Tuesday 5 February 2008

I don't know how it happens. I don't have any rational or scientific explanation. But somehow, in the darkness behind locked doors, the junk in my garage breeds. When I shut the door behind me and turn off the light a mysterious process begins. Next time I open the door the bits of bicycle, broken buckets and spades and cardboard boxes which are "bound to come in handy one day" seem to have multiplied and continued their march across the garage floor. One day they're not there - the next day they are - or at least that's what it looks like to me.

Every once in a while I decide to take the situation in hand. Down goes the seat in the back of the car, in goes the junk, and off I go to the tip. When I get home I lock the garage door with a satisfied smile - "gotcha". For a little while I enjoy the new space I have created, but it doesn't seem to last. It's a mystery, it really is.

It's Shrove Tuesday today, which is likewise a mystery to many. Try to explain that it comes from the word "to shrive" or "to cleanse" and it doesn't really get any clearer. Religious language, especially ancient religious language can be so off-putting. I can still remember my primary school teacher's attempts to explain it all - without success.

But, the idea of having a mental or spiritual clear out - now that is appealing. An opportunity to clear out the cluttered thoughts, messy hang-ups and bashed old memories that "might come in handy one day" certainly wouldn't go amiss. Perhaps we would even heave a sigh of relief, as my car boot appears to do when I drive away from the dump.

Of course, a bit like my garage clear-outs, it wouldn't last forever. I'm sure all these things would creep back over time. But it would be nice to enjoy the head space, just for a little while.

Now, what needs throwing out…