Monday.....NYE.

Not the best of days. It started badly and I wasn't able to throw off the anger until well into the afternoon.

My brother-in-law phoned at 8.30am, asking me to see that Cag did not phone her sister at 9am as she usually does. Sister had a very bad night and he wanted her to sleep as long as possible. He said he would tell her that Cag had phoned and that sister should call her back when she was ready. I explained all this to Cag and I thought that it was understood.

Sister phoned just after 9am, I answered, agreed that Cag had phoned earlier, didn't want to wake her, passed the phone to Cag. I then heard Cag deny twice vehemently that she had made any phone call.

It made me out to be a liar (which bothers me not) but also made sister's husband out to be a liar, which troubles me greatly, as he was only trying to do what was best for his wife.

Sister is in a similar situation I was in twelve months ago. A mother, aged 90, who is finding it difficult to cope. She is the eldest of five daughters and feels responsible for her mother, although there are others who could share the burden, if they could or were willing. Thus the reason for a troubled night. I know those nights, I had many.

Thinking about it, I'm still angry now. Just a little thought, any thought. And this is New Years Eve! What a great start.........

God bless everybody, love and best wishes for 2008............... I'm having a brandy!

Sunday.............

Another Sunday, not my favourite day of the week. I still can't get used to the idea of having less to do. How did I manage before in 2006? I always seemed to have a full day then. Think I will have to take Fb's advice and use the extra time to make plans.

Our usual trip out to the Market this afternoon. Peanuts for the birds, and a bacon butty for us............ heavy on the onions! Coffee when we arrived home, and then I spent some time sifting and shredding, finding more old paperwork that's not needed anymore..... I hope!

Been catching up on emails tonight, friends and relations in Oz. Remembered this year that they are ahead of us time wise. Usually I'm a day late in sending New Years greeting.

Just in case I don't get around to everybody tomorrow. Love and best wishes to you all, have a great New Years Eve, health and happiness for 2008. Let's hope it's a year for common sense.

Saturday

The television's ordered. Full of apologies that it won't be delivered before the New Year, but there's no desperate hurry, so the end of next week will be fine.

We've had it all today. Sunshine, showers, high winds and thunder. God must be moving furniture, getting ready for the New Years Eve party. Hope I'm not invited. I even checked the paper today to see if I had been mentioned in The Honours List, but I've missed out again.

Managed to catch up with my cousin this morning and thank her and her husband for my Christmas present, 10 litres of Merlot. Cag's not a red wine drinker so I'm going to try to drink it all myself............... slowly.

The decorations are down, what little there was. The cards are put away and all checked off against next years list. Some adjustments have been made, a name deleted, others added. Another way of keeping up with the hatch, match and dispatch of 2007.

Friday ........... and running late!

Running late because we've decided to up date our television, and I've been comparing spec's for the last hour or so. I'm confused. Looks like it will be a Sony, one of the 3000 range, but which one? The one thing that has made it's self clear is that the 'on line' prices are £150 cheaper than our local dealers. And they wonder why more people are shopping on line!

Hit the Sales today. A mad moment on the way home from the Bank. I was more interested in checking out the prices of televisions but an 'Up to 70% Off' notice in the Clarks shoe shop caught my eye. I bought a very good pair of slip-ons, reduced from £50 to £15. Shame they didn't have another pair in my size at that price. I'm not a great shoe person, after all, you can only ware two at a time.

Another weekend looms. Half the bloggers in the world, those who blog at work, will be unavailable for two days. No wonder everything is falling to bits. I've quite surprised myself, being able to keep these daily posts going over the last few weeks. I think I would miss it now.

Thursday............lost!

I really do feel lost. Glad to get Christmas done with, and can't wait to see the back of New Year. I feel like I'm waiting at traffic lights, those timed road works ones. You can see there is nothing coming and still the lights are at red.

