Her paperwork is relatively sorted. Over the past few years she has done a lot of shredding of old bills, letters etc. There is a box file, correctly labelled for Gas, Electricity, Insurance etc, and then ones for Instruction leaflets etc for the washing machine etc. (Finding a pen in the house might be another thing altogether.)
Her desk when she was using it, was neat and tidy. She is a regular user of the local Resource Centre for the blind, although she is partially sighted. Her computer equipment, including scanner(s) etc would go to them, if no one in the family wanted them. Also the various Cd players would go to them.
I have also been encouraging her, with limited success, to give away items that she no longer uses. She is unable to go out shopping on her own. So, sensibly in my view, she has started giving away items to people instead of birthday or Christmas presents. For my nephew's Wedding present recently she gave the newly married couple one of her sets of table linen. My nephew's new wife like to entertain people at elegant dinner parties, so that was a good idea. My brother received the Mahjong set. I am hoping she will continue along those lines, when people visit her. She has given me a silver tea set.
I have tried to encourage her to give away some of the books to people she knows who are interested in particular subjects. Last week-end she gave away two books, printed in circa 1950 about Indian cuisine. There are about at least fifty or more cookery books, like Mary Berry and Delia Smith. Some of the other books might be very dated by now.
The "
Ebay without money changing hands" sounds like Freecycle. I have used that in the past very successfully. It has, however, changed immeasureabley over the years, and I do not think I would use it now.
She gets on very well with her neighbours, and they are very kind to her, and help her as much as possible. Most of them have large families, so that big items could go to them and/or their families.
There is a garden "shed" which is strongly suspected to contain asbestos. This could be a huge problem if it needs to be removed. Eighteen months after my father died, we sorted out the contents of the attic. I do not think there is anything left up there.
I agree that the whole process is very emotional. Sorting my father's possessions after he died, was very upsetting for me. Fortunately my mother was able to do that mostly on her own. I am hoping that some of the family will help me with this process, but they may well just leave me to it. This is why I am trying to do some planning ahead.
, and still digesting my dinner!
for the Tour. Froomedog is far too skinny for my liking. 
Can I join in as I do like a bit of a tour about on my bike 
here, again 
. I'm just back from the flatlands of the cloggs. A cycling trip extrodinaire! Had a great time, but looking forward to a magnificent 
.
