July has come to an end (August is here) and I have not made any decent progress with my next blog post, although I have had great discussions with myself trying to decide what I should be writing about. I guess it would be a lot easier to pick up one of my old topics and work on an updated version. However, I do love challenges and I find it very satisfying coming up with a brand new subject. It is also a good exercise for the brain, as a way of keeping those grey cells busy so they are in a healthy shape. And of course, it is fun! One would say that I am under a bit of pressure as 2025 has only five months left, and I still need five more blog posts published to meet my target of ten. It may be the fact that years keep piling up on my shoulders (they say that the older one gets, the faster time flies) but I am finding it hard to understand what has happened to the first seven months of this year, not sure where they have gone. Simply saying that they have flown by quickly is just a mere underestimation, they have actually vanished away at the speed of light. Scary indeed, as memories of last month seem to have become a distant shadow, as if they were from a decade ago! Hence the importance of keeping packing life with as many memories as possible so the backpack of special moments and unique experiences is never empty.
Despite the rain on Swithin’s day (it is said that if it rains on that day it will rain for the next forty days and forty nights) it is quite a nice evening here, down in the lands of Wild West Cork. Sitting on the edge of Dursey shore, listening to the sea, its soothing sounds of well needed calming peace, its refreshing melody of mind recovering wellness, its empowering concerto of waves crashing into the rough coastline. Simply realising the power of the deep blue sea, of the wild ocean, of the vast mass of salty water. One would not dare to suggest it is summer nevertheless the sun is partying alongside with clouds and cool winds. At least, we are half way through those forty days, thank lord! I read somewhere the other day that “La Niña” is back, which will bring a colder, harsher and wetter winter, with plenty of storms. Let’s hope that September gifts us some sunshine and drier days! One can only dream…
I should get down to business, shouldn’t I? My usual cúpan tae, no candle flickering away, no music in the background so I am not distracted and my mind does not wonder away, just the sounds of the ocean. Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat is curled next to me pretending to be asleep when in fact she is keeping an eye on me, I can sense her disapproval with my delay on my writing commitments. Let’s get this blog post flowing just in case Chief Superintendent decides to take matters into her own paws…
…that was the origin of an amazing journey of discovering the joys of giving material things a second life…
This is probably my first time starting to write a blog post without having fully decided the topic. The good news is that I have made my mind up, it was time for me to do so! I cannot remember exactly when I started to enjoy my outings to charity shops in search of treasures, but I would say it all began around four years ago. Initially, it was mainly related to my crafts, as I needed frames so I decided that it would have a more meaningful approach to use second hand frames and give them an artistic new life. What I was not expecting at that time was to be captivated by the excitement of looking around, picking up pottery, vases, crystal items, Royal Tara fine bone china objects as well as coming across beautiful unique pieces. That was the origin of an amazing journey of discovering the joys of giving material things a second life, of embracing endless possibilities of decorating our home, of relishing the chances of stumbling on something extraordinarily beautiful. One would be surprised to see what people get rid of, brand new, never used, still in its packaging, with its tags, just patiently sitting on the shelves of second hand shops awaiting a new home.
…as one steps in, our house embraces you with a hug…
Over the last couple of years, my interests have shifted towards pieces of furniture. From a phone table, a hall table, a corner shelf, bookshelves, a kitchen cabinet…And many other stunning units, given away probably for the only reason that they were not modern nor stylish anymore. But the thing is that I love that vintage touch, that mid century label, that full of character feeling. It definitely gives the house warmth and it makes one feel welcome. Someone told me last summer that as one steps in, our house embraces you with a hug, isn’t that lovely? What a nice compliment! While finding that new acquisition is great fun, deciding where it will best suit is even more exciting, however admiring it afterwards is extremely rewarding! I may check “marketplace” every now and again, although my favourite retail therapy is the local APA shop (A Partnership with Africa), where I can wander around searching for my new item purchased (or victim lol). Not only that but the chats and banter are a treasure to hold.
…If one dares to be bold, one may venture into urban foraging…
If one dares to be bold, one may venture into urban foraging, or skip diving, in the search for treasures. A while ago we were walking around the village when my partner stopped to have a quick look into a skip, mainly looking for wood when I spotted some sort of what I thought was a blue pottery vase. To my surprise, it was in fact a lamp, in perfect condition, from an expensive well-known pottery brand! Needless to say I did not hesitate grabbing it so I could bring it home to check if it worked. A good cleaning, a light bulb, a new lampshade, and there you go, a beautiful enhancement for the phone table. The lamp is still brightening our hall every single evening. Every time I look at it, I smile as it brings me back to that moment when I came across it. You never know what you may find in a skip…
Since we are at full capacity when it comes to room for new furniture, I always have the chance to upgrade units while giving away the replaced ones via the local “free to take” groups. I know that it is easier to bring unwanted items to the reclining center or to dispose of them by simple binning when possible. However, I do prefer to pass them on so others can benefit. I can understand why people would not want the hassle of taking pictures, uploading them onto the local “free to take” page, and responding to those interested, but I do. I guess it is my humble contribution to make this world more sustainable, to reduce the necessity of purchasing new items, to incentivize the recirculation of goods.
In a world of consumerism, where pressure for buying is some sort of an imperative, where goods seem not to be valued much, where things are easily replaceable. In a world of materialism, where fast fashion is nearly compulsory, where trends change too quickly, where state of the art products are so admired. I chose to give things a second life!
Jay Cee Moon ©
Jaycee Moon 