I did venture out this afternoon to drop a prescription off for a neighbour and to get fresh bread from the Supermarket. There wasn't the crush I had expected. Every thing was sensible and well ordered. A small queue for petrol, but the shop was unexpectedly quiet.

The weather for the next couple of days looks dodgy, a touch of rain in the air, but Sunday looks fine, so I've promised Cag another outing. We will have to make another trip to Devon soon, to sort out the laptop I've let my brother-in-law have. The Lois Royo desktop is a little confusing for him and he's asked for a more conservative background..............

.

.

I could tell him how to do it with a 'click',

But that would take all the sport out of it.

My desktop at the moment is....................

.

So what does that say about me?

Wednesday..........Boxing Day.

An early start. It took four hours to be out of the door by 11am. We were heading for Brixham, a small fishing town in Devon, and home of two of Cag's sisters. Cag's mother was visiting and we were all invited for lunch. It had been nearly three years since we have all managed to be together so it really was a day to remember.

A lovely lunch, salmon and salad, good company with the type of conversation that I miss so much. And later, a game of Scrabble. I've never played competitively before, but I did rather well, even if I do say so myself............. and without a 'spell check'.

The journey home was quick and uneventful. Cold meat and chips for tea, left over from our Christmas gammon. And now that 'in between time', the few days twixt Christmas and New Year. A wasted time where nothing much gets done.

It's been a long day, a good day and a tiring one. Let's hope for many more in 2008.

Tuesday....... and it's here.

The day started iffy but ended with a touch of red in the sky.

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I didn't know whether to put an entry up for today. Blogging on Christmas day! How sad is that? But this blog is for me and it's what I like to do. I watched The Great Escape yesterday, and Love Actually tonight........... so It must be Christmas.

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Merry Christmas to all.

IanS.

Monday..............

Spent a lot of the day puzzling over money. Different calculations and different ways of doing things. I don't want the final figure to upset our situation but it looks like nothing will change. Even thought of giving it all away. It would solve a problem, but I got negative feedback on that idea from Cag. Think she wants another ring.

Some of the afternoon was spent filling out and cross referencing our 2008 diaries and calenders. It really brings home to you how quickly the years go by. I make a note of some of the appliances we buy as well, so we can celebrate the washing machines birthday etc. I still keep a note of birthdays and anniversaries of those who are no longer with us. Again it brings home how time flies.

Time to let my thoughts turn to tomorrow and to wish everybody all they would wish themselves. Have a really great day and......................

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your sprouts be delicious

Your pud take the prize,

And may your Christmas dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Sunday....and counting.

I've never known a day where I've had so much time. It's been a month since my mother passed away and my days are back to normal. I'm still getting up at the same time, but with only one lady to get ready for the day, things are a lot easier and I feel more relaxed.

I still keep wondering how I should feel about my mother and her death. People seem to expect me to be sad, unhappy, I don't know what, but I have none of those feelings. I feel that death is the most natural of things and not something to be feared or to shy away from.

I was pleased to have been able to make my mother's life a little more easy for her, even for such a short while. I know the pain she suffered, especially the increasing pain in her last few weeks. I was with her when she died, did what was right after she had died and I can ask no more than that.

My memories of the last twelve months seem very vague. The memories of her twenty, thirty years ago are far more real, as are those of my father. I hope it will always be so.

And now a New Year is just around the corner. How quickly they come and go. This one will be better and .........................different.

Saturday..............

The problem with my Internet Bank Account carried on into this morning. I kept getting '....closed for maintenance, please try later.....' I finally got through to a very nice lady on the 'help line' and she found that because it was a joint account with my mother, her name had been removed from the account. It could now only be accessed through another online account I had with the bank. Nice of them to let me know what was happening! The lady apologised that I had not been informed and said confirmation would be in the post today.

The letter arrived at 11am!!!!!!!!! That was quick you might say, but the letter was posted four days ago.

