Rising above turbulent cloud

*Robin*

Dear Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Have learned too late that thread titles cannot be altered, which leaves yours truly with a dilemma because am really not happy with the 'working title' I stuck at the top of my new diary when composing the introduction.

The easiest solution appears to be copying the few posts already made - and carry on here..

Apologies for any confusion, dear readers.

*Robin* wrote:

Hello Diary the Second, and all MSE Friends,

2015. A fair bit has changed since yours truly embarked on Flying Solo.* It seems a good opportunity to start a new thread.

Am not a great one for New Year Resolutions, because mine tend to become revolutions and spirals - therefore not terribly useful - but it's undoubtedly time to take stock..

It has been two and a half years since my Beloved-Other-Half had to leave this planet. Still miss his presence every day; am no-where near becoming a 'merry widow' yet. Three of our dogs have since followed DH, and the last is in the twilight of her days.
Dear Children are grown, flown the Nest; scattered across three continents at the moment, more-or-less confidently pursuing their own futures.

Thanks to DH's financial forethought, and living a modest lifestyle, it is no longer a struggle to stock the store-cupboard. After years decades of scrimping to feed a bulging household, this is still a novelty.

Health is a problem, prompting the first two ambitions which - hopefully - Flying in Cloud will see accomplished. More about those and reasons for this thread title later.

Then there's the dreaded tax return. Without mistakes this year fingers crossed! - top of m' current 'Brain-in-Gear' list is sorting out and sending the figures to Accountant.

After that; two sets of solicitors and a tax adviser to consult. More paperwork required for the re-registration of DH's properties. New Will [might get away with codicils?] and POA.

Longer term; need to keep a closer eye on savings and expenditure. Sort out current ISA. Have a sneaking suspicion that Bank of Mum will show a small overall loss this year. Oops.

..Just thinking about the above vague set of aims, ignites a burning desire to slaughter a load of intrusive weeds - despite silver rime glittering on the leaves, which suggests the outside temperature is still close to freezing!


* forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4125515&page=98

*Robin*

Thank you for joining in Bubbles, Lucky, Granny, Knit Witch, and Satchmo: :T

Bubblesmum wrote:

Have followed and subscribed.

Robin, thank you for sharing your journey so far.........

I have learnt that special people will always be missed everyday however long they've gone, but as they say time heals and allows new friendships to enter and give love and companionship.

Here's hoping that life treats you well x

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote:

Followed and subscribed. Cheering you on as always lovely lady Xx

grannyx2 wrote:

Default
Followed and subscribed. May 2015 bring you many moments of joy x

Knit_Witch wrote:

Happy new diary *Robin*

satchmo1 wrote:

Flying over the clouds into your lovely new diary


Happy New Year, with special pats for CD xx

*Robin*

Posted on Three Kings Day (5th January):

*Robin* wrote:

Dear Diary and Friends-in-the-Box,

Thank you for your support as this new chapter begins, Bubbles, Lucky, Granny, Knit Witch and Satchmo.
Hopefully a few more MSE friends will pop in - all are most welcome - because your thoughts, wisdom and occasional chiding have become essential in helping this somewhat bedraggled bird to avoid financial pitfalls, and make the most of any opportunities. DH used to be so skilled at spotting those, but I am hopeless.

Overall it has been a good Christmas at the Nest, however DS4 took the holiday atmosphere with him when he set off on his latest adventure..
It was wonderful to spend time with m' youngest lad. He made himself comfortable in the caravan where he studied with admirable diligence every morning except Xmas Day (when he was cooking). Five long essays that his UK tutors wanted by the beginning of term were completed and sent via email, because DS will not be able to deliver 'em in person.
In the afternoons DS4 used his strength and energy for the benefit of Clever Dog and self; he has installed barriers to stop newly-blind CD stumbling off the low but still dangerous cliffs which surround our Nest. He carried firewood and materials for m' next building project up to the house, also a large heap of fresh earth (needed to improve new planting areas in the garden).
Most evenings Divo Four took pleasure in cooking our meal - a novelty and great treat for me as he's honed his culinary skills over the past year - following family tradition, lol.
DS asked for, then mastered the recipe for our festive chestnut loaf; good to know it will continue to be on the menu at family celebrations in the years ahead.

But all too soon it was time to pack, print out boarding cards, and pore over G00gle maps so that DS4 could navigate to his hotel at both layovers. Student travel on the cheap involved three aeroplanes to propel DS4 half way around the world. He should have arrived on campus by now, preparing to experience Spring trimester at a North American university.

Immensely proud Mummy of course - especially as DS4 has arranged and funded this trip himself - but also feel oddly bereft because my baby is so far away.. Suppose he's just following another family tradition really; there's no one to blame for the Divos' love of travel but m'self.

We'd used up all the 'phone-creds in checking DS' luggage allowance - not specified anywhere on the bumf from the comparison site which supplied his tickets - requiring a brief visit to the village. Was happily surprised to discover a/c balance higher than expected, so could ensure DS4 had enough cash for local transport and food on each leg of his journey.
He was charmingly reluctant to accept it, but had let slip earlier that he'd be stuck if he arrived too late to catch a bus from airport to hotel - no funds for a taxi.
Said to Divo Four that the thought of him struggling would upset and worry me; doubtless one day he'll need to deal with the shoe-string traveller's archetypal frustration - but not this time when his focus must be to arrive in grand fettle, settle quickly into halls, and be ready to impress his tutor on Monday (today!).

