Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary,

Well, I'm not sure what to say about today, so far.
The Probate paperwork has arrived back at their office - but now the file has been put back in the system so I can expect another two week delay.
..Which has pressed my Panic Button - doesn't leave me enough time to do everything that needs doing before leaving this house. :eek:

On the plus side, the MRI results were good - I do not need an operation on my spine (that would really have mucked up such plans as I have!). But I do need more tests - again, am not sure how long that appointment will take to come through, and then I'll have to see the Consultant afterwards and find out what treatment he recommends before I can go away. <sigh>

A leaflet has come through the door; a local garden centre is having an "autumn event" with lots of bargains.. I do need some bulbs to plant on DH's grave so might just take them up on their offers. Will let you know later if I can keep my spend under £20 - it's a nice place for a minor excursion, hopefully will be enough to cheer me up.

Confession: I put the heating on again last night; too early - usually try and hold out 'til the end of September with that, but I was so cold, even in bed with a daft dog on my toes.

Rainbow_Bridge

Hello Robin,

It's heartbreaking just reading your diary, your love for PC comes through in every post xx.

I hope you get a wonderful selection of bulbs, and you have inspired me to go and buy some bulbs and plant them too. It is so lovely in the spring to see a beautiful display x.

fallenwiccan

*Robin* wrote: »

:wave: Here you go:
http://www.aldi.co.uk/
..Local shop locator in a little box on the right hand side.

(Sorry for such a short reply - simply must get out of this chair and on with the day! ).

Thank you for the link, I apparently have 2 equal distance from me and they're open until 9pm. This is great news.:T

NewLeaf_2

Hello! I am so glad the migraine has eased. I am sure the doggies understand.

Bulbs are a lovely option xx

*Robin*

Good Morning Diary, MSE Friends and welcome to Rainbow Bridge :wave:

Oh my goodness, it's Friday again - time for the weekly scrabble through my lists to see who I've got to 'phone before the weekend - chasing up the many different topics I'm trying to sort out before handing over this house to my tenants.

Letters arrived from two of my CCs in yesterday's post; one offering 12 months interest free credit on balance transfers, and the other a generous 16 months!
..Isn't that typical - just when I've decided to pay them all off as soon as Probate is sorted out! Of course now that I'm far from certain I can get the Grant of Probate in time, the longer offer is rather tempting..

The Bereavement Benefits people 'phoned me too, needing confirmation of bank account details - hopefully both benefits will be sorted out in the next couple of weeks which is great as several large cheques have gone out of the account (over £6K including PC's funeral bill).

Rainbow_Bridge wrote: »

It's heartbreaking just reading your diary, your love for PC comes through in every post.

Aw, thank you. He is my soul-mate; just because he's dead doesn't change that, though I am still having great difficulty believing we will not have a good twenty years of retirement together. We had enough plans to fill them all; further improvements at the cottages, travel to places we have long dreamed of, and watching our children make their way in the world. Now I've got to think again. I'd be lying if I said I can see further than one step ahead. So it goes.

Rainbow_Bridge wrote: »

I hope you get a wonderful selection of bulbs, and you have inspired me to go and buy some bulbs and plant them too. It is so lovely in the spring to see a beautiful display.

Ah, you are right. Such colourful flowers give us the promise of Spring when the Earth has not yet shaken off Winter's icy shackles. At the Burial Grounds the effect is particularly poignant - but also inspiring and hopeful.
I didn't get to the garden centre yesterday - was too tired after walking daft dogs, so that's still on the list. The money off vouchers are good until the end of the month - but of course the weather is now getting worse so I don't want to leave planting bulbs until the last minute.

fallenwiccan wrote:

Thank you for the link, I apparently have 2 equal distance from me and they're open until 9pm. This is great news.

Excellent - and very MSE too!

NewLeaf wrote:

I am so glad the migraine has eased. I am sure the doggies understand.

