Day 16, Level 1: Pinocchio, productivity - and much-needed rain!

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A day of several parts today - clean/tidy/sort house; work/admin; socialise with friends and have fun!

Many people did huge sort-outs during lockdown. Because I was at Omaha during that time, with everything fresh and new and cupboards that had had no chance to become cluttered or chaotic, I'd had no need to do any clear-outs up there.

Don't ask me why, but I was thinking about Pinocchio - I have a marionette and this guy spent some time in life out on our deck overlooking the city. He's now overseeing the kitchen. He's very cool. It's like he keeps an eye on me, trying to make sure I keep things in order!

Pinocchio marionette hanging on our verandah - it was pouring with rain (see video at end)


Anyway ... back at home ...
We've been here 24 years and the cupboards have been screaming out to be helped out of their chaos.  I honestly never thought I'd stay in a place this long, ever. The problem with being in a place so long - stuff gets amassed. If you have kids, are creative, enjoy nostalgia ... well it's inevitable that stuff builds up and is hard to let go of. But there comes a time when this must be addressed - and it must be well before you downscale, move into a retirement home etc. Because often, that task falls to your kids - and that's just not good on any level.

So today, I started tackling things, in a slow and measured way. I've done it before but the difference is, with two independent sons, I'm not factoring in that they need a room - although of course they are always welcome!

Main issue - getting rid of all my boys' stuff is hard for this mother who loves nostalgia and memories and reflecting back and treasuring stuff. So it goes in a pile, it doesn't go out.
But things are definitely more streamlined as of today! There are things I do not want to get rid of!



Vintage birdcage, hanging on the verandah, with Auckland city sunset in the background


So today was a great mix of work progress and house-tidy progress.

And it rained! Boy Auckland needs rain ... and boy did it rain tonight.
Reminiscent of when it rained back in 2011 - when my Pinocchio was outside copping it.

EVENING: The most scrumptious dinner at friends round the corner - Marie and Charles always know how to put on an immaculate dinner party. Fish tagine, quinoa, salad, yum.


SHARE-NOTE OF THE EVENING:
Rain ... 2011

This video was taken in 2011 - possibly the heaviest rain downpour I've ever witnessed here. Pinocchio and the birdcage are there ... and the rain came down in the biggest deluge I can recall.

Auckland needs more of this.
And as I sign off - it is pouring like this!!! But possibly not for long enough to make a significant difference to the city's water dilemma. It's bound to help though.







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