Another trip to Par Market this afternoon, just for the bacon butty. I did have a quick look around the Cookware Stand. I would love a mandolin, but I don't think I could play it. It rained while we were there, the first for days. I do hope it stays dry for Christmas. I love to see people out, well wrapped up, walking off their Christmas diner.

Friday................

What day to do the shopping? Cag asked for smoked fish for dinner so the question was answered. It had to be today. And it was mental!

The car park was a race track, with people hoping to find a space, and there were queues at the petrol station, topping up for the holidays. Then inside the store it was bedlam. I parked the trolley and walked through the crowds to get my few bits and pieces. The lady in front of me at check out worked at the store and she said it had as been busy since 8 am!

Spent an hour in the garden later, finishing another raised bed for vegetables next year. Nice in the sun but still a bitter wind.

Another three letters tonight about my mother's estate, and a phone call to Internet banking. At least somebody is still working at 11.15pm.

Thursday................

Another beautiful day, blue skies and vapour trails.............. but cold.

Did some final adjustments to the Dell's keyboard and touch pad tonight. I have a very light touch, you'll be pleased to know, so have adjusted the setting accordingly. I love responsive touch pads!

Seeing the weather was so good, I loaded up the car with Cag and went to check out the Probate Office in Bodmin, about half an hours drive away. Parking will be the problem, but there are a couple of small parking zones quite near, so it will be 'fingers crossed' on the day.

Did my duty and phoned our daughter tonight to wish her 'Happy Birthday'. It's one of those with a nine in it , so next year will be a mill stone......... opps! I mean mile stone. Couldn't help but remind her, which she thank me for!!

It doesn't look like we shall be seeing her over Christmas, but we've arranged to meet in the New Year to get some of the finances sorted out. I really need to see her on her own to go through the details of the Wills, and to discuss or own Wills, which will be revised early next year. There's nothing like a death in the family to concentrate the mind on the future..... or the lack of it.

Wednesday.........

An interesting postal delivery today.......... at last. A letter from the Court at Bodmin, with an interview date for the Probate of the Will. Jan 3rd, so that's not too long to wait. Then there was a date for my little operation. It's not until March 17th, so that should give me plenty of time to sort out some help in looking after Cag. I've set the wheels in motion over this, by phoning Social Adult Care, and asking them for an assessment. We will see what happens now.

My other little problem, gallbladder, has been playing up tonight. A flair up, they call it. All I know is that it's painful and uncomfortable. I know that it will have to be looked at after the March operation, but that may mean more than a day in hospital.

Still haven't heard from our daughter. It's her birthday tomorrow so I'll telephone. She was suppose to be paying us a visit before Christmas but it looking more unlikely the closer we get. She's just moved house or flat, so it's a busy time trying to get things sorted before the holidays........ or that's the excuse she will use.

Tuesday................

64 emails tonight, with the majority offering me the chance of on line gambling. What's that all about? I don't even do the lottery.

It's so cold...... or is it an age thing? I'm sure there are others that are coping with much lower temperatures, but I spent about an hour and a half outside today, and I was so glad to get back indoors again.

I think I've completed the change over from the Toshiba to the new Dell. It's surprising what rubbish is collected in such a short time. My brother-in-law phoned this morning to ask how things were going. He's interested in the Toshiba because of the Wi-Fi. He'll be in Australia for six weeks just after the new year and hopes to take it with him to keep in touch with business, as well as family and friends. Any problems why it won't work in Oz?

Monday and .........

Monday and pay day. A trip to the village Post Office this morning to collect our money. I would prefer to keep to this system as it gives me chance to support a dying breed............ and they do a really good selection of cards

We had two unusual visitors to our bird table this morning. A male blackcap, probably a recent arrival from Eastern Europe, ( like a Hungarian plumber) to over winter here, and a male bullfinch. Now I thought the bullfinches we saw in the summer this year would have been long gone to warmer climates by now, but it appears many over winter with us, they just keep out of sight.

