I love your energy around letting go of stuff, especially the part about “lavish gifts.” When I coach folk through decluttering, there’s always a box called RECYCLING. Gifts come under that.

Like you, I’ve also shredded most of my old writing and diaries this year. I read them, learned, shared a few bits, kept a few bits then let go.

Thank you very much for the link on your new blog and the kind words you wrote. I’m glad you take the time to sit down with a cuppa and read my longer pieces. Not everyone does these days.

You’re right about the subject matter of our blogs being very different , but as long as no-one’s harmed by what folk choose to express in their blogs, differing, authentic opinions make the blogosphere a kaleidoscope where everyone is catered for.

Thanks, too, for your wonderful, detailed response; it’ll inspire a lot of folk. I hope you do a version of it on your blog as a post. In the full version over at Eliza’s Silver and Grace, I deliberately compared investigating our reasons for holding onto stuff as opening a Pandora’s box. The reasons are rarely pretty, and I’ve been guilty of most at some time.Your story moved me and made so much sense. You’d be a joy to coach!

I grew up in a poor area, and one of the reasons I became so creatively resourceful was because we had to be. I also looked up to my dad. He’s a natural inventor and he made things at his work and in the shed. But the downside was a tendency to keep things because there was nothing wrong with them and they might be useful.

I also had to share a room and that made me long to express myself in small ways, through objects, posters and music because I had no say over the bigger stuff.

I know you’re going to see in your next half century with a renewed, refreshed spirit after the marvellous start you’ve made to clearing out this year. I have dozens of what I call my homelife coaching books that I’d love to upload into my poor neglected bookshop at some point. I think you’d like them.