Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Didn't do very well last time responding to the excellent points raised, so let's have another go. Would like to say thank you to everyone who takes the trouble to post; do really appreciate the feedback - prompting topics requiring more thought before making decisions.

Missrlr - took your advice; delegating tasks where possible, and luckily managed to get a new ticket which avoids any dodgy French weather on the journey South.
Unfortunately the current home and landlord insurance precludes allowing strangers to stay at homehome unsupervised - have suggested T2 need to find their own policy which would cover house-sitters if they want to keep using 'em.

Re satnav, was looking at this one:
http://www.snooper.co.uk/ventura-pro-s8000.html
Which has very good reviews, and is particularly tempting because it's loaded with thousands of good overnight stops.. But have decided against - just too expensive; thus far have managed by asking locals for park-up suggestions and there's always the Camperstop book if I can't make m'self understood (at a fraction of the price).

Cuddles to Doglet - glad to hear GP is helping him too..

Bubbles - your comment struck a large, melodious bell; you're right, since DH died I no longer feel that homehome is where I should be; it's too big for a start, and do miss the mountains and fresh air at the Nest (not to mention a water supply free from fluoride and the chemicals used to recycle 'black' waste water - never liked that system!).

Sparky - thanks for the offer of a voucher for e-cig supplies, but think I should have enough bits to keep me going for the next six months now (that's a spend I forgot about [STRIKE]yesterday[/STRIKE] when posting last, lol).
Am absolutely amazed at how easy it has been to cut out roll-ups using this prop; much better than all the patches and fake cigs etc., the NHS offers.

Dansmam - deal! (Don't think dear snowdog would be very happy if separated from yours truly; she'd start 'singing' after about ten minutes. Doubt I could walk fast enough these days to satisfy a lurcher either, lol).

Sun.A - for the sake of m' own sanity have withdrawn from the old friend who upset me. She's not happy about it, but.. Well, when am feeling more secure will write to her, explaining exactly why her comments were so hurtful and unfair.

Will probably have to make one more visit to the vet near homehome with CD, to collect copies of all the tests done so far - but fingers crossed we're close enough to getting back to the Nest that the expensive scans can be done by Dear Vet. Tbh I'd like to wait until CD has been on the higher dose of GP for at least a month to see whether it's being as effective as am hoping..

Chev - hmm; reluctant to use a letting agent because A) we had a bad experience last time we employed one, and it would put the costs up significantly both for tenant and self.

T2 knows their tenancy will not be renewed again if there is just one more complaint. They are also going to be much more closely supervised from now on; Divo Four has agreed to look after the parts of the garden which are visible to the public, so he'll be there at least once every couple of weeks and will make a point of calling on the neighbours and checking they are happy.

One of DS4's part-time jobs is working for a garden maintenance company so he is used to this sort of work - which he will get paid for. He's happy because it will take up less time than another of his 'top-up-student-income' positions that he's just given notice on (it's his final year so he wants to concentrate on getting a good degree - am right behind him there, so this solution suits us both - especially as yours truly is subsidising him somewhat anyway ).

Lucky, Brizzled, Bubbles, and Lindens - thanks all of you for thinking of CD and self. :T

Lucky - hope your pain is easing off. (((Hugs)))

Well, CD and self are back in the New Forest. Stealth camping in an industrial estate tonight, in order that camper-van is available first thing for some mechanical attention - under guarantee thank goodness.
..Just making sure all is tip-top before setting off on our journey South.
Flipping chilly here compared to balmy East Anglia - ah, and precious little sun to keep the batteries topped up. Bleeping has begun; time for bed!

Spends:
E-cig supplies - £78
Spare keys for homehome - £24
Fuel - £52 + £30

mcculloch29

Have to say I agree with you about letting agents Robin, mine in the 90s excelled themselves by forwarding a really important letter from a utility company to me at the address I was renting out rather than where I was actually living. I hope it does work well. With Divo 4 on the case, I feel it probably will.

DS is renting his place without the services of one and so far, so good.

Smiled at the ferry bookings clerk knowing CD by name, presumably these details flew up on a screen in front of them, but wouldn't it be nice to think CD has gone down in company folklore?!

Brightspark87

Hi Robin

Glad to have this post after recent times.

Glad the giving up the rollies is going well, just think how well you have done with that a real achievement.

Glad that you will feel more in control with T2 - makes so much difference to have someone you trust keeping an eye. Neighbours are important and so are the good relations!

Sorry to hear of problems but at least getting them sorted under warranty and before the long trip south xx

Dansmam

Hi Robin
Sounds as though your plans are coming together and you'll be back safe snuggled up in the nest before the snow. I have no wisdom or knowledge on the tenant front but the ds plan sounds like win win all round. Your boys all have such sound heads on their shoulders from the sound of it so that must be a weight off your mind.
Hope all CD's health info is good. Lurcher boy sends virtual lurcher chase and barky games. Happy travelling!
Travelling girls are somewhere in Pyrenees waiting at garage for new tyre. I am not thinking about the hairpins on those roads but remember them well from uni days. Am telling self it's all motorway nowadays. Please don't correct me, I am happier conning myself...Girls tell me entire French nation still least anglophile in Europe. Have suggested they learn to speak French. Used to work!
Safe journey, happy travelling!

chevalier

Hi Robin
Ref the letting agents, that is why I suggested asking your neighbours for recommendations. We used Rathbone and Rushbrook I think they were called. They look after rentals all over the place. We never had a problem with them when we were renting our DH flat.

