Yes, our local one is open 3 days a week, but they do sometimes not open due to staffing issues.
And I already have, apparently it has depressed the valuation of the house, along with all the other stuff. Exactly what I want for reasons apparent in another thread. 
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To say nothing of keeping you warm in the winter, its what the down and outs use to sleep in or cover themselves with.
You’re right, hadn’t thought about that. Another way of keeping warm at night is to introduce a sweet little Setter to the household so that the incumbant Beauceron feels a tad insecure and sleeps on my bed all night. every night, whereas he only used to do it if he sensed a distant storm.
Only trouble is at the moment extra heat is not what I need, now when winter comes. 
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never mind keeping warm in winter… it’s turned so chilly I’m thinking about lighting the logs today… 
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I am like a human river at moment with water pouring off me everywhere its so humid. Forecasted storms have not appeared and a very slight drizzle fell but not enough to even wet my steps. Family in UK are fed up with nothing but rain and cold weather.
Seems I have a mental-disorder… I simply cannot throw stuff away… it might be useful some day… or (more likely) it holds strong sentimental links…
eg: I have cupboards full of our wedding china and glassware… does it ever get used… just a few times in all these years… I’d gladly give it away… possibly/perhaps .
We’ve cheap and cheerful crockery and glass which we use everyday… so all the other is just so much baggage (rather expensive baggage as it happens)
however there is one lone crystal tumbler which my father used for his nightcap… a small whisky topped with water… while he watched evening TV… and I will never willingly part with that odd glass…
As I hold it in my hands… it is as if I am holding Dad’s hands in mine… as if that glass still holds the imprint of his fingers and if I close my eyes, he is there beside me…
Now I know this sounds absolutely daft… but that’s why I will never willingly part with this lone “souvenir” …
However, I have given our daughter carte-blanche to get rid of all and everything if she wishes to do so… she is not to keep anything just because she thinks “Mum might be upset” and might send thunderbolts down on her…
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I have the opposite problem. Even though it’s cloudy and rained most of the day, I’ve had the windows open all day to try to cool the house down. It was 27 C inside at 7 am and 21 C outside. Humidity was 94%. Got it down to 23 C inside at the moment, which is great.
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Use the good stuff now! And enjoy it.
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I have to admit to being in the “well it might come in handy one day” brigade myself, but over the last couple of years we have been developing a new policy. When we come across a box and can’t remember what it contains, then whatever it is either goes to Emmaus or to the dechetterie for recycling having first separated the different materials from each other. Personal papers over 10 yrs old are being shredded and recycled. For clothing, if we can’t remember when we last wore it, then out it goes to the collection bin in the village. Some more major items, such as a plasterboard lifter and a scaffolding tower have gone to friends on a permanent loan basis as they actually have a use for them.
I can now actually see the back wall of the barn which I find rather pleasing, and I’m also comforted by the thought that getting rid of a lot of this ‘stuff’ is easing the task of my executor when that day arrives.
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Just come back from photographing motorway traffic using long exposures. It rained until late this afternoon here, but now the sky is clear and temperatures have gone through the floor. Must be less than 10 degrees out there, and after standing about for an hour I’m quite chilled despite wearing a ski jacket.
The one area where I have/will have been successful is in the matter of Fran’s cothes. But this is only because Christine, her former aide, came in and sorted them all out into separate large bags. 2 of the less good stuff have gone and the other 2 contain really good stuff which also holds lots of good memories of her wearing them. But yesterday I tracked down a charity warehouse just a few kms away and they are open every Friday and Saturday. So that is where I will be going next Friday.
One very good heavy and warm woollen overcoat which I bought direct for her from a factory shop in Huddersfield, remains. But I will let it go to someone who I think really needs it and will appreciate it.
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Sadly, our wedding china is much too fragile for my now all too clumsy handling.
But this thread is encouraging me to make the effort to clear things… and I’ll give the family first dibs… after that… our local charity shops etc will probably be willing to take it away.
Incidentally… re clothing… a carefully prepared bundle of good-condition clothing is often discretely “moved-on” by our Adjoint… who knows which families could do with a little help.
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Be careful getting rid of paperwork, a lot has to be retained for life here especially wage slips/Impôts and family papers. Court papers have to be kept for 30years too. I had weeks of getting rid of stuff after OH died and then again ready for moving, sold a lot on LBC and verbally locally with other artisans who were very fair in giving me a decent price having known him. Going back to paperwork, I have kept all the first few years of bank stuff until we moved permanently as a record of when we came/bought etc - you never know whenit might be required as proof.
I don’t think I’m a hoarder, just lazy and a bit sentimental. Case in point, Walt Disney VHS tapes. They are useless after 20 years or more, and I’ve overcome the sentimentality by scanning some of their front covers and framing them as a picture. Either for real, hanging on the wall (unlikely), or as a digital image in my digital picture poster album. They won’t be forgotten.
The real ones were thrown into the local decheterie last week.
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I kept all those too from the VHS Video days plus two players. Its heartbreaking to throw them away as my children loved them very much and now the grandchildren are watching them via internet TV. If you don’t mind, I might pinch your idea and make a couple of frames up for the kiddie’s bedrooms.
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You’re welcome, glad I could help…
Thank you for this very good post. You made me laugh and that makes me happy. I have the same problem with Amazon boxes. Now I understand why my feet hurt in my boots with side zips! They are not tight enough. I do wear socks though. Many thanks.
None of those apply to me but the 2nd from top hook on one side of each boot is out of my easy sight because it is in a slight depression. Not only that but it is a fairly tight hook which means that the lace appears to be firmly hooked, but might not always be, and it holds just long enough for me to tie the final knot before giving way and sending me back to square one. Very irritating. I have got into the habit of holding the 2 ends under tension with one hand at that point (not easy to do) while running a finger over the hook and making sure all is ok. The hooks are very strong and solid, resisting all efforts to prise a little more open and of course I can’t use heat for fear of damaging the leather.
They are otherwise very comfy although they do let water in. I think thay must have been made that way because the leaflet that came with them advised buying a waterproofing spray before use each time. Time for a change I think.