Flying solo

*Robin*

missrlr wrote:

And yes well that does put quite a different complexion on the whole matter doesn't it?

Indeed it does.

*Robin* wrote: »

2) The chap who was supposed to sort out the Spanish side appears to have dropped out.

..Rescind this; just heard from him - we're on!

dorothy52

Hi Robin, well it's all changed again since I had a sneaky read at work today - great news that your Spanish chap is still on board.

Hmmm, yes, lots to think about re the caravan - yet more decisions. Are we going to have a caravangate as well as NL's golfgate I wonder? Gosh, my boring little life seems so straightforward compared to yours, as always I am filled with admiration for the way you manage to meet life's challenges with calm stoicism - I am quite sure that I would simply retreat under the kitchen table and sob at the thought of the sheer enormity of the challenges you face. Still, you have us, your loyal mse friends to cheer you on, and I know that in the not too distant future you WILL prevail.

Right, I promised New Leaf that I would crack on with my belly dancing and I have procrastinated quite long enough - wish me luck and off I go to put on me leggings and dance belt (will forgo the veil and harem pants as this is not a dress rehearsal:)

please-let-me-be-lucky

Sorry I hogged the sun today . I hope everyone else at least got a glimpse of it too!

Glad the spanish bloke is back on board Xx

grannyx2

Your time with DGD sounds lovely, she sounds like she has quite an old head on her cute little shoulders. I love that she liked Mahjong so much.

DGD1 has been playing chess with us since she was 3. Although she cannot play it properly she knows all the chess pieces names and how they move but can't do the strategy yet.

I'm pleased to hear the guy is still on board, despite your concerns earlier and hope things progress soon for you. Time in the garden with your dear friends reflecting on your weekend sounds like just what was in order after a busy couple of days.

I hope you sleep well tonight

Granny x

*Robin*

dorothy52 wrote: »

lots to think about re the caravan - yet more decisions. Are we going to have a caravangate as well as NL's golfgate I wonder?

Oh goodness me; caravangate, lol! Hmm, have a few weeks to decide as caravan selling-season doesn't start until Easter.

dorothy52 wrote: »

Gosh, my boring little life seems so straightforward compared to yours,

Or better organised, perhaps?

dorothy52 wrote: »

as always I am filled with admiration for the way you manage to meet life's challenges with calm stoicism

Hmm. Never been a member of AA, but do find the Serenity Prayer a useful reminder in moments of crisis:
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
..Look around the Diaries; folk are coping with far more stressful and arduous situations than I. But thank you for the vote of confidence.

dorothy52 wrote: »

I am quite sure that I would simply retreat under the kitchen table and sob at the thought of the sheer enormity of the challenges you face.

?? Nope. Can't see you huddling beneath a table Dot, unless you're playing hide and seek with your DGC of course.

dorothy52 wrote: »

I promised New Leaf that I would crack on with my belly dancing and I have procrastinated quite long enough - wish me luck and off I go to put on me leggings and dance belt (will forgo the veil and harem pants as this is not a dress rehearsal:)

Dot, you do realise this image has driven me to drink? The last of the xmas Baileys is no more..
Hope you enjoyed your undulations and feel fitter for doing 'em!

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote:

Sorry I hogged the sun today . I hope everyone else at least got a glimpse of it too!

Sounds like you made excellent use of yesterday's sunshine.

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote:

Glad the spanish bloke is back on board

grannyx2 wrote:

I'm pleased to hear the guy is still on board, despite your concerns earlier and hope things progress soon for you.

Yup, me too. He's sent me a loong list of papers to gather up - will have a look at that [STRIKE]tomorrow[/STRIKE] later today. Hopefully it will not involve trying to print anything..

grannyx2 wrote:

DGD1 has been playing chess with us since she was 3. Although she cannot play it properly she knows all the chess pieces names and how they move but can't do the strategy yet.

Gosh that's good going for a little 'un; chess moves are more complicated than picking up Mah Jong. Maybe you'll find yourself nurturing a future champion?


Well, someone dropped off after her shower so ended up being awake in the middle of the night. Again.
So it goes - hope you're all sleeping peacefully now dear friends (except for Chev down under of course).

chevalier

Waves at Robin

Hope you got some sleep in the end. I was busy sorting out the household as one does when you have children....

Glad to hear that your Spanish bloke is still going to do the death duties over there. Phew.

