Monday, February 19, 2007

Fun monday part II: my precious things

This week's fun monday is hosted by karmyn and the topic is precious possessions. And so to start...

In August, Mr Moi and I made some very hard decisions. Examining our measly possessions, we had to decide what to bring to Ukraine (the bare minimum), what to store in Oz (anything worth anything), and what to chuck in the bin/give away (pretty much everything).

During this time, I learned how easy it was to chuck stuff out. So easy - just put it in the bin or give it to charity. We threw out so much stuff... and unfortunately, I was bitten by the chuck-out bug, and threw out two-thirds of my beloved knee sock collection.

I had about 30 pair of knee socks. I've whittled this down to a collection of about 10. I've collected these over a period of time, mostly from Australia, Japan and some recent additions from France. They are precious to me.

Yes, they are very beautiful. I especially love the ones at the far left, aqua with white polka dots. These were brought back to me from Japan. And I found the pink socks with the stars at the trader's markets in Sydney. They had a sister pair - black socks with white stars, which looked great with my black one-star converse sneakers. But Mr Moi forced me to dispose of both after a week of camping in the rain with no other shoes or socks.

The stripey socks were purchased for me by a former colleague. They are my 'corporate' knee socks, as they were deemed acceptable to wear to work. My other socks weren't acceptable, but I wore them anyway.

My other prized possessions are my accessories. I don't wear makeup, but I love earrings and all that flippy girlie stuff. Much to my mother's dismay however, not one piece is made from a precious metal, except maybe a bit of silver. And none contain precious stones. And my average accessory usually retails around the $5-mark.

Here's a picture of my accessories.

Oh, I don't wear the pink padlock at the front. But you have to admit that a pink padlock is rather special, so it's kept with my special accessories.

Here's a picture of my socks and accessories together.

If you notice, nothing matches. That's because I never match. It's just too hard to co-ordinate clothes with socks and shoes and accessories.

Last but not least. Drum-roll please...

My final prized possession has travelled with me everywhere. Mr Moi wants to throw it out. I have to hide it from him. It's covered my head in south east asian temples, been a frenchie-style neck tie in cool clubs in Montreal, and now it's acting as an ear-warmer in Kyiv.

It's my red bandanna.

Purchased for 50 cents at Vinnies at Nundah in 1997, it's our ten year anniversary this year. I love you red bandanna.

And so ends my first fun monday. I hope you enjoyed it.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a collection! i dig the knee socks!

ChrisB said...

what a wonderful collection it reminds me of socks my girls used to wear. I find it really difficult to throw out some things and I dread turning out my house when we come to down size. For me its like getting rid of memories; I'm far too sentimental.

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Dear nikki. Even writing the post has made me go into mourning for my thrown out knee socks...


Dear Chrisb. All the stuff we kept is sitting at our parents' places. My mum lacks the sentimental bug - I went to Brissie from Sydney for a holiday once, and there's a giant skip bin on the front nature strip with many of my treasured possessions inside. I hope you're not as ruthless when/if you decide to downsize!

Anonymous said...

You are an eclectic person...I love your collections. I have 2 pair of knee socks I would love to send and add to your collection. Of course, one pair is Boxers (dogs)not the kind of underwear you wear or fighters...the other is red with white snowflakes representing Colorado.
Love the red bandana.

Anonymous said...

It looks like it all just came out of a treasure box!! I love pretty and inexpensive accessories that aren't afraid to be bold and daring. Socks say so much about a person and the bandana...so cool!

Anonymous said...

I have a collection of slipper socks that I'm sure my husband could do without. I do love all the patterns and colors though. Great post!

Molly said...

I did enjoy your Fun Monday. I especially like the pink knee socks with stars. Knee socks brings back sweet memories of yesteryear

Pamela said...

oh the socks.. you are like the Cat in the hat!!!!


This winter I could have borrowed a pair ... when my feet got cold

willowtree said...

I know the "pack it, store it or toss it" dance very well. It's quite liberating, until you end up 10,000 miles away and realise what you no longer have within reach.

A lot of people don't get knee socks, I did a post once where I photoshopped me wearing a pirate hat and panties, and I got more comments about the knee socks (which I was actually wearing) than the panties!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I wear my husband's knee-socks, especially when I just need a pair of basic black ones. I wish he owned some pink polka-dotted ones. I'd have more fun going through his stuff.

Beccy said...

Love your knoee socks, I have loads, mainly stripey as they're great to wear under boots.

I also love cheap accessories (in fact I love a bargain), you can wear them a few times without feeling guilty if you go off them, if you lose, shrink or damage them it doesn't matter and you can but much more for your money!

Samantha Louise said...

Girl, this has quickly become my favourite blog. Everything you say and do leaves me in a fit of giggles. Sometimes my boss hears me and asks me what so funny, and i'll say "Australians in some russian place".

