The best thing to do when feeling 'grr' on a Friday night is to go out for curry. This family tradition has been with us for years;
the defining end of the week treat. Curry is that institution that all Brits seem to hold dear; the local curry house, antiquated with decor from thirty years ago. I am not sure you will be able to picture the scene unless you've witnessed the British reality but here goes: dark, velvet clad booths, patterned plates, paper napkin origami. Rice and curry, bhajis and side orders like 'Sag Aloo'. Faint whiff of coriander. Dishes everywhere filled with sulphur turmeric-infused delights. Our local curry house has provided us with Friday-night-curry for more years than I care to remember. What did I say about being steeped in the past?! And best of all, the kids love it too. It did the trick, the 'grr' lifted and we re-set the happy balance.
Saturday, saw a house de-clutter epiphany for me - a combination of over-flowing cupboards and drawers in my house and a stern discussion (= row) with my husband about why clutter bothers me so much sent me off with resolution. I spent the day clearing out, getting rid, making those choices of 'if you haven't used it for a year, you never will'. Plus rather cathartically for me I finally choose to part with most of the baby/toddler stuff still hanging around; rogue baby bottles, bibs, just-in-case plastic bowls, dried up old play dough...all those items that I have realised my children have grown out of. I am almost ashamed to admit, it felt so good!
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| ...love this...dream of cupboards like this... |
Sunday, Boo and I went to the Marina and I ran while she rode her scooter alongside me. One of those moments where I appreciate
how much I can do now that my children are a bit older. I know the childhood moments are fleeting and soon they will be all grown up and will be nest-flying. But for now it feels wonderful that we have this gift of an opportunity to spend time doing cool stuff. As she scooted, she read out the names of the boats we passed... 'Lucy Louise', 'The Dreamer' 'Nantucket', 'Time Flies'...how prophetic those boat names seem...
Oooh decluttering is one of most favourite activities ever....and I'm not ashamed of it!!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love clearing out cupboards, recycling or Freecycling (a great way to re-home items)...or just delivering to the charity shop. It's very therapeutic :)
I have no idea where I get it from since both my parents have never rehomed items in their lives! My Dad refuses to buy new stuff and happily lives with all the furniture I grew up with - why buy more if it still works? - and my mother is the most sentimental person ever, keeping absolutely everything. If I disappear in her home, she comes to find me worried that I am decluttering!!
And curry....we love it too, my children especially :)
Love the scooting/running plan....sometimes we do that early on Sundays...I rum/walk, she cycles...it's a lovely start to the day. Altho sadly no boats for us :)
Sorry if I am wittering.....I have two sick children here, I am missing my Monday morning coffee/quick chat start to the day....help!! xx
Ahh memories of the Friday evening curry! You can't beat it - the most favourite dish in the UK. With a Tiger beer alongside. I'm determined to get more stuff chucked out around here too - I have tripped over too many piles this morning and its driving me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI love your Friday curry tradition, and so glad it did the trick to lift your mood. Also very much looking forward to those easier days with the kids. Mine are still very high-maintenance, although tons of fun of course. There's no reason to be ashamed of decluttering - it's tremendous fun! I've been doing it as well and how have a couple rather large piles to be picked up this week...where did it all come from? The house always feels lighter after a big donation pick-up. Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I went out for a Monday lunchtime curry today - and my workmate and I discussed the decorative style too ;) Some things must just be universal. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased you posted the feather picture - I remember seeing one a few months ago and then being unable to remember who it was by. I have now been able to track the artist down and may have to buy one, they are just such breathtaking colours, and the patterns are really beautiful. So, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell Lou,
ReplyDeleteYou can beat an egg, you can beat a carpet but you can't beat a curry on a friday night can you ?!! A great way to chase away the trials of a busy and testing week......... and, de-cluttering is a wonderful way to make you feel good. I love it when I have done it.....it's just finding the enthusiasm to get started. When you get to my age, you have accumulated SO much 'stuff', so it is a must to have a clear out now and again.
You must be feeling really good now that you have got rid of a lot of the things that you now longer need or are of no use now. A Saturday well spent I think. XXXX
Wow! your Friday night curry brought it all back to me, as a Brit now living in Spain. Now Friday nights are tapas nights (not quite the same).
ReplyDeleteLove the blog which I am grateful I found.
love your curry night...
ReplyDeleteyes i can intimately picture your surroundings...
a friday night ritual that lives the *blahs* is to be treasured...
&
spending time with your children as they get *older/bigger/wiser* is also a blessing...what a lovely weekend!
melissa xxx
Sounds like just the ticket... everything ship shape and in Bristol fashion... a run to blow away the cob webs and a curry just to right the wrongs in the world! All recharged and ready for the week ahead! Lx
ReplyDeleteIt's Vietnamese for us on Friday nights :) Your anchor really made me smile, it reminded me on that phase when I thought I am going to have an anchor tattooed on my bum cheek. A big, fat, black anchor. I know, what WAS I thinking??!! Thank God something held me back and I am completely tattoo free today. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling you on the clutter Lou. Am packing up current home and beginning to renovate the new one. Just the thought of it drives me nuts. STUFF and boxes everywhere.. sigh
ReplyDeleteM xxx
Oh...I know how you feel. Since starting the refurbishment in October last year, I've been desperately trying to organize and de-clutter my whole life. It just felt like all my stuff was overtaking my whole existence. I'm sure I've given away at least a dozen boxes of "stuff" and thrown away dobule that amount. Now, after several months, I'm sort of starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not done yet, but at least I'm getting there, little by little.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful productive week-end you had! I thought about a few things and did a few things but have not gotten down to the nitty gritty of it all ~ soon.... Have a fabulous week. xo
ReplyDeleteI love you Lou and your decluttering :) One of my most favourite things to do ever. xo
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like de-cluttering -- such a sense of peace and order when you feel as though all around you is where it should be, and what you should have. About every 6 months or so, I have this desire -- I take everything out and start again. So rewarding, and easier to keep up after, I find... love your end of the week tradition, too, it sounds utterly delicious. We do this, also, but instead enjoy sushi. However, after your description, I'm quite hungry all of the sudden :)
ReplyDeleteHope that your new week is off to a great start -- fresh and feeling ready for what lies ahead, xoxo
That sounds like a lovely weekend.
ReplyDelete