Sue's notes to self

I recently gave a talk entitled “Are you an Arctophile?’ and asked people to bring along their own teddy bears to share in the fun. Then I had to work out which of my collection I would take along on the day. It was not long before I had filled a crate, a bag and a suitcase, and I had barely scratched the surface of what was available. Maybe I have too many? But then how could an arctophile have too many teddy bears? (We won’t mention the extensive collection of other cuddly toys, all purchased for very good reasons of course).

Simon says we could start a shop with the collections I have. There are teddy bears, cuddlies, thimbles, crystal ornaments, glassware, jugs, Wedgwood ‘Wild Strawberry’, fancy tins, marmite jars (yes, empty marmite jars of different sorts), badges, books and more books, Willow Tree figures, Royal Dalton figures (only a few), dollhouses (only three), and probably a few I have forgotten about. Clutter, some would call it. I have decluttered a little – I have far less owls than I did, and even a few less teddy bears.

So, it would appear I am a compulsive collector, but only in a fairly small way. Or so I thought. Then I went to tidy out my shoes. Now, I am by no means an Imelda Marcos, but even I was surprised at how many pairs I have, many of which I had completely forgotten about. Why I hang on to shoes with any heal I have no idea, I can’t walk in them any more!? I look at my wardrobe and realise that I also have far too many clothes, even though my role in life means I spend most of my time in what could be described as ‘uniform’. There are even some smaller sized items I can’t bear to part with (a common theme), tucked away just in case I ever fit them again. That is somewhat unlikely of course, but you never know. Eventually I will have to let some go, because when we downsize (ha ha) I doubt I will have a much wardrobe space. As it is, Simon’s wardrobe exists in the back room while I have, well, taken up all the room in the bedroom. All that is not to mention the numerous pairs of earrings that I have forgotten I had too.

It seems I collect a lot of things that are frivolous and over-indulgent. Well, a girl has to have some pleasures in life. The biggest peril of all this is that someone will have to sort it all out when I go if I don’t contain myself now. Maybe I should write a list of who gets what, then the recipients can do with my collections what they please – after I am gone?

Oh, and I forgot the small collection of shells, the meerkats, garden ornaments and crosses.

Maybe I should start to identify the items to shed now? Na, leave it till I have to.

Maybe I should stop collecting? As if!

24th July 2023