The 'unwanted gifts' part of the heading sounds rather churlish but it refers to a situation that is the cause of great mirth in the Random household. We are blessed with really good neighbours, whose properties once formed part of ours - in the days before we moved here. We live in the original farmhouse with a large portion of the farmyard and the kitchen garden, while our neighbours on one side live in a converted linhay (barn) and on the other side, a bungalow built on what used to be an orchard. We are all very friendly and helpful but can go for quite long periods without seeing one another.
The neighbours in the bungalow run an excellent nursery for children from a few months to 4 years and on Friday the husband, John, came round to tell us that they were refurbishing the nursery and he had a baby's highchair he wanted us to have. I explained that we already had one but he insisted that with three grandchildren another chair was sure to come in handy and before I could blink I was the grateful, if reluctant owner of two highchairs.
On Saturday, John was at the door again. "I'm sure you could use a storage unit for books and toys, it is in excellent condition but we don't need it any more." So here we are in our overfurnished, cluttered house with two highchairs and a storage unit.
On Sunday my husband went to the door, he was going to be much firmer than I had been. Now we have two highchairs, a storage unit and a child's desk!
This morning we have been waiting nervously for the knock on the door, expecting to see John with two infants under his arms - in great condition but surplus to requirements! I think we need a bigger shoe!
Maureen, this is so funny. You're more gracious than I would have been. Maybe there's someone YOU could "gift" them with ;)
ReplyDeleteJodi, I'm glad to have made you smile. I'll be offering the unwanted items on Freecycle so someone will benefit from my neighbour's generosity.
ReplyDeleteThose neighbours have a great technique! Just be grateful they aren't growing courgettes, or pumpkins.....
ReplyDeleteKarin, you'll have to be VERY imaginative when your friend comes to call! There must be a polite convention for dealing with these situations. If anyone knows one, please let us know.
ReplyDeleteRachel - that's the neighbour on the other side! I thought that when I took round the third courgette loaf, they would take the hint. Then I moved on to courgette and apple chutney but they I still found a bag of courgettes on the doorstep every other day.
ReplyDeletem. I had never heard the word, courgette, but knew immediately it must be another word for zucchini! When I lived in Vermont, zucchini was a menace. They grew to enormous size and often materialized in your home, car, or office seemingly right in front of your eyes.
ReplyDeleteZucchini growers were ingenious in redistributing their crops to the less fortunate.
Now I have to pay for them at the market. :-)
A lovely post..I have visions of you hiding at the sound of the door knocker ...lol
ReplyDeletee, I like courgettes/zucchini but in moderation. Friends and neighbours never seem to learn the lesson that they shouldn't plant so many!
ReplyDeleteVal, we are still in hiding.
ReplyDeleteHow hard it is to refuse generosity - even to one's personal detriment. I say this while surrounded by clutter! I can feel a new year's Resolution coming on.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Resolution, Colleen. There are only a few weeks left for me to achieve this year's, which was to declutter!
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