'Chameleon'

Another leap forward with the preparations for the big move in just over two weeks’ time. My niece came over this morning to help, and she arrived before the chaps from the British Heart Foundation got here. This meant we were able to make sure all the furniture they were collecting was properly clean and we dismantled the big double divan bed ready for them. I was really pleased that they took the bed, mattress and brass bedhead, which was all in remarkably good condition. Also a tall pine corner unit, bedside cabinet, telephone table, two side tables and a magazine rack. Hopefully they will raise some decent funds from that and the other things I’ve already donated.

When the men had gone, we started heaving things around where I wanted them, vacuuming and polishing, turning more stuff out, putting more books for donation into my car and rearranging the boxes. Astonishingly, we managed to move the rather heavy single bed from one bedroom to the other. It was Mum’s, so it will feel a bit strange to sleep on it, but I’ll be at the flat quite a bit over the next couple of weeks so it won’t be for that many nights. When my own beds arrive on moving day, I shall ask the removal men to take Mum’s bed outside ready for the council to collect.

After our exertions I took my niece out for a well-earned lunch at The Exchange, and then she left for home before the traffic got too busy. This afternoon I’ve been laundering bed linen and getting things a bit straighter.

For want of a blip, I popped out to the garden. The Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata) is in flower at the moment. I love the variegated leaves, especially the edges of bright pink here and there. It’s in the triangular bed under the Acer tree, provides great ground cover every year and keeps the weeds in check very effectively.