Things I am not going to buy - Day 3: Storage containers

For an explanation of the 31 day blog, see Things I am not going to buy: Introduction post


Following on from the bag addiction (see handbags and travel bags), is a need to collect containers of every possible size and shape in which to store “things”.  On the theme of everything in its place and well organised, I start to have palpitations if I open a cupboard or a drawer and everything is…….well, LOOSE!!!!  Aaaaaaaaaagh!  Loose stuff, all mixed up!  Noooooooo!!!  Stuff just needs to be CONTAINED!  In a container.  Of the right size and shape.  

This need to organise everything into a container pervades every cupboard, drawer, nook and cranny in the house.  Drawers absolutely MUST contain boxes, trays or dividers that are neatly filled with appropriately fitting items, whether it is in the kitchen - cutlery, implements, cling film, bags, labels, etc, - the bedroom - pants, socks, bras, tights, make-up, hair brushes and accessories, earrings, nail polish, other nail bits, and anything else. Any other small/medium-size articles that lurk in drawers and cupboards throughout the house must all be suitably housed in a container of the right size and shape.  

I am forever searching websites that sell storage solutions such as Amazon and http://www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk.  I am forever buying boxes, baskets and containers, and have many unfilled containers lurking in cupboards (which isn't as upsetting for me as having stuff that doesn't have a container to house it).  

 

As well as containers for all the bits, bobs, knicks and knacks that are around the house, I have a habit of buying plastic food storage containers.  I have a dream that my kitchen cupboards and fridge will all be beautifully organised:

 

My DREAM:

However, in reality, I hardly ever bother to put food into a separate container - it normally sits in its packaging (maybe with the top folded down if it's a box), whilst all the lovely plastic containers of every size, shape and colour, sit empty filling up a large number of shelves in the kitchen cupboards!

One day I really WILL be organised and empty all my open tins, packets and loose produce into nice, clean containers (on a REGULAR basis).  Until that day comes (and even when it has come and gone), I must not by any more food storage containers...not ever... and not just food storage - this applies to ALL storage containers that do not have a very specifically identified need!

 

Things I am not going to buy - Day 2: Travel bags

For an explanation of the 31 day blog, see Things I am not going to buy: Introduction post

The quest for the perfect bag (see yesterday's post on handbags) reaches a new level when it comes to travelling!  In a bid to outwit the airlines baggage charges, most, if not all, luggage comes as hand baggage, which means I have to have the bags perfectly organised for the plane.  Not just the plane, of course, but being able to go through security with ease (rapid unpacking/re-packing of toiletries, phones and computers/tablets are a must).  I have so many “travel” bags in the loft that if I took them all with me, I would have to book every seat on the plane!  

About a year ago, I purchased, at quite a lot of expense, a Scottevest .  This is a sort of gilet/waistcoat item of clothing that contains numerous concealed pockets of varying sizes, designed to outsmart the airlines who charge for every ounce of luggage, and allow to carry lots of items concealed about your person.  

The website pictures and videos look fantastic, with travellers seemingly packing away enough items of luggage for a round the world camping trick in the pockets of the Scottevest, yet still managing to walk along looking as though they had stepped off the catwalk (see pics below!)  Huh!  In reality, I tried loading up a couple of small items such as purse and glasses, then put my iPad in the large back pocket (that's supposed to be able to take a tablet or netbook!), but I looked (and felt) like I was carrying some sacks of potatoes stuffed in my underwear.  I haven't tried again since, so that's another waste of money!

                      

Scottevest

It's not as though it's stylish enough to wear as an every day fashion item.  Still, it beats some of the cheaper variations, which look as though you are walking around in a sleeping bag with holes cut out!

Cheaper version - Rufus Roo

In years gone by (more than 10 years ago), I had a job that required me to hop on a plane a couple of times a month, sometimes more.  I was always seeking the ultimate bag in which to pack everything I needed for my 2/3/4 days away in some grotty business park, miles from civilisation in the depths of Germany or Belgium or wherever.  Not very glam!  I needed to have enough smart business clothes, plus a few evening relaxing items, plus my laptop and documents, whilst avoiding the need, where possible, to check luggage into the hold, and also avoiding crippling myself by trying to hoik a heavy hand bag into the overhead locker.  I never DID find the right bag, but the loft is filled with all my attempts!   It looks very similar to this:

No more suitcases, wheelies, travel bags, hold-alls, large rucksacks, special flight bags, special items of travel clothing...!!!

