Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends and welcome to Lucielle, :hello:

Thank you for your kind words, Lucielle, but I am not brave, just carrying on - well, there's no choice is there?

It's another soggy day on this patch of windswept hill, as FD couldn't wait to tell me when she came back inside first thing this morning (yes, she tried to climb under the bed-covers again :eek:).

Was intending to plant out the largest of my new trees today, but that's on hold until the rain clears up. The other two young pine trees that I couldn't resist on Saturday went into larger pots yesterday (until I decide where they're going in the garden - was only planning to buy a replacement for one in a row that didn't survive being PC's and BD's p*****g-post!).

missrlr wrote: »

I wondered if you could perhaps find a soul who would enjoy the garden as much as you who could assist. I would be there in a heartbeat but you would end up with a permanent lodger and Doglet would join the pack!

It's a thought, Missrlr, and I know CD would welcome a new playmate, but doubt I could pay enough to make it worth you leaving your job, alas. Have wondered about putting m'self on the list for Piq's fledgling mobile gardening business too - there are plenty of nettles to grasp in my broad bean patch!

The Lad I had hopes for, never came back after failing to show up last time he was offered a day's work. His excuse, forwarded by DS3, is that he is terminally shy! Am not impressed, especially as he's currently living off his girlfriend. Wonder how long she'll put up with that?

Oho - sudden torrential downpour - definitely no tree-planting for me today!

dorothy52 wrote:

Oh Darling Robin, it's been a while since you mentioned PC to us, and yet he must be in your thoughts ever such a lot.

..Every day, every hour, most minutes. Tbh I don't think he'd be terribly impressed at my current lack of progress..

dorothy52 wrote:

I thought of you this weekend, while Mr D was away, the house seemed so empty(yet we spend much of our time doing our own thing in different rooms), and I just felt lost. .................. Just for a fleeting moment I thought that this is how it will be if he goes before I do, which is when I thought of you. I would have posted and told you, but didn't want to upset you - yet there you were, missing your Darling PC at the same time.

Aww Dot, what can I say?
Maybe this is the worth of my recording Flying Solo here? If it allows anyone to re-evaluate their own seemingly less than perfect relationship then I will be content. Live for the present, work at making it as good as you can..

dorothy52 wrote:

Take care and give your El Divo boys a big hug when you can, because if you don't - I certainly will!

Ooer Missus - you'd have to fight off a clutch of DILs first! :eek:


On the money front; the lack of a working 'phone means I've probably missed out on shifting the new ISA to a better rate. But a bit more has gone into the best-paying regular savings account which is good.

Probate Chap has nominated someone else - his DIL - to do the Spanish paperwork. Am dithering over replying to her email - but this weather means am unlikely to get down to see the other lawyer this week either. :think:

NewLeaf_2

sending love to you Robin x

dorothy52

Oh my love you are feeling what all of us will feel if we outlive those that we love, my heart aches for you. You know how much 'meeting' and knowing you (and of course my other friends in the box) has changed my perception of life, to the benefit of those I care about the most. I wish I could take some of your pain, but of course I can't. I will therefore continue to do what I have since meeting you, and that is care from a distance and give you a little chuckle from time to time.

Much love

Dotxx

*Robin*

Well I've done it again - fell asleep listening to the rain, woke up cold and stiff, in the dark (had left the door wide open ). CD was snuggled next to me, FD sitting on my feet - dare say I slept longer because they were keeping me warm (love 'em :smileyhea).

Managed to get the stove going at the second attempt, but suspect chimney is partly blocked with wet gunk as it's struggling even on "full blast" setting. There's a job for the morning [when weather is hopefully dry and stove is cold :cool:].

So here I am in the middle of the night again, just had dinner (an unidentified pot from the freezer - turned out to be mango chicken, very nice with yesterday's fried-up leftovers).

Dot, NL and Be Lucky well done for favourable results on the scales, sorry cannot join you this week (succumbed and ate my Easter egg already, oops ). At least I can report STS rather than a negative.
So it goes.

Have still not decided whether to go along with Probate Chap's nominee.. :think:

chevalier

Wow where to start.

Dot I am a long time lurker on here I contribute occasionally. Hello. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is ALWAYS hard when the lost are (very) young. I have had two bereavements in the last 6 weeks. One was a beloved 14 year old niece, and the other an equally beloved 98 family friend who I have know since for over 40 years. You can imagine which one hit harder. So I sympathise immensely with your feelings right now.

Robin. Mr Probate sounds like a git, ie he reckons he can coin alot of money out of the sick, confused, foreigner (we know that you aren't like that all the time but still). You decided to decline his services, so now magically he sends you to a relative who can help you. THIS SMELLS AS HIGH AS WEEK OLD FISH, OR UNCHANGED CAT LITTER. I am sure there is a swiss being worked even if I don't know what it is. Find someone who isn't associated with these two..... Can the British consulate not help with a list of accredited people or anything?

Am unsure why you need to go back to the UK. Did I miss something?
chev

HeadAboveWater

*Robin* wrote: »

fell asleep listening to the rain

OH has a 'sleep' type app on his phone where he can choose different sounds - one of them is rain! It's sooooo relaxing!!

CD was snuggled next to me, FD sitting on my feet - dare say I slept longer because they were keeping me warm (love 'em :smileyhea).

Mmmmm cosy :D

Hope weather dry today for you

missrlr

Dog cuddles on sofa's are sometimes the solution to a messy head. Well done to CD and FD!

I don't like the sound of the DIL from dodgy Mr Probate getting any more information from you - I just think the will be do confidentiality there and you don't need him knowing any more about you than he already does.

Like the idea of the Consulate being able to help - have you also considered looking at ex-pat web sites which may have fora or help sections for similar things in your neck of the woods? Could be more reliable and useful?