Good luck with what ever you decide, and safe journey back
chev

*Robin*

Dear Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Internetty hassles swallowed a long post with replies to your comments Mcculloch, Sparky, Dansmam and Chev. Sorry but am not in the right headspace to try and resurrect it right now..

Feeling very fragile, bereaved again in many ways after learning someone I trusted has been interfering with my stuff. Short version of the story is that they decided to throw away some boxes to make more room - including the records of DH's ancestor who I wanted to research further and write about with Greyfox's help.
Still finding it hard to believe that the hand-written letter from King George, the medals and ancestor's military records have actually been bulldozed into landfill, but that's the truth - which is why I couldn't find them..
Said relative is, I think, suffering symptoms of dementia because they have also been saying some weird things, eg asking after the health of my new partner. Eh? Apparently convinced I had said ages ago that I have moved on from DH - so they decided I wouldn't care about his archives. Complete claptrap of course - have never even thought of looking for anyone else (no-one could replace DH in my heart!:A).
The culprit was totally unfazed and unapologetic even though m' distress was obvious - had to walk away in tears, because the alternative violent response would be unthinkable..

Made me realise how much I'd been relying on that project to help heal after losing DH far too soon.. Was so looking forward to seeing his name on the dedication page of a published book.
Well, it won't be that book now.
Divo Four suggested a fictional tale about a sweet-looking little old lady with a hidden vicious streak - ha, hardly original and not a satisfactory settling of the score, especially if it turns out dementia is actually to blame.

Black Dog has been having a field day inside m' head after the above devastating news. Which translated to spending far too much on the River - can't even remember details or amounts; gifts, hard-to-get-in-Spain supplies and useful kit for the van..

Just one more thing to pack now. Too big to take really; my most treasured family antique, a lacquered mother-of-pearl inlaid chest - but dare not leave it in storage any longer in case someone decides to make more room again and dispose of it. Besides, I would like the chance to enjoy it for the time I have left.
Fingers crossed it survives the journey, eh?

Sooo.. T2 paid their rent and signed a new agreement forbidding house-sitters unless insured and with my express permission.
Local Vet has given me CD's test results and enough medication to get us back to Dear Vet.

Spends I can remember:
Fuel - £60
Groceries - £103 total (includes £50 worth of M@rmite).
Van kit - £430
Replacement dongle - £66 (IP should repay this plus excess fees run up by the faulty gizmo - eventually).

Offset by selling spare organic virgen olive oil and various items I won't need again including satnav - £400 back into a/c.

ETA - More spends:
Fresh MOT - £50
CD's meds - £31

missrlr

Oh Robin that is simply awful, on so many fronts. I admire your restraint in not at least making your upset very vocally known. I am not sure I would have the same control in such circumstances. I think you have to find alternative homes for your things well away from Someone's tidying up activities. It does seem odd behaviour though. Hope nothing more goes awry

Glad T2 has sorted out the tenancy rent and provisos. Hope you, CD and the chest have a safe travel south. The funds situation seems under control as much as can be expected given the nature of life presently.

DH name can be on a book dedication page, and you will do it justice. Take care. Ear tickles for CD

greyfox

Oh, Robin. What can I say? I'm so sorry to hear that someone has got rid of that material.

Obviously, nothing can replace the King's letter or the medals etc, but if you can remember anything about DH's relative - even if only his name & where he came from - PM me & I'll see if I can find anything about him. I like a challenge!

Look after yourself,

GF x

Dansmam

Robin, what a shock that must have been, could feel my own pulse racing just reading your last post, can only send good wishes and admiration for your compassionate take on the tidier`s health issues. I rage when things are binned without my agreement here, and they're not usually anything important - am so sorry your project won't happen as planned. I so much hope there will be a new and - eventually - better book in all of this -have you ever thought of writing the tale of your adventures? I can see you in print...
Lurcher boy just gave a deep and sympathetic sigh, so sending that through the ether.

*Robin*

Good evening from the docks, :hello:

Thanks for sympathetic comments re DH's archives, everyone - Greyfox I'll pm you with the very little I can remember once am settled back at the Nest; thanks for the offer - this truly will be a challenge (but perhaps possible because the soldier did have a rather unusual surname).
Anyway, there was no point in raging at Elderly Relation - she really couldn't see the problem, and if she has lost her marbles then my getting angry with her would just have confused her, and wouldn't help to retrieve the precious records.
Don't know what else went got thrown out, didn't have the heart to look..
Plenty of private angst involved though, every time I think of it.

At least DS4 and I managed to get the inlaid cabinet into camper-van, so that won't end up next to the bins. It does take up rather a lot of floor-space - making my bed in a few minutes' time is going to be fun (not).
Can't be bothered to cook - too tired - so am dining on cold soup and sausages left over from last night. Surprisingly it's delicious.

More spends:
Gas - £24 (so have two full bottles)
Fuel - £50 (tank still 3/4 full)