In anticipation of downsizing, we are reducing our library. The first to go are about 20 Donna Leon books. We enjoyed them, but are unlikely to want to read them again.
Next to go will be the Peter Corris novels, including all the Cliff Hardy PI ones.
We are actually searching for a David Attenborough one to pass on to a son, as we have a picture of Attenborough signing the book for him (about 30 years ago).
I should check what Cheery husband has been stashing in the roof space. Urk
Yes - I'm afraid you should... prepare to be horrified - and if you're not, count it as a blessing.
Our proposed move is not a downsize, which is good in one way as it means we don't have the pressure of having to cut our possessions by, say, two thirds - but it also means there will be another major sort and declutter in the future to look forward to. I'm hoping that, rather like @Puzzler , we will vow not to add to the Stuff we move but I suspect it might be only me who makes that vow...
I had inquired at our local jewellers' about taking my aunt's things in for assessment and had been told to take them yesterday as they would have a full staff in and someone would be available to look through it. When I went in, however, I spoke to someone different who was very helpful but when he saw the size of the bag I plonked on his counter he went rather pale and said, "You'll have to leave that with us..."
I knew someone who shut a branch of a bank for an hour or more by walking in with the bag of cash he'd been entrusted with by a (living in that case) aged relative! (I think the counting machine was up the spout, so manual count it was).
Oh goodness, cash machines seem to be off as much as they are on in some branches!! I remember a time when we counted and wrapped a whole heap of coins to have the bank person be a bit out out as they had to be put through the machine. Never mind!
This week Cheery son and I have been working on window washing and I'm almost halfway around. Next week we will be on the shady side of the house, so that will be better for working on, and a bit quicker as the windows as not full length as they are on the sunny side of our home. Hopefully a couple of days will see it all done.
Last weekend I helped Cheery daughter move the clothes horse outside so she could dry her very thick mattress topper. That job was doubly good as I managed to vacuum all around the spot where that sits in the window and near our exercise equipment. I really think we should look at perhaps moving the rowing machine and exercise bike on as no one ever uses them. They are handy for drying extra washing on though!!
Lots of rushing around yesterday as I'd gotten behind in the vacuuming. Our tiled floors make every bit of crumb or cat hair look worse than it probably is. Managed to get caught up, Cheery son also vacuumed his room in anticipation of girlfriend's visit, so we look fairly respectable at present. I probably have some furniture polishing which needs doing, but I have dusted in our "good room" and might even think about starting to slowly bring out some Christmas decorations. At this point only my advent candles, but will get some things out, but not put them on display yet, just have them ready to go. I like to pack away all the nic-nacs and dust/polish the surfaces before putting out the Christmas things, so it's a win-win job.
I have finally got the curtains up in the new spare bedroom. I didn’t order lined ones, as I have a set of separate linings, but they will need shortening first. I might try sleeping in the room to see what it is like. My bedroom is at the front which has two sets of streetlights outside so I need extra blackout, but the spare room is at the back, much darker in winter ( much too hot in summer ).
I need to make an effort this coming week to see this house with new eyes. My French group will be here next Friday and I know there are things I just don’t notice which need to be moved- and then more cleaning needed. I might leave my birthday cards up though, and hopefully the helium balloons will have collapsed by then.
I hope you are pleased with your curtains @Puzzler and the visit of your French group went well.
I've not done a lot of tidying except around putting up the Christmas decorations, lots of vacuuming and dusting done then and a bit of furniture moving to accommodate the tree.
I keep walking with my chin up so I don't look at my tiles which need a good going over. I had been thinking about whether we should invest in one of those wet vacuuming cleaners. Does anyone have one and are they pleased with it? Or was it a waste of money? We are currently in the grip of a hot spell for a few days. Once it cools down again I'll vacuum through and give the floors a good swiffering. Or if it gets too bad, I might do it one night before going to bed.
I know this won't appeal to all, but son tells me that my approach to cleaning before something like Christmas or when visitors are coming is like the Chris Fleming video Company is Coming which is on that video sharing site. I am sure many would not appreciate his language, but his wild approach makes me think I need to tone things down a bit and relax!
Very tidy indeed @Boogie - and if I remember correctly a white floor that was spotless!