Spends:
'Phone credits - £25
Potting soil [x10 bulk deal] & two enormous planters - £45
Groceries & personal indulgences - £40
DS4 float - £100

*Robin*

Many thanks for your empathy, dear Granny:

grannyx2 wrote:

What a lovely post. Divo4 is clearly a man to be proud of. Sorry his leaving has left you a little blue, I know too well how that feels, I cry when I drop DD to the airport and am not looking forward to leaving her after 3 months.

I hope you and CD have a good day

Granny x

Brightspark87

Hi Robin, what a lovely catch up I am glad Christmas was kind to you. I will continue to follow you here x

*Robin*

Right, with a more appropriate thread title can now carry on..

Why the obsession with clouds? Following the flying metaphor first of all, it describes my view of the future perfectly. There are other associations too, but am not ready to share those yet.

There is 8/8 cloud cover in RL today, air sharp with the scent of snow (water from the Nest's taps is too icy to drink!). Am running out of firewood, but a more urgent need is for another load of blocks to finish off anti-fall precautions for CD - yesterday she almost tumbled from step number eight (less than half way down - that would have hurt!).

Over the past few weeks Clever Dog has been learning a new set of commands, based on yours truly being her eyes:
"Be careful" - hazard ahead, go slowly.
"Come this way" - she turns and walks towards my voice.
"Go that way" - she walks away from said voice.
"Stop!" - self explanatory, lol.

Amazingly, when CD is on a well-known path, she carries on as always - running ahead! Thankfully she always responds immediately to "Stop!" :T

Short post today because it's a good time to catch Manolo (local purveyor of building materials). Any under-employed youths will probably be hanging out in the village by this hour, so maybe I'll also find some help with unloading.

Spends:
Forgot to note previous load of materials - £30

*Robin*

Brightspark87 wrote: »

Hi Robin, what a lovely catch up I am glad Christmas was kind to you. I will continue to follow you here x

Thank you Sparky - glad you found me! :T

..I promise to stop mucking about now! :rotfl:

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Believe it or not, m' new smart-'phone has just reduced me to tears!
Ruddy thing. The woman in the shop set it up with internet which costs £5 pcm - but Muggins can't get it to connect. On-line account record shows that the only time it's used any of the allowance was on the day DS3 and Sidekick were playing with it.
Shop-Lady promised the settings could be changed on their website, but danged if I can work out where and how?
Another problem is that it refuses to connect to DS3's 'phone, and when he tries to call me he just gets a message saying "number not recognised".
Even put the chip back in m' ancient Nok!a, but still can't get through to anyone outside Spain.

Thus far have resisted calling Divo Three from UK number - roaming fees would chew up the balance instantly; as Divo Four is now State-side, I've no-one to top up the creds.. Aaargh!

Skype hasn't worked for months either. Their advice is to update the programme - but every time I try, it goes right through the palava then just says "error". Useless. Frustrating because there is £50 credit on it!

Divo Three is not having a good time at the moment; we both really want to talk.. It's impossible, oh d@mn the eyes are leaking again.

Think about something else..

Yesterday. Ha - didn't go as planned. Muggins forgot Three Kings is much more important than Xmas here - Boxing Day is a normal working day, but the day after TK is a holiday. So everything was shut, and the local lads were no-where to be seen - nursing hangovers, probably.
Actually there was nothing to prevent me from picking up a load of blocks and leaving a note, which is quite normal for regular customers if Manolo isn't around - except the physical labour involved would have been crippling.

Instead, CD and I spent a happy hour or so wandering about in the riverbed; she following the scents while I picked up some gorgeous pebbles - a few river-smoothed pieces of quartz, others with threads of quartz or a green mineral running through them.. White discs of stone which glitter, a couple of red pebbles with raised yellow lines of some harder type of rock - no idea what to do with 'em, but they're sooo pretty.
Currently arranged in a bowl on the coffee table, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Divo Four's journey was a bit more adventurous than expected: All went well until he turned up at JFK for the final leg, only to be told the flight had been cancelled; there would be a twenty four hour wait for the next connection. At first the airline staff were not very helpful, but - thanks to Simon Calder and our own dear Martin - DS4 has a pretty good idea of the support which ought to be provided in this situation. He and a fellow passenger harangued the unfortunate front-line staff on behalf of their stranded group, finally agreeing an acceptable solution:
A suite for the night in a very swanky hotel, then upgrade to first class when they eventually got on the 'plane. ..Turned out to be two 'planes because there was no direct flight the next day.
Exhausted and frazzled, Divo Four didn't stray far from the hotel. Never before in his life has he had access to such luxury; quite content to sample the many free facilities on offer (5* spa, pool, gym, and the novelty of 24hr room service).
DS4 also enjoyed being pampered on the last two 'planes - but was left so short of time that he had to go straight to his first tutorial when he finally arrived on campus.
..Sounds like he's doing fine.

Upsidedown_Bear

*Robin* wrote: »

Dear Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Have learned too late that thread titles cannot be altered, which leaves yours truly with a dilemma because am really not happy with the 'working title' I stuck at the top of my new diary when composing the introduction.

The easiest solution appears to be copying the few posts already made - and carry on here..

Apologies for any confusion, dear readers.

They can be altered.
Go to "edit" the post.
Then "go advanced".
You can then alter the title of the thread

*Robin*

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

They can be altered.
Go to "edit" the post.
Then "go advanced".
You can then alter the title of the thread

Oh no. Well, thanks for de-lurking to tell me, Upsidedown Bear. :T

Think I've created enough confusion with m' false start though, so will just carry on now..

Brightspark87

Oh Robin so annoying with those tech issues. I had a similar situation with skype before, but that much credit must be frustrating!!

I love that Divo Four's journey was filled with hassle but he managed to get that turned into an experience - shows a truly wonderful person who can do that! x