Sh*t creek - is now in my rear view mirror...!

Irenadler

atrixa said:

I love looking at other people's Christmas lights! I'm going to get my own to put in the window this year.
I think As1a and L!dl had cheaper vegan mince pies last year. I think I'm going to have to take a special trip across town to stock up on L!dl bits before December. They have some great vegan stuff at Christmas.

Will drag myself back to L*dl when I feel up to it..... ta!

Irenadler

Hey up, stupid cold, and only just re-surfacing. Still haven't got to L*dl-land yet, but, will do it!

Relative is thankfully improved (physically at least), so that's a relief. Maybe I will sleep better now....

Update on the surveys - managed to bag a couple more!

MovingForwards

Welcome back, hopefully now relative is improving, the pressure will ease up. You can't change what's happening with the other, nor are there any answers yet.

Congratulations on bagging the surveys, they all help keep your mind occupied and reward you too 🤗

Irenadler

Thanks Babs! Not sure how great my survey answers were, due to sleep deprivation, but they did accept them! Ha!   

Irenadler

In other news, a relative is offering their old car to me for free, as they are cutting back to one car, and they know the hassle we have been having. Such as getting ill relative to appointments, me walking everywhere but not able to drive them to places, blinking taxi's taking us late, etc. which is totally unexpected, and very kind of them. Really not sure I can afford to run it, but, looking into it. 

It would make a huge difference in convenience - being able to drive over to relative whenever needed, them not worrying about me walking home at night alone (one appointment via NHS help-line didn't happen until 2am!), not feeling exhausted by all the to-ing and fro-ing at all hours, being able to carry stuff easier like laundry back and forth, not to mention actually driving to supermarket and not having heavy tins/cartons to drag back in the wally trolley.... really tempted to snap their hand off for it! 

I haven't had one for about 4 years, although still have a valid licence, but was a) trying to be greener - using public transport/walking; and b) I thought I was not able to afford one. Now having a little bit more income at the moment (yet less than my old wages), and a lot more caution! Plus this change of circumstances, i.e. elderly, ill relatives, it's making me think very hard about having one again. 

I think if it was just for me, I wouldn't bother, but for getting the relative to appointments, not having them waiting (and fretting horribly if the taxi is late), whilst being kept warm and dry in a car, is a huge plus... I am thinking that I can drive to hospital entrances to drop them off, then park, and still be with them in the appointment. My car offering relative is going to get it serviced and MOT'd, as well as cleaned up, assures me it's reliable (some sort of Honda thing, no good at makes/names!) so initially it would be the cost of tax/insurance & fuel. A bit worried it is on its last legs (the car, hopefully not the relative!) as it is about 15 years old.... must look into it....

MovingForwards

A Honda / Japanese car will have a few years left in it, don't worry about that! They have a good reputation. Car tax isn't too bad, if you buy 6 or 12 months, don't do monthly payments as that adds a bit to it.
The insurance should be reasonable too, I was paying about the same as mine (under £250) for TomBo and he hadn't owned a car / had insurance in his name in years!

Petrol will last you. You've read Skinty's diary and how often she doesn't fill up 😁

See if you can do a comparison site quote and how much it comes out at. Maybe try it until the MOT is approaching and decide whether it's for you or not.

Irenadler

Thanks Babs, that's really helpful, I am a proper dunce with cars and really don't know what goes on under the bonnet. It's just a way to get places in the least possible time. Reliability is the real key issue, don't want to be stranded, in bad weather, with a poorly relative. I need to ask relative what type of Honda it is (even though they have actually visited me driving it over the last decade!) so I can check insurance as I haven't a clue  duh! I think I would use up some of the newly acquired EF to tax it for 12 months, as it does work out cheaper that way.

It would definitely be low usage for me, more like I would be my poorly relative's taxi, which would be a Godsend to them now the colder weather is here. Weirdly I don't feel nervous about getting behind the wheel though, despite the gap in driving, maybe I am hoping its like riding a bike? Hmmm, definitely need a trial run in it, in case I am so cack-handed I can't drive it....

MovingForwards

If you message me the make, model, year and engine size, I can guide you through a couple of basics, if you do go for it. I highly doubt your relative would give you a lemon, they would sell it to someone else or scrap it.

Only use one comparison site for checking insurance and don't keep altering the details you input as that scares potential insurance companies. Opt for a figure between 6 - 8k miles, then you've got enough for day trips in summer, plus running around everywhere the other three seasons.
Ideally, you will pay the insurance in full, again to save the extra charge, but that depends on how much it comes out at.
I only have the very basic breakdown cover, they won't come out if I'm at home, but will fix me at the roadside, take my car home or to a garage.

It is like riding a bike 😊

Skint_yet_Again

The only thing you may find is that insurance is more expensive if you enter “unemployed”. It’s difficult to know what else you could opt for instead as “housewife” doesn’t seem applicable. One suggestion online was “not working due to disability” but not sure that would apply either. Has your employment actually ended now ? 

Irenadler

Hello both, thank you! 

Still haven't got round to asking relative about their car. My poorly relative has been stressed out over certain things they have done (very confused and mixed themselves up about a trip to a bank) although sorted out now thankfully. They are still stressed and over-worrying though, and I am feeling pretty exhausted over it all, slept badly (we all did thinking what the heck has gone on)...

Hey Skinty - yeah, after my assessment with DWP, and found to have limited capability to work, employer can't keep my post open for me, and can't wait for improvement any more.... pretty gutted. I know that I couldn't do both (highly stressful job and look after relative) - after this latest thing, I am relieved I am not trying to juggle job/incident/relative's need for support. 

I suppose I can put it in the category of 'ill-health' ? 

Positive news is the relative that's offering the old car, is also offering to help with any repairs it might need in the future. Such as having a good contact to sort repairs, helping to fund it (go halves) as they really want it to be a help, so I can be there for my ill relative, which makes me more optimistic I can afford to run it (petrol, insurance, tax, MOT). Incredibly good of them - but, I know they really feel they want to help, and can't physically be there to do it, so, this is a tremendous way of getting us all support - having instant transport.  

Going back to relative's shortly to see if they are now calmer. Sometimes, forgetfulness has benefits and I am hoping they don't recall the event now, since it is causing them such distress.