The Den…….used to be our daughter’s bedroom, then our son’s and then the place of study for nurse training and ongoing learning. Now? To relax in. This became a dumping ground room after retiring. Littered with boxes. In my youth my extended families always had a ‘Box Room’. Flotsam, jetsam and junk! Never truly decorated this room myself other than painting the existing anaglypta wallpaper. To explain.
When we first moved here to Wales we had visitors coming almost every week for about five years. We both worked and the opportunities to decorate were impossible. I can’t simply hang wallpaper and get it done in a weekend. Useless like that. It always was a long winded affair in past houses of stripping back to basics. Always some unlooked for need to repair. Plaster, woodwork, plumbing, electrical, etc. Thank heavens in those past houses for a couple of friends’ assistance and also my Dad and Uncle Ron! Also, when moving to Wales it offered it’s glorious outside too. The beach, the lakes, rivers, forestry and woodland. So we were often out and about. It is really only since retiring it has been possible to get stuck in.
So. Getting there to the last hurdles now. First finish cutting the carpet on the last stretch of skirting and doorway. Then there are more pictures to hang, a different stereo to sort out, a TV monitor for the DVD’s, a sofa bed to choose, hangers for the guitars and tidy up the wires. Putting together the ‘blackboard desk’ today (advert picture here below). It folds down from the wall so no floor space permanently taken. The sofa bed needs the empty floor space. So it will be nice to finally get off the dining table to write blogs.
The plan is an escape room for whoever needs it. I want to generally sit here to write music, plan for the Spring garden interventions, bit of art, reading, listening to music, mixing synergy essential aromatherapy oils or generally using and checking out the vintage fountain pens.
Please tap on individual photographs to enlarge.
The nice bit? No more technical books to read or essays/thematic inclusions for ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to type/write and angst over. Now it is journalling, diary thoughts, doodling, writing lyrics to new songs whilst drinking coffee, eating biscuits and putting down the fountain pen in gentle satisfaction and not out of frustration. Bliss.
The not so nice bit is that I have boxes on boxes of unwanted technical books, DVDs, CDs, ornaments, etc. to get to somewhere else. They are currently getting piled up ‘out back’. But focus on the nice bit! When certain visitors come we can now sit, drink, play guitars, sing and chat.
Below are photographs of the progress and a couple of shelves in the under the stairs ‘library’.
Please tap on individual photographs to enlarge. Thank you.
Gray Summers 
I don’t know how you do it. I can’t even find the energy to break down the boxes from my most recent amazon order.
Good luck!
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Thank you. When I retired I felt it would be good to focus on the house and garden as it was in a terrible state. My wife has her own Wholefood Shop and the surrounding community are really supportive. The town, Machynlleth, is a very eco minded one. They are currently chasing a zero waste philosophy. The Centre for Alternative Technology has close affiliations with the town too. My nurse career was full on. Great to get to the magic of 65 years on the planet and retire. A year and a half now in being able to do this decorating and gardening malarkey. When we were both working we neglected our home! Embarrassment when visitors came was always on the agenda. So my motivation now is shoving ambition on Facebook to then follow through with results. Our friends are great in encouragement replies. Like yourself. So thanks for the thumbs up. I’ve just posted another Den blog. It’s now my escape blogging and hopeful recording for YouTube space. Amazon boxes though! They’ll send a pen inside a box fit for the size of a coffee table! It can take you half a day to break down just one! 😊 All the best.
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hahahhaa! Too true! I have a box the size of a refrigerator box that delivered a box fan. But those are the fun ones to break down – I decide it’s not worth the energy just yet… and then (since I live alone and can be an idiot on a whim), I’ll get in one and pretend I’m flying a space shuttle. Becausse… WHY NOT???
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Why not indeed. Cardboard boxes, to my children when growing up and my grandchildren now, are more fun than the toys within them. I bet it was the case for myself when I was a child too. Imagination is a fantastic possession to own and use. A cardboard box as a space shuttle sounds ideal. Reach for the stars and back again…..to start another new box for memories journey…all over again. All the best.
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Vroom vroom!!! Lol
Take care!
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Planet unknown hey. Give it an awesome name when you discover it. 😊 Cheers.
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Been thinking about it. Think I’ll call it Living Room lol
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Home is where the heart is. So ‘Living’ Room is a good choice. 👍
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Well, it’s the planet I’m on when I exit my shuttle, so it’s a good name for me to give it, since it’s its name, me thinks.
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Very true. A perfect name. All the best.
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😀 Be well
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You too.
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