greent's mfw journey

greent

So I ended up spending a lot of time in hospital with my nan yesterday - I knew my aunt was with her in the morning and I was busy with the Estate Agent signing all the paperwork to get her house up for sale. (I also managed to get Sains and Icyland done before the Est agent appt across the other side of town at 10.30, so was impressed - and then nipped into Morries before the appt, too )

Anyway, came home, had early lunch and put cold/ frozen things away... then got a message from aunt asking if there was a DNR in place for my Nan… so phoned her and she said she had a burst ulcer which was life threatening and my aunt was crying and sounded exhausted, so I filled my pockets full of snacks and jumped in the car. Arrived on the ward to hear another doc say it wasn't life threatening but that she was poorly (cracked sternum, fractured rib, ulcer, chest infection) SHe looked a state, bless her - lots of bruising and clearly in pain. Aunt also looked a state, so after the doc had finished and the nurses got my nan into bed (shattered) I took her to the C*sta caf! downstairs (would have stayed with my nan, but she wasn't going to go to sleep whilst someone was sat there - she's awkward like that! ) Anyway, aunt looked better after coffee, a bacon roll and lots of the biscuits I had in my pockets so we went back upstairs and my nan was fast asleep. More talks with docs, some more rellies came in (and some were just being awkward about not coming in) Upshot is she ended up being transferred back to the care home at gone 6pm and we all (6 rellies in at that point) left and made plans as to who was visiting/ when etc.
She is properly poorly and the chest infection might just see her off in a couple of weeks, but she is also a stubborn old thing, so who knows? - the docs were unwilling to say one way or another (with which I have no issue) and said that elderly care is often more a case of managing things than proactive treatment (understandable) We shall see...… I am cross with some relatives for various reasons, though.

On a positive note, I got home (DS3 being at a friend's house (already arranged a couple of weeks ago - blessing in disguise!) and DS2 being at school until 6pm, so OH collected both of them) and OH and the smalls walked through the door about 5 mins after me - followed seconds later by DD announcing 'Surprise!' - she's come home for the weekend as a total surprise for OH's bday :T That was lovely We ended up with a takeaway (I was mentally drained and DD was unplanned food person) and went to bed far too late, after chatting to her all evening

Tonight OH and I are off to The Ivy Brasserie in Cheltenham - DD is now babysitting, which DS3 is delighted with (my mum originally was and he really dislikes her looking after him) Tomorrow we have no plans - Oh may even spend his birthday evening taking DD back to uni if she doesn't book a train!

chumpy45

Wow, lots going on GreenT. Lovely surprise having DD home, just the tonic you needed after such an emotional day. Happy birthday to your OH, and well done on all the fabulous Florida flight/car bookings. Hope things progress smoothly with your nan and the other relatives aren't too difficult. Family ! Take care x

greent

Saw my Nan last Friday - looking soooo much better than the previous week! :T Her house is now on the market and there is an open day for it this coming weekend (although I am aware of only 1 viewing so far.... ) Fingers crossed.....

Saw the accountant today about closing down OH's company. Result is that I've taken a personal dividend today Am thinking of taking remaining money at company year end (31st Jan) as a company payment into a personal pension for me - starting up a new one (will then transfer at least one of my tiny ones into it as well) - will probably look at taking another dividend 31st Dec, so remaining amount to start new pension off may only be £15- £20k (prob nearer the £15k mark) but that way it will mean less corp tax and no personal tax (whereas if I take that £15k as a dividend there will be 19% corp tax for the co on it and then personal tax for me) We don't need that money as a dividend right now, and my pensions at 60 are less than OH's, so throwing some more money to me seems like a sensible thing to do. I'm thinking of getting a (part time) job when DS3 starts secondary in a year's time, too. (Alternatively, I take it as a dividend and put it all to BTL)

On the subject of BTL, I've made an extra £300 OP to it this month on top of the usual rent payment - not masses, but my focus is still Florida right now

