My life on the table

My dining table is set for dinner with pretty silk flowers surrounding candle holder in the centre.

My study desk is much more reflective of 'me' ... half made crochet tote bag, camera battery on charge, nail polish waiting to be applied, wooden model yacht from last summer's holiday in Cornwall, glass of water, latest WDYTYA magazine folded to show an interesting article, printer instructions (cant get the blooming thing to work!), heart shaped dish containing a broken necklace waiting to be repaired and the essential pen/notebook to help me to remember things.

I so love to see houses that are lived in, showing the personalities of the folk that live there. It seems the fashion now to have houses that look like furniture shops, where no one lives or has personal possessions. Mine looks more like a second hand shop. Not a mess but interesting. On my dining room table at this moment is a printer that should print when upstairs, but refuses to print unless attached to laptop. A mini speaker so that I can hear sound on my laptop, my mobile phone,a tv controller and a pen. Of course my laptop next to the misbehaving printer. I live alone so I upset no one. My lounge looks more like a furniture shop I'm sad to say. But if I keep the doors closed visitors think am a very tidy person

My small table near my chair is overflowing with bits of yarn. A crochet hook and a half finished a Niffler (from JKRowling’s Amazing Creatures.) A bottle of glasses cleaner so that I can see what I’m crocheting and my IPad.

Lovely post :-) Wish I'd read it before I cleared my table ready for this evenings visitors.

However, before I cleared it there was a vase with roses, curtain pole fixings, packing stuff and instructions for 2 picture lights and some odd screws.

We are finally putting our living room back together after having the floors ripped up and replaces so I don't have the normal amount of books, paperwork, and "stuff" on the table but it's good to know I'm not alone in leaving bits of my life on the dining table :-)

I’m with you Lyndiloo, nothing on my dining table but a lovely big glass bowl!

Currently on my conservatory table: my iPhone, a lipstick, The Guardian Weekend magazine, an empty Prosecco glass, framed photo of my dd and dgd, Labour election flyer, Michelle Obama’s autobiography and a woven basket containing odds and sods! ?

On my coffee table, fifteen minutes ago:
My knitting
Our railcard
Yesterday's Guardian in its many components
An unwritten birthday card
Documents for my PPI claim (must get on with it)
An empty cup
A quarter full bottle of wine brought back from yesterday's quiz night
Entry form and scrap paper from above, to recycle
Two biros
One competition magazine
The last book I finished
A story called The Blue Eyed Cat, written by our DS1 (30 years ago)
Three notepads, with lists
A pot of nail varnish
A cocktail stick
A small pot of red paint bought on Thursday for the cellar steps
My P60
Various documents for our upcoming holiday
An unidentified bit of yellow and black plastic, that may or may not be something to do with K'nex
Four drinks mats (hidden under the other stuff)
The TV remote

I have now taken Lyndiloo's comments to heart, and it is newly polished, with nothing on it but a book, drinks mats and a full cup of coffee. It won't last and I won't be able to find a thing for days.

I just cleared my table as a carpenter was coming to give me quote for some work. It does have a 1950s tablecloth on it though. What defines me....my narrow boat home and its vintage/bohemian interior maybe. Also my vinyl from the the 60s and 70s. My trunk full of craft stuff and fabric. The patchwork quilts on my bed and my rocking chair. Oh my goodness...a lot of things. Just couldn't narrow it down...hahaha

I was inwardly going "aargh" when I read the OP. I can't stand having anything on the table other than what I am eating or working on at the time :D I was the same with my desk at work. I have a little sideboard and all the clutter goes on that.

An African violet and a forest cactus waiting to be put back on the window sill; newspapers for the recycling bin; miscellaneous pencils and pens; a bunch of keys and a pair of gloves.
It's a gate-legged table with only one of its leaves up.

My dining room is always tidy, its on the B&B side of the house - so a large Stilton Cheese Plate & Cover sits in the middle.

The sofa in my study however....
An open bookings folder - just come off the phone
Half finished knitting of baby cot blanket
A puzzle magazine
Horse racing magazine
and the book I'm in the middle of...

Why not have it all around me whilst relaxing - I put it all away before bed. My sofa, my mess!

Great thread!

On my dining table is a small jar with 3 hydrangea blooms in it. This is sat upon a slate coaster which is sat upon a crocheted table mat. I am obsessed about my table being cared for. Took me a long time to save the money to buy it and I love it. GC do get to do their things on it as I cover it with a plastic balloon patterned cloth for their handywork. However, my conservatory is another matter. Little souvenirs from special places, plants, photos, collage of pictures of GC, small cabinet stuffed full of GC games, side tables, knitting bag with current project, low level unit with tv etc, small vase with my knitted daffodils, two very large balloon type colourful gin glasses (gift from my very recently deceased daughter) I just can't bear to put away, bundle of condolence cards again I cannot deal with. Solid wood coffee table made by husband, used for all manner of purposes with resultant dents and scratches. Bit of a mixture really, but my life feels very muddled at the moment.

