Fancy A Look Through The Keyhole ?
Some of you may remember the television programme "Through the Keyhole". If, I remember correctly it was hosted by Lloyd Grossman. A simple format. He would wander through someones house while they were out and you had to guess who lived there. I rarely watched it but his voice is firmly fixed in my mind when he would say "Who lives in a house like this ?" so I thought it would be fun to do a condensed version. Fancy a look through the keyhole ?
Something had triggered the thought process this morning but as I write this, for the life of me I cannot think of how it began. Still, we're here now so we might as well get on with it. It could well have been me thinking about weekend posts. I always find the weekends here at WA unpredictable. I never know whether they will be busy or quiet. For the most part, I just carry on regardless.
Here we have the 'hub'. This is where the magic happens.lol. Sorry, couldn't resist. No magic here, just strings and mirrors. I was actually thinking about both my computer and the desk. The computer, my connection to the world, is an old Packard Bell 'Touchscreen' Your phone probably contains more processing power than this Dual-core blast from the past. Bought a few years ago off EBay, as a 'Not working, spares or repairs' bargain. Apparently the previous owner had turned it on one day and sparks and smoke had spewed forth. Right up my alley. I am definitely one for 'turn it on and see what happens'. I had guessed that the problem might have been with the power supply, so I was all for taking it apart to see what had melted together.
It didn't come with power lead and adapter but being the 'hoarder' that I am, I had one that would do the job. Plugged it in and...it worked without issue. Result. As Hannibal used to say "I love it when a plan comes together"
I have a love/hate relationship with my desk. It was a 'freebie' which is always nice and it's big,
so I can spread. It does also means that it can become a repository for stuff that has no fixed abode. You see it in one of those 'between' moments, neither cluttered nor clean. Not sure if there's anything else of interest on there, just some notes and an external hard drive and one of my other prized acquisitions, my lamp. It's not quite what you'd call 'diminutive' that's for sure. I think it came from a dentists' surgery. Anyway, eyesight not being what it once was, it is extremely useful when it comes to those intricate jobs that I have the pleasure of turning my hand to every now and then. Phone screens mainly, keeping the young and unwashed connected.
If ever I get round to using the webcam, then, more interesting than my aging facade would be the backdrop. Brace yourselves, it's not pretty.
Anything there that piques an inquiry ? Not really. Of course, it's all useful and I couldn't do without it, why else would I keep it. You just never know. Diaries ? Good for looking back and making comparisons. Videos ? well, not everything is available online and it's not like I have that many....
Enough of HQ. I am an equal opportunity hoarder, I have no favourites. All are welcome. Forget the decor, that reflects nothing if not a 'what's point' attitude, I'm afraid. Out of the lounge through the excuse for a hallway (2 foot square) and into the dining room. The days of everyday dining have long since gone. Trying to get everyone in at the same time is as Jim Rohn puts it "Like herding cats" We did manage it over the holiday period though, just to justify the need for a table.
See, no preferential treatment in 'Casa Twack' Before you ask, yes I have read them, well apart from the Sophie Kinsella and Catherine Cookson one's. Tilly Trotter just never appealed. I do actually wonder why we keep books. There are so very few that I will read again and yet, I cannot bring myself to throw them away.
Some are good for reference but the novels are mainly one-time only, Apart from John Connolly and his Charlie Parker series, now that I have read at least twice from the start to current day.
In for a penny, in for a pound. I couldn't leave you without letting you have a quick peek into my nemesis. This room does keep me up at night. First glance you may well gasp but if I was to say that everything has its place then I'm sure you'll understand. This is one of the problems of not having a garage and having a penchant towards cars and computers. There is room outside to add another room, like a utility room sort of thing and that may happen at some point, we coul dcertainly do with it.
