Further up the hill.

 

“Mum don’t google ballcock!”

Suddenly the upstairs loo has developed an occasional reluctance to flush.  I lifted the lid and stared at the large scarlet ball and tried to remember what I had done in the past.  Like plantar fasciitis one has experienced most of these irritants at some period – with the latter I find rolling one’s foot on a bottle filled with cold water works well.

 # 1 son was about to leave for a well deserved holiday with my DIL and meeting up with my granddaughter Alice who is coming to the end of her year at Florida Uni but he took the time to give me a link to cure the flushing problem and Sheila has given me the name of an excellent plumber if all else fails.  I’ll study the link and let you know if it is useful.

 I enjoyed the Bereavement Group – so much that I nearly missed my taxi back, booked for 8pm (the weather was very wet) and fled the scene like an elderly Cinderella with the leader of the group - a trained psychotherapist rushing out to warn the taxi driver – that’s how kind she is. The fish and chips were good and it was fascinating to see the small group talking about things one hardly touches on – (to complete strangers) until one has known the listener for ages.  There is a bond of recognition and I shall go next week to the next meeting which is in the morning with coffee.

 Had a pleasant lunch with Joy – she feels it may be too late for her to go to the meeting but the consensus of opinion is that the second year is harder (oh joy!)

But I must let her decide for herself.

 Had a good meeting with my solicitor and signed my will, then there is the power of attorney I’ve started as it seemed like a sensible idea.  However this now apparently involves an interview with one’s doctor – presumable to establish one hasn’t lost one’s marbles which is a bit of a joke as the doctor I am seeing I don’t know at all.  Another fee of course.

 Progress gained after a visit to the Bank and saw a brilliant woman who not only is super efficient – her fingers fly over the keyboard but explains things lucidly – writes it all down and makes quite sure one understands.

I got a reminder about the car insurance and remembered one of the recently bereaved members (two days after MTL died she was in Spain with her husband and he dropped dead in the street) had said her car insurance had increased so she argued on the phone until they reduced it.  After a long conversation with a girl named Sadie I got my reduced by £30.

 Then I got another couple of tax codes – about the fourth.  #1 son helped fill in the last tax forms a few weeks ago so I decided to bite the bullet and phone the tax office.  This was a very lengthy business but worth it in the end.  I got a most helpful man with a Northern Ireland accent who explained the relevance of the ever changing tax codes and went over all my queries till I felt confident and finally said if I send the P60s when I get them from my two pensions they can do the rest over the phone.  Such a relief.

 

This morning the Red Cross collected a huge pile of stuff from the garage so another step forward.  Now for the plumbing link.  Have a good week-endJ