I open my emails first thing. Today I had one from the Probate office, informing me that Keith's case would be made dormant as certain documents were missing. This put me into panic mode - I am not good with anything to do with legal documents and then I jumped to conclusions over a proof of postage on what I assumed were the documents in question (and which had no delivery confirmation on the tracking). Anyway, I spent the entire morning trying to sort it out (with Tam offering advice). Tam has helped me and we will deal with it tomorrow.
I bought myself a cheer-me-up treat for lunch - one of the mouth-watering patisserie tarts that I drool over when I look in the Bakery window (or go in the shop for a nice loaf of bread now and again). Today I thought, I blardy deserve one. It had huge raspberries, a strawberry sliced and manderin oranges under a lovely gel glaze. It was worth every penny of what I paid for it.
I have chased up my heating oil, reeled from the bill for servicing the central heating boiler (incl. one replacement part), and remembered to get fresh filters for the UV water system and some money for the float for the weekend. The way things are going, that is likely to be a total drain on my resources, and not a way of mending them a bit.
I had one thing to look forward to, which was a trip to the wool shop in Llandod, to choose some yarn for Elderberry Bunny's dress. I chose a pretty multi-colour one and have knitted the first 15 or so rows, which included learning a new-to-me stitch - one row only of that.
I probably won't sleep well tonight though, as I am still all-wound-up from this morning - when I was fighting off a panic attack. This is when I hate being on my own most. I haven't got Keith here to tell me not to be so blardy silly or offer sound advice. He always dealt with anything legal because he had the brain for it and I don't. Yes, I know in the long run that's not a good idea because the surviving spouse gets stuck when the good-with-it person dies. The same applies to anything to do with wiring, chopping down trees, anything mechanical and even an extra person to steady a ladder. Finances too - his money was my money was his money, so to speak. I paid certain things, he paid others. If I was short (he had two pensions), he would let me have money to level things up. Needless to say, I only have 1/3 of the money coming in that I used to so balancing the books is blardy difficult.
I am having one last go-away holiday (to Copenhagen) and after that it will be a few days away in this country.
And hey, things could be worse. I haven't driven my car full pelt into 3 feet of floodwater and then wonder how I came to kill the engine (plenty of online footage of idiots doing just that) and I have just read about a young man in France who had to have an operation and was found to have a live WWI shell removed from his backside. They had to evacuate the whole hospital and call in the Bomb Squad to deal with it! Blardy hell - I bet they had words with him when he came round from the op!

The mind boggles over backsides and WW grenades!!! OH was an accountant, so has always dealt with that side, but we have had the conversation of if you go first, so all his passwords to the accounts are written down with added information, but I did deal with my Granny's estate, so hope I could cope - but not yet. We have had Baby C twice today, he is now smiling and giggling at us and seems so much better now he is on different milk, but I got the two dirty nappies. Hope you manage to sort out your Probate problems, they don't make life easy do they? Xx
ReplyDeleteYes I have to say, the mind does indeed boggle when it comes to some sexual practices! I think, err on the side of caution, is an expression which should be bought to mind!!
DeleteI have two little notebooks with passwords in for the many sites I have visited/bought from/belonged to down the years. Since having this new laptop this year, I lost many of the old ones so as I have to replace them, I have a small new notebook which makes searching easier.
I am so glad to hear that Baby C is coming on a treat but shame you drew the short straw with the dirty nappies!!
We have sorted out the probate worries now and are all guilty, not just me (phew, that makes a change!)
I enjoy reading your blog although l don't comment, but as my husband died last year, after 52 happy years with my best friend, l may add. l hope you don't mind my saying this. Have you thought about selling the house? I resonate with all the things you mentioned especially to do with house maintenence and as such l am selling up for something more manageable. I am fed up paying out for gardening, window cleaning, odd jobs always needed on an older property with just me and the cats and dog rattling round and not seeing much benefit. Just a thought, sorry if this is seen as an unwanted opinion, Sandra
ReplyDeleteHello Sandra and welcome. My heart goes out to you after the loss of your husband and best friend of 52 years. I lost Keith after 36 and that was bad enough. We did the selling up for something more manageable 5 years ago! This house suits me - just over a mile from a small country town and we managed to fill it to the brim with the downsizing possessions that came with us. I am trying to slowly declutter. I don't want to go into a flat - have too many things, and the 4 cats, and I love it here. Equidistant from all 3 children too, though it would be ideal if I was closer to Tam so I could help more with Rosie. Do post again.
DeleteYou were not alone in having a shyte day today. After getting through most of the day successfully juggling phone calls, f2f appointments, deliveries and sleeping, just as I thought it might now be safe to relax, I had to call my handyman to look at what should have been a small fix, and has turned into a {worst case scenario} might need to get nearly half my roof replaced. As you know, we Parkees are not supposed to be stressed. All that, and preparing for "that" Zoom meeting tomorrow afternoon. Just keep swimming . . . 🐠
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, sorry to hear this. I hope that the roof problem isn't as bad as the handyman fears. I hope that the zoom meeting (today now as it's gone 5 a.m. here) goes well for you and progress is made.
DeletePumpkin, please do seek a second opinion before you agree to major repairs!
DeleteYes, get several quotes. How did the zoom meeting go btw?
DeleteThe scary thing is these government people who make everything far more difficult than they need to and make mistakes left, right and centre are in charge of our money and much of our lives! I have been waiting for my government pension for three years while I try to prove I have children. Women here can get credit for staying home with preschool children when they would not be paying in. Son is over 40 and now they want proof of his age when he entered the country, he was five weeks old. They suggested I send in his 'plane ticket. Oh sure, why wouldn't I have held on to that all these years. Give me strength. As a former nurse I could tell you stories to make your hair curl, but I won't.
