Flying solo

*Robin*

grannyx2 wrote: »

Yes I often think of them both too and wonder and hope that they are both OK.

Hoping this will work -here is the post you want

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59380819&postcount=548

Enjoy the walk, it's pouring down here again.

Granny x

Granny you are wonderful - thank you so much! :T :T :T

..Ironically, my own reading got to Feb 11th - shied away from memories of PCD and BD leaving us, and then went out when overload hit..

So. Looks like THEY already have about £500 which could go towards this year's tax bill - bet it won't be possible to simply transfer it; will have to pay [again] then seek a refund. Can't get uppity about it though; my own fault for insisting on paying via SO rather than DD.
'Phoning THEM will be a job for Monday or Tuesday.

We ended up combining three missions yesterday afternoon; rendezvoused with DS2 before heading to the beach, where it was a beautiful, warm sunny day.
Looking inland the view was spectacular; glittering snowy mountain-tops made brighter by banks of dark purple clouds rising up behind them (heralding more stormy weather which arrived last night).

The Divos took CD for a run along the beach while I met up with Carer-Friend who is taking a short break away from duty, and had 'phoned while I was tussling with numbers earlier.
It was good to catch up after what felt like a long time of silence; seems the thought of Carer needing my help to look after Mum finally galvanised the siblings into action, sorting out a much better support package - which is why the call to fly back never came. Am glad it's worked out this way, although very sad to hear of Mum's inexorable decline. This break is Carer's opportunity to recharge before the final intensity.

We all had dinner at a new Asian restaurant. It was very good; well spiced and excellently presented, although there was surprisingly little choice for vegetarians.
Carer and I split the bill. Didn't go shopping so total spend £25.

Sparky has finished the job at DH's cottages, and been paid.** Divo Two showed me a horrible melted bodge which a previous tenant had put inside the fuse box - know who did it, bluddy man; the only one DH had to evict - reckon we were very lucky it didn't catch fire.
** DS2 justified my trust. :T
It's almost exactly a year since I expressed nervousness about the electrics at DH's cottages here in Flying Solo; seriously need to speed m'self up somehow..

Knit_Witch

Good luck phoning THEM! and yay to getting the leccy sorted (shudders at the idea of a fire though!)

please-let-me-be-lucky

*Robin* wrote: »

Sparky has finished the job at DH's cottages, and been paid.**
** DS2 justified my trust. :T

Yay :j:T:j Xx

grannyx2

Glad to be of help

Also pleased to hear about both electric and DS2 showing he can be believed in. Most glad to hear that it got sorted before anything awful happened.

Granny x

debtfreewannabe321

Morning Robin glad ds2 paid the money over :T

Do you have a deadline for buying a house for ds4? House prices seem to be on the up here, hence our worries about not being able to get a mortgage and having to wait which might price us out of the market. I hope you find something suitable soon so you can make the most of the current market

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear, MSE Friends, :hello:

All Change at the Nest (again).
Yesterday was a busy day: A gathering of Divos, plus DIL, DGS and their current house-guest. Our purpose; an impromptu farewell lunch for DS4.

DGS was charming, as ever; followed me into the kitchen then announced:
"Now I'm four I'm big enough to cook. How can I help you?"
He mashed the spuds / sweet potatoes - did a good job of it too, which let me concentrate on getting the rest out (his favourite sausages, plus nut roast, asparagus, leeks, and cheese sauce).

Blessed with a calm day, it was [just about] warm enough to eat outside which was lovely; air scented with almond blossom and a million bees buzzing quietly in the background.

After every dish had been polished off, DGS took CD, DS2 and HG for a walk (lol). DS4 juggled his packing and I had a chance to catch up with DS1 & DIL.

DGS wasn't here when I gave his Dad their xmas present, so when the feast didn't happen at DS1's house, he decided not to say anything about the gift until the summer holidays.
DS put the four large boxes which comprise the kit into his [locked] tool store. Recently DGS followed his Dad in there and spotted the boxes, only one of which has a 'photo on it (the pump - which is a simple white cylinder). The others just bear a short written description of the contents. After concentrating for a while, DGS suddenly jumped in the air and yelled with delight:
"Dad - it says swimming pool! We've got a swimming pool!"
..Now of course he's been practising writing his letters for quite a while now, but nobody realised that DGS can already put together two syllable words! :T
:think: Maybe he got 'swim-', 'pool' and guessed the rest?
Either way, we're all very proud of DGS' progress (he reminds me so much of DS4 at the same age :smileyhea).