What a lovely and fascinating discussion. ?My table is uncluttered except for a tablecloth, an old brass candlestick and a glass bowl displaying a collection of different sized and coloured marbles,
However the rest of the room is a different story! Around my chair in the corner (my compost corner...) are my Kindle and various 'real' books, along with my crochet bag with current project in it, my knitting bag with next project in it, plus my travel lace pillow with ongoing piece of lace for a dolls house parasol. In the same vicinity is my motorcycle crash helmet, as a reminder to charge up the helmet radio on it when I go out on Herself (my beloved motorcycle). (Thankfully all my riding kit is contained upstairs). At t'other end of the room is my piano, complete with piles of music I am currently enjoying or attempting to master. To one side of the piano is my 60's era dolls house, in front of which is my full-sized lace pillow, complete with pattern pinned on it, awaiting me winding thread on the necessary bobbins. To the other side of the piano is my large Victorian era dolls house. The inside of the 60's house is relatively uncluttered (reflecting my wishful thinking), whereas the interior of the correctly cluttered Victorian house reflects my truer nature! I may have an uncluttered table top but have to confess that underneath are various hobby boxes containing stuff like beading, needlefelting and Japanese braiding. Cluttered? You bet, but just demonstrates a busy and very fulfilling existence! ?

On my dining table..... a couple of scented candles, a multi-picture photo frame (I've yet to get some photos printed to put in it), a few small but unusual presents for a friend's birthday soon, a plant in a cat-shaped pot, and a book about forensic science.

Which three items sum up me?
The table itself - old pine, well old to me - chunky country style,
my first patchwork quilt (hand-sewn hexagons) is underneath the polka dot oilcloth - I've got better at quilting over the years,
and my favourite cup and saucer (I prefer those to mugs) - over-sized as I really love my tea.

Apart from a vase of flowers, my dining table is taken up with a jigsaw puzzle I have just started. I have to wait until I have a few days clear as I don’t want it to be cluttering up the table too long.
Elsewhere are choir folders and various musical scores relating to various choirs/ concerts / services in which I am singing or have recently sung.
Then near my chair are newspapers I haven’t yet had time to read in a run of rehearsals and concerts, my iPad which I use all the time and a notepad with my “to do” list.

Teddy bears, books, unseen dvds brother gave me, succulent plants, lists and lists of lists. Semi chaos.

Flowers, a plant, cup of tea, books, the cat and my glasses.

My table has the remains of the sewing I've been doing - the sewing machine is on the adjacent work table, but I need room to cut and pin etc.
It also has piles of papers relating to organisations that I belong to, all of which papers need sorting, tidying and putting away.
Then there are various documents relating to a new project that DH and I are getting involved with. As well as anything else that needs dealing with because if I put it away I'll forget to do it. Often the odd fossil or archaeological find, too.
Do we eat at the table? Only when we have guests......

On our table is our desk top computer, which my DH uses endlessly to watch YouTube, my knitting, Mandarin flash cards, nail gardener and an awful lot of stuff that needs tidying up.
On the mantel piece are photos of family and our voting cards for Thursday.

On my kitchen table at the moment is a pile of newspapers, magazines and a bit of junk mail.A little vase of spring flowers picked from the garden yesterday.Also a cup of tea waiting to be finished off.

On the sofa beside my riser recliner chair are TV remote, Radio Times, puzzle books, reading glasses, nail file, packet of tissues, writing pad, letter opener, diary and a letter opener and an incomplete shopping list. Also five hand made tapestry cushions reminder of a past hobby.

On my table is a vase of flowers given to me by my neighbour for looking after her home when she goes away.
A set of drinks mats with a Scottish piper on another present.
A Avon catalogue book.
And a table runner with embroidered flowers on from
A charity shop.
Was going to say our cat Oscar but he’s just jumped off. He like to look out the window.

As Telly said, not on my table but surrounding me in my small living room, map of Europe so I can see where I've been and where I want to go, photos of DGC, about 6 photos of DD's wedding (13 years ago!!), TV mag, and 3 bookcases full after I had a big clear out, and many photo albums of my small but loved family who are mostly dead.

Not on the table, but the few things that would define me are some books, paper and pen, a bag of compost and a trowel, some chocolate - hidden of course!