The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

I just thought I'd pop in an do an update, to make sure my diary is 'live' ahead of the forum being moved to a new platform, although the date seems to have 'slipped' slightly to next week. I had a look of the screen shots that the forum team posted, and new look appears to be very nice, and I understand we'll be able to post photos straight on to the forum, without the need for a hosting service like Photobucket.

I've made some progress this month. We were originally thinking that our kitchen upgrade would be done around April, after we returned from holiday. We started looking round, and went into a place in the local town. We got a good vibe from the people in there, so we made arrangements for someone to come round so that an estimate could be done.

As always, it was more than we were originally planning to spend, but we've been thinking that we may as well get everything done, otherwise, in a few years time, we'd end up wanting to update the rest of the kitchen.

We've been able to keep the costs down a bit by re-using the carcases of the current units, which are in good condition. Also, they had a fitting date at the end of February that they wanted to fill, so they said they'd do a discount if we could fill that spot for them.

So, in short, we are due to have the kitchen re-fitted, starting from 24th February. I can't believe its happening so soon, but it'll be great to get it done and dusted.

At the start of January, I wrote to the administrators of the Barclays pension, in order to start the process of claiming my pension. I have a suspicion that this is not going to go smoothly.

I had no response to my letter, so last week I emailed a copy of my original letter, to see how they are getting on. I had an email back, saying that they had noted my new address and wanted my marriage certificate to update my name. I have been looking at the reviews of this company, and they are uniformly awful, so I wasn't going to trust them with my original marriage certificate, so I have obtained a certified copy from the GRO (General Records Office). I'll be posting this to them tomorrow, and have also, once again, chased for a reply to my core enquiry about claiming the pension. This has all the elements of a long slog!

A few years ago, I was writing about my major decluttering, and at the end of last year we hired a couple of Hippo bags, and got rid of some cumbersome objects from the shed and loft. This has made us think about stuff that survived the previous decluttering, which we felt we couldn't let go, such as coin and stamp collections, and a some other bits and pieces. These items have been sitting in the loft since the last major declutter, so we are thinking that maybe now its time for them to go - we feel ready. Therefore, as the year progresses, I'll probably be doing some ebaying in this respect, but taking my time, as there no rush.

Karmacat

Going so well, as ever. Congratulations! And I hope the kitchen is fitted without much fuss.

Goldiegirl

The installation should take two weeks. Bearing in mind last years kitchen and cloakroom took three and a half weeks, it should go fairly quickly. So far, they've been on time with promised paperwork, so I am hoping that they everything will be timely and fuss free.

We've gone from the initial excitement, to 'not remembering the colours we've ordered and questioning everything stage', which has been a bit tiring - but we've reminded ourselves of the things we've ordered by looking online, and have also reminded ourselves that they are the experts and do this all the time, so we'll just have to let them get on with it.

We've also been thinking of a new venetian blind for the kitchen. As if on cue, the one we have already has decided not to stay up, if we pull up the slats completely. So a new one is definitely timely.

Upstairs, the bedrooms have net curtains which we've had 19 years, and rather grey now, so we're also considering roller blind replacements.

It seems one thing after another, but can't wait to get it all done and dusted, then we can stop thinking about it.

Goldiegirl

I've just dropped in to see if I can get to grips with the new forum.
I must admit, I'm not really 'feeling' it at the moment. I used the old green forum, and, even when I first joined, felt it was intuitive to use. On this new version, nothing seems particularly clear.  Also, there's lots of little niggles, like the  way the date is displayed  and the apparent lack of emojis. I'm not keen on double spacing when I'm typing a post either.  I expect we'll get used to it. 

I've just phoned the administrators of the Barclays Bank pension as I've still had no response to my enquiry about claiming my pension with them.  Apparently, they are 'very behind with their scanning'.  But the person I spoke to said he'll send a message to the admin team to see if my case can be expedited. Good thing I sent the certified copy of my marriage certificate by signed for post, so I could tell them exactly when they received it.  It's only a tiny pension, so I'm not too fussed about it, but I would still like things to be dealt with in a timely way.  I have a feeling it will turn into a saga.