Shopping is going to be a problem this week and it's looking like I shall have to do a final shop on Saturday or Sunday, not that we shall need very much, because we don't indulge in anything different over Christmas........... well, perhaps a Bailey's or three!

We've had an invite, and I'm rather glad. Our Christmas was shaping up to be very ordinary, but Cag's mother is staying with one of her other daughters for Christmas and we've been asked to drop in as surprise visitors. Its at Brixham, about an hour and a half away, but Cag hasn't seen her mother for about two years, and seeing what happened with mine recently, a visit would be the right thing to do.

I'm hoping our daughter makes a threatened visit to us before Christmas. She finishes work on the 20th and said she would try. It would be good to go over with her what I have planed when the sale of my mother's house is completed. It's better done face to face rather than the on telephone. The Will has been left in such a way as to make the decisions mine, so I need to clarify things, then there is no confusion and everyone knows what's happening.

Think I'll buy a Harley............ but I've been told that fast motor bikes and fast women are very dangerous for someone of my age. Both are liable to kill you!

Sunday.........

Wind still easterly....... and bitter. A typical Sunday for me, plus the added excitement of pining up Christmas cards.........wow! Cag also asked me to cut some holly for a table display, easily done as we have a dozen trees within 50 yards of us. No berries, the black birds have seen to that.

I cut a large growing tip, planted it in a large vase weighted down with gravel, and dressed it as a Christmas tree. I'm impressed and so is the dog. It's the first real 'tree' we've had since we moved here and might become a habit.

Spent much of the evening clearing out more files from the Toshiba and backing them up on disc. I've already saved them to an external hard drive so I've edged my bets, just in case.

Sadly watched the last episode of Cranford tonight. I love those sort of dramas and this one was so well done. Will be scanning the pages of the Radio Times to see what other classics are happening over the holidays.

A phone call to make tomorrow to find out what is happening to my mother's will, and when I can expect an appointment for probate. Not the last phone call I expect.

Saturday......

Dry but with an easterly bite in the wind. Definitely a vest day.

Usual morning getting Cag polished and dusted and then this afternoon a trip to Par Market. I wanted a boning knife to finish off the set, and a card reader, the only thing that was missing from the Dell. I will also be able to use it with my old clunker, a sort of Christmas pressy.

Couldn't leave without sampling a bacon butty topped with onions. I don't have to ask anymore. The girls know what I'm there for!

I've heard from a friend and neighbour in Torquay that people are moving into the house there. I've not heard anything from the Equity company as yet, and even if I do, there's not a lot I can do until I get the Will through probate. I'd hate to think they were making any more money out of us in interest. They've done well enough already, to the tune of £100k !!!!!!

Thursday & Friday..........

Dell boy was delivered Thursday at 10 o'c, all within 48 hours, impressive! It stayed in the box most of the day, just too much to do. Cag wanted a trip to the garden centre, to buy another Maasai figurine, a sort of Christmas present from her to her. I bought some glitter for the sprigs of holly decorations.

I did get around to taking a closer look during the evening and it's a gem. A Latitude 630, 2.2 dual core, 2gb ram, 120 rom....... with all the trimmings. And a touch pad that behaves as you would expect it too, not just at it's own whim.

So yesterday and today has been 'playtime'. Loading the minimum of programmes and taking out those I shall never use. Making new files ready to transfer data from the Toshiba and clearing out a load of rubbish.

I've even had a request for the Toshiba. My brother-in-law is interested and it would probably suit him as he always uses a mouse so wouldn't have touch pad trouble....... hopefully.

I did manage to get an hour or so in the garden this afternoon, to clear up the results of the recent gales and to cut back plants ready for over wintering. It was .............. bracing............ Brrrrrrrrr!!

Wednesday........

Another early start. The nurse phoned to say she would be with us before 9am to give Cag a once over and a catheter change. We were both pleased it was this week as it often gives problems for a few days before it settles down, and the last thing you want to happen is to have troubles over the holidays.

