Flying solo

HeadAboveWater

*Robin* wrote: »

Phew. Done it.

Woohoo!! :j

The on-line SA questions are a lot easier to input than filling out the old paper forms used to be

Agreed!! Although I've never actually filled in a paper form. The online thing is the way to go!!

It's not a large sum, but sufficient to ensure that Daft Dogs and I won't go hungry for a few weeks.

Perfect Take a bit of pressure off you Robin

Have awarded m'self a Baileys to celebrate

Again, woohoo!! :j Def well deserved!

Meanwhile a brace of strong, handsome young men are improving The Nest for me, and catching up with some general maintenance tasks. Gaffer is great; all I have to do is point at the [STRIKE]problems[/STRIKE] jobs and supply mugs of strong tea at regular intervals.

Send them over here when you're done with them please. I'm sure I could find something to keep them busy... :eek:

Have a good day Robin & Co

NewLeaf_2

Glad things are on the up for you Robin and dogs xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and dear MSE Friends, :hello:

Well. Things do change quickly. Am still floating happily, buoyed up by the thought of being at peace with THEM for the time being.
While tidying up the paperwork some other correspondence came to light, concerning an inheritance that a cousin appears to have claimed for herself (should have been split four ways). For a few months I've been wondering whether to challenge her on it, but after due consideration decided not to. I suspect she's used the money to pay off her mortgage (needless to say she's keeping very quiet about it).

Less than a day after making that final decision and putting away the papers re my late aunt, an email arrived from another solicitor. Informing me that a completely unexpected bequest is heading this way - ten times larger than the sum due from Aunt's estate.
Wow. Am only a distant relative, but I've been assured that close family "have been looked after generously" and are all happy that their Dad remembered us (the bequest is to PC as well, as this gent passed on before PC did).

First thought; that's PC's Death Duties taken care of, what a relief.
Second thought: I'll have to visit the savings sections of MSE to try and work out where to put this windfall until such time as the DD bill arrives..
Third thought; after selecting a charity to receive my gift in thanks for this amazing luck. Actually two gifts; one for the good result with THEM as well.

Meanwhile Gaffer is making great progress with the jobs he's doing (Lad didn't turn up yesterday). We're going to buy more materials today - something extra is always required during the course of a project; mostly little bits but essential to keep the work moving.

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Send them over here when you're done with them please. I'm sure I could find something to keep them busy...

Ok, will suggest it but unfortunately your climate is wrong - Gaffer can't do his work at home at the moment as it was snowed under and now might wash away (flood risk area). So he was happy enough to come here and help me, but by the time your weather becomes an attractive proposition Gaffer will be back working miracles at his proper job. Sorry.

chevalier wrote:

Please thank CD for letting us know what was happening. Good dog!

She is being a sweetie; her rewards will be a run on the beach and a supply of fresh chicken for her lunch.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Congratulations on your windfall. I'm pleased it will make things easier for you Xx

HeadAboveWater

Great news Robin Bit of what goes around/pay it forward going on there. Pleased how its worked out for you

*Robin* wrote: »

Ok, will suggest it but unfortunately your climate is wrong - Gaffer can't do his work at home at the moment as it was snowed under and now might wash away (flood risk area). So he was happy enough to come here and help me, but by the time your weather becomes an attractive proposition Gaffer will be back working miracles at his proper job. Sorry.

Ah shucks! No harm in asking!

Enjoy the beach with CD later

dorothy52

So this is what happens when I go MIA for a couple of days! Wow, what a lovely surprise I received when I caught up with you, Robin, it has really, really made my day:j

You must feel great now that THEY have been dealt with, and to find that you are owed a refund as well, result:beer: What is it about THEM? I know that every year when I submit DS tax return I feel positively weak with relief!

I am shocked and disgusted, however to learn that you have been cheated out of an inheritance. I wonder if the other two intended beneficeries are aware, and if so if they are being as pragmatic and magnanimous as you are. Surely this is theft? Aren't there laws on probate? I will have to go and have a google as I am curious now.

Wow to the best news of all though, it is my fasting day, otherwise I would pour myself a glass of chilled white wine and toast your very well deserved good fortune. DS DIL and the kids are going out for lunch tomorrow, I have booked the day off work as I am exhausted and I can think of nothing better then spending some quality time with those I love the most, and I can assure you that I will dine well and raise a glass to you my friend.

NewLeaf_2

robin that is so super about your windfall and !!!!ed off too that you got cheated. Karma happens and I hope they watch out. xxx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and dear MSE Friends, :hello:

We had a busy day here yesterday; just about got the patio roof finished - it looks great and is so quiet now that the old broken section isn't groaning every time a wisp of breeze nudges it.

HeadAboveWater wrote:

Enjoy the beach with CD later

Thanks HAW - CD had a wonderful time! Running back and forth, investigating the latest flotsam blown onto the high-tide line, startling seagulls and playing with a little terrier we often meet down there (think his family are spending the winter at the camp-site next to the beach).
FD plodded along next to me, she's a bit long in the tooth to go bonkers on the beach these days. Recent storms have moved around a lot of fine sand and now it's dried out, it's pretty hard going - leg muscles are still giving me gyp today after wading through the stuff for about 3 kms.