Not much tidying over the last few days, but hopefully back onto it when we get around to putting away the Christmas decorations. I saw a tip this morning, if you didn't use items in your Christmas box for decorating, get rid of them!! I've been avoiding doing that, but I really do think it's time!
Coming to this thread today because I'm better at writing about sorting and tidying than actually doing it . I have my large bagful of wrapping paper (new and used) spread across the bed and floor of the spare room, where it has been since before Christmas, and am now sorting it so that I don't end up keeping all the scrappy bits and the stuff that is more sellotape than paper. I'm determined to get it done by the end of the day, but I've been saying that for days.
I took my aunt's jewellery to a charity shop, as the jeweller said it was costume jewellery, and I think they were glad of it as I suspect the main donation items are books and clothes.
There is to be much more sorting as time goes on, pending our possible house move. Many car parts have come down from the loft and some of them have left the premises. I'm told the loft is transformed from how it was a few weeks ago.
I need to resolve to do at least some sorting every day as Mr Nen is not the only one who keeps things we don't need. He has admitted, though, that he has more to sort than I do .
Another afternoon of our landing looking like a scrapyard as Mr Nen brings down more car parts from the loft - this time a load of car windows. No frames, just the glass.
I've made some paperwork sorting progress although the spare room remains covered with wrapping paper :rolleyes: .
I have half of the Christmas decor taken down, but not yet stored away. This would require going outside on a stormy day. The nativity tableau will remain up until 12th night.
Not a lot of tidying here at present, we've been wasting too much time on electronic devices and procrastinating. However I did toss my toy koala that's been with me for over 50 years as he was swarming with moths.
Since moving to this house we have had a big problem with moths. At present we only have one or two doing the rounds, due to me searching for them and squishing them at every opportunity. Last year I tried to think of where the most likely hiding spots were and they seemed to be the sideboard and the wardrobe. I bagged a lot of things into self seal bags trying to limit the problem without using chemicals. I returned to one of those bags by chance a week ago and the item it contained, was teeming with moths. Fortunately there appeared to be no others in the area, so I tossed the bag with the mothy koala enclosed and am quite pleased that although the problem is not completely solved, there has been progress. I also went through the sideboard and didn't find any moth evidence there, so I'm taking that as a win.
I also have a good crop of lavender waiting to be cut and I'll do that later today and start drying it to have around the place in the most mothy areas as a deterrent. It appears to have worked in the sideboard over the last year.
Any precious items with moths can be bagged and put in the freezer - that will kill them. They must be sealed in airtight bags and kept at a consistently cold temperature (ideally -18°C or lower) for at least 72 hours, or even up to two weeks.
That's what we did when we had a moth problem. I couldn't save big items like my lovely leather briefcase which I had kept my children's art work in.
The items I find hardest to get rid of are those with some intrinsic value but hard to place.
I have used auction sales ( valuables, general and specialist), charity shops, online marketing, personal donations and of course refurbishing / recycling. Inevitably some has gone to landfill, but not much.
It has been hard work.
That leaves me now with several briefcases, leather folders, stationery of every description. Nobody wants these.
@Nenya, bite the bullet and put most of that wrapping paper into the recycling bin, especially with a house move in the offing. It is time to be ruthless ( if only to set an example to Mr Nenya.)
@Puzzler , you'll be glad to know I've made significant progress with the wrapping paper and in a couple of other areas too. I've been sorting all morning and it's been a bit piecemeal, but it's black bin and recycling day tomorrow and I'm out this afternoon so needs must.
The other day the handle broke off my little toaster/oven. I could have mended it - at one time I would have had to, back when I couldn't afford to do anything else - but these days I have Options (i.e. money). So I now have a new toaster which looks as if it belongs on the Death Star (very black and sleek!).
The old appliance was about 20 years old, so I think I've had my money's worth out of it.
I just cleaned the house, swearing as I went as my commitment to using environment- friendly products means it never looks as good as I'd like.
Also, as Husband Beaky and I both (for different reasons) have issues with too much bending I have decided to bite the bullet and contact the cleaner that Beaky daughter number two uses.
We haven't had a cleaner since we downsized 14 years ago and especially now I've retired it feels like a bit of failure but I think it might be a wise move.
Cleaning and tidying has been happening all morning. We are of to Malla (That's what us Germans call Majorca) meeting family and German friends. So the house has to be ready for the housesitter.
