May clutter list

• This has been a great opportunity to just DO something. I've had so much time off recently and even though I have been keeping really busy I can't honestly say that I've achieved anything other than cleaning out the kitchen cupboards! I really enjoy having a project and hope that this one lasts a bit longer than my average ones.
• I have noticed something over the last month. I'm looking at the things around me in a new way. I look at stuff around me as to whether it has a use and it I'm going to actually use it any time soon - that has to be a good thing right? Anyway, here's the list for May - enjoy.
  
  1st – Old Christmas gift-wrapping kept from last year so not to waste it…
  
  2nd – Old bathroom scales gathering dust
  
  3rd – Old epilady (ouch) I've had for years and can't bring myself to use
  
  4th – Brown suede calf high boots that haven't fitted for some years due to the ever-increasing size of my calves (and other parts of my body as well). Still not up to parting with my Black knee-high FMB's (you know what they are ;)) as they are a reminder of my formerly skinny self when I had the calf size and confidence to actually fit into and wear the little buggers! (Donating)
  
  5th – Red shoelaces for my White Boot roller skates I've had for decades. Why I thought I needed an extra pair of (red no less) laces I'll never know. (Donating)
  
  6th – Bath oils and salts etc – I don't have a bath!
  
  7th – A box of crockery and stuff Mum gave me, which I haven't even unwrapped in a year! (Giving back to Mum)
  
  8th – A Black belt that doesn't fit anymore (no, not the karate kind. As if...) - still keeping the brown belt I bought in Florence that doesn't fit but I haven't got the heart just yet to get rid of it – who knows, maybe I'll fit into it soon when I shed a few more kilos. (Donating)
  
  9th – Imitation Masseur innersoles with magnets (bought for $2 at Crazy Clarks – They don't work!
  
  10th – Some old bottles of cleansers and face masques that haven't been used or even opened in months.
  
  11th – My last HMV work shirt I just couldn't part with, so I cut out the logo and have put it on my corkboard as a bit of nostalgia and threw out the t-shirt
  
  12th – 3 bras that needed repairing or just throwing out – threw 1 out and repaired the other 2!
  
  13th – A papier-mache vase that I've had for years and have painted over many times but have never actually used for anything (in the recycle bin)
  
  14th – Two very faded cardigans that I haven't worn in ages – really, who wears cardis these days? (Donated)
  
  15th – Black leather shoes that make my legs look fat – no really, they're totally wrong for my body type and shorten my feet and legs, and it's taken me years to face up to that fact (Donated)
  
  16th – A tonne of files in my decaying red filing cabinet. Old uni lecture notes and course material that I doubt I'll ever really use. I intend to ditch the cabinet itself the next time there's a council cleanup.
  
  17th – A second tonne out of my filing cabinet. Old letters from pen pals long past and associated photos of their dogs and/or children. Ahhh the memories…
  
  18th – I unsubscribed myself from the emailing list of a few 'it seemed like a good idea at the time' websites thus de cluttering my inbox a little bit.
  
  19th – A pile of old food colourings and condiments like poppy seeds and useless stuff like that. I am so not a cook…
  
  20th – A pile of old photos that were doubled up and I cleaned out 2 old photo albums and saved the photos in it from dying along with the no longer sticky pages of the album. I'd bet you a dollar that the albums were not acid free and that I was doing the photos a favour by releasing them from their acidic prison. I can't believe how many photos I have of the same things, and not all of them are double prints (although many of those got thrown out today – oh the money I spent on saying 'yes' to a double set of prints for no apparent reason…)
  
  21st – Old calculators and electronic organisers I've had for years (the calculator since High School!) and since my phone has both a calculator and an organiser I think I can safely donate both to a higher cause
  
  22nd – My taps (for tap shoes) from when I was a little 'un and got sent off to tap-dancing classes. I've been keeping them because I'm dying to take it up again, but I've come to realise they're too small for my shoes, and I'd have to end up buying adult taps anyway. (Donated)
  
  23rd – Juggling balls – don't ask!
  
  24th – Unopened hand lotion I've had for a couple of years
  
  25th – t-shirt and singlet top from Sth Pacific cruise in 2000
  
  26th – Hairspray and Hair goop, which makes my hair, well, goopy!
  
  27th – Soap dish – never used but very grotty.
  
  28th – My 'Easter Live' commemorative poster. I was involved with it way back in 1998 I do believe, and had fun. It led me on to another theatre company and a wonderful role so I'm so glad I took part, but realistically, I don't keep in touch with any of the cast and can't even remember their names, so what's the point of having it around?
  
  29th – The vine leaves wrapped around my cast iron bed. It was my mediaeval romantic fantasy to have ivy wrapped around my bed and candelabra, but after 2 years, the leaves have mostly dropped off and all I had left was a bald vine with hundreds of dropped leaves gathering dust under my bed. It was time to lose the vine but I've kept the stray leaves, maybe I can use them on a painting or a box one day.
  
  30th – a broken necklace I keep trying to repair and keep failing…
  
  31st – I've given up on HMV! I know I quit about 2 months ago, but I had kept hoping that things might have been better within my (ex) particular shop. They're not. Things are going waaaaay down hill – and it's not because I'm not there anymore. I am very glad I got out when I did. Also, when I looked closely at my long service and holiday payout, it was slightly less than it should have been by my calculations. The old me would have been straight on the phone, having a whinge about how I've been underpaid $30 or less, but it's water under the bridge, and I honestly think that it's just not worth the agro. I must be growing as a person. What a nice way to end the month! :)