Thanks for your thoughts. It IS horrible being so far away and not being able to help.
chev

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Grey clouds have given way to a fine but persistent and penetrating rain, as FD was at pains to inform me when she came back in after a very brief bathroom trip outdoors. Yukyukyuk - wet dog trying to get under the duvet! :eek: ..Well it's one way to stop Mistress having a lie-in! :rotfl:

chevalier wrote: »

Waves at Robin

Hope you got some sleep in the end. I was busy sorting out the household as one does when you have children....

Hi Chev, think I only just missed you last night.. Shame, as I'd have stayed on-line for a chat if I'd realised you were here.

chevalier wrote: »

Thanks for your thoughts. It IS horrible being so far away and not being able to help.

It is, isn't it. A few weeks ago we lost a young friend to cancer; I wanted to go to her Life Celebration but the logistics of finding a trust-worthy house/dog-sitter and buying flights at short notice defeated me. The girl's Mum knew about the dilemma - I wasn't the only far-away friend involved - and solved it by just announcing the funeral date one day ahead as she didn't want people spending a fortune to be there in person.
Instead, in the Buddhist Way, we were encouraged to give alms by sponsoring the girl's sister who is undertaking a charity challenge in her name. Mum sent me a lovely message - Sister is well on her way to raising 10K for a cause that was very close to our new Angel's heart.

Later this year technology will allow us to share the challenge as Mum is going to post 'photos of Sister's progress every day. For now the whole family is working through their grief by training hard, which is a good idea - if they're physically exhausted each night, they'll sleep better and fret less..

<sigh> Life goes on.
For me, today, that means one last attempt to persuade the printer that can talk to PC's laptop to produce clear complete pages, and start collecting all the paperwork Probate Chap wants to see.. Fortunately I can cross off about half the items as there are no outstanding mortgages, CC or other debts.

While I was wakeful last night, I had a look at Martin's latest recommendations for savings:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/savings-accounts-best-interest#san123
Am wondering whether to shift PC's DDuties fund? At the moment it's earning 1.25% interest which I presume will be taxed. A cash ISA could take some of it, but only gives 1.2% until April when I could double the amount and then receive 1.7% (though that's tax-free).
Sant@ander are offering 3% - but I wouldn't get any cash-back to cover the monthly a/c fee as all my qualifying UK bills are being paid by someone else at the moment. Once the tax is taken off would that interest rate be an improvement over what the fund is earning now? <Wonders where PC's calculator is?>

Decisions decisions.
:think: Probate Chap might have some suggestions

Fudgefund

Hi Robin :A

Sorry I've been AWOL for a while, I decided to catch up with everyone and picked you first, didn't expect to be in tears! You've had such a rollercoaster in the past few weeks and you've kept a beautiful record. In common with other people on this thread I loved the stories about PC and the dogs, they really gave a sense of the personalities involved in your life. I'm so sorry to hear of PCD and BD's passing, there's nothing I can say that hasn't been said but I do find something oddly comforting in one passing and then the other going too. There really is a sense of something greater at work for me, that could just be me though. I really enjoyed the Valentine's Day story too, such a wonderful tale.

Thrilled for you that you've had a windfall in amongst the sadness and you are making the adjustments to your home that you need to make your life with your dogs even comfier (not a word, however I try to spell it!). I'll be checking in much more regularly now. xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Be Lucky will be relieved to hear that I've found the big yellow ball; it's pinned to the sky above us today, playing with a herd of skittish white clouds.

Good to see you Fudgie, though I'm truly sorry that catching up on here drove you to tears.. It's life; if we didn't have bad or sad experiences, we wouldn't be able to appreciate the good things that happen to us. All we can do is accept, consider and keep moving.

For me, today that means a massive clean-up as I've decided to invite Probate Chap to this cottage, mainly because it knocks a fair bit of time off his journey and is much more comfortable for our discussion, as there is table-space to lay out the paperwork which is now all here, thanks to DS2.

He spent the night in the caravan - and brought me a cuppa tea in bed this morning which is a very rare treat since PC died; I felt quite pampered. DS has just moved into another flat but had to bring some of his stuff 'home' as the new place hasn't got much storage space.

Neither have I, any more.

The idea of exchanging the caravan for a cheaper, slightly larger model - with room for storage as well as accommodation - is becoming more appealing. :think:

..But for now; a pair of marigolds is waiting..

please-let-me-be-lucky

Glad the sun is safe and sound and even more so to hear that you have had a little pampering. You deserve it.

Hope all goes ok with the probate meeting Xx