After what seems like weeks of sorting, packing, moving and dumping things we have finally finished clearing the upstairs. The 2 boys have made their home downstairs in amongst boxes, chairs and other interesting items. The work starts tomorrow morning. Here’s a photo of the front room upstairs on Saturday afternoon just to give you an idea of what we have shifted since then.
Saturday 26 Jan
That’s the first stage done and hopefully the most emotionally and physically demanding part too. Renovation is one of those things, you know, when you discuss something and agree on this and that and then you find yourself telling people what’s happening and, secretly, you feel that the time will never actually come. Then the time does come and you need to face the music and you feel almost surprised this day has actually arrived. Or is that just me? It has happened lots of times in my life, too many to mention at this time of night.
While his parents were busy busy on Saturday, our wonderfully talented boy F made a plasticine model of the Titanic on its way down, like you do. I promised to show the world his amazing creation so here it is.
I’ve been getting rid of lots and lots of stuff lately so that the builders can get started next Tuesday. It’s going ok but I seem to be missing something…the emancipated, light feeling that all the ‘declutter your life’ propoganda promises. In fact, I am simply finding it hard and a bit depressing.
Some of the stuff belonged to my parents and their parents. These things have been carefully preserved and treasured for years. It is so sad to think that whole lives can be whittled down to a few (hundred) photos and some key possessions. It certainly makes you think about life, death and what really matters. There are memories too, of course, and they come back to you in a flash when you find particular things, it is a warm, familiar feeling that often transports you back to childhood.
We have enough old china to open a teashop, lots of artefacts, including a fabulous set of 3 shire horses and lots of home videos that I have promised to transfer to digital media. One of the videos documents the work that was known in the family as the ‘millennium dome’ – a garden room at the back was constructed in 1999. My parents started the bungalow’s regeneration for the 21 Century then I guess. I will share some clips when I can.
This is just one of the things I found amongst our boxes. It is so pretty and I love the little flowers at either end to hold conserves or butter. It belonged to my paternal grandparents and dates from the 1930s. I just love it. It’s staying with us for sure.
grandma’s toast rack
There have been several trips to the dump, the charity shops and friends to reduce our clobber. I am not sure it is working, there still seem to be lots of boxes ready to come downstairs. I have doubled the amount sitting there since this photo was taken.
Bear in mind that we have to get everything down these steps, not easy, in fact, very tricky. Thought you might like to see the view downwards. Best approached backwards with a box.
So, are possessions important or are they just clogging up the space we inhibit? I don’t know the answer but I do know there is another whole big load to go through and sort out – the sooner the better. Maybe I’ll get the fantastic feeling once the last box hits the ground floor. I’ll keep you posted but don’t hold your breath.
Other stuff -We’ve had hardly any snow here but I managed to catch Lucy our snow dog in it – she absolutely loves playing in the snow. Lennie and Lucy had a bath earlier today and they are looking great, it’s amazing what you find to do when you’re meant to be tidying!
So, more boxes tomorrow and they’ll all be downstairs by Monday morning. Hopefully.( keep your fingers crossed there’s no stair incident.)
The bungalow has been in the family since 1986, my parents bought it not long after I left home. I clearly remember the phone call to my shared flat in Aberdeen. The phone only took incoming calls, so we didn’t run up huge bills or fall out over who owed what. Can you imagine that now? Changed days.
Anyway, the short version is that Mum, Dad and my sister were moving so when I arrived ‘home’ that Christmas holiday it was not back to my old room from schooldays but a new tiny room in a run down funny old fashioned bungalow. I was not impressed. They had even got a dog while I was away, Vera, the dog who didn’t bark.
The Bungalow in 1986
I learnt to drive in that car, C272PSC
I need do some research but I think my family are only the second family to have the house. They turned the place from a tired old bungalow to a vibrant home. This is the place where my parents stayed. We had moved every four or so years when I was growing up so it was quite something that my parents stayed so long. Sadly, it was the last home for both of them.
So, regeneration refers to both to the next generation living in the bungalow and its impending renovation. We were lucky enough to take the house on and make it ours.
I will be posting all about the trials and delights of house renovation, we have done two before, here’s hoping we have learnt enough along the way to do my parents and this old bungalow proud.
Regeneration 