I have cleaned throughout this morning for no special reason- except the windows which look awful in the sun, but will still look awful if I do them, so they can wait.
It's wise to know your limitations, though in the case of house cleaning I probably set mine a little too narrowly. However, one thing I really couldn't manage was changing the lightbulb in the walk-in cupboard where the bottles - and much besides - live. I could manoeuvre the stepladder in, and with no little effort, climb high enough to reach it, but too unsteady to detach it.
I will have to wait for my Wee Treasure on Friday (as will most of the cleaning).
I have cleaned throughout this morning for no special reason- except the windows which look awful in the sun, but will still look awful if I do them, so they can wait.
We've taken the Christmas decorations down this morning, never as much fun as putting them up, but it meant I did some cleaning and polishing before the usual ornaments and photos went back on the mantelpiece and shelves. Also vacuuming - despite our tree being artificial it still drops needles.
Mr Nen's out for lunch and I'm out this afternoon, and we're both busy tomorrow, so it had to be done this morning. We also had a good conversation about rationalising and storing our possessions and I got him to agree that we need to make some changes.
Heh. My house windows haven't been cleaned on the outside since the last millennium. To be completely fair, cleaning would require a commercial ladder even on the lowest floor, built into a river bluff as we we are, and the ground sloping steeply away. But there's never been the money, so we let the rain handle it.
We cleaned our windows before we sold our house and I have to say things did look a whole lot brighter!
Cheery son and I are about one third of the way around our house and fortunately only a step ladder is required to do the work. There is a heatwave coming from Wednesday onwards, so I think work on the windows has stopped for the time being. We started with the most used windows,, so it's now a pleasure looking out of those.
When I was first at work I was working in a building on the main street. We never had to wash the windows but we did have to wash the bookshelves and wipe the books to get rid of the grit/dust from the fumes of trucks travelling through town. When we moved to our new building I used to love to watch the guys on the cherry picker cleaning the windows, they worked so efficiently and with such fluid movements. I could never emulate their action at my place!!
After having never been particularly worried about clean windows, I do really notice the difference now!
I'll be taking a bagful of assorted stuff to the charity shop when I head out for lunch shortly. I like to shift things out of the house as quickly as possible once they're sorted as "To Go" in case I have second thoughts. Mr Nen seems to function better with building up a lot of stuff and then taking a carload. I am by turns pleased with what's being sorted out and appalled that there is this much stuff here at all .
Sounds like progress is being made @Nenya and @Boogie. I've now packed up all the Christmas decorations and Cheery husband will move them out to the garage. As part of his garage re-organisation he's temporarily put things on the shelves that my boxes normally sit on. So he has to move his junk and then my stuff can go back to it's normal home. The Christmas tree will come down at the weekend. Once done a nice big vacuum through and things should hopefully be back to normal.
We are all cleaned up after Christmas - the Christmas tablecloth has been washed and put away for another year, ditto the Christmas tea towels and kitchen handtowel. I have a small handmade angel that was given to me this year, which will remain until tomorrow (because Epiphany) and that will be put away as well. Actually - probably disposed of. I have no attachment to it and will I want to get it out another year, either here or in a new house? No.
I have a couple of things to be sorted next - either a boxful of Nenlet1's things which has been here since she left home nearly 14 years ago and has said she doesn't want "Although if I see it I will want it, Mum" so it's down to me to sort, or my kitchen cupboard of baking trays and plastic containers with or without lids.
Tiddling about on the Net with a cup of coffee is currently far more appealing.
Today is the day for the final Christmas clean-up. I always find a little thing or two left behind. Today, it was a little Christmas bear that I had hung on the lamp in my guest room.
All our Christmas stuff was tidied away yesterday. I love it when we get it all out, but I must admit I like the way our very minimalist house looks the rest of the year.
Taking a break from sorting the boxful of Nenlet1's things. As with most sorting tasks, it's taking me a lot longer than I'd anticipated. I've also been scrubbing at some stains in the bathroom with various cleaning products, so far with limited success. One of the things I tried was white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, and I remembered why I haven't used that for a long time - it makes the house smell like a chip shop.
"Cluttercore is an interior design trend that rejects minimalism, instead celebrating a vibrant, "organized chaos" filled with personal collections, meaningful objects, and sentimental items to create a lived-in, unique space that reflects the owner's personality and passions. It's about displaying what you love, not just accumulating random stuff, resulting in a cozy, maximalist aesthetic that feels personal and abundant, often featuring mixed patterns, bold colors, and varied textures."
