Sunday 18 January 2009

A Good Weekend Junking: Why My Husband Is Worth His Weight In Beer


This weekend I yielded more from other people's junk. I am like a pig in mud. I love junk. I'd roll in it too if I could.

Even my son now has the taste for junking around the neighbourhood. We picked up some things this afternoon (which I'll blog about tomorrow), so excited he was the Doctor said, "Come on Mummy, let's go find some more junk. We need to get other people's junk." He still looks for the bin house and wonders why they don't have any junk out the front. (And when I served cake to my MIL recently, he proudly declared - "Mummy found that plate in the bin." Ah yes, a proud moment indeed. I can assure you, my MIL's reaction was pretty darn funny too.)

While Matt is not totally sold on the idea, I do have to thank him for my favourite treasure from today.

We were innocently driving to do the big grocery shop for the week. The boys were heading to the skate park across the road. Tiny and I drew the short straw and were heading straight for slow trolley pushers who aisle-hog while they decide whether they'll get homebrand biscuits, or splash out on some brand name. Exciting stuff.

But before we had even driven one minute, I spotted a pile of garbage. I slowed down. And it really was garbage. Keep rolling restless travellers!

Not two houses on, more garbage, and this time - two old chairs, an old mirror that belonged to a dressing table - and this chest of drawers. We have a wild shortage of storage in this house. Matt was vehemently saying, no no no, it was almost a chant. But luckily I was in the driver's seat. I did a lap, emptied out our boot, and whilst doing so, struck a deal with Matt - if he helped, I owed him a six pack of import beer. Now kids - this is how bargaining is done - watch Mummy and Daddy and learn. Deal!

We drove back to the junk and I confirmed that this set of drawers was indeed destined for great things.

The bummer is it didn't fit in our car boot. I had already pre-imagined Matt weasling out of our deal and saying - too hard, let's go shopping. Thankfully given his next stop was the skate park, we loaded the car up with the drawers, and the actual chest onto his skateboard and he wheeled the darn thing home. I'm damn sure it was a funny sight.

Stamped on the back 1945, and a Mark Foys piece, someone's had this for an age and loved it - and we in turn will love it too. Cute, innit it?

23 comments:

Liesl said...

How on earth do you find such treasures, when the best I find on a curb is an old car battery? Its magnificent and the most amazing find. And we could probably safely say ... had never been wheeled anywhere on a skateboard in its past history.

Cindy said...

I love the photo on top too - so cute. My, talk about hanging a carrot, that man must love his imported brew.
He is a goodin' I think you had better keep him!

CurlyPops said...

I so wish you had the camera to take a photo of hubby wheeling it home on a skateboard!
That has to be the hard rubbish jackpot.

Amber said...

You have luck, it is an amazing talent. You are one class A junkie. So impressed...hehe
xx

Monique said...

Love love love it! Well done. We love it when its council cleanup. The rooster too loves the trash. his favourite bike is a roadside disgard. Please post photo of matt with the chest on his skateboard if you have one.

Kirsty said...

I love this story.

One of my friends swaps favours of the grown up variety if her husband does the ironing.

Bec @ honi design said...

oh wow- that's a beauty! When I find stuff like that I love thinking about who owened it, what it held etc.
I LOVE picking up stuff from council clean-up, aand I thought I was pretty good at it - but you're the Queen of it!

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

That is GOLD!!! that is great- no option- you had to get it!

Cass said...

That is fantastic. I noticed a hard rubbish collection near us yesterday but everything was junk

zofia said...

Yay- that is fantastic! and a genius idea, skateboarding it home!
Lucky, lucky!

Anonymous said...

Using the skateboard pure genius ..... i take my hat off to you!

what a great find!

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh I just cannot believe your luck!

Well done hubby!!!!!

The story was perfectly shared.

flossy-p said...

Amazing Find!!!!!! (and so well negotiated m'dear!)

We once used the beloved skateboard to transport a mattress, hehehehe.

Rachael said...

Wow. I am moving into your neighbourhood!

That reminds me - pls send my your address for your grandy and baa giveaway.

Ellieboo said...

Totally love it - I only ever see complete crap on my local pavements - real rubbish that you wouldnt want to take home, let alone on a skateboard.

You must live a better class of neighbourhood than me :)

Melissa! said...

OOh, I'd stop for that dresser, too! But not the mirror?

Unknown said...

On a skateboard? Ingenious!

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for the finds we make dumpster diving. I'll admit my house is furnished with quite a few gems found on the curb. You scored.

Catherine said...

Brilliant find and story to go with it! You do seem to find some amazing things around the place. It's amazing what men will do for beer, it certainly makes life easy at times!

Anonymous said...

You have a special talent. Really and truly I am impressed.

Megan.K. said...

Definitely worth his weight in beer for that! What a great find.
I loved the "mummy found that plate in the bin" too. LOL.

leslie said...

it's gorgeous. i bow down before you, queen and supreme ruler of thrift :)

home girl said...

haven't heard the term junking b4 but i'm loving it and all the other stuff that went on in this post!