When a friend of mine once used the phrase 'Life's luggage' I'm not sure this is what he meant. I think he was referring to emotional baggage that we collect during our lifetime. Imagine if that was in need of some external storage. A book for every memory. We would need a library of gigantic proportions. Luckily we have our own digital storage built in.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to give it a clean once in a while. I think mine has an automated program already running. If it's not important then it has no place at the front. I do try not to keep hold of useless information and yet, still it remains. Maybe that's why the house is like it is (There are some nice parts to it, like the ceilings, they're uncluttered)
So, if this year I have a proper cull and just offload everything that no longer brings me joy (see what I did there?) then I wonder if it will have a knock-on effect with my mind. 'Spic and span' it will be. 'Ship-shape and Bristol fashion' no less.
I will ponder it some more.
I hope you enjoyed the redacted tour, I have no need to finish as Lloyd would, by saying "Who lives in a house like this" I might, however ask if the home is a reflection of one's mind. If the latter is the case then it looks like it will remain cluttered for a while yet.
The weekend starts here. Bring it. Have a good one.
Twack Romero.
Recent Comments
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Have you really read all those books? The most important thing on you desk is the coffee/tea cup. I read about a lady in a neighboring that had collected newspapers all her life and never got rid of them where she stored them on the 2nd floor. Last year some time they found her buried under them when the 2nd floor collapsed on her and killed her, sad but true. Very interesting Post, Twack.
I have indeed read all the ones on the shelves, there are few stacked behind where I sit that I am still waiting to get into. Seems this last year, my reading appetite has been sated with posts and articles here, which is no bad thing.
That is indeed a sad story. Nowadays I suppose, if you subscribed to an online publication, you could digitally store them, though that doesn't always scratch the 'hoarders' itch.
You bet there is! I've never understood this younger generation moving from place to place with virtually nothing--having digital this and that!
That is really fantastic that you have read most of those books. I also believed in hoarder books but lately have been donating them to senior clubs. Lately I a have gotten into White page Kindle because it has something that books don't. First I do most of my reading before going to sleep, when I nod off and drop it on the bed or floor it is automatic bookmarked to that page. It saves me scrambling for where I was. I have a couple of hundred on the cloud so if I want to read again as I do on occasion I can. Best to you in 2020.
I used to have a Kindle 'Paper White' but sold it and bought a 'Fire' thus allowing me to be a bit more mobile, it does the job much as I need it to.
I just need more shelves.
I had to leave it all behind, everything, about 15 years ago and it's amazing how much junk I could collect since then.
But Kindle, Audio and Google is my library now. The depressing thing now is that my many computers and files look like your book wall. It's there somewhere, if I can remember what or where.
It's crazy John. I moved up from London twenty-two years ago and all my stuff fitted in the back of a Renault Fuego.
As for the 'cyber-filing' I just have a drawer with old hard drives, as it's easier, at least I know 'whatever' is there.
I got a portable hard drive and I love that, but its still a challenge to keep all the downloads and stuff transferred and organised.. sort of. My entire online existence is in dire need of a serious purge.
I love it, Twack, and can certainly relate--whew, I didn't think there was anyone else like me here--What a relief!😉😜. This will prompt me to do a blog SERIES like this myself! I say series because I have TWO houses packed to the gills with detritus from myriad auctions form 2002-2016.
I am a hoarder, Ebay seller extraordinaire, and collector of cameras and media! My camera collection, to include projectors old film, and accessories is well beyond 7,000 pieces alone! (I lost counts many years ago) You can well imagine when I sell something listed in my ebay store what a national emergency it can become! I could go on and on here, but I'll start putting together an initial post with images! Your office backdrop reminded me of my ebay room--I have thousands of VHS, Video 2000, Laser-Disc, LPs, 8-TWACKS (couldn't resist), cassettes, and CDs!
Also myriad collections--one of my friends quipped that I am a collector of collections! I know I said I'd stop--more later, my friend!👍
Thanks for letting us have a peek through your keyhole!
Sounds like I am in good company, if not quite on the same scale. Although we didn't do the loft. Hmm, I might work upto that one for 2021.
It's probably a good job all the the other rooms are taken up with offspring, still, they won't be forever.
