It's time!

Over the last 22 years or so, Paladian and I have been avid book collectors and readers. Our tastes are fairly broad - but my passion has always been history - in particular biographies, travel, natural history, exercise and nutrition, the Olympics and airforce. Paladian has specialised in cookery, gardening, children's books and classics.

We made the decision a few weeks ago that it was time to drastically cull the lot. This is our second clear-out but by far the most serious effort to regain control of the house. We have kept our very favourites of travel and photography, which we both love, and a select few cookery, gardening and militaria. Plus all my books on exercise, weight training and nutrition.

Tomorrow, the book dealer and his staff come in to catalogue the thousands we have ready for him. It's going to take 3 days of hard work on his part, with a truck booked for the end of the week to take them away, ready for the auction in March!! Every single book you can see in this photo today is to go. Seen even better here!

The books you see on the floor of the library have come from various other places in the house. Being typical book lovers, we have books stored in virtually every room of the house. The remaining books which are keepers will be redistributed onto these shelves in the weeks ahead.

It has been exhausting work going through every book on every shelf, working out which ones we both wished to keep. Glad this difficult and slightly emotional process is now over.

Are we going to move to New Zealand when we have disposed of our books, old cameras and other possessions - who knows!!

Having spent all day sorting books, I would like to thank everyone who commented on my horse blip yesterday, and I will get back to all of you in due course with my comments.