Apart from that, things are ticking along. Up until Saturday, the weather was very pleasant, so we've been out and about more than we would do normally at this time of year. Of course, we were in yesterday to Ciara,  although it wasn't as bad for us as forecast. Hopefully, we'll get out again later in the week 

 

Goldiegirl

This is a test, to post a photo,  if it works, then it'll be much easy to post a few holiday photos. I grew to dislike Photobucket, and was never in the right mood to find an alternative.  This pic was from Santorini, last September 

misscousinitt

Sneaks in....
That picture is fab!
I dont like photobucket either.  I find that I can at least read and reply on my phone now which is handy now I dont switch the laptop on so often.
Hope you are well.
MCI x

Karmacat

Hiya you're right, not feeling it, but the photo thing is a big boost, its true.  I abandoned my attempts to use photobucket to post here.  I had an account and everything, but when my brain decides to block a piece of information, I've learned not to fight it, unless its *really* important.  Lovely photo of Santorini, thanks for that  

Goldiegirl

I thought that this would be a good time to post an update.
We had out kitchen done, and we're very pleased with it, and thankful that we were able to get it done by the start of March, before everything really kicked off. We have a man coming to fit the new blind next Friday. Not sure how I feel about letting someone into the house right now, but we'll see what happens!

I was 60 last Sunday, and we went away for the weekend. We stayed in a hotel, and on the Saturday we went out for the day. We went on a heritage railway, and then to Bourton on the Water. On the Sunday, we wandered the hotel grounds and then had an afternoon tea. It was really lovely, and quite special, as we won't be going anywhere for a while. It was surreal on the Monday. We started the day having breakfast in the hotel, and by late afternoon we were social distancing in our house!

We were due to go on a cruise on 29th March. I was delighted when they cancelled it, and have asked for a full refund. They were offering additional credits if you switched to a later cruise, but things are so uncertain, I thought it was best to have my money back. Our next cruise isn't until March 2021, and I will see what things are like when I am due to pay the final balance. I've been on cruises for the last 19 years, but all that has happened has made me feel less confident about being in a closed community. I also think that, after this is eventually over, the cruising industry will be very different. Time will tell.

We have booked several day trips on the coaches and a couple of coach holidays, most of which will not go ahead. We are due to go to Beamish at the end of May, and the balance is due by the end of the month. I'll phone the coach company at the end of the week, and see what they are doing.  They are a small company and I want to support them, but on the other hand, I don't want to pay them money for something that almost certainly will not proceed. 

The Sipp has obviously been hammered, but what can you do?  Will sit tight at the moment and not make and rash decisions.
We are now socially isolating ourselves. We go out for a daily walk, and go to the supermarket for food.  Fortunately, I still have my preparedness for Brexit supplies, so we are ok - but still like to get fresh food when we can. The empty shelves are daunting, but if we go early enough, we can get some fresh fruit and veg, meat, milk and bread. The local Co-op has been a good place to shop since this has happened. I expect our food bill will be higher this year as we are shopping in a different way - smaller and more often, rather than big and in bulk. But overall, I am sure we'll spend less, as we won't be going anywhere. 
When this year started, we could never have dreamed we'd be at this point by mid March.  I think its going to rapidly worse from now. Although we can see what's going on in Italy, I don't think any of us are truly prepared for what's to come, and for how long we'll need to be 'locked down'. 
This is one of the biggest events of the 21st Century. I'm sure that, in the future we'll talk about 'before COVID 19' and 'after COVID 19'.  LIfe will be different after this. 

Karmacat

Good to read your update, Goldie, I'm glad you're getting a refund for that cruise.  And CONGRATULATIONS on your 60th!  What a weird weekend for it to happen ... very memorable, thats for sure. 

Goldiegirl

Hi, KC, thank you for the congrats. My parents house number was No 20. So, what with that and being 60, it always felt like a landmark year in my mind - I would never have dreamed the reason why 2020 will go down in history.

I'm not 100% sure I'm going to get a refund for my cruise, or not yet anyway.  I've send something that says that they are going to rush through legislation, so that travel firms can issue credit notes  to be used within 2 years, and if not used, you can get your cash at the end of the two years. So more or less a free loan to the travel industry.  As things are so uncertain, I'm sure many need the money right now, this will cause a lot of complaint.

Closer to home, we've ordered new blinds for the kitchen and  for the bedrooms as well. (our net curtains were very grey)
They were due to be fitted on the 27th.  The chap phoned today to say that his firm had closed down for the duration, so the appointment is postponed.  What a relief, I really wanted my blinds done, but I was worried about letting someone in the house. At least the decision was taken out of my hands.  Will just have to wait now, nothing that can be done about it.

We walked over to Marks and Spencer this morning and got some fresh vegetables. It was very quiet and calm, and people had room for social distancing.  The shelves were well stocked, which has calmed me down, as what has been happening has been freaking me out.  Sainsbury's looked quiet as well, so tomorrow, we'll get the car out, and try to do a relatively normal weekly shop.

I'm hoping that we will get properly locked down, as it was crazy at the weekend - people were acting like it was a bank holiday. Madness