Bethany said...

Love the knee socks!

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Oh dear, I'm still wiping the sleep out of my eyes and I see the knee socks have caused quite a stir. Here i thought I was an island of knee sock love, yet deep down, everyone has a penchant for them... yay!


Dear swampwitch. Those knee socks sound very lovely, especially the red ones, ooohh ahhhh. They might just match the red bandanna.


Dear min. Oh thanks. I need to get you to talk some sense into my mum, she's been calling all my stuff rubbish for years :(


Dear melissa. I have never heard of slipper socks. Are they like knee socks? Is there a whole new sock world out there for me to explore? Please tell.


Dear mjd. I like the pink ones too. They are certainly up there with the faves, and very warm for the Kyiv winter.


Dear pamela. Does the cat in the hat like socks? Then I would like the cat in the hat. Yes my socks are very warm but you must remember they all have holes in their toes (cunningly disguised in my photo). So if I lent them to you, you might get a toe-wind-chill-factor...


Dear willowtree. Yes what is it about the socks? No one is commenting on my precious jewellery. I will have to search back for this post of yours. Sounds rather eye opening. I threw out the perfect pair of knee socks to go with a pirate outfit - black over-the-knees with bright green skull and crossbones. If it turns out I kept them, I shall send them to you.


Dear Karmyn. Ohhh a husband who has his own knee socks! you're luckly. Mr Moi likes MY knee socks. He also likes to put holes in the heels. Grrr.


Dear beccy. I have discovered that knee socks are actually for boots! But, I only got my first pair of boots two months ago. Before that it was knee socks and mary-janes all the way. Who's your preferred knee sock supplier? Maybe I can stock up if they have a store in the UK.... And don't you love the cheap accessories cause of the pretty colours too? Ahh they're just so cheap you can buy heaps of them!


Dear Samantha Louise. Thanks! I like to make people giggle. But just don't get yourself into a spot of bother at work. I used to jump everytime my boss caught me on the net!


Dear bethany. They are worth loving, believe me... So pretty!

Beccy said...

I get most of my socks in Dunnes Stores and Irish shop not open in the UK, but you might be able to get them in Primark or H&M.

The colours are fab, and I love the pink padlock, meant to say that earlier. I would buy something like that because I like the colour regardless of whether I actually need a padlock.

Anonymous said...

Missy Moi Missy Moi Missy Moi - do you know your mother or not??!! Who is the one who still has her replies to her wedding and also her wedding cards and telegrams???? This year they will be 37 YEARS OLD!!! It is the five kids who have left home and leave their stuff cluttering my house and under house and cubby holes in the ceiling that give me the heebie jeebies!! It is very easy to get rid of other peoples rubbish. All I need now is some hints on how to get rid of the inert green ford in the third garage??!!!

Beccy said...

Have to tell you I saw a pink car today with pink furry dice that would match your padlock!

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Dear beccy. When I left my last job to embark on my adventure to Ukraine, my colleagues purchased for me a pair of hot pink gloves with bright green thread, and a hot pink scarf. Unwittingly, I then purchased a new pair of hot pink specs with a bright green trim. I am turning into one of those crazy cat (well, in my case, hot pink and green) ladies. Ohh I would love a pink car but Mr Moi might leave me. Or at least, refuse to ride with me.


Dear mum. Wow that was a lot of exclamation marks. !. I do have sentimental stuff, just not here in Kyiv. And I was too drunk to remember to take any of the telegrams from our wedding. Do you have them? Love moi xx

Anonymous said...

Dear Little Miss Moi,

I missed this Fun Monday post the other day...having my home painted is limiting my blogging, not to mention life in general. It was FUN to come by today and read this, though. If you email your address to me, I will find some fun knee socks to mail to you (to replace some of the ones you tossed). The picture of you at the end is FANTABULOUS! So mysterious! Yet, we still see your precious bandana (hehe). How 'bout taking a similar one with you wearing all your baubles? That would be fun for you and us!

Anonymous said...

When I got married, we really did receive telegrams from the Post Office - a little man delivered them on his bike!!! No I don't have your's because what usually happens now is that people make up ones and write them on paper.

Anonymous said...

Slipper socks are fuzzy warm fluffy things. I'm not sure the official name is slipper socks but that's what I use them as. They're usually made out of microfiber or some other blend. And they're thicker than regular socks. I'll search out a picture for you.

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Dear robin! I'm glad you liked my knee socks and picture. Oh dear, not sure about all the baubles, not only would I be every colour under the rainbow, but my mug would be in the shot too. Scary!


Dear mum. Yeah I know we didn't get telegrams to our wedding. But someone printed some off email and stuff...


Dear melissa. I got the picture. Thanks! They look really comfortable and certainly, I whole new sock world for me. Next time I go to a country that has department stores, I will have to search some out.