Nigel has just caught me outside the Co-op and asked me for the thousandth time to write a blog for him. “Nigel” says I, “it’s not that easy, I have a mundane life” but promised to have a go.

Words always flow better with a nice glass of crisp of fruity to hand (any excuse), so please prepare yourselves for a few paragraphs of alcohol induced piffle (think that’s the right word). Just Googled it – perfect! (piffle! not it!).

Moving -Anyone who has undergone this tortuous experience once knows never to do it again, once bitten twice shy and all that, except me and maybe Andrew and Lisa Bowman, they are right up there with me, but think I may just have the edge.

Darren said to me one day “Mam do you realise that over my lifetime we have moved house on average every four years”. I was astonished and said “Never”, but he is right!

1981 – 1982 – 56 Front Street.

1982 – 1990 – 2 School Square.

1990 – 1991 – 9 Model Terrace.

1991 – 1997 – 9 Meadowcroft.

1997 – 1999 – 2 Coronation Cottages, Raby Park.

1999 – 2004 – 9 Meadowcroft.

2004 – 2011 – 14 Oxford Terrace.

2011 – 2011 – 6 Comer Terrace.

As most people in the Village knows my house had been up for sale for quite a few months, and being up for sale is good, it’s when the shiny red SOLD sign is attached to the board that the problems start.

I am a serial hoarder and that combined with a huge attic is not a good marriage, so the biggest skip I could get had to be hired and I promised myself I would de-clutter ruthlessly.

Birthday cards for 30 years (should I get rid of them or keep them for another 30), in the end they had to go. A picture I had bought at Pontins in Prestatyn in 1984 (It evoked such fond memories), no I told myself – in the skip with it. One armed Power Rangers, Optimus Prime (who was way past it, his prime that is,), but Craig and Darren had loved them; surely I could find a little corner for them somewhere!!!

Craig’s drawings of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and stuff, I asked him if he wanted them but No, (no hoarding streak in him).

I’m sure everyone has collected part series of such things as BBC Home and Antiques, How My Body Works, Country Companions and others. Well I had them all I think I must have funded the publishing industry single-handed over the last 30 years. Books are a passion and I found it hardest of all to part with even one. I love them all from Agatha Christie to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Paul O’Grady to Trinny & Suzannah & Gok Wan. The Ultimate Goddess to the Great Fire of London. I felt like I was parting with my children. I managed to sneak one or two through the net but unfortunately most of them had to go, but I could not commit them to the skip, so off I went to the Charity Shop who were really grateful for them.

Then there was my collection of Vintage Ball Gowns. Any woman who has one knows how much space they take up, I had 50 to contend with, 30 figurines, 50 novelty teapots, mountains of clothes I would never wear again and as for shoes and handbags (best not to go there).

De-cluttering complete, I was ready to GO – but it was not to be, my buyer’s sale fell through due to timewasters. By this time I had one foot in my old house and one foot in my new house and a decision had to be made whether to stay or go. BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY!