I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Seven Things - Week 7

Christmas. 

I will not complain about gifts.  They are tokens of appreciation and love and are treasured as such.  It would be churlish to resent thoughtful gifts just because I'm limiting my acquisitiveness.  Giving gifts is a joy and so is receiving them.

Most of the gifts we gave this year were consumables or gift certificates.  The kids are of an age where cash or iTunes vouchers etc. are best received, and most of the adults have enough stuff or prefer to buy their own but enjoy a bottle of something special be it alcohol, perfume or preserves. 

Is this a cop out with gift giving?  I don't think so.  The people I love get gifts throughout the year.  When I find something I think they'll like I buy it or make it for them.  The thought that goes into giving a gift, goes on all year.  I find it really difficult to buy on demand, particularly at Christmas, so the Christmas gifts are nods to the season more than anything else.

IN
  • 1 pr shoes - Rocket Dog Mary Janes from Vinnies just in time to replace my old ones which died.  It's this sort of coincidence that helps me keep going with the challenge.  The universe really will provide when I need something, I do not need to keep unused items "just in case".
  • 1 knitting accessory - Vinnies
  • 1 pr boots - GIFT
  • 1 Tupperware container - GIFT
  • 1 washing machine
  • 1 hand trolley (to deal with washing machine as I've stuffed my hip gardening - an extreme sport in my book)
  • 1 TV/DVD player for the caravan
  • 2 hand towels - GIFT
OUT
  • 5 Tupperware playdough stamps- GIFT
  • 2 cook books - OP SHOP/GIFT
  • 2 bars handmade soap - GIFT
  • 3 decorative items - GIFTS
  • 2 Tupperware containers - GIFT
  • 5 prs jeans - OP SHOP/GIFT
  • 3 prs dress pants - OP SHOP
  • 6 blouses.  For work I wear a uniform (well a prescribed shirt or cardie which go best over black) so a plain dress or separates is my working week uniform with either jeans or cut-offs and a couple of shirts on the weekend.  I think I can be much more rigorous in the clothes culling and just keep a few things for "good".  - OP SHOP
  • 1 pin tray - OP SHOP
  • 1 glass jar (almost done with the buttons) - OP SHOP
  • 2 folders - OP SHOP
  • 2 prs handknitted socks - GIFTS
  • 2 boxes copy sheet protectors.  We go through these at work like I would go through chocolate if I had a different metabolism. DONATION
  • 1 stapler.  I don't need so many of these in the house.  This is a nice big heavy one and it's going to work - DONATION
  • 4 triangular bandages.  Remnants of my time with St John Ambulance.  Was going to use the fabric for pocket linings etc, but haven't and they are just hanging around - OP SHOP.
  • 12 reusable plastic cups - OP SHOP
  • 40 plastic sandwich boxes - OP SHOP
  • 17 baby-sized plastic coathangers - OP SHOP
  • 1 pr vintage leather gloves, lovely but too small - OP SHOP
  • 1 sketchograph - OP SHOP
  • 1 canasta set - OP SHOP
  • 1 book - OP SHOP
  • 3 Tupperware containers - OP SHOP
  • 1 sleeping bag liner, too small - OP SHOP
  • 9 crochet patterns - OP SHOP
  • 4 lengths fabric - OP SHOP
  • 5 embroidery transfers - OP SHOP
  • 1 Tupperware lid - OP SHOP
  • 8 crochet hooks - GIFT
  • 2 magazines - OP SHOP
  • 1 pillowcase - OP SHOP
  • 1 apron - OP SHOP
  • 1 plastic coat hanger - RECYCLING
  • 1 singlet, beyond redemption - BIN
  • 2 notebooks - OP SHOP
  • 1 scrubbie - GIFT
  • 6 polo shirts - OP SHOP
  • 8 old jumpers that would not felt - BIN
  • 1 washing machine - METAL RECYCLERS
  • 1 bench top grill. We decided to take these to the METAL RECYCLERS and see what we could get for them.  At $0.05, a large washing machine and the grill fetched the grand total of $1.25.  Would have cost more in petrol to get it there.
  • 1 pr shoes- BIN.  My Mary Janes died but the karma bank replaced them immediately from Vinnies.
  • 1 pr shoes, navy loafers that pinch - OP SHOP
  • 1 satellite navigation unit.  TOF's old one given to my brother GIFT
  • 1 biscuit tin - OP SHOP
  • 1 hanging organiser for wardrobe - OP SHOP
  • 2 jumpers - OP SHOP
SIAA
  • 1 knitted scrubbie
  • 2 knitted cowls (these were knitted, but now they are blocked)
IN 9
OUT 176
NETT OUT 167
SIAA 3

2 comments:

Donna Lee said...

That's a lot of Outs! I agree with the consumables as gifts. My daughters who are just starting out their lives need Things but most other people really don't. I'm going to keep that in mind for next year.


socks are consumables, right?

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

Ah yes! It is extremely important to feel good about the process and ticking things off works a treat.
1 biscuit tin :-)
1 singlet :-)
1 pillowcase :-)
1 stapler :-)

This is a very revealing list.
Very revealing.
I feel I know more about you than if you'd told me your deepest darkest secret.

VERY interesting reading.
VERY interesting.

I'm off to look at the rest.
Loani