cupboard – derrickjknight

Cheers, Bob

Richard and Ross of Kitchen Makers began the day by finishing the installation of the new sitting room cupboard. The open door photograph is Jackie’s.

We emptied the rather ugly and ill-fitting wardrobe in our bedroom

in order for the men to fit one of their own.

Later, I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2021/11/03/a-knights-tale-58-brick-lane/

This evening we dined on Jackie’s succulent sausages in red wine; creamy mashed potatoes; tender green beans; and crunchy carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; with which I drank Bold Vine Zinfandel 2019 and the Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon originally purchased for Bob.

Cheers, Bob.

Refurbishment Under Way

Yesterday I received a message from Gov.UK headed “Sorry, there is a problem with this service”. Its content was simply : “Your Account is already activated” and a request to access a questionnaire to help them improve the service. I would not receive a reply. I didn’t bother.

Early this morning Richard and Ross of Kitchen Makers arrived to begin working on the first of the refurbishing projects they are to carry out.

This involved stripping out the bodged extension of the airing cupboard; removing much debris; carrying it

down the steep and narrow stairs with little headroom and out to their van; then starting to assemble the new cupboard in the chimney breast.

Because the built-in cupboards are hand made in advance their sections have to be carried round the side of the house, through the kitchen and up that staircase.

The first picture in this gallery shows the shortest of these parts; the next three the difficult task of transporting a higher compartment through the sitting room and up the stairs.

Later, the craftsmen began to assemble the cupboard.

This afternoon I filled in the Probate Application forms.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s succulent sausages in red wine; crisp roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding; firm carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; with tender green beans. Dessert was pumpkin pie and cream. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Montaria.

Decluttering

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED

I rose very early this morning and completed the emptying of the cupboard under the stairs, carrying some items into the library, and littering the kitchen surfaces with others. Take no notice of the clock. The photograph was taken a bit later.

Jackie and I then began the process outlined yesterday by

Garrulous Gwendoline

9 hoursThe Reluctant Retiree

I’m a good declutterer, and willing to travel if you provide the airfare

Suggest you start with the age-old trick . . . have I used this in the last year?

Then you could move on to – if I hold on to this, will I know where I put it if I ever do need it?

The four-box method is also useful. One for must keep, one for throw, one for thrift shop, one for not sure. Repeat the process with the fourth box until there is nothing left. Then go back to the first box and re-assess your choices.

You could also create a box for items to sell if you like eBay or such sites. Or have a collection of something that will sell at auctions (eg my brother’s Dinky Toys)

If you keep “special things” because of sentimental or other reasons, make sure you use them and don’t keep them for those special occasions that never roll around.

If something is beautiful but serves no purpose, and you decide to keep it because you get pleasure from seeing it, make sure you DO have it somewhere you can see it, and not packed away in a box.

And its helpful to designate a small area at a time to work on. The old, “break the overall project into small achievable goals” strategy.

Good luck.

ps – I’ll understand if you prefer the ironing

Soon we had piles in the library and the beginnings of the most organised under the stairs cupboard ever.

Some objects, like these iron chicken doorstops bought for our Minstead flat, are destined to spend the rest of their lives as garden features.

By this evening Jackie had her kitchen back, and was able, on the hobs, to produce her tasty beef stew, boiled potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. She drank Hoegaarden, and I drank Wolf’s Leap merlot 2016. As I pulled out my dining chair, I narrowly avoiding sitting on a meat carving board destined for Oxfam that had been left thereon. Since it contained spikes that was probably just as well.