Re: Florida - I think I have enough in the account now to pay balance on flights and also purchase Disney tickets - just leaving Universal tickets to finish saving for (Not purchasing any as yet) - oh - and then spending money when we are there, of course! (Also need to get ESTAs, but they are cheap - and it is likely now that we will stay in a hotel @ airport night before - but we can absorb both of those from regular budget ) Am therefore hoping we will have all required funds before June and then I can divert monies after then to BTL - and start getting some decent progress on there

Karmacat

Talk about decent progress, greent, you're still making *wonderful* progress

apple_muncher

Glad to hear that your nan is looking better. She defo sounds like a tough ol' bird!

greent

apple_muncher wrote: »

Glad to hear that your nan is looking better. She defo sounds like a tough ol' bird!

Oh, she is, apple - she really is! :rotfl:

greent

So...... I've accepted an offer on my Nan's house - it's a FTB and the mtge broker at the Est Agents says they have an agreement in principle - now that I've accepted the offer they can apply for a proper mtge offer - fingers crossed. I've got all the usual seller's stuff from the conveyancing firm to complete (boo) so I'll get on with that this week.

I've done some life/ financial admin - opened up an additional new monthly saver each for both OH and myself (2.5% for 12 months, instant access, can each save £400/ mth) An ok rate. Fiddled around with a couple of other savings accounts, too.

Managed to pay some extra on the BTL mtge last month - had some money left at month end and split it between hol fund and an OP. Am almost at my target for the year - should achieve it this month, so Dec OP will be a bonus :T

chumpy45

Great news all around (apart from all the house paperwork). Must be a relief for you. Hope all your family are well.

greent

Thanks, chumpy. Yes - family are all well, thanks - we went to see DD and DS1 in their respective uni places over half term last week. Had bargain a1rbnb accom to stay 10 mins walk from DS1's shared house - good size 2 bed apartment, funkily fitted out, parking and very clean and tidy - was £86 for the night but we had a £50 credit with a1rbnb because of something that happened before so we only paid £36 :mse: Took him out for food (his gf was busy so she didn't come along). Took some food with us for him (made him some crumbles, flapjacks etc) and offered him a smkt shop but he declined :eek:- so we just bought him a triple pack of jaffacakes (He does eat really healthily - I've just realised that we took loads of sweet stuff and then bought more - but he doesn't buy himself stuff like that - he's actually lost about half a stone since going back without trying) (he doesn't need to lose weight - he's a 30" waist (was 28 before going to uni - I think last year he enjoyed partying more!!) but has lost the squidginess he gained earlier this year)
DD ended up with a 5guys for her meal out - which she enjoyed - her boyf also missed out as he was at uni. She also declined a shop - but we took her loads of tins down - they are a - heavy for them to carry b - I buy them in trays so they work out around half the price of buying them singly, which is what they'd be doing)

Smaller 2 were very ready for their half term - and (as always) enjoyed seeing their older siblings

Plodding on here - have done all paperwork required at the mo for house sale and uploaded lots of certificates/ gtees/ warranties to the conveyancers. Also found details of an old (2013) EPC just before I was about to organise one - as it's in date (they last for 10 years) I've managed to save my Nan a bit of money there :T

Painted the kitchen door last night/ today (one side still needs another coat) - it's only been hung in its primed state for 10.5 years....:o:o:o It looks soooo much better (you can imagine how grubby a matt primed kitchen door gets in that time frame.....) We want to change the doors but the ones we want are a little bit £:eek:, so are not a priority - so a nice shiny, clean white one will do in the meantime

I've got rid of lots of stuff in Oct (sold via fb00k, z1ff1t and flebay, donated heaps to CS and also things to PTA, school clothes rail, foodbank, homeless appeal) and recycled lots. November is also off to a good start, too - clearly I am 'on it' at the mo! I can see some gaps appearing.... :T:T

tattycath

Hey greent, looks like you’ve had a good break with your kids. how’s it going? X