POST BEGUN SUNDAY 5 JULY 2026 1007HRS BST

 

COF (clearing out frenzy) continues and I think my beloved husband is in a mild-ish state of shock at what he's deemed my newfound ruthlessness. Hey, here's the thing - much of what I am happy to part with out of those sheds have been replaced. 

 

Why? Because my beloved husband had 'organised' (read as repacked carefully labelled cartons as he 'needed that size box' only to scatter things everywhere but where I'd packed them), and/or had secretly COF'd things when I was conveniently out of the house. Yesterday I found the popcorn air popper - it has been in an unlabelled carton with several other things I'd looked for then finally replaced. FTR, that popper went missing in 2018. 

 

Did my beloved husband apologise when his COF 'reorganise' mania was discovered? No he did not, even when a shocking amount of Christmas decor scattered through literally dozens of 'reorganised' cartons were found and he exclaimed 'MORE lights, wtf?!'. He didn't even bother looking more than momentarily ashamed when I reminded him I'd had to replace things he'd 'reorganised' (read 'lost') - many many many times hence the (ahem) more than 100 Christmas light sets our favourite charity shop is gratefully accepting.

 

Is he still truly my beloved husband? Yes he is. He has his 'foibles and eccentricities' and I have mine - we put up with both. It's called marriage and after 16 years it only gets better even when he's in the grip of his latest COF.

 

He's hired a Ford Transit van for this last COF push - blimey that van has a superb payload capacity, WOW, and oh hey, if we wanted to we could clean it out and use it to camp in, it's that big a payload bay. I'm going to miss it when we turn it in two weeks from now. 

 

And in all honesty, the COF is life-changing in a good way. His study and my living room are both easier to manage now. The kitchen and I have come to an agreement - NO MORE GADGETS I HAVEN'T STORAGE ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE. 

 

Bonus, I have cheerfully said 'Ciao, bay-bee' to the bulky and 'where the hell do I keep this' 3-in-1 steam mop and 20 spare pads, and the Webby. Will I miss the steamers, yes I likely will because hygienically clean floors is a thing with me. However, I am now the proud and completely satisfied owner of a Flash floor mop (washable pads) and a case of Dettol scented cleaning solution. Easier to store (less bulk and bonus, no electricity to faff with) and does a good job plus leaves kitchen and bathroom smelling of floral scent.

 

I loved that Webby tool but the Flash Dust Magnet on the 90cm/36in extendable fold-down handle does a much better job of dusting ceiling fan paddles, cobwebs and bookcase tops. I've also happily given away the 2-in-1 mini vacuum I needed a specialty extension cable to use so I didn't blow a fuse vacuuming the front vestibule (lack of near-by power outlet and using the wrong extension cable can blow the power) - the main vacuum cleaner does a better job and the specialty extension cable stays to keep the fuse unblown. Winning!

 

The short handle lobby broom set (3ft pole and clip-on broom with a flip-down dustpan) has been replaced with a much more sensible (and SO much more comfortable to use) 5ft lobby broom set. Where has that wonderful tool been all my life, I ask, remembering the reason I bought the 2-in-one mini vac was because the 3ft lobby broom gave me a backache every time I swept the bathroom and kitchen and at least the mini-vac handle was long enough to mean no backache in use. Uh, OK, I admit - I am eyeing up a new main vacuum cleaner with on-board tools including extension wands for crannies and corners (no more bending, it's a rule for those of us hitting age 70 in a month, God willing). One vacuum to serve all needs, hell yeah, and as easy to store as the soon-to-be replaced one.

 

Right, so a regular reader I communicate with via email asked recently about past lives and why do I not talk about that topic since marrying Paul. ANSWER - because Paul's Asperger's means there are topics best acknowledged then rarely if ever brought up again. And try to remember my Paulie is a product of a Scottish Presbyterian upbringing. 

 

However, I will say this: yeah, I can recall several, have proved the validity of my recollection to the sceptical, and I am here to say - there are things not right about the 20th and 21st centuries but in all honesty ageing in these 'modern times' is one whole hell of a lot easier than in any of my past lives when I managed to survive to 'old age'. SOOO much easier! Love-love-love electricity and power tools and kitchen gadgets, love-love-love 'em!  

 

POSTED SUNDAY 5 JULY 2026 1110HRS BST