I have read a study that a place like you are very intelligent people. Well, it's but reiterating the obvious. I am impressed by the honesty and transparency of your HQ tour. I laughed when you told you got the ceiling, the uncluttered one. And you said you didn't have many when you showed the pic, you would put to shame the biggest audio-video shop! Twack, you are an endearing kind of person. No holds bar, you are what you are and you are a treasure to behold. Thanks for being part of WA.
It is my absolute pleasure to be a part of WA. Without it I would not have the ongoing good fortune to meet kind souls such as yourself. I'd to read that study though sounds authentic,for sure.😉 Kidding.
I do sometimes wonder what lies behind the connections we have made.
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Twack I was sure I answered this post already what happened to it I have no idea🤯
I had mentioned that your bookshelve looks like mine a few ago before i cleaned it up and put it alphabetical order
I also have one small bedroom with several large plastic boxes full of clothes etc most of them are my wifes😜👌
She kept bugging me to clean up my stuff but I kept telling her it's mostly yours.
So, after I went out and bought about a dozen plastic boxes about 2 ended up being my stuff ! End of discussion although lately she has started saying I need to clean out those 2 boxes, whaaaat!
I also noticed you have what looks like a big punching bag are you going to start taking out your frustration on it ha ha .
I have one that a client gave me and it will be part of my exercise combo workshop in my garage this spring.
I have a lot of tools and exercise equipment so it should be interesting. I can't believe I'am saying this after turning 69 yrs last December but we have to keep exercising and staying in shape or we will deteriorate !
I also thought my garage would be a neat place to make you tube videos about exercising and maybe a site to make things or show people how to make things out of wood or metal etc, I do have a little welding machine and can hardly wait to make things with it, I like working with my hands😏👌.
However I do have a lot of stuff to clear out of my garage like yourself.
In the past I throw out or give away stuff I have not used in 3 years.
Or, if I was really cheeky I could give some stuff to my hoarder friend, but that would be cruel ha ha .
Anyway thank you for letting us into your brain😜👌don't worry you have lots of company ☝️
Hello John, such a marvelous reply. I read an incredible book that I came across when I heard the title mentioned during an audiobook I was listening to. 'Static Contraction Training' Long and short of it, it goes into the fact that even at later stages of our life we can improve, quite radically, using a different method of training. I can attest to its worth.
Looks like the percentage of 'theirs' and 'ours' is consistent throughout the population. I cleared a double bookcase some years back, I now have two of the ten shelves and I'm sure I have those begrudgingly.
Believe it or not, there is a rowing machine hidden round the back of those boxes in the last picture. I'd like to work towards getting that out. Maybe by the time the Summer hits.
Good to be in your company John.
Yes we have to keep exercising especially when we get older
Every morning i do 10 seconds of steering wheel pulls, isometrics.
It has made my arms quite strong in a short time .
I'am going to add this in my website.
I first read a book years ago written by a phd on isometrics .
In this book he says if you pull on an immovable object for 6 seconds only a day you will gain 5% strength in that one position only every week, so it compounds.
Years ago I decided to try it and 11/2 months later I very big man much bigger than me who had demolished me in an arm wrestle only a few months earlier, I held him for 5 minutes in an arm wrestle we both agreed to a draw.
I should have beaten him but I didn't train in enough positions but I proved it works .
Try it for yourself.
Have a great day😎👌
I will have to look up that static book
Not sure if it's still in print, I found a used one on Amazon or EBay. It's authored by Peter Sisco and John R. Little. There's quite bit in there that blows away a fair few misconceptions.
Thx will check out my library just a few blocks away😎👌
John little also did a biography on Bruce Lee which is on you tube and a lot of film footage never seen before
Ooo, I did not know that. I like the early footage. I shall have a search through. Thank you John.
The book is available on amazon $15.00
Thank you John, I'll drop in later and have a peruse. Anything I find I just pop on my wish list, never lose anything then.