While she was here the phone rang and a metallic voice told me that the Dell would be delivered tomorrow morning........... under 48 hours from ordering!

Cag's hand are getting worse. The right one (the flipper) has very little movement in the fingers and is in an open position, whilst in the left the finger tends to fold in and form a fist. It's been more noticeable these last few weeks as several times I've had to make phone calls for her then pass her the phone. She even has trouble holding the phone now.

I've been suggesting for weeks that she try to use one hand to exercise the other but she never has been one to help herself. Not that anything will make a lot of difference now, but I do think that over the years, she could have done more. It looks as if she resigned herself to the inevitable years ago, where as I would have fought harder. I try to on her behalf but it's not enough. Thankfully she does not see so far down the road as I do or know the consequences.

Never mind, I have the washing and ironing to look forward to tomorrow. Boy, do I know how to boogie!

Tuesday.....

An early start. Blue skies and vapour trails................ and so very cold. My car was telling me it was -3c, but I already knew that. It was like driving and igloo.

Mid morning and the roofs are still white. The hairdressers been, we're both a ton lighter........ or feel that way. I get Cag kitted up for going out, then we head to Truro and Marks & Spencer's food hall. We purchased a few luxury items, food wise, for Christmas.

Think I made a big mistake on the way home. I lost concentration for just a moment at a road junction, and think I ran a red light, or rather crossed very late on an amber. It's a camera controlled junction, so I will know in the not too distant future. Could be an expensive trip to Truro.

Nothing in the post today. I've made a list of everything outstanding, quite a list! I get the feeling that next week will be a week of chase up calls, but who will want to know that close to Christmas?

Used my latest laptop tonight. It's behaved perfectly. Do you think it knows it's on it's way out.

Monday........

It's ordered. Mr Dell has confirmed and it's on it's way. I've chosen their medium spec and just tweaked it a little with a faster processor. Spent most of the evening transferring and sorting data to an external hard drive which I use for back up. It's given me chance to do some very necessary 'house keeping'. Not only a hoarder in real life but also on line!

The weather has changed for the better. The wind has dropped and we suffered blue skies with white fluffy things today. A beautiful sunset tonight, so I was well pleased.

A lot of the day was spent dealing with more paper work, much of it concerning my father's estate. Letters to write to the Revenue Service, to a Friendly Society, they weren't all that friendly on the phone, and ordering replacement Death Certificates, because the request to return them had been ignored. Still haven't heard from the Bank. Wonder what's taking so long?

I was thinking what would happen if it was my daughter acting as my executor after my demise. She would have given up within days, said 'sod it!' and gone shopping. Not a bad idea!

Sunday..........

More gales today and that horrible horizontal rain that stings when it hits bare skin, not that I was running around naked today! The wind was so bad that it had moved the greenhouse almost off it's base. I managed to lever it back on, luckily without the sound of breaking glass.

I've spent much of the day doing the odd jobs to get the home back as it was before our visitor came to stay. Grab rails to take down, furniture to rearrange. I even managed to find time to clean around the cooker. I wipe the top daily but some of the other jobs have been 'forgotten' over the last few months. I think we are now back to normal.

Been catching up on my email replies tonight. I started on my latest laptop but after the second misfire, I went back to my old clunker. It's a phone call to Dell tomorrow for sure.

The Christmas blues of yesterday have left me. It still won't make me a Christmas person but I may be caught singing a few carols to myself................ very quietly.

Saturday.......and a surprise!

I was a little late this morning. The weather did nothing to encourage me to be an early riser. Gales and showers once again. We also had an electricity black out. No News 24 for a whole 10 minutes.

I didn't open the post when it arrived, we had breakfast first, and then over coffee............. a surprise. Two cheques for a lot more than I had expected, from two policies taken out on my father many years ago. The original amounts were small, but with the years, bonuses and interest, it amounted to a most reasonable figure. Good old Dad!

