This is an ex-rose, it has ceased to be!

I kept back some rose petals from a bouquet so I could take the photo above of one decaying for Derelict Sunday – thanks to MaisieBeth for hosting.  I liked the veins and the tinge of colour that’s still just visible.

After a trip to the cinema to see Joy (an interesting story, but not an Oscar contender), I started on more decluttering.  This exercise, and something a friend sent me, got me thinking about why I have too much stuff.

Firstly I think it’s because I just about have enough space to have it and, whilst working, I could afford it - simple but true.  At a deeper level however, I think it goes back to my childhood.  I’m the youngest of six children who grew up in the sixties and seventies in a three bed semi.  So not only did we not have much money, we also had very little space. There was only room for the absolute necessary items, not for all the sort of things I keep now.

Some of this discipline was good for me.  For example, I grew up with only a few books in the house and always found them fascinating and completely precious.   In turn, this gave me a lifelong love of learning and of reading novels.  I was also very grateful for any gift, let alone a ‘big present’ such as being bought a bike from my parents and one of my sisters for a combined xmas and birthday present. 

One of the downsides was having hand me downs, some which went over more than one generation; one swimming costume in particular appears in photos of several of us as toddlers – boys and girls!  Then there’s the temptation not to throw things away as I might need them one day.  Books in particular I find hard to part with.   And thanks to blip, I’ve been keeping a dead rose!!!

So I’ve given myself another goal today for this year, and that's not to buy anything for myself or the house unless I actually, really and truly need it, not just want it.  Believe me; I have plenty to keep me going!!!