Thank you, it is a relief. I hate not being able to think clearly. Am not sure whether daft dogs understand, but they are used to it, and not as young as they were so put up with it patiently (the elder one says she's fed up by chewing things - paper from the recycling box or shoes if she's particularly annoyed - but only an old pair I gave her for the purpose, bless her. Clever Dog just watches me sadly until she sees signs that I'm going out, then she starts singing and bouncing around like a puppy [she's 10 years old]!).

NewLeaf I tried to post a comment on your Diary last night but my internet fell over -most alarming; I didn't realise how much I rely on it to keep in touch with the world. Am afraid I've no more pc time now to visit you, will drop in as soon as I can but wanted you to know I'm thinking of you.

*Robin*

Hello Diary,

Confession time: I spent £25 at the garden centre, but that included a set of solar lamps for the cottage - half price - and a trowel.
The latter was necessary as I'd decided to plant DH's bulbs straight away, as part of the same excursion.
It was a lovely evening; daft dogs were happy to watch me as we'd had our walk on the way, and now DH will greet the spring with crocuses, narcissi [is that the correct plural of narcissus?] and lots of bluebells later on. That's if the bunnies don't find the bulbs, of course, but nothing I can do about that; I've tried.

..Oh dear RL is intruding - must fly - today's good news will have to wait until later.

please-let-me-be-lucky

*Robin* wrote: »

..Oh dear RL is intruding - must fly - today's good news will have to wait until later.

Oooh fancy leaving us in suspenders .

The flowers sound lovely Xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Friends,

Where has the beautiful weather gone? Am now heartily glad I planted DH's bulbs the other day, as it would not have been fun doing it today.

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Oooh fancy leaving us in suspenders

Sorry about that. My good news is that the Probate Office have come up trumps; my pleas to the lady who answered their 'phone must have worked, as they didn't make me wait another fortnight for my second letter to rise to the top of the pile again, but dealt with it straight away and sent back the papers for the next stage of the process. <Phew!>

I'll try and get the Swear done very soon - hoping Dear Solicitor is not taking one of his six annual holidays this week - and send the papers back again before taking a few days off; am going to visit MIL which I'm looking forward to. As I'm really not fit enough to drive to the other end of this fair Isle and back in the time available, I've decided it is expedient to fly; it will only cost £20 more and I'll avoid being rendered totally useless by a constant migraine for the next month. DS is going to look after daft dogs which will save the kennel fees of £53 per day. He is going to take advantage of the facilities and wash everything he owns in preparation for moving into a new flat. Fine.

Now I need to find a gift for MIL; any suggestions would be welcome as I've no idea what to take her. It has to be something that fits in my hand luggage and is not prohibited, so perfume or beauty creams are out. Not that she needs the latter; she looks younger than I do despite her extra couple of decades. :eek:
..It makes me realise just how stressful the last six months have been!

*Robin*

Hello again Diary,
I have a touch of insomnia tonight, so thought it would be good to round up the week's statistics:

No spend days: 5
No pain-meds days: 1
Weight: No idea, dare not look..
Spends, grocery: £17
Spends, non-food: £73
Fuel: £62 (full tank, with discount voucher)
Gift: £10
Flights & parking: £160

The money that has leaked away in non-grocery spends is mostly an essential four months' supply of supplements for daft dogs and self, plus DH's flower bulbs and the set of solar lamps for the cottage.

Still, I did better in resisting unnecessary purchases in the supermarket last week; should only need fresh stuff and doggy-nosh from now on until we leave this house - there are plenty of staples in the cupboards and freezer.

DS didn't want to take the money to get his bike fixed, as he's now a shiny new independent grown-up with no less than three paying jobs, lucky chap, but I knew the repair would not be done until he's got his flat sorted out, which could well be too late - am glad I spotted the problem before it caused an accident.

A repayment of the unused premium from a cancelled insurance policy turned up in my account, which covers my flight expenses. So the last item on my list hasn't affected the balance which is pleasing, and there's even a bit left over for MIL's gift (still no brainwave regarding what it should be, though).

Rainbow_Bridge

Well done in keeping track of it all. I think that is 3/4's of the battle when it comes to budgeting and it gives you a chance to pull things into line while there is still month left.

It all looks like money well spent. Hope you week goes to plan x.