What are you all up to
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We had half decided to have a few days away in the caravan this week, but have decided against it in the end. We're having a downstairs loo installed over the weekend (courtesy of our Son-in-law), so need to spend some time taking the shelves down in the laundry so that we have room. So, at the moment we have two toilets..... but one of them is still in the back of the car.... 😀😀😀
David
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Sounds like it costs a lot more to do this in England than in Scotland.
A quick look at the website suggests that the current cost up here is £79 per person for both Financial and/or Welfare POAs, so a total of £158 for us these days. The two types are usually combined into one document, but can be separate.
No idea how much for getting a solicitor to prepare it all these days, but given that our wills were (having consulted OH for the correct figure) £350 + VAT, I would not expect POAs to cost more.
Included in the cost of our wills was an appointment at our solicitor's office where we discussed and agreed on what we wanted in our wills. Advice was given on how financial matters would be handled on the first death, and what funds would be available to the survivor, and it was all very clearly explained.
We then received texts to approve or amend, and once everything was agreed the actual paperwork was sent to us to be signed and witnessed.
The original wills are held by the solicitor and we received copies to keep.
Fees were made clear at the outset and were, we thought, quite reasonable for the time involved.
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We are having a day off doing stuff for others and instead are trying to do a bit of tidying at home. OH has paperwork to do, I have a pile of recycling to deal with, plus I have things to prepare for my woodturning club meeting this evening.
Work on the utility room project is on hold for a day or two anyway as DD needs to obtain handles, wall tiles, and flooring. Still some other small things to complete, but it is starting to look good now.
OH has decreed that our bathroom floors also need replaced, so we have added our order for LVT to DD's order to save on delivery charges. Quite when I will get time to do our floors is another matter!
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Hospital this morning for my 3 monthly check up. Result is I need to have another scan so fingers crossed.
As it was a lovely day, weather wise, sun and blue sky, decided to walk home by the beach and river, always something new to see and today it was a seal playing in the surf, fantastic 🌞
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We have just done our LPA’s Lasting Power of Attorneys (2 each health &financial). We didn’t use a solicitor just the Govuk website. As long as they are straightforward and ours are, no need for a solicitors cost. The notes and help part of the website was excellent. £82 a throw. We have been going to do if for ages but a health issue sharpened our focus.
i would recommend the diy route as long as the preferences/instructions are straightforward and you are computer savvy.
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This might be of interest to the DIYers on here. I was in Homebase this afternoon and noticed they have reduced a lot of the old Bunnings stuff to quite low prices so there might be a few bargains around. We managed to buy a sack truck for £12.
David
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Bunnings were/are the owners of Homebase but have/are disposing of stores. Not sure what the current state of play is.
Good luck with scan,OP.
Hope the Scrabble board is stuck down tight. Bit windy.
Spent a fruitless part of the day hanging on the phone as I was assured that.. "Your call is important to us..." Well try answering the ruddy thing then!
BT and UK Insurance. 0/10. Will bang my head against wall again tomorrow.0 -
Did you get any joy from Campbells?
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In 2016 a large Australian company called Wesfarmers, who operate under the Bunnings name, purchased Homebase. The idea was to convert all the stores to the Bunnings name but they only ended converting 24 stores I understand, so in some parts of the country people may not have been aware of the new ownership. Apparently they made a right fist of the take over and having paid £340 for Homebase originally they then sold it for £1 a few years later. The converted Bunnings store have reverted back to Homebase. The range of products that Bunnings sold was actually quite interesting but they probably made the mistake that the DIY market in the UK was the same as in Australia. I suppose it was a text book example of how things shouldn't be done. MK was one of the stores origially converted to the Bunnings name (now back to Homebase) so we have the advantage (?) of being able to buy the old Bunnings stock at knock down prices. Wouldn't suggest you travel to see if they have a bargain for you!!!
David
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Our Homebase was never converted, just closed down, which was a shame as it was good and very handy. Now we have to go about 4 miles to either B&Q, Screwfix or Toolstation.
Mainly we use Toolstation as, it is usually less expensive, but B&Q certainly has a better range.
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Had a ( very ) mixed sort of day today
!!Took the 'van in for M O T & Service & new battery ( NOT Leisure !! ) this morning. Arrived bright & early so had a stroll back across town in the fairly stiff wind. Spent my time playing with more slides and with one eye on the snooker. Got the " Come & Collect your Ducky before we sell it " call in the late afternoon. So peered out of window to see a stiffer wind blowing, but tolerable so water n wind proofed up and started walking.
