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!
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Friday, 7 December 2007
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.
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!
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!
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
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.
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, 3 December 2007
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.
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, 2 December 2007
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.
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, 1 December 2007
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.
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.
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