Great advice from my brother when it seemed that we weren’t meant to move house.  Sometimes it’s moving on that’s the brave thing to do and momentarily for us that seemed like staying put.  We had a perfectly fine home and satisfying garden until I spotted a small development last May.  With just 12 houses on the edge of ancient woodland yet close enough to our favourite haunts.  We are now installed in our new house, and it feels like home already.  Sturdy Waitrose carrier bags brimming over with the yellow hellebores and 14 temporary pots of Iris create what is for now our new garden.

So, how does a house become a home?  Well, for starters when the new house provides less space that the old one, my favourite pastime – decluttering comes into its own.  And the benefit of frequent trips to the local recycling centre and charity shop paid off.  We’re still sharing the contents of our kitchen with the garage, although in time I suspect more items will disappear or be replaced with smaller options.  The benefit of early decluttering has created space for thinking as well as living.

And that’s what I’m doing this morning.  Thinking about how a change of environment can bring new dreams and fresh ambitions.  Finding things in cupboards that were forgotten and stirring up fond memories of grandparents and parents.  All of them telling their own story and bringing joy.  Yes, there are definitely some things that are too precious to discard.  It’s the time to be discerning and measured.  I found some watercolour paints I’d bought for my dad although he didn’t get around to using them.  I’ve had them since he popped off 13 years ago.  Still in the box and still unused.  That’s about to change because I’m setting up some hobby space in the garage.  It’s often getting started that presents the challenge.

Unfortunately, over the years I’ve developed a desire for perfection in everything I do, although clearly achieving perfection means making mistakes and learning from them.  And that’s what makes life interesting.  It is, isn’t it?  All too often I tend to stick to what I know best and do that well, rather than starting something new.  And that’s why I still have my dad’s watercolour paints in the cupboard.

I make fabulous, botanically correct flowers from sugar or modelling paste for cakes.  I love flowers and I love baking so the years of watching granddad create lovely family wedding cakes spurred me on to learn to a professional standard.  The first year I signed up for learning workshops, I needed lots of practice, so I offered to make Christmas cakes for friends and family.  At the point I’d baked the rich fruit cakes and added a cosy covering of marzipan, I began a new and demanding assignment.  HR interim by day and cake decorator by night.  I certainly got the practice I needed.

All of the caking equipment I’ve collected over 15 years or so was also subject to decluttering scrutiny.  What was essential for the training course, wasn’t always my “go to”.  So, on the extra day we had this leap year, 13 boxes became 10.  Sometimes what something cost isn’t the critical factor – it’s how useful or how often it’s used that matters.  Not dissimilar to business systems and processes.  Don’t’ be afraid to declutter.  No matter how significant the investment, there’s nothing more demoralizing to individuals and their organisations than a system (or a process) which impedes progress.  But that’s for another day!

If you’d like to chat about decluttering, caking or moving on … or you just fancy a natter, Let’s chat.  In the meantime, remember, “Don’t give up on your dreams”.