Having unplugged the Christmas tree yesterday and set it in my bedroom out of the way, I decided when I got in from work this evening that I ought to Just Do It, so I disentangled the fairy lights, dismantled the tree branches and stuffed them all back in the drawer under the bed set aside for such a purpose. The candle-bridges and Nativity characters, now with Wise Men but without the bagpiping shepherd (who has buggered off back to his sheep box), will stay up until Candlemas.
As there's a table lamp that gets moved out of the way when the Christmas tree is up and goes back afterwards, I don't miss the tree lights as much as I might.
I'm sorry, @Boogie, but I hate the idea of "cluttercore". Although I have a certain number of Treasured Things (most notably a small collection* of bears), I wouldn't want to have any more than I do!
* much smaller than it was when we were in Canada, as it got very heavily edited by my niece.
I really enjoyed that description @Boogie, it sounds just like me. I didn't keep a lot of things from my parents but have tried to have small displays that are meaningful to me. I also have a small collection of chooks in and on top of the old meat safe in the kitchen. I own a tea towel which says something like, when you fill your home with things you love and that are meaningful, your home becomes your story.
I love it when I go to someone's home and I see the art they display, the books on their shelves and maybe their record collection (yes, I know, old), as well as their style in furniture, it helps me to understand what they like and whether they have a story to share abut how they obtained the pieces and what they mean to them. I am fond of my stuff, Cheery husband a bit less so, but he copes!!
More the other way chez S: amiable spouse is the Chief Clutterer and always has been: he dictated everything in the way of furniture, artworks and gadgets. However since he now lives & works in Van Diemen’s Land I have been able to control some of the mess by dint of getting a very large 6 door wardrobe/ storage cupboard built in the bedroom about 8 years ago. It cost a lot but worth every penny. Spouse of course got huffy that I’d not discussed it ( would have been a veto) but shut up when reminded that I’d paid for it and that I was sick of tripping over random books/CDs/ sundry electronic crap which he accumulated over many years. Thank God he has never held a driver’s license as thought of a ceiling space full of car parts would have finished me.
I would say that I don't have any clutter - every item in my house is something that I went out and bought because I wanted it or needed it. Other, less discerning, people might see clutter because the items don't mean anything to them (for instance, I bought models of all the Classic Doctor Whos the last time I was on holiday - I regret nothing!)
Another afternoon of our landing looking like a scrapyard as Mr Nen brings down more car parts from the loft - this time a load of car windows. No frames, just the glass.
I'm a Christian, but stuff like that works as a talisman - you always break the particular window glass you don't have Some of my vehicle stuff is so old now, it has gone from being unwanted shite (my reason for acquiring it) and is increasing in value. This sounds good, but I still have some vehicles which need spare parts I don't have (see above) which are now more expensive, and being more valuable, stuff is more likely to get nicked. Also, those parts which usually don't wear out are the ones which tend to accumulate and are hard to sell. Though even then, markets sometimes open up if enough decades pass...
I'm not running out of decade(s?) just yet, but I don't have as many as I used to!
I cleaned out a desk drawer today and threw out a set of keys to a car I have not had in over 20 years. Note, it was a set, front door, ignition, and a separate key for the trunk. I have cleaned out this drawer many times before, and I have no idea why I did not toss them out much sooner.
I've nearly sorted the box of Nenlet1's things and quite a bit of it has gone out with the paper recycling this morning, which is satisfying. Next up - the drawers of my dressing table.
@mark_in_manchester , Mr Nen will often tell me how much these various car parts are worth and some of them are destined for his ongoing Classic Car Project. I do know the Classic Car Person to contact if something happens to him, after I put the wind up him the other day by saying if he predeceases me I'll be contacting a scrap merchant .
@Graven Image, I've got a key to the car Cheery husband and I bought when we needed a good reliable car to take Cheery son to his many hospital visits. Cheery husband didn't like the car much, he thought it had a lousy turning circle (which it did), but it was comfy and had such a good boot that I was in love with it. Unfortunately it met it's demise in a rear ender event, I should really throw that key away at it was over 10 years ago!!