Things I am not going to buy - Day 1: Handbags

For an explanation of the 31 day blog, see Things I am not going to buy: Introduction post


 I'm going to start my month of confession with the thing that I find hardest to stop buying.  I daren't go shopping with my son because should I go anywhere near a bag shop or display, a loud voice from behind says "Walk away from the bags, mother, you do NOT need any more!"

Bags – of any size, shape, colour – small, medium, large, shoppers, travel bags, rucksacks, purses…  I have them all!  Bags are an obsession with me!  It isn’t that I love to look stylish with the latest “must-have” designer handbag (it would take a lot more than a handbag to achieve that!), and whilst I love to look at beautifully designed and crafted leather bags, it is rarely the looks that will tempt me to buy (especially if the price tag is equal to that of a small car).  The underlying motive is more psychological!  I like everything to be nicely organised and in its place, and know that I always have what I need with me, so I must have a bag that suits the occasion in terms of stuff that I have to take with me rather than to match whatever I am wearing.  There is the general stuff that is normally required to follow me around – purse with cash and cards, iPhone, keys, tissues, reading glasses, distance glasses, lip salve.  Then there are a huge number of items that may or may not be required, and which usually ends up coming with me – iPad, lipstick, perfume, mirror, pen, hand cream, note book, toothbrush/paste, spare carrier bag, tape measure, loyalty cards and bits of papers with “offers”,  memory stick, fold-up umbrella, and, depending on the weather, fold-up mac, hat, gloves… There are also the other pointless articles which seem to sit lurking in the bottom of the main bag that I am using at the time, and only come out when the whole thing is emptied into a new bag.  It wouldn’t be so bad if there was only one of each item, but somehow the articles seem to re-produce– my current work bag (large, black, Radley briefcase style), has no fewer than 4 lipsalves, 4 lipsticks (of various colours – I wouldn’t mind, but I hardly ever wear it!), 2 pens, 3 sets of ear phones, 2 half-eaten packs of mints, some throat sweets (loosely scattered…)various feminine hygiene objects.  I could go on, but I don’t have the will to dig any further into the murky depths of my bag. 

Things I am NOT going to buy! - Inroduction

As I have waffled on for long enough about fasting, fitness and lack of followers, I thought I would try a new theme on the run up to Christmas - saving money!  This is a personal thing rather than more general advice, as there are certain things which I have a tendency to buy and which I really don't need!  It was just going to be a blog with the a list of 10 things that I shouldn't buy.  Then, as I started, I thought I might write a little about the reason for each of the items.  As my tendency to waffle on took over, I decided that I could cover a blog for each of the items.  The more I thought about the things that I waste money on, the more items I added to my list, so here, for the next month, is my list of 31 things I must not buy!  If I manage to go for the whole of next year without buying anything on my list, I could probably afford to retire by the end of the year (assuming I put the money into a piggy bank rather than spending it on other stuff!!!)

 

Whizz!

As with the previous post, this one comes with a warning for those of a delicate nature to stop reading right now and find another more suitable blog (you might like to try a knitting blog, for example...).

Still here?  OK, don't say you weren't warned!

I am, as I may have mentioned, a bit of a gadget geek.  I browse shops and websites for little devices (or large) that come with a promise to enhance my life by making it easier, faster, more reliable and more exciting.  Gadgets come in many forms and price ranges, and, of course, their genuine usefulness.  I am very happy to report that I am still using my Fitbit after a year (although I am perhaps not quite as motivated to try and reach 10k steps every day as I was) whereas there are a number of articles that are either currently gathering dust because “I will use them one day – honest!” (the treadmill, the re-bounder, the George Forman grill, the breadmaker… I could go on…), or I have given up on them but can’t find anyone who wants them (the iJoy rider – don’t ask! – and the iSurf – clue’s in the name…).  Every now and again, something REALLY useful is invented that really does make life a bit easier, and, dear reader, I am here to tell you about my latest find.  

