Thursday

Yesterday's bad news ... my surgery advised patients that they may have to cancel non urgent blood tests due to the global shortage of blood tubes! I don't know how long before this shortage is over or how this will affect the tests I'm supposed to be having now as I still haven't passed the first hurdle of getting an appointment yet!  It's another worry though, isn't it?

Yesterday's good news ... I've sold the doll's house! G, my hairdresser, saw it on Tuesday and said straight away that she knew who'd want it and texted her friends with all the details so they came to see it yesterday and are buying it for their twin daughters for Christmas. We've agreed that it will stay here until the end of September as they are away on holiday and then busy with birthday celebrations, so a minor inconvenience but they sweetened the deal by agreeing to pay the full asking price in return for me storing it for a month.

I'll be sad to see it go but will appreciate the space it takes up. It's something I was going to do with my late partner and he was going to make all sorts of things for it, but of course that's no longer possible and to do it on my own is a compromise I don't want to make. I can always buy a much smaller house if I change my mind in the future but I think I'm more likely to do a bookshelf insert instead. I did get a bit upset about selling the doll's house so the afternoon was a bit of a weepy one. I surprised myself with my reaction but at the same time can understand it ... this is the final thing that ties in with how our lives were affected following his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease. I think that I may experience a positive change in my emotional health once it finally leaves the house.  

As a result of that I didn't do much for the rest of the day. I tuned into the Style Coach (will write about that tomorrow) but that's it, so I have to get on with labelling the school uniforms today without fail. I also avoided going shopping so either need to do that today or arrange for a delivery.

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My August decluttering challenge:

• 1st = a set of plastic measuring spoons (I never use them)
• 2nd = a white shirt (band uniform that is now too big) 
• 3rd = odd balls of wool (going to my sister, who can make use of them)
• 4th = a map quiz book (completed and unlikely to want to do it again)
• 5th = blue cardigan (big holes in both elbows so only fit for the bin!)
• 6th = a pile of half completed puzzle books (going to my friend's sister)
• 7th = large fruit bowl (I don't like it but K does, so it's going to her!)
• 8th = a broken Filofax cover (only fit for the bin!)
• 9th = unopened toiletries (unwanted gifts, so going to a friend)
• 10th = 3 small terracotta indoor pots (gifting them to K)
• 11th = old duvet set (to be donated)
• 12th = 5 Pyrex divided containers (to be donated as I never use them)
• 13th = two impossibly hard jigsaw puzzles (to be donated gifted to Joy)
• 14th = books, garden fleeces & growing bags (gifted to Joy)
• 15th = a box of carbon paper (gifting to E)
• 16th = tin full of pencils and crayons (donated to a woman's refuge)
• 17th = DVDs I never watch (gifting to E)
• 18th = broken metal whisk (to be recycled)
• 19th = brand new under sink waste bin (to be donated)
• 20th = 2 pairs of specs (to the collection bin at the recycling yard)
• 21st = winter coat (now too big, gifted to K)
• 22nd = old makeup (only fit for the bin) 
• 23rd = tatty tea towels (wanted by T for use in his garage!)
• 24th = laddered tights (only fit for the bin)
• 25th = socks that are more holes than sock! (only fit for the bin)
• 26th = flash cards and rhythm cards (teaching resources going to C, the piano teacher)