tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post4604952170413340176..comments2024-02-28T22:43:49.960+00:00Comments on Asia Vu: Life in The UK: Jettisoning the Loveseat: A Case of Too Much FurnitureMsCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-49504360528734416712015-07-26T21:22:59.440+01:002015-07-26T21:22:59.440+01:00I didn't even think of Freecycle - probably be...I didn't even think of Freecycle - probably because Gumtree had so many items also 'free to a good home' that didn't seem to be going anywhere anyway, we didn't even bother to look! We finally figured out that we have about the same space here in England that we did in Korea, but it is configured very differently - which is why nothing seems to fit!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-81434779847820520982015-07-26T20:00:29.614+01:002015-07-26T20:00:29.614+01:00We always used Freecycle in SW London which worked...We always used Freecycle in SW London which worked pretty well 9 times out of 10... We have been vastly spoiled both here and in Denmark in terms of house size, I imagine we will have quite a lot of adjusting to do when we eventually come home! :D BavarianSojournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701272367912860549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-71744317776280648612015-07-24T15:58:12.683+01:002015-07-24T15:58:12.683+01:00NVG - Now, see, this is the sort of small cultural...NVG - Now, see, this is the sort of small cultural detail that I would never have been able to anticipate! Who would think getting rid of a gently-used (and in reasonable shape) sofa would take so long and require so much work? So funny about your LI neighbors - maybe they were too proud to haul it away in daylight? I'm sure that doing it this way is far better for the environment, but it definitely makes getting things done a bit of a challenge.MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-11719905783082683172015-07-24T15:34:22.430+01:002015-07-24T15:34:22.430+01:00Getting rid of furniture is definitely not easy he...Getting rid of furniture is definitely not easy here. There are all sorts of environmental regulations and usually what you did, ie getting the council to remove it, is the only option. <br /><br />I know what you mean about America - we just left things outside and they would just go. The weirdest moment, though, was when we tried to give away (note, not sell) a sofa to a neighbor on Long Island. They spotted it at a yard sale and we told them they could have it for free but at the last moment decided at the last minute they didn't want it. This was a little annoying, but we just did the above and left it outside in the street overnight as we were moving the next day. Lo and behold who did my husband see descending later that evening in the dark and taking it away? The very same people. Clearly they just couldn't resist....nappy valley girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788949037047084412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-49765325912590612272015-07-24T06:31:12.268+01:002015-07-24T06:31:12.268+01:00Nance - I would say that sums up the expat experie...Nance - I would say that sums up the expat experience nicely: nothing awful, just inconvenient, like trying to get your sick dog to the vet without a car, or trying to pack your own groceries fast enough so that the cashier (and next 5 patrons in line) aren't standing there starting at me as I try to throw everything in quickly but without squashing my bread or crushing the strawberries. Trust me, I did really entertain the thought of hacking it to bits, but trying to convince MrL to invest in a chainsaw just for that would have been a tall order. And then we would have had to find somewhere to store the chainsaw, not to mention we'd still have to get that pass to the dump ('tip') in order to dispose of the pieces. MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-24831900950150487152015-07-23T22:33:06.555+01:002015-07-23T22:33:06.555+01:00Oh my. It's almost as if Inconvenience is wor...Oh my. It's almost as if Inconvenience is worse than Tragedy when it comes to things such as This because you cannot even get Audiences worked up enough to truly feel Profoundly Sorry for you. After all, it's not as if you have a Terrible Disease; you don't have a poisonous Mold Situation or terrifying Rodent Infestation; you're not being stalked or harassed by a Demented/Dangerous Lunatic Neighbor. You're simply held hostage by Unwanted Furniture.<br /><br />*I* see how awful and sad it is, but some others might say, "Just get a chainsaw and hack it to bits."<br /><br />As if that would fly in England. Now, in TEXAS...well, we both know it's Been Done. ;-)Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-64884499563134362822015-07-23T08:12:45.542+01:002015-07-23T08:12:45.542+01:00The worst part is, now that we've gotten rid o...The worst part is, now that we've gotten rid of all the things that don't fit in this place, I am the one out trolling through the antique and charity shops looking at all the things that catch my eye (taxidermied owls, fabulous old books, strange art.) Your daughter is clearly in touch with the zeitgeist (as you say): I see the 60s deco stuff all over the place and it is incredibly expensive! I'm just happy that I have space in the living room so I'll be able to sit by the fireplace once it starts getting cold again this winter!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-7466928159045951562015-07-22T22:48:47.558+01:002015-07-22T22:48:47.558+01:00This is such a tricky one! On the one hand there ...This is such a tricky one! On the one hand there is the furniture you can't get rid of in the UK (see wardrobes, leather sofas, love seats) and on the other is the furniture you think you can't get rid of but which is actually quite valuable (see 60s G plan and Ercol stuff). Daughter in who is supposed to be a doctor but is far keener on buying and selling furniture has just made a vast profit on a sofa and chairs which I would have taken to the tip ( aka recycling centre and we have a land rover and a trailer). Do I understand? No. Must be getting old just out of touch with the zeitgeist. Still, your story has a happy ending, of sorts! You can reach the window. Maybe you can dance, tidily, in your living room?Elizabeth Musgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473705107636868753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-60058074210961190892015-07-22T17:00:43.070+01:002015-07-22T17:00:43.070+01:00Well, it was probably a bit harder for you - I ima...Well, it was probably a bit harder for you - I imagine your aunt's things were worth far more than our tired old loveseat, but the principle is still the same. We were actually quite surprised at how much 'free' furniture was going on Gumtree - as long as people would just come and pick it up! In the end, I suppose it really is worth it to pay a little and have it all sorted and taken care of, isn't it? MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-89763883041372297342015-07-22T16:33:40.113+01:002015-07-22T16:33:40.113+01:00It's sad when you end up having to pay people ...It's sad when you end up having to pay people to take things away rather than be paid for the item. This has happened to us with my aunt's furniture when she moved to a small retirement flat near to us. An auction house took everything she left behind - we paid for them to remove it and this was offset a little by them auctioning off some of the more valuable items. We were still owing them at the end of the day!Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00119443727504215312noreply@blogger.com