Flying solo

missrlr

Morning Robin, just playing catch up here. The dinner sounded lovely and precisely what the doctor ordered. The electrics less so! Thank goodness this was found before any serious damage occurred!
Hope you are recovering and able to focus on the THEM issue to conclude!
Cold and wet here. Window fixing failed to currently awaiting them to arrive again to see what the problem is and how they can sort it. I have a feeling we are going towards "new windows needed" which is not going to be achievable presently

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Gentle Readers [;)], :hello:

missrlr wrote: »

Morning Robin, just playing catch up here. The dinner sounded lovely and precisely what the doctor ordered. The electrics less so! Thank goodness this was found before any serious damage occurred!

Thanks for dropping in, Missrlr.
Yes it was lovely to have some family time before DS4 had to leave - and our meal was a darn sight more MSE than going to the local bar's "ex-pat lunch" @ 12€ a head! ..Mind you, most of the washing up is still queuing - have to laugh at m'self, using TR as an excuse to postpone the next batch! :rotfl:

Am still reeling with relief re the bodged electrics at DH's cottage; wouldn't have been able to forgive m'self if anyone got hurt because it hadn't been sorted out in time. :cool:

missrlr wrote: »

Hope you are recovering and able to focus on the THEM issue to conclude!

Thanks, yes; top of the list now but can't concentrate for long. Beginning to wonder if am making it more complicated than necessary (ie. by separating expenses on each property rather than just lumping them all together?).

Decided to postpone 'phoning THEM about overpaying old bill - that ordeal can wait until TR has been safely submitted.

missrlr wrote: »

Cold and wet here. Window fixing failed to currently awaiting them to arrive again to see what the problem is and how they can sort it. I have a feeling we are going towards "new windows needed" which is not going to be achievable presently

Was wondering how your window-project is getting on. Sorry the experts might give you bad news there - but if the windows need replacing there's no decision to make - I'd stick the expense on a CC for now. Better than having your home deteriorate and be impossible to live in comfortably (especially given the other difficulties your family is coping with :grouphug:).


Divo Two called this morning, he was at the garage. The estimate for repairing his car is over 300€! :eek:
..So whatever is wrong with the brakes must be a darn sight more serious than we thought - _pale_ at what might have happened!**
DS2 has already decided he wants to keep the car despite GF's thoughts on the matter - all brothers have been bending his ear about needing it to maintain contact with DGD - so told him to go ahead; balance will have to come out of February's funds as the 100€ already loaned emptied January's pot.
It's been an expensive month; feeding DS4, van's inspection fee, several special meals at home as well as restaurant visits.

** :think: Going to have a word with DS2 about his karma; avoiding disaster twice suggests care is needed - time he did something which helps to make the world a better place for someone. ***

Right. Back to my elephant..

*** ETA: Ought to do the same - in thanks for good fortune because the electrics at DH's cottage didn't cause a fire.

missrlr

Oh Robin that sounds hideously complicated, just lump them all in one as long as you have the individual receipts to back it up if you need it All I do with mine as advised by tax person!

But do make sure you perhaps ask about that for you to make sure it doesn't mess anything up for you (one for the them call later?)

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear MSE Friends, :hello:

Just a very quick visit today!

missrlr wrote: »

Oh Robin that sounds hideously complicated, just lump them all in one as long as you have the individual receipts to back it up if you need it All I do with mine as advised by tax person!

Thank you Missrlr - putting everything together did simplify the process significantly - without affecting the final figures as far as I can see.

Having arrived at the bottom line, I have reluctantly decided it's time to sell a treasure which was inherited from Great-Grandpapa. It's a piece of furniture which really belongs in a far more exalted setting than I can provide, or perhaps a museum.
Divo Four called in a restoration expert who was so intrigued at the description he turned up to examine it the same day, and has now taken it to his workshop.
Am expecting a significant bill, but will also benefit from the gentleman's connections and marketing skills once the wobbly bits have been sorted out and it's properly cleaned up / polished.

Will be very, very sad to see this treasure go because it's gorgeous - but selling it could make the difference between needing a mortgage or not, so...

Knit_Witch

That's sad Robin, but hopefully it will go to a place where it will be loved and appreciated!

Skint_but_Optimistic

means to an end, sacrifice is a pain isnt it. Hope you have plenty photos of it xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :EasterBun

Thanks for dropping in, Knit Witch and SbO - pull up a chair and grab a plate; today we have sculpted chocolate cake with ganache and whipped cream filling. Just in case there's any doubt as to the flavour, it's topped with milk, plain, and white chocolate sprinkles.
..Dig in ladies, help yourselves to a gurt big wedge; there's plenty for everyone (without guilt, because of course virtual cake is calorie-free! ).

Thank you for commiserations re the family heirloom. Will be a wrench to lose it, but it's just a possession, right?


Gawd. What a relief. Finally screwed up courage and entered my carefully calculated figures into THEIR website.
Fell off m' chair when the annotated calculation came back (why oh why don't they show the full workings until one's clicked through two other - not very obvious - links? :mad:).

Paid it before nerve failed or the site locked me out again, plus an obligatory advance on the next bill - although THEY quoted very different demands in subsequent summaries. :cool:
..It's probably THEIR busiest day of the year for panicked 'phone queries. Won't block up the lines today; am content to have over-paid for now - avoiding the penalty - reckon that's the closest to the deadline TR has ever been.

So that's one elephant evicted.
Dealing with the other tricksy brute must wait until batteries have recharged - CD knows just the thing for restoring one's soul: A wonderful game of hunt-the-avocados; blissfully out of the wind in the orchards, crunching through deep carpets of dead leaves as we search for windfalls - CD brings 'em to me, I carry 'em home, then we'll share them as they ripen. :smileyhea

missrlr

WOOO HOOO elephant munched! So pleased for you and to have paid the relevant amounts too. You can always argue the toss about amounts later on assuming no disaster on the cash flow front.

Am so pleased when things like this are sorted - avocado collecting break sounds just the ticket. Good CD for sorting this out - many ear tickles for her!

I have been reliably informed that THEY now happily accept electronic copies of receipts and so on. Might consider this as I have many months of filing to actually do! Plus having panicked about paperwork being damaged by flooding of houses I am entering a paranoid stage of life I think! That is my elephant for the weekend.

Such a shame to hear you are having to consider selling a piece of family history, but I am sure your Great Grandad would rather you benefit from it than look at it and be in trauma. Hopefully the benefit will be felt throughout the family!

Hope you can come to a decision you are happy with on that score.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Well done for getting through the first hurdle with THEM, and I'm sure you are doing the right thing with the heirloom. Let's hope itgoes to a museum to be appreciated by many.

I'll have a large slice of cake please! It sounds exquisite Xx

Knit_Witch

Grabs a slice of cake (as it is virtual it has no calories and no chances of nuts either ) and passes out virtual glasses of wine (or drink or choice) to toast the elephant being dealt with :T