I have just asked my Spanish colleague who dealt (sadly) with the Spanish system a year ago, but different as it was a Spanish local matter (as it were) and in a different part of Spain from you; but he is going to have a dig and speak to his Mum see if there is anything he can recommend. He also suggested ex-pat community online for a start.

Hope you can get the matter sorted. Shame about the gardening and the Lad, not sure what else to recommend on that score other than perhaps replace him via word of mouth?

Hugs to you and ear tickles to the beautiful dogs.

*Robin*

Good afternoon Diary and dear Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Happy Spring Equinox everyone!

Apologies to those in the UK who are not being granted springtime today; it must be obvious to everyone who's spent at least three decades on our planet that the seasons are shifting, all types of weather becoming more extreme. It's a shame the phrase 'global warming' was coined to describe this phenomenon - too many people see the word warming and think:
"That's rubbish - it's freezing and my heating bills just keep going up!"
..But it's us who are doing the warming; too many power stations, factories, cows, 'planes, trucks/cars, crematoria[!] et al, spewing heat and pollutants into the upper atmosphere.. Is it really any surprise that our host The Earth is struggling?
Right, sorry - will get off my soap-box now.

Here, the wind has blown away yesterday's storm and is playing with the trees, giving me the opportunity to use another favourite word as I listen to the constant susuration in nearby leaves and branches.

dorothy52 wrote:

Oh my love you are feeling what all of us will feel if we outlive those that we love, my heart aches for you. You know how much 'meeting' and knowing you (and of course my other friends in the box) has changed my perception of life, to the benefit of those I care about the most. I wish I could take some of your pain, but of course I can't. I will therefore continue to do what I have since meeting you, and that is care from a distance and give you a little chuckle from time to time.

Thank you so much for writing the above, Dot. I also value your support very highly, and that of everyone else in the Box who is sharing my journey.
One reason for being grateful we live in this technological age is that we can find friends who we'd otherwise never meet in RL.

chevalier wrote: »

I have had two bereavements in the last 6 weeks. One was a beloved 14 year old niece, and the other an equally beloved 98 family friend who I have know since for over 40 years.

Hello Chev, (((hugs))) am so sorry to hear you lost another dear friend so soon after your darling niece. Was worried that your absence from the diaries signified hard times in RL..

It's not too long until your visit to Europe now, is it? Have you and DH agreed on an itinerary that you're happy with?

chevalier wrote:

Robin. Mr Probate sounds like a git, ie he reckons he can coin alot of money out of the sick, confused, foreigner (we know that you aren't like that all the time but still). You decided to decline his services, so now magically he sends you to a relative who can help you. THIS SMELLS AS HIGH AS WEEK OLD FISH, OR UNCHANGED CAT LITTER. I am sure there is a swizz being worked even if I don't know what it is. Find someone who isn't associated with these two..... Can the British consulate not help with a list of accredited people or anything?

missrlr wrote:

I don't like the sound of the DIL from dodgy Mr Probate getting any more information from you - I just think the will be do confidentiality there and you don't need him knowing any more about you than he already does.

Like the idea of the Consulate being able to help - have you also considered looking at ex-pat web sites which may have fora or help sections for similar things in your neck of the woods? Could be more reliable and useful?

I have just asked my Spanish colleague who dealt (sadly) with the Spanish system a year ago, but different as it was a Spanish local matter (as it were) and in a different part of Spain from you; but he is going to have a dig and speak to his Mum see if there is anything he can recommend. He also suggested ex-pat community online for a start.

Thanks for your suggestions, Chev and Missrlr, we are thinking along the same lines. The other lawyer I didn't get to see last week, is a recommendation from the ex-pat community. Won't see her this week either as the next thunder storms are due to arrive tomorrow evening.

Don't want to involve the consulate really; they are so busy and tend to insist that folk wanting advice must go to their office and queue - which is not my idea of fun; being shut in an air-conditioned room for hours with goodness knows how many germy people. That's after the ordeal of driving to/in the city, and finding somewhere to park within walking distance (van won't fit in multi-storey car-parks).
Daft Dogs would have to come along too as it's not fair to leave them locked in at home all day, and they'd be at serious risk of being stolen from the parked van.
..Nope, it's not an appealing idea. Would cost me days of exhaustion afterwards, while incubating whichever bugs my faulty immune system can't fight off.

:think: I'd really like to know how closely his DIL is tied to Mr.P.Chap - wish I could get hold of DS3 as he socialises with her sometimes in the city. DS told me she is a proper solicitor; I have met her for a few minutes and must say she gave a good impression. One advantage she would have for me is that she's willing to come here, which drastically reduces the energy I'd use on actually seeing her.
Hmm. She's sent another email - coward that I am, have not looked at it yet.

chevalier wrote:

Am unsure why you need to go back to the UK. Did I miss something?

Ah, different hat. Some Landlording stuff needs personal attention.

Daft Dogs would like to thank everyone whose comments have provoked extra cuddles from Mistress.

And now, CD and I are going to plant a tree..

Mara_uk7

you plant it, CD will pee on it !

dorothy52

Oh Mara, you always make me laugh!

Chev how lovely to meet you here, and thank you so much for your lovely message. I'm so sorry to hear of your recent bereavements, doesn't it make you realise how finite life is? Please stick around, you will know if you lurk that it's not always so sad here, we laugh a lot too.

Robin I too am so pleased that I have been able to connect to you all by this magic box with the keys, long may our friendship continue. One of these days, ladies, we should meet up before us lot who are at the absolute peak of our fifty something loveliness become to old to contemplate it. Actually, this will never happen to me as I shall, when I am old, have a large motorbike and will seek you all out and come for a visit on my monster machine - you have been warned!!