In my previous post, I covered the issues facing us ladies when we are out and about, far away from a comfortable and CLEAN place to, erm, go about our business.  Horror of horrors, you are going to have to use a COMMUNAL toilet - Aaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Well, fear no more!  You can now purchase a little gadget that will put an end to your timid tinkling.  Made of rubber, it looks like a small funnel that you might use to decant liquids, or small granules, into bottles, although it is slightly more flexible. Placed in the correct position, we girlies can pee just like men!  Yes!  For many years, we women have been held back purely because we just don’t have what the boys have, but no more will this absent appendage cause us to feel inferior to men.  We can finally put an end to the indignities of having to squat inelegantly behind a bush, crossing our fingers that no-one spots us before we have done what we have to do and re-arranged our clothing to cover our dignity. 

So on to the test drive, which took place in Spain on our recent holiday.  One of the things we like to do when we go to Spain for our holidays, is go for a long walk down the beach to the village, have some lunch (and a few cervezas) then walk back to our apartment.  It is on the walk back that we all realise that we aren’t going to be able to make it back to the apartment without relieving ourselves of some of the cerveza (in our case) or lemonade (in DS's case).  Hubby and DS just stop where they are (out of season, they usually just do a joint performance into the sea!), and do what they have to do. At this time of year, we just walk along behind the sand dunes where it is pretty quiet.  Anyway, much to their amusement, I got out my new device and gave it a test run.  I was wearing shorts with a zip fly, and although I managed just about to move it into position, it didn’t feel quite stable enough for me to let it run, so to speak.  I tried putting it up the leg of the shorts and this gave me a little more confidence, so off I went!  I was delighted to see that it came out in an arc, the same as when my hubby and son do it, and it all went in the right direction!  Result! At this stage I should probably mention that I did actually try it out in the privacy of my bathroom before using it whilst out and about, running the risk of further discomfort and/or embarrassment caused by lack of control over the speed and direction of output.  A quick shake afterwards and I was done.  It dried immediately and is, apparently, quite hygienic (although I didn't fancy putting it back in my handbag until I'd given it a rinse in the sea).  

Well, I'm not sure it's going to totally change my life, but it might just occasionally make it a little less unpleasant.  Of course, I need to remember to have it with me when I am likely to be in a situation where I can use it, and if I am wearing long trousers (which I am 99% of the time), I will still need to take them down, which doesn't make it quite as easy to nip behind a tree.  I did actually buy the optional collecting bag, which you can use if there is no-where appropriate to go.  They give the example of being stuck in a traffic jam, but I am trying to picture the scene of using the device surreptitiously when you are stuck on the motorway.  That should give all the truck drivers a jolly good laugh!  There are probably some videos on YouTube already (not of me, I hasten to add!).
 

 Whizz website

Gotta go!

This is going to be one of those posts that makes me glad that I haven't gone too public with my blog.  It isn't the sort of post that I would wish my work colleagues to read as they probably won't look at me the same way again (well, they already look at me a little strangely, but I think that's down to some of my other habits....).  You have been warned!  If you are easily shocked, then I warn you to LEAVE THIS PAGE RIGHT NOW!!   

Are you still here?  OK then, I will continue... 