I was enough to set me thinking about a different laptop. My Toshiba is only about twelve months old. It's fast, has enough of everything for all I need to do, but the touch pad is an absolute dog (Dogs, please don't be offended). I am in the middle of writing something on the Net, an order or a blog, I move the cursor and the screen goes back to the previous item I was working on............ all is lost. I've even started using my old Evesham clunker again. It's slower but no worries.

So tonight I've been scouring the Net and checking back through old computer magazines to try to get myself up to speed on what's available at a reasonable price. And I'm confused!!!!!

No more news today from mother-in-law. I get the feeling that things will kick in right on the holidays....... don't you know!

Friday....... and gales.

I came over faint this afternoon. I could feel the blood draining from my face and I had to grab hold of Cag's chair to steady myself. It was at the same time as the shop assistance added up Cag's purchases and I had to get my credit card out! Strange!!

It wasn't really the day for shopping. We had to judge transfers and dodge the heavy showers, but there aren't many chances for us to get out together between now and Christmas. Perhaps another trip out together next week and that will about do until after the big day.

More news about my mother-in-law. The doctor visited her today with blood test results. Liver function is poor and she is jaundiced. She also has a gallbladder problem (ain't we all!) giving her some pain. He wanted to admit her to hospital but she wouldn't go, so he's coming back to see her on Monday. Hopefully the other daughters might have had time to work on her by then, and she will see more sense. But Christmas is coming and something always happens over Christmas.

I'm still waiting for paperwork to progress a little further in settling my mother's estate. Nothing can be completed until after the Will has been proven, and I can't see that happening before the holidays, but at least I could get everything else sorted.

I can feel my 'I hate Christmas' mood coming on. It's a little later than last year. I haven't started mumbling 'Humbug' yet, but there's plenty of time.

Thursday................hic!

I can feel myself as almost back to normal. Extra time during the day, extra time for myself, much needed time for myself. There's still a lot of work to do. Two telephone calls to the Revenue today, one to ask about reclaiming income tax and another about the tax form regarding the Estate. Forms to fill out for probate and collecting all the bits and pieces to go with it.

A leisurely shopping trip later today. We are not getting through half as much food as a fortnight ago, and the freezer is still full. Shopping to a list is the answer.

Not very good news about my mother-in-law. My sister-in-law and husband went to visit today and to do a couple of small maintenance jobs for her. She's not been eating, hardly looking after herself. She has Home Help but they can't be there all the time. I can't help thinking that she knows we have a spare room now, but she is a completely different package to my mother.

Cag has already span said 'NO' to any thought of her coming here and to be honest, I just couldn't do it anymore. There are five daughters, so let the other four sort it out.

I've all but finished our Christmas cards tonight. Just a few addresses to double check. I've loaded a few with glitter confetti, the sort you will still find glinting from the carpet in six months time. It started with another of Cag's sisters doing it on us, and now it's spread throughout the family. So just be careful when you open your next email. You could get showered with glitter!

Tuesday......... and Wednesday.

An early start, 6.30am, plenty of time, but it was one of those days. No matter how I tried to get ahead, something always held me back. Cag had catheter problems which lost us 30 minutes and from then on everything got behind.

We did manage to get to Cag's sisters in time for something to eat and then get to the church by 2.00pm. My mother was already there, so it gave us a little while to see that everything was in order, it was, and view the coffin. Mum would have been pleased as it looked so narrow, and a beautiful floral tribute made it look just right.

The Service was just what she would have wanted. Simple and meaningful. The vicar had lots of good words to say about her and her life. I could hardly believe them all, but as I had written most of it, they must have been right. He did say that he had made a quick calculation, and she had helped raised between £50,000 and £60,000 in organising the Bingo night for many years.

There were more in attendance than I expected, about 35. Only the older members of the congregation would have remembered her, but there were quite a few of them. Tea and biscuits in the Hall afterwards accounted for most of our family, never slow in coming forward where free eats and drinks are offered.

