WITH spring upon us, it's that time of the year when the Monica Geller in me comes out.
That time when the dust and grime that's gathered in the nooks and crannies of my house all winter has to be eradicated.
That time when I finally hope I will achieve that decluttering gold star that has eluded me for all these years.
But while spring cleaning may come fairly easily - I can scrub the shower walls down and clear out those kitchen cupboards - it's the overhaul of my hoarding instinct that becomes the overwhelming task.
Yes, I want my house to look like it's come straight out of one of those fancy property catalogues - with the quirky cushions, that interesting book shelf in the corner and the beautiful array of fresh flowers delicately sitting on several windowsills throughout the bright, airy property.
But in reality, as a hoarder, there's not much chance of that happening at all.
I have a tendency to keep things 'just in case'.
Take the bright yellow clutch bag I bought in 1998 that might match an outfit I could possibly buy in the future. Or what about that old school text book I've kept just in case I want to swot up on geography some day.
Or those old pair of baggy jeans, they might come back into fashion. And remember all those teddy bears from my childhood, how could I throw them out?
And who could forget those old television sets taking up space in the garage, they might work again some day, right?
There's many people out there like me, someone who holds onto items long after they’ve stopped being useful - from old clothes to accessories to furniture.
But hoarding is far from rare - recent studies have suggested that between two and five per cent of the population is affected. And apparently it's a real medical condition.
A common sign of a hoarding disorder is holding onto items that have no purpose or value, just so you still have them.
Hoarders can't stand to give up their possessions and fill their homes with anything they feel is worth collecting and storing.
For many, there's a theme to their hoarding, such as the comfort or safety provided by items, the fear of waste or perhaps the fear of regret that something needed in the future will be thrown out.
And sometimes possessions help people to feel connected to someone they have lost.
Not all hoarders are untidy, many are actually obsessed with organising their collection of semi-useful items.
But hoarding can lead to clutter, serious clutter.
I recently heard about one woman who has taken her art of decluterring to another level, even gaining her a place on Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world.
Tidying guru Marie Kondo's first book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying' has sold five million copies worldwide.
Her book tells readers to put everything they own in a pile, clasp each and every object, then keep only those that 'spark joy' and throw everything else away.
All over the world, there are KonMaro enthusiasts living the dream in a state of minimalism.
They're detoxing their homes the same way they detox their bodies.
I tried the Kondo technique last week. I opened my wardrobe and was honest about what I really needed to keep and what needed to go.
I cleared the old newspapers and magazines away and got rid of the unused toys to the charity shop.
In part, it was a liberating experience, I felt I was embarking on a new path.
But I also realised it's perfectly normal to feel an emotional attachment to a treasured family heirloom or your favourite children's toy.
It’s not, however, normal to feel an attachment to silly items just because you remember where you were the day you wore that red dress or that place you visited when you had those tired looking trainers on.
It's about learning to detach yourself from items by recognising they're not that important to you and realising your life is just as full, interesting and fun without them.
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Competition
Ireland’s leading country singer Nathan Carter will be coming to The Millennium Forum in Derry on April 28.
To celebrate The Irish News is giving two lucky readers a chance to win a pair of tickets.
Nathan, whose fifth and current album Where I Wanna Be, has just recently reached the coveted number one position in the Irish music charts is looking forward to his forthcoming gig.
"The Derry crowd are always up for a great night out and I love playing there," he said.
"My concert promises to be energetic and great fun. Really looking forward to returning to The Millennium Forum."
Tickers priced at £25.50 are still available to buy from the Millennium Forum box office on 02871 264455 or online www.millenniumforum.co.uk
I have two pairs of tickets to give away so if you fancy winning, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday, April 19 at noon.
(Q) What is the name of the Derry venue where Nathan Carter is playing on April 28?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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Competition winners
The winners of last week's Bone by Bone book competition are Celine Flanagan from Omagh, Rose McHugh from Belfast and Marie Loughran from Dungannon.
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What's Hot!
Lidl fashion - Lidl has launched its Esmara Spring/ Summer collection, which is both on-trend and affordable. Including Miami inspired swimwear, chic palazzo pants and chic cotton shirt dresses, the majority is available for a very-purse friendly £7.99 or under.
Show-stopping - Wedding season is upon us and M&S has taken the stress out of planning your perfect day with its online wedding shop. From beautiful blooms to wedding cakes and elegant table settings, M&S has everything you need for your big day.
What's Not!
Gest - Sad to hear of the death of David Gest, who was found dead at a London hotel this week. Dozens of celebrities have paid tribute to the star, with many labelling him as a 'larger than life showbiz icon' who was part of Hollywood royalty.
BGT controversy - Britain's Got Talent is facing new storm as it was revealed Amanda Holden's golden buzzer act Beau Dermott (12) received 'vocal training' for four years from a prestigious stage school.
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is chicken and mushroom fried rice.
You will need:
375g (13 oz) uncooked white rice
1 knob butter
2 skinless chicken breast fillets, diced
Salt to taste
2 eggs, beaten
75g (2 oz) mushrooms, sliced
2 spring onions, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste
To make:
Cook rice and allow to cool.
Heat butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
Brown chicken in butter and season with salt to taste.
Once cooked through and no longer pink in the centre, remove chicken from pan and set aside.
Transfer cooked rice to the pan in which the chicken was cooked, stirring to brown.
In a separate pan, lightly scramble the eggs - then add this to the rice.
Stir in chicken, mushrooms, spring onions and soy sauce.
Serve immediately.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Suzanne McGonagle,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
s.mcgonagle@irishnews.com