To set the scene (and build up the story), let’s imagine that you have gone out for the day with your family to a family fun event, which has lots of entertainment – singing, dancing, juggling, comedy, etc, and stalls where you can buy exciting clothes, jewellery or ornaments that look great on the Bohemian types wandering around the event, but look pretty silly once you get home.  There are stalls where you can get every kind of food from the usual burgers and hot dogs to falafel and oriental noodles.  Or maybe you came prepared with a lovely picnic, that you brought in the cool box, complete with a bottle of wine that you drink out of plastic cups, sitting on your chequered rug.  It’s a lovely sunny day (you might have to try very hard with the imagination here…), and the children are frolicking happily with other children, the birds are singing (you can’t actually hear them above the racket from the stage, but still…), strange looking people are smoking strange smelling roll-ups, and the flowers are blooming all around…  Ahhhh, bliss!  And then… and then… you know you have to… your attempts not to drink too much were fruitless…there is no way you’re going to last another 2 hours or so until you get home… oh NO!! You have to use the communal toilets!! Aaaaaaaaaaaagghhhhhh!!!!  This is, of course, assuming that you are a female – if you are of the male species – and I don’t think I have any of that variety following my blog – then you won’t know what the fuss is all about (unless your requirement is for a longer visit…).  Anyway, having finally realised that you have to give in to your body’s most inconvenient call to the convenience, you make haste in the direction of the dreaded toilets.   There they are ahead, a row of little plastic huts, looming most unattractively, like little tardes (is that the plural of tardis, I wonder?) across the skyline.  You may have some luck if there are separate toilets for men and ladies – no guarantees of course, but you may be spared the sprinkler effect around the seat, walls, floor, sink and ceiling.  You have no choice (well, there is one, but would be even worse to deal with unless you are wearing some super strength incontinence pants).  With a sinking heart you take a deep breath in (to try and avoid the need to do this inside the little shack), and venture in.  Need I go on?  Suffice to say, there is no way that you are going to allow your delicate little bottom to make contact with that disgusting structure in front of you, so, you perform a careful reverse manoeuvre so that your nether regions are hovering about 8 inches above the receptacle, and attempt to let it all out.  Isn’t it strange how, even though your body is desperate, it really doesn’t want to let it out when you are in this awkward position?   OK, eventually you get going, and use your super-human powers to control the direction so it doesn’t spray over your clothes or your feet.  Of course, there is no toilet paper or soap, so better hope that you are prepared with some tissues and sanitiser!   

 

This is a scene which most of us can relate to, so wouldn't it be great if someone found a way to enable us girls to pee like blokes???!!!! - without the rotating fountain effect, of course).  Well, some clever person has invented a little device that enables us to do just that!  I had heard of these devices, however what prompted me to buy one was an article in Good Housekeeping (yes, really!), comparing a number of different models.  A bit different from their usual offering of comparing food mixers and pressure cookers...  Anyway, being just a little bit of a gadget buff, I had to buy one, so selected the GH recommended model which is called "The Whizz".   

I think I've waffled on enough for now, so will save my story about the test drive for another day.  Bet your DESPERATE to hear about it...

Fasting and Feasting

I know, I know!  It has been a while….blah blah blah…  In honour of my new follower (yippee!!), I thought I would put fingers to keyboard and waffle on a bit.  It’s also a celebration of a year since I started out on this “journey”, and I just wanted to mention, once again, how amazingly impressed I am with the IF WOE (Intermittent Fasting Way of Eating…). 

Although I was thrilled to see the weight dropping off, I know from many past experiences just how difficult it is to keep it off.  With the best will in the world, it is very difficult to continue, on an on-going basis, to deprive oneself of all the nice things to eat in life, such as cakes, biscuits, chocolate, ice-cream, desserts, wine, curry, bread, etc etc.  It only takes a holiday, Christmas or just a bad week-end to start back on the rocky road to letting the pounds slowly creep back on.  At the risk of sounding rather evangelical (once again) about this particular approach, I truly believe that it is a do-able long term solution to not just losing the weight, but KEEPING it off!  Whilst it isn’t exactly enjoyable going through a day until tea time without a calorie passing my lips, the knowledge that it is only for that short period, and the next day I don’t have to think about dieting gets me through. 

Yesterday was a fasting day.  I drank my way through a couple of litres of water and a couple of black coffees, and made it until 6.00pm, when I had an M&S salmon and grain salad meal for 375 calories.  I also had some melon, grapes and asparagus, and a couple of cups of (white) tea.  Today is a “feast” day.  That doesn’t mean (unfortunately!) that I can stuff my face with absolutely anything I fancy, but just that I don’t have to think too hard about watching what I eat today.  It is someone’s birthday in the office, and that means cream cakes – yum!  I will still opt for the “least bad” option (a chocolate éclair at 185 calories), but I will enjoy it without any guilt or worry that I have blown my diet.  On previous “diets”, giving in to a cake would have the negative psychological effect of making me think “oh no, blown the diet again – might as well continue to pig out and start again tomorrow…” (or next Monday!).  I know, I know!  It isn’t logical or sensible, but I can’t be perfect all the time!