I started the day here full of anxiety. I was taking a hard decision - rather than keep trying to sell what remains of Keith's militaria, I would take it to an auctioneer who was visiting this area, and who will sell on your behalf or buy on the day. We have dealt with them before. I got 3/4 of what I was hoping for, but basically you are paid 2/3 of the likely price they would fetch at auction. I instructed them to sell the German photograph album on my behalf, and put a good reserve on it. Their commission is 15% including VAT which is quite reasonable (there is a localish auction house taking, one way and another, nearly half the value of anything they sell . . . via buyer's premium, seller's premium, VAT, catalogue listing, photograph for catalogue, fee if unsold, etc etc. ) The deed is done - Keith would have said it was the sensible thing to do.
Up in the mountains yesterday. Sadly the sun went in, which had been lighting the moor grass a bright umber.
So, a long box and a taller one are now virtually empty (I will decant into a suitable box to store elsewhere) and I now have a space in the utility where I can put the tall corner table Jon bought and which they have no room for (NO comment!) and which I now have to store. There are piles of clothes and baby equipment which have also come home with me . . . and I have no room as it is. Then I found out that along with something she'd borrowed from me, a friend had put two pictures and a metal bookstand in the stable - those she wanted me to sell . . . But I have no Fairs now until the spring and don't really want to be storing any more STUFF for folk. I am trying to GET RID. . .
It is pouring with rain, as the Yellow Warning area has spread right across Wales now but the South-West and East coast look like they will feel the worst of Storm Benjamin. It's only 8 degrees out though and I came in wet and cold, so put the heating on for a bit.
Well done for moving things on.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment the market for bike stuff of any age is depressed so it looks like I won't get my sewing room back for a bit...but I suppose that means that I can sort stuff with no pressure!!
Storm Benjamin is wreaking havoc across France as well..even as far across as Limoges where the top of an electricity pylon was bent over...and tornadoes around Brittany and Paris....
I have no end of books that need to be sold - Keith's collectable ones that cost £XX a time - but books seem hard to sell these days.
DeleteI hope my friend in Brittany is OK.
I saw that a small tornado had hit Paris. I was shocked. Your weather and our weather is much the same.
DeleteThe weather is certainly more challenging than it used to be. I do hope we don't get a tornado HERE. I have one heck of a big fir tree on the top end of the orchard and that would reach the house if it were to fall. Fortunately, it has a rather large trunk which will hopefully keep it in place.
DeleteHello Jennie,
ReplyDeleteIt is always a difficult decision to part with things that hold so many dear and poignant memories. Nevertheless, the time does come when it is good to move on. Clearly, you have reached that point and we can well understand that the last thing you now need is for others to fill the space with their clutter. Our advice would be to stand firm and resist. You have made a big decision with Keith's militaria, fill the gap with your own chosen treasures or just enjoy the open space!
Well, they were very much "old stock". TIme for someone else to try to move them on.
DeleteTam is still hoping there will be another baby in the future, so doesn't want to get rid of the cots, clothing, etc etc just yet, but it was all stored in Rosie's nursery and now they need to get her in there, rather than sharing Tam's bed. Poor Jon still on the spare room floor . . .
I think it will be a long while before there is any empty space HERE!! So much came with us when we downsized, and this house is less than half the size of our old farmhouse!
Sometimes needs must and the result is an unburdened mind, less stress and a feeling of calm, well done. Keith would have said the same and it is a step to moving on.. you'll always have the memories of Keith's pride of owning them, and it's memories that last not things.
ReplyDeleteWell, those things haven't arrived yet. Instead I am upset for various reasons. Cross with myself too because I put some banking details somewhere safe incase Rosie found them, and cannot remember WHERE I put them!
DeleteWell done Jenny for making the decision to move Keith's military items on, a decision he would approve of. I think you might have to ask your friend to take back the items left in the stable as YOU need the space and to bring them back when the fairs start again. Does Tam need to keep all of the baby items, can she sell some of them on. Very dark, grey and blustery here, but no rain yet! Take care. Xx
ReplyDeleteI will ask her to keep them over the winter as I'm not doing a Fair until spring now.
DeleteIt was lovely and sunny on the way to Llandovery, and then began hurling rain down so I got soaked going to and from the car . . .