Watty's Awakening

Watty1

The ride was lovely.  We got chased by the dogs on the lane we used which made us both laugh. Now usually this would make us both very cross but these two dogs always come over at turbo speed barking away and it is scary although Charming Cob just looks at them whereas my friends horse does get really worried. The influence of Charming Cob calms him down and he just pogos a bit on the spot.  The dogs are usually in the field with the sheep where the man is, but sometimes they are out on the lane.    We have both warned the owner that if the dogs come close to the horses they are likely to get kicked or in the case of Charming Cob just trodden on. 

What makes us laugh is the owner who used to say "they have never done that before" and now says to the dogs in a reprimanding voice  "you know better than that"   Clearly they do not but I have now nicked named the dogs as "you know better than that 1" and "you know better than that 2"

If I was on Most Handsome it would be a "drama" and my friend rarely uses the lane without the Charming Cob.

Watty1

Such a sunny day yesterday, lunch was eaten in the garden. Just sitting eating left over stew with the VNM and WattyDog pottering about with the "stick of the day" made me thankful for simple pleasures.  Free, beautiful, enjoyable.

The VNM then asked if I would help buy some thank you gifts for his mum's neighbours and that was fun. I offered the cheaper MSE option (Ald1) or the designer throw money at the problem very locally, and he opted for the later saying he just wanted it done so off we went.  I had such fun!  Candles, chocolates, wine and flowers all purchased, gift wrapped in the car in tissue paper and packed into gift bags and delivered.    Normally I don't go to such shops knowing I will be seduced into purchasing so it was just fun to be given a free rein. 

We then visited his mum which was so sad for me.  She was such a formidable woman and now reduced to such a slow mind and frail body.   Steel core still there though. 

Home for homemade curry and naan bread.   I'm still trying to use up the white SR flour and I suspect some kind of magic, as the bag does not seem to go down despite naan bread, cakes and scones all having been made from it.

Cherryfudge

Eek to the dogs, though I do like your names for them and it seems the owner has taken a bit of note, even if not sufficient.

The presents sound fun and it's lovely to show the neighbours they are appreciated.

It is indeed a sad and difficult time when people reach a point of decline where so many of their strengths have declined. How are you finding the care home? As you get to know the staff you will find who clicks with her and be able to personalise things further for her. There was one lady at my Mum's care home who really was superb but worked crazy hours with the same cold cup of coffee just carried round from one room to another instead of meal breaks. She later went on to manage a home elsewhere and really knew what she was doing as well as being nice.

Watty1

In financial news as there should be some in my diary I spent a little time on my persona finances.  £59.13 cashed out in survey winnings and sent to the yet to be opened ISA pot.
Checked and cleared credit card - but - a couple of months ago I noticed an odd amount of £6.99 on the statement, which I did not really pay attention to.  The next month it was there again and it was a streaming service which I realised I needed to cancel as I don't use it.  Couldn't manage to log in so moved on to something else and forgot it.  Today I decided to deal with this only to find after much faffing that I had cancelled the streaming service in July 2021 so thinking I must have renewed recently with Amazon I went to their site but it wasn't showing on there so attempted to log into the streaming site with an email I rarely use.  Nope, I didn't have an account.

So, I rang the CC company and asked them to cancel it explaining I could not cancel it with streaming service and I wanted it blocked so blocked it was for 13 months and then the customer service person put me through to the fraud team - to discover that another name had signed up using my card!   They would not tell me the name - but my card has now been cancelled.  All very odd (and I do wonder if my ex is watching a streaming service I've been paying for!)

Finally the offer for the insurance on the car came through.  It is a quarter of what I had hoped for so need to call the company.

PennysIntoPounds

Hmm, does sound rather on-brand for ex doesn't it. Well done for getting it sorted.
If you have the time to do so, might be worth an email to the streaming service asking what refund and compo they'll be providing for letting someone with a different name use your card details..

Sorry the insurance offer needs wrangling, I'm sure if anyone can do it you can though!