My dressing-table drawers are having to wait while I sort some very old letters in a box in what was Nenlet1's bedroom. Mr Nen has also unearthed from the loft, among other things, the box containing our wedding cards and our letters to each other in the six months or so before we got married. I think the cards can be gone through and then disposed of but revisiting the letters will take more time than we have right now so they'll be repacked into another box.
Comments
Next to go will be the Peter Corris novels, including all the Cliff Hardy PI ones.
We are actually searching for a David Attenborough one to pass on to a son, as we have a picture of Attenborough signing the book for him (about 30 years ago).
Our proposed move is not a downsize, which is good in one way as it means we don't have the pressure of having to cut our possessions by, say, two thirds - but it also means there will be another major sort and declutter in the future to look forward to. I'm hoping that, rather like @Puzzler , we will vow not to add to the Stuff we move but I suspect it might be only me who makes that vow...
I had inquired at our local jewellers' about taking my aunt's things in for assessment and had been told to take them yesterday as they would have a full staff in and someone would be available to look through it. When I went in, however, I spoke to someone different who was very helpful but when he saw the size of the bag I plonked on his counter he went rather pale and said, "You'll have to leave that with us..."
This week Cheery son and I have been working on window washing and I'm almost halfway around. Next week we will be on the shady side of the house, so that will be better for working on, and a bit quicker as the windows as not full length as they are on the sunny side of our home. Hopefully a couple of days will see it all done.
Last weekend I helped Cheery daughter move the clothes horse outside so she could dry her very thick mattress topper. That job was doubly good as I managed to vacuum all around the spot where that sits in the window and near our exercise equipment. I really think we should look at perhaps moving the rowing machine and exercise bike on as no one ever uses them. They are handy for drying extra washing on though!!
I need to make an effort this coming week to see this house with new eyes. My French group will be here next Friday and I know there are things I just don’t notice which need to be moved- and then more cleaning needed. I might leave my birthday cards up though, and hopefully the helium balloons will have collapsed by then.
I've not done a lot of tidying except around putting up the Christmas decorations, lots of vacuuming and dusting done then and a bit of furniture moving to accommodate the tree.
I keep walking with my chin up so I don't look at my tiles which need a good going over. I had been thinking about whether we should invest in one of those wet vacuuming cleaners. Does anyone have one and are they pleased with it? Or was it a waste of money? We are currently in the grip of a hot spell for a few days. Once it cools down again I'll vacuum through and give the floors a good swiffering. Or if it gets too bad, I might do it one night before going to bed.
I know this won't appeal to all, but son tells me that my approach to cleaning before something like Christmas or when visitors are coming is like the Chris Fleming video Company is Coming which is on that video sharing site. I am sure many would not appreciate his language, but his wild approach makes me think I need to tone things down a bit and relax!
Not much tidying over the last few days, but hopefully back onto it when we get around to putting away the Christmas decorations. I saw a tip this morning, if you didn't use items in your Christmas box for decorating, get rid of them!! I've been avoiding doing that, but I really do think it's time!
I took my aunt's jewellery to a charity shop, as the jeweller said it was costume jewellery, and I think they were glad of it as I suspect the main donation items are books and clothes.
There is to be much more sorting as time goes on, pending our possible house move. Many car parts have come down from the loft and some of them have left the premises. I'm told the loft is transformed from how it was a few weeks ago.
I need to resolve to do at least some sorting every day as Mr Nen is not the only one who keeps things we don't need. He has admitted, though, that he has more to sort than I do
I came across this today. Written for ADDers but relevant to all, I think.
Said to me by a cousin of my late MIL who was an example of the above.
As the 1986 song went: Don’t worry, be happy.
I've made some paperwork sorting progress although the spare room remains covered with wrapping paper :rolleyes: .
Since moving to this house we have had a big problem with moths. At present we only have one or two doing the rounds, due to me searching for them and squishing them at every opportunity. Last year I tried to think of where the most likely hiding spots were and they seemed to be the sideboard and the wardrobe. I bagged a lot of things into self seal bags trying to limit the problem without using chemicals. I returned to one of those bags by chance a week ago and the item it contained, was teeming with moths. Fortunately there appeared to be no others in the area, so I tossed the bag with the mothy koala enclosed and am quite pleased that although the problem is not completely solved, there has been progress. I also went through the sideboard and didn't find any moth evidence there, so I'm taking that as a win.
