Saving things for special occasions
Discussion
Riley Blue said:
Ten years ago l was given a 60 year old bottle of port. The cork is coming out next weekend on my 70th birthday, I've saved it long enough.
Somebody gave me a bottle of 12 year old port on my 30'th. I kept it through one divorce and three house moves and on the night of my 60th birthday I opened it.
It was rank.
Anything decent I get now I drink right away. In fact any crap stuff I get now I drink right away. Life 's short.
Must admit that I am a hoarder, my problem is that I like nice things around me, I like to own a very special set of silver cutlery or a big dinner service or some old port, some fountain pens that i have never used, even some tools that are marked BENTLEY from the 1930s, some paintings that dont fit this house but may fit the next one. Even razors from the 1930s, still in their original box. I dont need these things but I want these things.
But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
I don’t but my wife does. She likes rum so I’ve bought some very nice bottles over the last few years, they’re being saved for a special occasion so I’ve stopped buying them. It’s alcohol, it goes down the hatch.
If I’m selecting a bottle of wine from the rack she’ll often turn down certain bottles because “they’re too nice” for that evening. I’m not a big spender when it comes to wine so none of them are more than about £25-30.
It’s funny because in every other aspect of life she’s very much a live for the moment type.
If I’m selecting a bottle of wine from the rack she’ll often turn down certain bottles because “they’re too nice” for that evening. I’m not a big spender when it comes to wine so none of them are more than about £25-30.
It’s funny because in every other aspect of life she’s very much a live for the moment type.
My parents do have a dinner set, and crystal glasses that only get used on special occasions which is nice, don’t see the point in saving wine or anything thing like that, unless it something like buying a bottle of champagne of the year you got married and having it 10 years later etc
Robbo 27 said:
Must admit that I am a hoarder, my problem is that I like nice things around me, I like to own a very special set of silver cutlery or a big dinner service or some old port, some fountain pens that i have never used, even some tools that are marked BENTLEY from the 1930s, some paintings that dont fit this house but may fit the next one. Even razors from the 1930s, still in their original box. I dont need these things but I want these things.
But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
I can see why they wouldn't want them, but they could have been donated to a charity shops.But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
I have hundreds of photographs of my grandparents aunties and uncles going back to the 1930's, they mean a lot to me, but nothing to my three grown up lads, so when I snuff it they will just get thrown away. What a waste.
Mrs GR has been saving a bottle of champagne for a special occasion for many many years now.
It seems that our 40th Anniversary didn't warrant opening the bottle.
And our daughters wedding wasn't special enough.
Nor the births of our three grandchildren.
I can only assume she is saving it for our 50th next year.
Or my funeral. 
It seems that our 40th Anniversary didn't warrant opening the bottle.
And our daughters wedding wasn't special enough.
Nor the births of our three grandchildren.
I can only assume she is saving it for our 50th next year.
Or my funeral. Wacky Racer said:
Robbo 27 said:
Must admit that I am a hoarder, my problem is that I like nice things around me, I like to own a very special set of silver cutlery or a big dinner service or some old port, some fountain pens that i have never used, even some tools that are marked BENTLEY from the 1930s, some paintings that dont fit this house but may fit the next one. Even razors from the 1930s, still in their original box. I dont need these things but I want these things.
But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
I can see why they wouldn't want them, but they could have been donated to a charity shops.But I am aware that I need to change.
A good friend of mine died last year. He had 2 children both with small London flats. I went round to see his old house 2 weeks ago and his children had hired a skip and the entire house contents were being dumped, his cutlery, dinner service and many other things that he had collected. You cannot believe how much I wanted to get into that skip and rescue the stuff not for their monetary value but because they meant something to a man.
He would have wept.
I have hundreds of photographs of my grandparents aunties and uncles going back to the 1930's, they mean a lot to me, but nothing to my three grown up lads, so when I snuff it they will just get thrown away. What a waste.
A couple of items (at most) per person is kept, the odd item worth some money sold, the other 99% goes to a skip or charity shop.
JulianPH said:
I've got some vintage wines that I set aside for special occasions, but then again I also buy decent wine for everyday purposes.
Other than that I think life is to short to save things for special occasions, or more to the point - treat every day as though it were a special occasion!
I used to do this, I got to around 100 bottles, some back to the early 60s. I consulted an expert and his advice was that apart from a few wines in the world almost everything made pre 2000 would now be undrinkable.I opened a couple of bottles from the 90s, they were atrocious.I keep champagnes though.Other than that I think life is to short to save things for special occasions, or more to the point - treat every day as though it were a special occasion!
I dont keep more than 2 white and 2 reds in now,visitors only.
