The need to tidy up

I'm becoming very remiss at blogging, I've noticed.  I suspect it may have something to do with the uncertainty of moving; this state of not quite knowing what will happen next is having a bit of a negative impact on many aspects of our lives, and really it has to stop.  It's ridiculous, allowing a little uncertainty to knock us off the rails in the way that it has.  The move will happen, if it is supposed to , in it's own good time, and it's no good either of us huffing and puffing if things don't happen when we think they should.  Patience is the virtue that both of us need in slightly greater quantity that we have at present!

In the greenhouse, one of the geraniums we lifted in the autumn has decided to flower again

Yesterday morning found us volunteering again, and it seems to be the one thing that definitely helps us get life into perspective.  It's such an enjoyable way to spend a few hours and it is clearly benefiting us, too.  Now we've been there a few weeks, I feel able to have a little tidy-up of our 'work area' - in reality a small desk, and even smaller table and a set of stacking plastic drawers.  Behind us is a high bank of metal shelving.  The desk in often half-covered in an interesting assortment of 'stuff', which doesn't leave much room for sorting donations.  First things first, the dustpan and brush are employed to sweep the area we stand in.  Then I retrieved a few bits that had fallen under the desk, had a sort out of plastic bags (millions of them) and a wipe-down of the table.  i swept up several times during the morning and gradually our little area began to look a little clearer.  I have already decided that next week I shall have to tackle the drawers - in desperate need of a de-clutter - just a bit at a time.  Why do I bother trying to clean and tidy when we are only there one morning a week?  I do believe that it is so much easier to work effectively and efficiently if your work area is clean and tidy.  For a start, we will have more space to work in; we won't be pushing stuff out of the way; we will always find the things we need (like rubber bands and labels); we won't be falling over odds and ends on the floor; things won't get lost under the table or other piles of rubbish.  It doesn't bother me to tidy up, I enjoy it and see the benefit of a clear work space and I think it will make life a little easier.  

The wind and rain continue.  In a dry spell this morning I managed to get the washing out and dried in the space of less than two hours, it was that windy!  The crocuses in the rockery have come through:

and the cabbages we are growing as winter greens have been attacked, by pigeons, we think:

Whatever has been eating them has made a very neat jobs of nibbling the edges of every leaf!

And finally, I am binding the quilt :-))  Lots of hand sewing - 92" each side takes a long time to hem (and my fingers and hands are suffering from little cuts and nicks which are aggravated by the cold weather) but I am so excited to be so close to finishing this long-term project.  Photos will hopefully follow very, very soon!