I've set myself a challenge.

As we are planning to downsize I have set myself a challenge of getting rid of at least 100 items a week until we are ready to sell.

I will list what I get rid of each week.

This is what has left the house so far this week.

1 Radio cassette player sold £1
1 Mini oven sold £10
55 piece Denby dinner service sold £70
12 balls of eyelash wool
5 lengths of fabric
5 Vases
8 mugs
3 wine coolers
2 candle holders
1 Oil diffuser
2 bottles of wine to be used as raffle prize
2 bars of soap to be used as raffle prize
2 bottles of shower gel to be used as raffle prize
14 kitchen utensils
6 marked pint glasses

First boxful ready to go to the charity shop

Listed for sale so far

Radio cassette player
Cork pin board
1 small tv
1 large tv
Aircon unit
Slow cooker with recipe book
Garden table and chairs
Corner desk
3 wooden shelf units
2 bookcases
5 Vases
Wok
Cake/baking tins
Wall unit shelves and cupboard
Wall unit shelves
Wall unit shelves and drawers
Mirror with dark frame
Mirror with light frame
Dark wood bookshelf
Light wood bookshelf
Curtain fabric
2 wicker whatnots, one with drawers one without.
Office chair
2 heavy cream cotton blankets
2 Bedside chests
Mini oven

Why?

I've just taken my lodger for her morning constitutional, just a quick round the block as she had a long walk yesterday and has been out in the garden a few times already.

Whilst out I passed a neighbour, he was being dragged along the road by his very large German Shepherd called Butch.

Why do some men think it makes them look tough being dragged along by a dog?

I think a well trained dog makes a man look more manly, not that we can talk because the lodger in not at all well trained, but:-
A) She's only small.
B) She's trained in Polish & we don't speak it.
C) She's not our dog.

Butch is OK with people but he will jump up a lot, I like dogs and I know he is friendly but he is big enough to make me stagger.

Butch does not like other dogs and went loopy at the site of my lodger, he nearly pulled his owner over.

The lodger jumped straight up into my arms for protection.

A lovely day for gongoozeling

Strictly speaking a gongoozler is someone who likes to watch canal life without getting involved.

Whereas we were actually watching boats on the Thames, three of the boats that went through were canal boats, two narrow boats and a widebeam.

It's lovely down by the lock, lots of people and dogs, lots to look at, even a café if you fancy a coffee or a snack.

The dog and I shared an ice cream.

My oldest son, on the other hand was truly gongoozling, he was at the Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice.

Thank you

Thank you all for your comments, advice and suggestions.
Galant, great advice and info, thank you.
Trishwish I have listed the first 10 things to sell on various sites.
Kathy thanks for the info re the energy rating.
SweetBBE, unfortunately we aren't eligible as we can afford something, though probably not the property we'd like.
An interesting suggestion Anon, unfortunately most of these jobs require the husband to drive and mine can't.
After DGD had been collected by SIL, my L&M and I took the dog for a long walk, it was a lovely sunny day, we walked to the lock and watched the boats going through.
Once home I cooked lunch then got the last load of washing in.
The house is a mess, but I'll vacuum and steam through tomorrow after the dog has been collected.

Joyce Grenfell

I spent yesterday evening sounding like a Joyce Grenfell monologue.

I was looking after DGD 18months as DD is away on a hen  night and SIL wanted to go to a family party.

DGD is fine with dogs as she has one at home, I wasn't sure how my lodger would react to DGD as she isn't used to toddlers and DGD is fairly noisy and tends to rampage around the house.

Eventually they bonded over a bowl of sgetti hoops and toast, DGD decided she didn't want the toast, so dropped it on the floor where it was gratefully received by the dog, oh well it saved a mess on the floor.

DGD was up at 5:20, her normal getting up time, she had her breakfast, shreddies,  so did the dog, dry food and the rest of last nights salmon! DGD is now back in bed.

I have one load of washing on the line and another in the machine, I think I'm up to date then.