Robbo 27 said:
JulianPH said:
I've got some vintage wines that I set aside for special occasions, but then again I also buy decent wine for everyday purposes.
Other than that I think life is to short to save things for special occasions, or more to the point - treat every day as though it were a special occasion!
I used to do this, I got to around 100 bottles, some back to the early 60s. I consulted an expert and his advice was that apart from a few wines in the world almost everything made pre 2000 would now be undrinkable.I opened a couple of bottles from the 90s, they were atrocious.I keep champagnes though.Other than that I think life is to short to save things for special occasions, or more to the point - treat every day as though it were a special occasion!
I dont keep more than 2 white and 2 reds in now,visitors only.
Understanding this window (which can last years or decades) is beyond me, so I am happy to pay someone who does understand this.
Yes, I have probably paid a few bob more, but the wine is lovely!
glenrobbo said:
Mrs GR has been saving a bottle of champagne for a special occasion for many many years now.
It seems that our 40th Anniversary didn't warrant opening the bottle.
And our daughters wedding wasn't special enough.
Nor the births of our three grandchildren.
I can only assume she is saving it for our 50th next year.
Or my funeral.
Going by this thread. Pop it one day when she walks through the door with a "Darling I finally fixed that (insert something from your list of household jobs)" and get it out the way. It seems that our 40th Anniversary didn't warrant opening the bottle.
And our daughters wedding wasn't special enough.
Nor the births of our three grandchildren.
I can only assume she is saving it for our 50th next year.
Or my funeral. The thought outweighs the reality.
I know someone who was holding onto a few bottles of special/expensive red wine, to be opened on a special occasion. He died before he opened them.
Trouble with clothes, I find if I save something for special then I have usually grown out of it by the time I get to wear it, especially trousers.
Trouble with clothes, I find if I save something for special then I have usually grown out of it by the time I get to wear it, especially trousers.
We have a dinner set and glasses that only comes out at Christmas or family events - having two teenagers we tend to get through crockery at an alarming rate, and really don't want them smashed up, left under beds/in the garage/garden/school bus etc.
Other than some suits and shoes, everything else is used regularly.
Other than some suits and shoes, everything else is used regularly.
My mum and My Nan were terrible for hoarding under the guise of “for best”. When we were clearing out My nans house in the early 2000s, we found swathes of clothes and other items which were never used and still tagged up.
I know my mum has a cutlery and saucepan set which are reserved “for best”, of which I can recall using the cutlery maybe twice in 25 years and the saucepans are still there in their boxes.
They look s
t and dated now.
I don’t keep anything for best. Everything gets used, and if it breaks, it gets repaired or replaced.
I think it has come from a time when things were much harder to come by, perhaps for the event that the queen might pop over for a cuppa.
My mother in law tried to buy me and the wife a whole Denby China set “for best” as our wedding present, which was quickly put to bed.
These days, It’s a bit different when I can be sat on the sofa with with a coffee and summons an Amazon man to basically bring me anything on the same day!
I do have a bottle of 19yr old aberlour which I bottled 10 years ago, which I’ve never found a reason to drink. I’m due to be a dad imminently, but the idea of having a whisky with a newborn seems a bit incompatible now!!
I know my mum has a cutlery and saucepan set which are reserved “for best”, of which I can recall using the cutlery maybe twice in 25 years and the saucepans are still there in their boxes.
They look s
t and dated now. I don’t keep anything for best. Everything gets used, and if it breaks, it gets repaired or replaced.
I think it has come from a time when things were much harder to come by, perhaps for the event that the queen might pop over for a cuppa.
My mother in law tried to buy me and the wife a whole Denby China set “for best” as our wedding present, which was quickly put to bed.
These days, It’s a bit different when I can be sat on the sofa with with a coffee and summons an Amazon man to basically bring me anything on the same day!
I do have a bottle of 19yr old aberlour which I bottled 10 years ago, which I’ve never found a reason to drink. I’m due to be a dad imminently, but the idea of having a whisky with a newborn seems a bit incompatible now!!
Edited by devnull on Monday 18th November 17:32
my wife got bought a bottle of Crystal champagne when she was 30 now 40 its still in the box and I am told it will be undrinkable now. But it's like the cheap bottle we got from persimmon when we bought first house or the bottle I won at work more momento than something for best.
I get you don't want to dilute the experince but my uncle liked whisky bought him a 30 year glenfidich he had cancer at the time I hope he would just enjoy it. Died and it was never opened, so what was the point
I get you don't want to dilute the experince but my uncle liked whisky bought him a 30 year glenfidich he had cancer at the time I hope he would just enjoy it. Died and it was never opened, so what was the point
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