Divo Four's bag was over-weight by a bottle of fine wine, so that was disposed of between the non-drivers.
As the sun set it was time to wave off our traveller; the others left at the same time. Suddenly quiet descended on the Nest, so decided washing up could wait and fell asleep in front of the telly (predictable result of drinking vino in the daytime :cool2:).
Dishes are still waiting; am ignoring 'em in favour of a catch-up on here.

Knit_Witch wrote:

Good luck phoning THEM! and yay to getting the leccy sorted (shudders at the idea of a fire though!)

Hello Knit Witch, thanks for popping in. :wave:
Hmm; suspect 'phoning THEM will be postponed 'til tomorrow - want to prepare some better notes first.

We were lucky the electrics didn't catch fire - Idiot Tenant had fiddled with what is supposed to be a sealed fuse box - it's actually illegal to open it unless one is qualified. The !!!! had hidden his bodge** by soldering the seals back on - which is why DH didn't find it when he and Sparky repaired the other 'improvements' the wretched man did without permission (eg. extra plugs running off speaker wire :eek:).
** Added more cables, not - thank goodness - an attempt to bypass the meter!

grannyx2 wrote:

Glad to be of help

Also pleased to hear about both electric and DS2 showing he can be believed in. Most glad to hear that it got sorted before anything awful happened.

Hi Granny, yes very helpful indeed, thank you. :T
And yes, am happy DS2 justified trust.
We're going to sit down and look at DS2's finances sometime soon; see where his wages are going. Meanwhile have loaned some funds to repair his car - because DGD is coming to visit before he next gets paid (can not let him risk driving DGD around in a car with a known - potentially dangerous - fault ).
<Mental note to self: Remind DS to book re-test in advance.>

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Do you have a deadline for buying a house for ds4? House prices seem to be on the up here, hence our worries about not being able to get a mortgage and having to wait which might price us out of the market. I hope you find something suitable soon so you can make the most of the current market

Hello DFw, thanks for the reminder..
No actual deadline, except that renting a room for DS4 is reducing available funds by £500 every month.
The mortgage situation is a worry - how long will it be before interest rates go up?
Hope we both get sorted out safely before the bubble doubles or bursts.. :cool:

Knit_Witch

Oh DGS sounds a sweetie! and the swimming pool sounds as though it will be a great success :j

:eek::eek::eek: to the bodge and resoldering the box!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Thanks for the bakewell tart, what a treat.

Your family gathering sounds like a salve for the soul. Nice to have your team together in such lovely surroundings.

Those electrics! What kind of lunatic messes with these things????

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin just catching up with your diary. Your little grandson sounds lovely - what a help for you, bless him! Glad you've had a nice weekend - sounds idlyllic what with the almond blossom scented air and buzzing bees and sunshine! Bliss! We had almighty thunder, lightening and hailstorms here!

*Robin*

Thanks for joining me today, Knit Witch, SbO and Sun.A, :hello:

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Oh DGS sounds a sweetie! and the swimming pool sounds as though it will be a great success :j

DGS is adorable. Although am a bit concerned how he'll cope in a class of thirty kids when the time comes; he spends most of his days in adult company so will be ill-prepared, should his peers object to his more mature outlook. Don't think DGS has ever encountered bullying or typical playground behaviour, and he has no siblings to squabble with. His parents have already enrolled DGS at the Tai Chi classes they attend, but I think he'd also benefit from learning Tai Kwon Do - that was a huge help to DS4 when he was targeted with physical abuse (for being a clever-clogs at school).

Knit_Witch wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek: to the bodge and resoldering the box!

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote:

Those electrics! What kind of lunatic messes with these things????

..An alcoholic with MH and anger management issues who doesn't give a t0ss! Someone DH tried to help; a rare failure.

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote:

Your family gathering sounds like a salve for the soul. Nice to have your team together in such lovely surroundings.

Yes; a very enjoyable afternoon.
Think the Divos arranged it to give me a boost - they knew I wasn't looking forward to DS4 returning to college.
Forgot to note down a £35 spend beforehand, partly on food and the rest gifts for family and friends at homehome.

Sun_Addict wrote:

Your little grandson sounds lovely - what a help for you, bless him! Glad you've had a nice weekend - sounds idlyllic what with the almond blossom scented air and buzzing bees and sunshine! Bliss! We had almighty thunder, lightening and hailstorms here!

Ah, Sun.A your time will come (((hugs))). We had that weather last week - mountain peaks still snow-clad, and today a vicious wind is whipping petals off the trees again.