I also have a good crop of lavender waiting to be cut and I'll do that later today and start drying it to have around the place in the most mothy areas as a deterrent. It appears to have worked in the sideboard over the last year.
That's what we did when we had a moth problem. I couldn't save big items like my lovely leather briefcase which I had kept my children's art work in.
I have used auction sales ( valuables, general and specialist), charity shops, online marketing, personal donations and of course refurbishing / recycling. Inevitably some has gone to landfill, but not much.
It has been hard work.
That leaves me now with several briefcases, leather folders, stationery of every description. Nobody wants these.
@Nenya, bite the bullet and put most of that wrapping paper into the recycling bin, especially with a house move in the offing. It is time to be ruthless ( if only to set an example to Mr Nenya.)
The old appliance was about 20 years old, so I think I've had my money's worth out of it.
Also, as Husband Beaky and I both (for different reasons) have issues with too much bending I have decided to bite the bullet and contact the cleaner that Beaky daughter number two uses.
We haven't had a cleaner since we downsized 14 years ago and especially now I've retired it feels like a bit of failure but I think it might be a wise move.
I will have to wait for my Wee Treasure on Friday (as will most of the cleaning).
I would like an indoor window cleaner!
We've taken the Christmas decorations down this morning, never as much fun as putting them up, but it meant I did some cleaning and polishing before the usual ornaments and photos went back on the mantelpiece and shelves. Also vacuuming - despite our tree being artificial it still drops needles.
Mr Nen's out for lunch and I'm out this afternoon, and we're both busy tomorrow, so it had to be done this morning. We also had a good conversation about rationalising and storing our possessions and I got him to agree that we need to make some changes.
Cheery son and I are about one third of the way around our house and fortunately only a step ladder is required to do the work. There is a heatwave coming from Wednesday onwards, so I think work on the windows has stopped for the time being. We started with the most used windows,, so it's now a pleasure looking out of those.
When I was first at work I was working in a building on the main street. We never had to wash the windows but we did have to wash the bookshelves and wipe the books to get rid of the grit/dust from the fumes of trucks travelling through town. When we moved to our new building I used to love to watch the guys on the cherry picker cleaning the windows, they worked so efficiently and with such fluid movements. I could never emulate their action at my place!!
After having never been particularly worried about clean windows, I do really notice the difference now!
I have a couple of things to be sorted next - either a boxful of Nenlet1's things which has been here since she left home nearly 14 years ago and has said she doesn't want "Although if I see it I will want it, Mum" so it's down to me to sort, or my kitchen cupboard of baking trays and plastic containers with or without lids.
Tiddling about on the Net with a cup of coffee is currently far more appealing.
Cluttercore
"Cluttercore is an interior design trend that rejects minimalism, instead celebrating a vibrant, "organized chaos" filled with personal collections, meaningful objects, and sentimental items to create a lived-in, unique space that reflects the owner's personality and passions. It's about displaying what you love, not just accumulating random stuff, resulting in a cozy, maximalist aesthetic that feels personal and abundant, often featuring mixed patterns, bold colors, and varied textures."
I would call my home semi-cluttercore 🙂
As there's a table lamp that gets moved out of the way when the Christmas tree is up and goes back afterwards, I don't miss the tree lights as much as I might.
I'm sorry, @Boogie, but I hate the idea of "cluttercore". Although I have a certain number of Treasured Things (most notably a small collection* of bears), I wouldn't want to have any more than I do!
* much smaller than it was when we were in Canada, as it got very heavily edited by my niece.
I love it when I go to someone's home and I see the art they display, the books on their shelves and maybe their record collection (yes, I know, old), as well as their style in furniture, it helps me to understand what they like and whether they have a story to share abut how they obtained the pieces and what they mean to them. I am fond of my stuff, Cheery husband a bit less so, but he copes!!
I'm a Christian, but stuff like that works as a talisman - you always break the particular window glass you don't have
I'm not running out of decade(s?) just yet, but I don't have as many as I used to!
@mark_in_manchester , Mr Nen will often tell me how much these various car parts are worth and some of them are destined for his ongoing Classic Car Project. I do know the Classic Car Person to contact if something happens to him, after I put the wind up him the other day by saying if he predeceases me I'll be contacting a scrap merchant