On the subject of cars...
I've been hesitating to post this but would feel bad if I didn't, but if VNM is buying a car for your 'sole' use, could he buy a car and the ownership be in your name? He is of course VNM but no relationship is guaranteed and grief and stress can cause people to be distracted from what arrangements were meant to be. Since he's written off one of your assets, I feel, as your mate, that you should be getting an asset back since he has the money to do so... Apologies if I'm speaking out of turn x

Watty1

The credit card company are refunding all the money and as I don't know what name the streaming service is in I'm going to let that go.  A new card will sort it, and sadly, yes, my thoughts did turn to the ex.

@PennysIntoPounds it is a very fair point to raise thank you. The picture is more nuanced though as he actually bought me the car that he has written off, I only bought the other little car because the written off car was an import and needed to be registered and I was warned that could take time so I quickly bought something off marketplace to last the couple of months it would take. I then loved the old cheap mini so used it for pottering about and then used the 4 wheel drive in bad weather and for WattyDog and for going further than the old mini really should and for going 'out out'.   When the VNM sold his car (for good reasons) and just used his work van I suggested it would be fine to use one of mine from time to time until he bought a new one.    He originally bought me the car because I was in such a financial pickle with the ex and hanging on to every penny to settle so it is a nuanced picture.  I always meant to sell the mini, just didn't get to it because the car made me smile.

I'm ultra cautious financially around him so @PennysIntoPounds raises a good point.   I never want to be in a mess again with a man, but, in this instance, I'm not that stressed about the car. I didn't buy it, when I sort the insurance I'll have the cash.   For me, the issue is the mini is not really big enough for me and WattyDog and in bad weather I need a 4 wheel drive to go anywhere given rural location.    A neighbour has suggested she buy the mini (being unbothered by its age because she loves them and she says she only goes places locally) and I buy a car that better suits my life

Thank you so much for calling me out - a good pal indeed - I love this forum and the people on it.  

daisy_1571

Can I just pop a thought on - just in case the ex has any other financial info it might be time for a quick trawl about and close down accounts/transfer to new banks etc.  Another clean break sort of thing.

Dxx

Watty1

I have changed my bank accounts yes @Daisy_1571 Just chatting to a friend however and I found out something interesting - a common fraud thing is to have a card charged with small amounts that you don't notice or don't check out and after a few months, if no action is taken, then the card is charged with something really big.  Common fraud practice apparently.  Just putting it here so we can all be mindful about those random small amounts that might appear (she only knew because it happened to her and she had been assuming the small Amaz0n purchases where things she had ordered and forgotten)

Watty1

Cannot log into new card on app or web so cannot use. This might be MSE for me!     I think I have cleared it but I did want to check as this was part of the end of the year re-focus and push to the end plan.

Today is lecture day for course so notes all written up and ready, slides sent out (I think, that is the Virtual Tech PA job) and I'm ready.  I'm actually enjoying it now, whereas before I was just a nervous wreck suffering with imposter syndrome.

Readers might remember the jump poles I nearly bought on a late night market place find, well they went but, I saw another set so am off with the VNM to collect this evening.  These ones come with jump wings as well.  Were expensive but actually a bargain as just 3 months old and purchased new.  The current owner spent over £1000 on them and used once and decided she didn't like jumping!    Now, I've only jumped Most Handsome once in the last 5 years, but, my plan is to just slowly start again over the winter!  The poles will be good for Charming Cob core exercises and Fell Pony and his person were really excited when they heard.   OK, truthfully Fell Pony was asleep but his human was keen. I really only wanted 4 or 5 poles but I've bought 8 poles and 6 jump wings for the cost of 4 new poles so I'm really pleased with that (yes I could have just bought round fence poles and painted them but I've been meaning to do this for years and not got to that and these poles are lighter, longer and will withstand knocking around without injury to human horse or dog - WattyDog can jump them too!)

KajiKita

It sounds like those jump poles were both a bargain and will get a lot of use 😊 Love the validations excitement of Fell Pony … 😂😉

I see the confident, on top of it, ready to enjoy delivering the course, Watty1 and salute her! 👏❤️

KK