MIL passed away mid last year and we spent months cleaning out her place (a large double storey beachside house - well two houses really one on top of the other, plus a 3 bedroom fibro beach house on the back of the block, plus a large garage full of stuff) I spent most of my time on repairs. Electrical, plumbing, doors, windows, locks, new side gate, painting, fixing sagging ceilings, painting, eave replacements etc. I also cleaned out the garage, countless trips to tip, Vinnies, plus gumtree wheeling and dealing etc.

The house was finally sold a few weeks back and settlement is next week so today we (about 50 people) went down to the property for the last time and scattered MILS ashes from a boat just off the beach. Then we went back to the house and had brunch. I had driven the van down full of chairs, eskys folding tables, drinks, food and the kitchen sink.

As we were leaving I heard the buyer is going to demo the lot and rebuild.

After we finally packed everything up I walked up to the still freshly painted new side garden gate, grabbed it and pulled it off the brick wall - fortunately I had done an ordinary job because it came away easily and then put it on top of all the stuff packed in the back of the van.

At home our side gate is falling to bits and luckily I had procrastinated in its replacement.