25 mins later arrived at correct garage but resembling a rather soggy Rattus Norvegicus { thank you Rocky
) after a night in the northern seas . Had a little cross chat with owner & Receptionist while wringing out the wax coat & contents of pockets, then, having coughed up as required, got home to a hot soak & total change of attire. That change included a fresh wallet !! It was a very soggy day indeed, compounded by the arrival of Motor vehicle insurance, with Vehicle Excise licence soon to follow.Think I'll stay in bed tomorrow so Nighty Night Y'all !!
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Unexpected drama this afternoon, and all, according to OH, my fault!
Totally forgot to renew the VED on the Touareg, due 1st January, OH found the reminder when sorting through all the accumulated paperwork we had lying around.
In my defence, the service and MOT time is beginning of September, VED is beginning of January, and insurance is beginning of March......such are the results of buying a pre registered vehicle......and far too complicated for me to remember!
Now paid, hopefully will not get a fine. First time ever, in 50 years of car ownership, that I have transgressed.
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Apparently Wesfarmers originally wanted to buy B&Q but its a much larger company with branches in Europe, although not branded as B&Q over there, so that was a buy too far. Just as well as they would have ruined that as well!!!
David
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I set myself a recurring yearly reminder on Google Calendar - it comes up on my phone and laptop about a week before. I do the same for MOT and Insurance, but usually a month before it's due to give me time to search for the cheapest deal and to book the car in.
David
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Absolutely agree. I have everything - from TV Licence through to insurances set up on monthly DD so I never have to worry. Plus you get an annual reminder of renewal, so if you want to switch provider, there is nothing to stop you. The only thing that isn't covered is the car MOT and, like David, I have set up a reminder on my iPhone/Mac calendar.
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We did the same last year KjellNN. OH found the ‘reminder’? in the pile of stuff on the desk. Ours should have been paid 1st December and it was nearly Christmas before we received the DVLA final reminder!! Like you it was the first time ever that it had been forgotten. Blame it on a Senior moment!🤔. As others we now have reminders on our iCloud calendar.
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Or a reminder from the .Gov site.
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We've just done a monthly vehicle tax DD with our motorhome, it doesn't make a huge difference moneywise, I think we pay around £8 extra pa. I know some would object to paying more but there's an upside as well.
OH relies on his Google calendar I still use a diary.
DK our local Homebase became a Range store last year.
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Very strong winds and heavy rain here, second day, hoping for a break tomorrow. Trying to sort out some paper work that has gathered over the last couple of years, must stop reading things as progress is slow! Stay warm and safe if your local weather is like ours! 🖼
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I signed up for DD's for VED on both car and motorhome as soon as it was possible to do so. In fact I try to do most things by DD or Standing Order so I am not in a position to forget them. Thinking about it I can't recall anything that I pay by post or over the counter these days. One exception is the car insurance as its quite a bit cheaper to pay in one go, I then spend the rest of the year wondering if I have paid it
David
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Heavy Rain and gusty winds here again Brue.
Supposed to pick the caravan up tomorrow after some warranty work but just got a phone call asking if we could leave it until Thursday as they're short staffed. It would also appear that someone doing the PDI ordered new brake shoes as they were under warranty with Alko. We knew nothing about that as nobody has told us. So we were hoping to get a 6 night break in up in the Lakes but now only 5.
Managed to get through to both UK Insurance and BT without too much hassle today. Actually got an unasked for discount from BT on my Broadband contract. The Insurance was for extending our travel insurance through Nationwide account. Unfortunately the medical upgrade is getting dearer as more bits fall off the wagon. Needs must though.
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Do you not still have to go through the renewal process? There is no charge for our Smart, but we still have to "renew".
I have put a reminder in my google calendar now so should not happen again.
Insurances we always pay annually, TV licence we will have to start paying again no doubt, but other bills are all on monthly DD.
Our daughter also pays her VED by DD, but annually, not monthly, we could do that.
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Scowl, Growl and Howl !!
Monday was er er rather soggy as I discovered when collecting the newly MOT'ed and serviced Ducky. Tuesday was cool but dry, until, that is, I was helping Aged Sister back to load up the shopping into the afore mentioned 'van then it just lashed down.
Today it's a tad cool as it ought to be in mid January, but the sky is a clear cloudless pale blue - beautiful to behold
. BUT I'm house bound today -- deeply into Laundry-time, especially the clothing that got soaked on Monday !! Might even get the ironing done this evening so I'll be free to offer the Aged One a drive across soggy Cheshire if she wants tomorrow, but I'm not taking bets on that, 'cos it'll probably be hissing down again -- I think Brendon { ?? Brendan ?? } might be bringing his younger brothers over this way 0