It also gave me chance to mingle, to meet all those I needed to and to thank everybody who came............... even if they only came for the biscuits. We must do it all again sometime, but nobody rushed forward to volunteer.

We were home by about 7.30pm. By the time I had things sorted, we'd had a snack, and a decent drink, we had both had enough. A long day.

Wednesday.

A bad night's sleep. So much going on in my head. One or two telephone calls to make today. A couple of very early policies to chase up. Probate for the Will to organise. A little shopping, a trip to the bank to get their paperwork completed, then a trip to the doctors.

The doctor was the one that was causing me the most concern. Blood test results etc. But........ GOOD NEWS! Liver and kidney function fine, blood sugar fine, blood pressure fine, cholesterol just under 4, fine. He recons I should make it to the weekend without much trouble, and wine is still on the menu. Ain't life grand.

Monday and a car wash.

No, it's not the cars birthday. There's so much mud on the road around here that I thought I'd better give it a shampoo and set before tomorrow. I doubt it will not be clean by the time we get to Torquay but at least I've tried.

A little bit of shopping today and the rest of the time was in preparation for the trip. I think every thing is sorted, even managed to give the dog a good brush through and eye trim. Not that he can see very much anymore.

It should be an interesting day and I can't help wondering how many will attend. There are very few family, and she out lived most friends. People might remember her from the church but she had not attended for many years, the vicar came to her. Still, the weather looks like it might be O.K.

An early night, for an early start.

Sunday...... wet and windy.

Wet........... it's tipping down........ and windy, sudden gusts seem to almost lift the building. Hopefully it will blow it's self out over night.

Spent the day gradually getting things in place ready for Tuesday. All the thing I will need for the day, for Cag and myself. Papers I want to go over with my brother-in-law. Gifts for others I may not be able to catch up with later. I think everything is in place.

The shredder had another outing this afternoon. Another three bags of a shredded life. Mostly old utility bills and other papers that could be used as proof of identity. I've still kept back more than I need, but like I said yesterday, I would rather do that than discard what I might need later.

The vicar phoned tonight and I went over the final ideas and plans for the funeral. I read him out the notes I had made about my mother's life, notes to base his own address on, and other than a couple of questions he said he will use, almost as written. He like the bit where I mentioned my mother enjoyed the afternoon quiz programmes on television, especially Countdown, and that she often watched them with the vicar.......... asleep in the chair. He has a habit of dropping off.

Let's hope he manages to stay awake on Tuesday.

Saturday........ a life shredded!

Well, the postman cometh, and he did bring all manner of good things! The solicitor did not tell lies. The Wills were in the post........ but only after I had made the phone call, no doubt!



I have them now so next week I can see about getting them through probate. Bodmin is the nearest County Court so it looks like a little trip is on the cards in the later part of the week.



The postman did bring another surprise. A tax rebate for my mother. I knew it was coming, I had applied for it about three weeks ago, but the last claim I made for her took about three months. It will go towards the floral tribute and the announcement in the local papers.



I phoned the vicar tonight, because I hadn't heard from him. He had just got home from being at the church Christmas Fayre all day. I could hear from his voice that he was exhausted. He was very seriously ill about two years ago and has never fully recovered. He's promised to call me tomorrow to sort out the Service and for me to pass on the notes I've made about my mother's life. I offered to email them but although he has a PC, he has yet to master emails!



I've been going through my parent's deed boxes tonight. About 70% rubbish, 25% family history to be kept, and the rest to be investigated. Old policies and saving books that may or may not be open. Not a fortune I'm afraid. The shredder has been working overtime, and I have been careful. I nearly made a mistake with some bank statements after my father died and I was determined to get thing right this time.



My daughter is on line at last. Must have paid the phone bill! Now I will have to be careful what I blog, or perhaps I won't tell her about Late at Night and do an edited version to post on Lighthouse.