ReplyDeleteI think the mistakes in this case are down to me/us. My offspring are going to help me sort it out. I can't believe that you have to prove you have children before you get your pension. As if you would have saved his plane ticket, for heaven's sake!
DeleteI imagine as a former nurse,` you could be very entertaining!!!
I sympathise on the finance front. I leave EVERYTHING to my dear husband ... who made/makes 90% of the money, keeps track of the incomings and outgoings and organises ALL the bills etc. But I am the practical one and deal with maintenance, repairs and replacement, tradesmen etc, so things kind of even out. I don't get him to hold ladders, and I do NOT let him climb them, or attempt any repairs, as he is totally impractical and TBH clueless!! I call in a professional, and have "made friends" with a plumber, electrician, and best of all a handyman, who will come any fix stuff he knows Bill will wreck if someone doesn't fix it fast!!
ReplyDeleteI saw that thing about the man with the bit up his bum and my mind boggled!! he's caused mirth, and eye-rolls, the world over! Hee hee!!
Yes, like me, you had a husband with the natural aptitude for it. Keith was also very interested in politics and current affairs and would make things clearer to me (who wasn't very interested but wanted the bare bones of a situation). He was very practical and good with wood and mending things, rewiring plugs, lamps etc, and it's a wonder I didn't go white, once climbed out onto the roof at Ynyswen, with a bucket of cement on one arm and a slab of slate under the other, to cap a chimney. Danny sent me indoors to calm down!!
DeleteI worry about Harvey when I am gone. I do the bill paying, the banking, shopping and cooking (he will make a breakfast every so often). He doesn't even know how to use a ATM machine. Life could be complicated for him for sure.
ReplyDeleteNow how on earth did a WW shell get in someone's backside. I can't even imagine.
God bless.
Oh Jackie, you will have to train him up. ATM machines aren't so difficult :)
DeleteAs for chap in France, I think he had a bit of help . . .
14 years on after being widowed when our son was taking his A levels my best advice is learn how to pay your bills and get to know the best diy, garden, decorating and everything else repair people! I have not moved from our family home simply because I love it. If I could find a smaller version I might move but in the meantime I enjoy it and I find the more I have to do on my own the better I am at dealing with things. And there are always people who are happy to help. from Anon in beautiful Wiltshire!
ReplyDeleteThis house suits me in so many ways. Good size rooms, lots of light, faces South, surrounded by my own land and just over a mile from town yet out in the country. What a dreadful time for you and your son - I hope he still managed good grades in his A levels but imagine it must have been so hard for you both. I lived for a few years in Wiltshire, just outside of Salisbury, and miss the town and the walks.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing your difficult moments as well as all the lovely stuff when things are not stressful. I am rather naive about money management and my OH and I , even though we discuss it often, tend to stick to our own ‘roles’ - a generational thing I think. Food for thought.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing the finished bunny by the way.
Alison in Devon x
Well, this isn't Instagram, where everything is shown absolutely perfect and never a thing out of place, and fresh flowers or blooming pot plants everywhere, and tables laid with luscious baking. You get to see my loaves of bread and cakes and stuff, but Ye Gods, my kitchen table is currently a dumping ground for all sorts of stuff in the run up to the Fair, and you would snigger if I were to put a photo of it on Instagram!!! I think the essential things - perhaps money management - need to be shared. Keith and I did have a joint account but that tended to be for savings, and we each had individual accounts too. When we moved here we banked online as nearest Bank is in Brecon (for the moment - I can see that going the way of all banks in due course. They will only be in cities - if there - in the end).
DeleteI think us women should be able to change a light bulb (not from a wobby stool or chair though), rewire a plug (I know how but wouldn't trust myself without Keith here, so that's a lot of use isnt it?!) Even my not the brightest mum could do that, but then she'd grown up in an electrical shop her parents ran. I know roughly how much money I need to see me over Christmas and all the bills in December - February. The bills alone are about £1500! I am considering paying the car insurance monthly just to take the pressure off January. It will be more in the long run though. Ditto house insurance which is due blardy Christmas Eve!
I hadn't thought of our own "rules" being a generational thing but you're probably right. Tam is very practical - thanks to Keith. Gabby would throw away a skirt if a button came off! Danny is practical but needs more practice!
Bunny will be a week or so I think. There will be . . . faults . . . along the way.
I sympathize. The ease of the internet makes things so much more difficult here. Tim likes online banking, etc. I have the little book of passwords. I swear to sweet Jesus, every time I turn around, I am having the same conversation with him. 'Did you change the password?' (Answer: Yes. I couldn't remember the old one) 'It is in the notebook!' (I couldn't find it.) What is the new password? (I don't remember) I have given up doing anything on line.
ReplyDeleteOh silly Tim. Attach the notebook to the computer and then he has no problem finding it! I have mine where I can instantly put my hand on it. I have been struggling since changing my laptop as of course, I am having to make new passwords as the old ones haven't been saved on it.
DeleteI am very sorry for your loss, panic attacks are not good, I get them once in a while.
ReplyDeleteHello Amy. Keith and I were a team - and now I am lost without him, but have to try and do my best. The email just threw me into a panic though, and then I can't think straight or logically. I made myself take some deep breaths and ward off the panic attic coming on strongly, but it is horrid when your mind gets in a stew like that.
ReplyDeleteAmy - just been to your blog and saw your photo of Hokitika which brought back my memories of stopping there whilst travelling from place to place. There was a huge Christmas tree near where we parked. I bought some excellent Magnesium Restore tablets in the Pharmacy.
ReplyDelete