neatly labelled boxes

I wonder where my urge to organise comes from? When I enter a space that is cluttered and disorganised, I can't help myself. It's almost a compulsion! It really makes me feel magnificent when everything is in its proper place and easy to find. You should see my kitchen drawers. My plastic container drawer is the neatest I have ever met! So tidy and easy to navigate! Cooking is a dream in my kitchen. Wish I had pictures of it to post on here. Doesn't mean that my studio desk doesn't get snowed under with crap that I need to quickly get out of the living room...but I have boxes for everything, the crap just hasn't been put into them. Priorities, you know. Crap out of living room often trumps placing stuff in boxes when it comes to time management.

It doesn't really run in the family, as far as I know, other than that my aunt is a professional organiser (amongst other things) as well as being a bit of a hoarder. I am only the former. My sister and mother, however, are not so good at keeping order. Think they get distracted but have the intention of organising. Me, if I find something that belongs with other things, I put them together. Stationary belongs with stationary. And everything has to be easily accessible. Drawers are king! I love drawers! Cupboards are fine, but they may not be too deep and must have ample space to reach the back. And I love boxes. Love neatly labelled boxes. And they must all fit in or on top of each other. I love things that fit together well. Preferably in nice matching colours, hence my love for shops like Ikea, Kikki K, Howard's Storage World and Store to name but a few. They sell wonderful boxes and storage things.

I have this compulsion so badly it made me design my own handbags. It was out of pure frustration that I designed my first one, I was sick of my phone ringing, me scrambling around the bottom of my bag trying to reach it, and by the time I fished it out, I had missed the call. And my keys! Always at the friggin' bottom! I started looking for bags with pockets. They exist. There are plenty of bags with pockets. But they are not the right shape style and or size, and there's just not enough pockets! The first bag I designed has 21 pockets, and two key hooks. It fits my stuff perfectly. I have never missed a call ever again because I couldn't reach my phone in time (but plenty of times because I couldn't hear it!) And out of love for a friend and knowledge of what one needs to change a baby, I also designed a nappy bag set. Things have to be both stylish and super efficient and functional. Phiroze has peaked my interest here with his love for Tom Bihn bags. They are awesome, stylish with loads and loads of pockets and they are way more durable than my own bags and I love that they have key hooks too. However, they are not as unique as mine, nor are they made with the same amount of love. Plus, I can't brag about those : D My current bag is starting to age and it's time to make a new one. But there is no time for that right now.

Anyhow, if you ever decide to give me a present (which I love, love, love, love) and you don't know what to get me, give me a voucher for a storage shop. I will be over the moon. Speaking of presents, why is it, that once you get past a certain age, it's ok not to buy people presents anymore? Try rocking up at a kid's party without a present! There will be tears! And why is ok to say 'let's not do presents for the grownups this Christmas.' Why the hell not? I love presents. I love that someone went out, thought about me, about how I am, about what would make me happy, and made an effort to wrap it nicely, with a lovely card and then watched me open it. Presents are awesome. Presents are not about spending money on someone, they are about making people happy! When did grownups stop remembering that? I also love giving presents and wrapping them. I often like to make my own presents, obviously. Or used to, before I got too busy having a full time job. I find it easy to find presents for most people, but men can be hard to buy for. Men, I have learnt, if they want or need something, they go and buy it. They don't go 'oh, I wish I had this or that'. Nope. They go online, and a few days later, there it is. Not gift-wrapped. Not with a card. They don't seem to care. Must be a girl thing. Must be a kid thing. Must be a me thing. Me = girl + kid + sensibility + common sense. Oh and efficiency. I have that too.

That's why I love riding bikes so much. It's efficient. Much more efficient than walking. I can't stand walking. It's ok when you need to get somewhere, I guess, but walking for the sake of walking, nah. Can't do it. If there is a bike, I will opt for it every time. It's such a good feeling, riding a bike. I love it. I don't ride a bike here in Elsendorp, as there is nowhere to ride to. The village is so tiny you can walk everywhere (but like I said, where would I go? And why?), and everything else is too far away, it stops being efficient to ride as the car is quicker. But Amsterdam, well, Amsterdam is made for bikes. Oh, how I wish my mother lived in Amsterdam. Actually, no. Not true. Elsendorp is nice and quiet. It's just too far away from Amsterdam, that is the problem. Ah well. Such is life.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm talking an awful lot. I do that. Have you had enough of my rants for now? Cool, I am tired and was going to bed anyway. Thanks for reading! G'nite.