Hot Summer

While parts of Europe and The Netherlands are plagued by a heat wave I'm fairly fine. My groundfloor apartment is pretty cool, 25 degrees Celsius this afternoon, and outdoors I bike and feel the fresh breeze.

Upstairs it's a bit warmer but the old parasol, found I don't remember when but before 2010 for sure, and in the meantime fixed with duct tape, still does a good job of keeping the heat out when the sun is beating the back window and balcony.

 Clever design with deep blue inner and silver outer cloth.

Last night however up there I did have to get rid of leg covering for the first time in I don't know in how many years, and I don't even know what other options I have in my drawers. But I went down to grab the first thing. T-dress from the load of a while ago that I kept apart in case of. Just the perfect thing because it's completely me: Jeans/T-shirt girl but then without the jeans. 

Said I'm not a fan of loud logos I can live with this. Grey on black and my first pair of basketball shoes (at five years old or so) were Converses and I loved them. So long ago they still had the rubber cushions on the inner ankles. Later on never could afford them and once found on the curb they were too narrow for my wide feet.

Only by taking the photos found out the detail of slightly longer back. Kind of adds style so I was even confident to go out cycling with this on.

Brand-name Clothing With Large Logos

I found this interesting discussion on Reddit. 

I see those products in almost every clothing shop I do stocktakes for. But despite of what some people say, I see it also in extremely expensive shops. Like this example from Fendi. Pay over a thousand for a simple shirt, you'll still advertise their brand, though more or less subtly, while wearing.

One thing I found out:

This stuff does not go second hand on line. At least not through Dutch Ebay and I don't want to try others because clothing is totally not my focus. So these sweaters will go to recycling soon now, after the rest that went right away. Found last summer and I had to carry trash bags full on the back of my bike in two goes. But I had a great pair of jeans for myself from that load. Still happy.

Now I can live with this:

Passed by textiles collection bins filled to the brim a few days ago. Bags placed beside, rummaged in already. Too much to take. I picked mainly shoes in easy to hang on my handlebars bags but there was place on top to add some randomly picked clothes. Then could add one looking the most neat with only clothes that I could strap on a bungy cord on the back.

Shoes are more weight and made me €0,58. The clothes a day later €0,40. 

I kept the Levi's cotton sweater for me. Just my size and I don't mind the modest little logo. After all in my young days Levi's were my favourite jeans. And even then it was normal that your denims were somehow showing which ones they were. It's just that these days this logo or brand showing has got out of hand.

H&M Boots

On Sunday two weeks ago I went on an errand outside my neighbourhood, to the closest shop only open there. Just before one of the bridges to pass I saw a pair of muddy boots neatly placed beside a garbage dump, passed by thinking bad condition but then stopped and went back for inspection after all. Turned out they were intact enough for recycling shop and my €10 cents a kilo.

But after washing they looked more then good and moreover my size and taste! Zippers and elastic parts are looking great. On top they are fairly wide in the front, giving my old sensitive toes space and I don't feel my metatarsal bones cracking.

Downside I found out when taking pictures... The hole in the sole is in the same place on both sides, so not caused by stepping into something sharp or so. It's wear from not even that much walking if you look at the good state of the upper material which is not even real leather. Now I don't know yet if they will leak in the rain and if that's why they were thrown away but I'll find out the hard way. 

We'll see later this year since for now it's barefoot sandal time on a pair I found last year. To be shown.

So for now they are a keep, but please H&M, can you make shoes that have solid soles for the same price?

Cloud Space

Microsoft is currently constantly reminding me of not having enough free cloud space to keep uploading files or even use Gmail, so I'm cleaning up. I have enough crap and double shots of the same things I don't have to keep. I'm definitely not going to pay for the upgrade. But then you don't want to delete too carelessly. So for now going through a bit at the time, later on I can still save things on usb sticks.

Came across this. I rarely sell books on Ebay, as I use the organized sites where you list on EAN codes. No photo's requiered. Thus I don't blog about and moreover I take them from free libraries these days.

This wasn't listable and still curb found. It was a cold winter and my camera was useless indoors. So I scanned books. Not much luck, but this went among a few others.

Apart from a list of still existing monasteries in The Netherlands it's a guide to ones where you can book to spend time to experience the life there or to find peace. A still going on trend.

I remember selling the book but not how fast. Photographed 2017-01-18, sold two days later. From the same day I had three books by famous writers that never sold, pics deleted, so the fun is that this kind of curiousity went so fast.

Jabra EVOLVE2 55 Headphones with Microphone

Said earlier this month, I found a brand new laptop bag that I just took for kilo price at the recycle center, but turned out to have interesting contents. Wireless mouse for myself, the next day I did my research on the headset.

Turned out the product 'Jabra headphones Evolve2 55' is current and sells new between about 115-160 €. Listed at €60 buy now, bidding from €50. 

Of course, as often someone sent a message this morning asking what my lowest price would be. It always irritates me a bit but I kept cool and just replied €50. Well, young man came to pick it up early this evening, sent money straight to my bank account. Very friendly and walked away with a huge smile on his either Surinamese or Antillean face. Two happy people! 

Last thing from the bag is a tablet or laptop stand but I fear it's cheap. Most likely another thriftshop donation.

Puhlmann Foldable Step Stool

I mentioned it December last year, found to replace a vintage kitchen aid that I decided to sell.

Now this is even coming to work with me tomorrow! I'm facing a job for a chain department store where the last time there was a shortage of climbing/sitting material, without any alternatives like canteen chairs or bottle crates, due to how they are organized and the type of products they sell it's just not there. The few steps were reserved for people counting higher parts, I was forced to do the lower middle gondola isles without. But I'm that short! I was working standing tiptoe for the tops but also kneeling and sitting on the floor for too long, where a low stool gives you a least a break from that. When I went home I could barely walk so that is not happening again.

Gave the thing a thorough brush up this afternoon but years old stains didn't come off. Too bad, it did fresh up a bit though. And yes the carrying handle is broken off, but I won't need it. 

It still folds as well and fits perfectly in a supermarket plastic tote bag. For the occasion I'll use a light weight backpack for my meal and other stuff. Not preferred because I hate the taking off and putting back on of backpacks for sitting in the car or public transport, but in this case I'm happy I can just open my storage and pick up an old curb find to not have two arms full each holding a bag.

I'm not a brand stuck person, but there's something I like about Puhlmann for making smart handy products. And I remember this camping table. Look for it soemewhere in the middle of the post.

Hanging Or Suspension File Folders

I had to do some internet translation research for this post and found out America says 'hanging' where Brittain prefers 'suspension'. So both are in the title, for the whole world to understand.

Well, it's been twelve years since I left my last office job and I wondered if anyone still uses these. But I see them still for sale in abundance. 

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Over the years I found fairly big piles simply in front of my door. Puzzled about why private homes had them. This bit is for the moment my last supply though.

Because I regularly use them to ship slightly thicker books that with bubble protection would not pass through the mailbox, saving costs for buyers.

Depends a bit of the size of the book how I fold. In this case best fit was to transverse over the existing bottom fold. Sometimes I can use that to have at least one ready sharp fold. Here I had to make my own. Takes a bit of practice on the rigid material, but it provides a sturdy and safe cover that doesn't need any other protection within.