Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 February 2007 20:40:52
Goodness me, February already? How time flies when you're.. well, how time flies anyway.
Actually, I have been having a fair deal of fun.. together with a large quantity of hard work, an expected amount of tearfulness, some nerves, some pain, some excitement, some sense of freedom.
My bereavement counsellor hit the nail on the head describing (OK, so I know she was just taking my own words and putting them into a picture - I know how these things work - but she was right, of course) how I suddenly find myself in a clearing after months of walking through a forest. Relief and loss, anticipation and nervousness, a jumble of emotions all wound up into a great deal of "doing" as we sort out Dad's bungalow ready to put it on the market in April (Anyone want a lovely two-bedroomed bungalow on the Isle of Wight, complete with the loveliest of neighbours and a visiting cat?) and as we do all the paperwork involved in probate.
Our wonderful solicitors (how often does one see those words in juxtaposition?) dropped a heavy hint that we might want to save ourselves a few hundred pounds in doing probate ourselves. It was surprisingly straightforward.. and had the bonus of winning me a day trip to Winchester. My brother needed the appointment at the earliest date possible before returning to Scotland today, so I got to go over to Winchester in advance to organise it.
Actually M and I went together as she had a ferry ticket she needed to use up before the expiry date. Shame it was a bitterly cold day! We found ourselves parked right outside the probate office, which was handy, so we got the business of the day over and done with and then hit the town - one of my favourite places. We decided to be extremely "religious" in our drinking of coffee and intake of calories, so we stopped off first at all at the amazingly renovated united Methodist and URC church where we had rather a tasty cup of coffee and a sneaky explore of their facilities, then aimed for the cathedral refectory for lunch.
Shopping, though, proved the greatest attraction. I took the decision to ignore my rather dodgy bank balance (well, the lower my savings, the more likely I am to get funding for the extension!) and treat myself to some new clothes - ones that actually fit my increased BMI and will make me feel more comfortable and confident until I manage to shift some weight. And a wonderful feeling it was for once to go shopping and buy things for ME!!! The most amazing thing was that, while browsing the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop's sale I saw a skirt. What's so strange about that? Well, I'm one of those people of whom, when they wear a skirt, people comment "Oh, so you have got legs after all!" - it is a rare thing for me to see a skirt and feel I simply have to try it on. But try it on I did - and it was the most comfortable and flattering skirt I have ever worn. Not to mention going perfectly with my black jacket! :D So I bought two!