awkward, but I loved it because people were always complimenting me on it. The silky trimming has become ragged, though, so it's not fit for smart wear, and not practical for scruffy work. It went to rec

3. A tie dye wrap around skirt that I had in the sixth form. It has a lot of emotional baggage attached to it. I wore it while trekking in Nepal, but it's still in good shape. It went to recycling.

4. A pile of mystery books -- through Freecycle.

5. A pile of fantasy books -- through Freecycle.

6. A pile of travel books -- through Freecycle.

7. Two old Starwars magazines -- Ebay. I got done on Paypal, though -- the buyer paid by debit card. I didn't realise I'd be charged 34p for that!

8. A vintage Penguin Island of Dr Moreau -- through Ebay.

9. A old magazine about Star Wars -- through Ebay for less than I thought.

10. Two books, left in public places for Bookcrossers to find.

11. A box containing virus software that drives everyone crazy -- it went from the bootsale box to the bin.

Videos

One of the sets of stuff that takes up a lot of space is videos. I don't have many films; but Rich, my and Katie's penfriend who died in 2004, sent us vids of US TV -- X-Files, South Park, Family Guy and so on. These tapes were much looked forward to at the time, and much talked about.

We've never managed to make our VCR work; and anyway, most of these shows are repeated on TV, so I think perhaps it's time to let the tapes go. I have plenty of other things that recall Rich -- books, emails, pages from Time and Space, and a good stash of memories.

I talked to Katie about the stash -- they are partly hers, really, and she agreed. I should probably just put them in the bin -- can't stick them on Ebay, I don't suppose. But I might give Freecycle a go and see if anyone is interested.

The cards

I found my stash of birthday cards while tidying before the estate agent came to take pictures yesterday. I should really chuck them all, but couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I need some time to really look at them and see if there's anything I want to save.

Breakages

It's about natural wastage, too -- when something I don't really need breaks, let it go. Don't replace it. While I was cleaning the kitchen, two cheap but pretty plastic trays that have been kept too near the stove broke in my hands and went straight in the bin.

Week 2, part two

I've listed a pile of books and comics on Ebay -- hope they sell!

I've also offered a few books on Freecycle.

I got a soldering iron off FC this week; but I'm using it to fix a hairslide, which sort of counts as getting rid of something I don't want

Week 2

1. Three sticks for spreading on legwax -- I really do only need one; and I'll get a new one with the next pot. These went in the bin.
   
2. One printer, through Freecycle.
3. One purple nail polisher, which isn't working too well any more. Bin.
   
4. A bottle of bronze goo that is supposed to make me shimmer, but has always smelt a bit peculiar. Bin.
   
5. A lip gloss that neither suits me nor stays on. Bin.
   
6. A worn bag to the bin -- this is a Chinese army surplus medical bag that I used as a handbag for a long time; and then when it got too scruffy, as a pagan bag. I used it to carry my firemaking kit, incense, notebook, sandwiches, drink and...
7. A piece of rabbit skin -- it was a wonderful insulation between my bottom and the cold, hard ground. The moths got it, however, and it shed hairs everywhere.
8. A box of corks and a box of bottle caps
9. A hard eraser that is not very easy to use -- I have a much nicer one.
10. Three pairs of shoes -- to the recycling centre. One pair of sparkly wedges bought for New Year's Eve 1999. One pair of pink silk trainers bought for work, but never very comfortable. One pair of black smart sandals which I've had for years and never found very comfortable.
    

• I've found a box of floppy discs, and I've decided that I'll get rid of those -- but first I want to take them to Nick's and pull all the data off them.
• I hang on to old birthday cards -- I wonder where they all are.
  

Week 1, part 2

Further things got rid in addition to my weekly 10

1. Three pots of footcare goo and a handful of salt that I used to keep on my desk at work in a marathon pedi sesh.
2. Three books to Katie

I have also sorted out 1.5 meters of books that I can bear to get rid of. I'm looking at selling them as a job lot, rather than giving them to Oxfam -- got to think of money these days.

A broken lappie like my old broken one is going on Ebay for a surprising amount.

I'm going to collect up all my Starwars stuff and sell it as a job lot -- I've hardly looked at those books for years.

I've stuck my printer on Freecycle -- Nick has a better one; and they are so cheap these days that I don't mind buying a new one.

I have also scouted courier services -- Royal Mail is a royal pain in the bum round here since they closed all the post offices. And I'll need to get some boxes.

Just spotted some more things that can go -- cordless mouse, and wireless receiver.

Week 1

These are the ten things that I'm getting rid of this week:

1. An old pair of spare laces that are too short for my present boots.
   
2. A nail file I don't use because it's too rough
3. A red clay rouge that has been dying everything it touches red for years
4. A bottle of fake tan that never worked
5. Some homeopathic pills
6. Two kits for re-useable leg wax that I'm never going to use again.
7. A nail brush that is so soft as to be useless.
8. A glued up paintbrush
9. A tiny wooden tray that came with a gift of some kind and I kept in case it came in useful.
   
10. A scratched audio book.

And on top of that:

1. A hair bobble that is too big for my hair -- to Katie to be made into stitchmarkers.
2. Some glass beads -- to Katie for her bead box