NewLeaf wrote: »

that is so super about your windfall

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote:

Congratulations on your windfall. I'm pleased it will make things easier for you

Thank you both, and HAW and Dot - do hope similar good things happen for each of you..

HeadAboveWater wrote:

Great news Robin Bit of what goes around/pay it forward going on there. Pleased how its worked out for you

Think that's it, HAW - I really don't mind that my cousin has apparently appropriated Aunt's legacy - though thank you all for your outrage on my behalf, maybe I should explain further:
Of us four cousins - none children of Aunt - the one who was executor is the only one with an outstanding mortgage. Her DH is not well; he could retire if they didn't have to worry about paying for their home.

dorothy52 wrote: »

I am shocked and disgusted, however to learn that you have been cheated out of an inheritance. I wonder if the other two intended beneficeries are aware, and if so if they are being as pragmatic and magnanimous as you are. Surely this is theft? Aren't there laws on probate? I will have to go and have a google as I am curious now.

I've not discussed it with any of the cousins. Having made my decision I will not be rocking any boats. Yes, Cousin is breaking the law by not providing accounts and disbursing funds according to Aunt's Will - but my share of the money involved is not a life-changing sum, whereas the whole amount is enough to be called that.

I don't know how much longer her DH has - but am pretty certain they'll both enjoy their time together more if they're freed from the largest monthly bill and he's not forced to keep working.

Many, many times over the last few months I have been grateful that PC was offered early retirement by his employer - otherwise, he would have died 'in harness' without getting an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labours (yes we've had a lot of good times here over the years, though more just the children and I than with PC as his holiday allowance was less generous). But retirement does have a different feel - not having to count down the days until returning to work.

I cannot begrudge Cousin and her DH wanting the same thing..

..And look what happened as soon as I decided not to pursue Cousin - I am not complaining!

However, am not intending to do anything with this windfall until after PC's estate is finalised; at the moment it's not mine to play with (hasn't arrived in m'bank a/c yet anyway). If there's anything left after the Death Duties are paid, great - that's when I'll think about what to use it for. If not, at least I now don't have to put aside as much money as I can in the meantime.

I am going to allow myself one extravagance; when PC and I built the kitchen here we just put in the essentials, but now I want to have an extractor installed over the cooker - Gaffer will do it for me before he goes home.

dorothy52 wrote: »

Wow to the best news of all though, it is my fasting day, otherwise I would pour myself a glass of chilled white wine and toast your very well deserved good fortune. DS DIL and the kids are going out for lunch tomorrow, I have booked the day off work as I am exhausted and I can think of nothing better then spending some quality time with those I love the most, and I can assure you that I will dine well and raise a glass to you my friend.

Hope you had a wonderful day with your family Dot - treasure those moments.

I'm having a quiet day today as Gaffer has gone off with the Young Ones to play in the snow. One of the girls is celebrating her birthday plus having completed her first term as a qualified teacher - so they've rented a chalet at the ski-resort for a long weekend.
<Hope they have fun and avoid injuries!>.

Actually maybe I should go and look for an extractor hood? Hmm ok, the shop we get such things from is closed tomorrow and it would be best if I've got the piece when Gaffer returns on Monday. :think:
Don't need much else - ladies you will be pleased to hear that I've driven straight past the supermarket on the last two trips to town.
Dot that is partly thanks to you, reminding me about the fast days of the feast/fast diet which lamentably, I let slip over xmas with dire results (5kg worth to get back to where I was! ).
I really don't need a fully stocked fridge and larder - can't bear to waste food, never could!

As I haven't yet got a calender for 2013, I'm going to note here that yesterday, I watered everything in the garden apart from the pine trees. Most of it is looking good, but PCD has taken against brassicas - she's dug up three cabbages in the last couple of days. :mad: ..I got my own back by cooking up the half-grown plants in the rice that's the basis of her and BD's diet. :rotfl:

dorothy52

Ah, I understand your decision now not to 'rock the boat', and you will be pleased to know that if I were in your position I would have done EXACTLY the same. Thank you for taking the time to explain this, as to be honest it has been praying on my mind for a couple of days, I felt it was almost like robbing the dead lol.

Well, you sound as if you have been busy and you definately sound more upbeat that you have of late, which I am so pleased to hear.

I did indeed enjoy my day with my family yesterday, apart from when I was carrying DGD into the restaurant and didn't see the step and promptly fell over it! The fact that I was wearing platform wedged heeled boots no doubt intended for ladies several decades younger than me contributed to the debacle. I was so anxious not to drop or fall on her that I simply dropped to my knees (on a tiled floor) - I must have looked as if I was praying. My pride, and knees, are very sore today - oh well, this is the price I must pay for being a Glammy Granny I suppose.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Love

Dot
xx

NewLeaf_2

Dot I like the thought of you being a glammy granny.

Robin can you download a free calendar? x