What have you done today

[Barbel Mick]

Power of Attorney are a must IMHO. I wouldn't have thought that until 3 years ago when I did them for my parents.
Not long after I did so my dad became quite ill & was unable to make his own decisions, regarding his finances or health. My dad died within 18 months & it was quite an easy thing to sort his, & mums, finances.
Mum has become housebound & not able to look after herself for a couple of years now & 2 of my sisters take it in turns to give her 24 hour care.
The Power of Attorney had been registered with the doctors & it allows my sisters to make any decisions they see fit regarding her health & also her finances.
All 5 of us are registered but can make decisions individually if required.

Last year Deb & myself did our own.

You can do them yourself, it's just a matter of being careful when filling the forms in & getting the signatures. (It's a legal document, so has to be correct!)
I would advise anyone to make one before you need it. If you get to the stage of needing it, it'll be too late!

In your case Albie I think it will be necessary to see a solicitor to make sure it's done correctly. 
Hopefully you will be able to sort it all without too much problem. 

[Asmith61]

Thank you Mick
That is great advice. As already said I will speak to my sister in law regarding everything, I feel she has buried her head in the sand !! All this with my brother happened very quickly and came as a shock to us all. 
It really all started with him forgetting a lot of things and asking the same thing over and over again etc.
he was ( like me) a chronic Diabetic and had knocked his toe some how and didn’t say anything, his wife noticed blood in his sock while doing the washing so sent him to the doctors, where they sent him to the hospital he had gangrene in the toe and spoke to his wife about having to amputate his Toe. His wife said I rather you didn’t and his reaction was if you want to save your husband we have to do this. Which his wife agreed to but by the time they came to do the operation the gangrene had spread up his leg and they had to Amputate just below the knee.
Then the dementia really set in.   Since the day he went to the hospital to check his toe he has never returned home.
So his life and that of his family changed dramatically.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Sorry to hear that Asmith61 - sounds awful. Hope you get Power of Attorney sorted and best wishes to you and your family.

[Asmith61]

UK _Vstrom650  thank you 🙏🏻

[UK_Vstrom650]

Might not help you, but this week's moneysavingexpert's email had a link to a podcast Martin Lewis did on this topic. I haven't listened, so not sure if it covers your situation but might be worth a listen?
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/listen-to--the-martin-lewis-podcast-/?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=15-Oct-24-40d00bca27d461d8078-670eb7f4f9291518293c4ae25cb61091&source=CRM-MSETIP-40d00bca27d461d8078&utm_campaign=nt-oneliners-one&utm_content=19

[Asmith61]

Uk_Vstrom650

Thank you for this.
 I have watched it very informative and I think it will help a lot.
I have forwarded it to my sister in law 👍👍

[2112]

Today, after picking up the Transalp, I've been having my pre-retirement pension review. My head is spinning with crystalised assets, non-crystalised assets, tax free sums, annuities etc. The bottom line is I can retire as planned on January the 8th next year. Due to the clever use of various pension pots I can avoid paying any tax (legally) which makes a big difference. Very happy with the outcome 

[Dark-Strom]

Well done.
Like many, I hope to retire one day, should I live that long.  My sense of wealth comes from those around me.

[2112]

I can heartily recommend the use of an INDEPENDENT financial advisor. The diferrence between a well managed, active pension and a 'bank offering' is vast. Make your money work hard for you, not the other way around 

[Joe Rocket]

I can only agree with the above. I went through an experienced financial company for advice as well as a state pension 'Interview' on how to use my pension pot and what came into my retirement income in various stages afterwards. Bear in mind though that any new investments or placements proposed by said 'advisor' will include his share. I'm not saying don't open up future avenues for yourself, just that advice will cost money.

[2112]

Today, I got a rather frantic telephone call from my mate's missus saying the elctricity was off at the house and kept tripping. Predictably, he's on his way to Canada for his brothers 60th birthday bash, so I'm on 'call' for electrical woes. It didn't take me too long to identify & isolate the issue, the circuit to the shed at the bottom of the garden is the culprit, probably due to the torrential rain we've had here over night. A permanent repair will need further investigations and good weather. Nothing spoiling in the shed so I've just left it off for now. A quick win and back to watch more WSB on the telly.

[Sir Trev]

Today I have mostly been sitting in a comfy chair watching the relentless rain come down. Did manage to get outside in a couple of the brief gaps to lift a few leeks from the veg patch, which Lady Poppy is currently prepping for the freezer. Was hoping to get out for a ride to unwind after a frantic few days travelling with work but the rain and a (rather pathetic) sniffle means that option is a no-go.

[Barbel Mick]

More grandkids football for us this morning. Having three grandkids means we have to alternate our Saturdays & Sundays each week to go & watch them play. This morning it was the granddaughter in the under 9's. The team played well & won 4 - 0.
This afternoon it was the son (granddaughters dad) playing in the over 40's vets. Usually a good & steady player but today he let himself down, his team down & his parents down! 
He plays centre half & about 20 minutes into the game got caught by a through ball & was about 2 seconds slow in the tackle causing him to receive only his 2nd yellow in 30 + years playing.
10 minutes later his attempt to pass back to his keeper was light & their forward ran onto it & scored.
5 minutes after that a high ball is crossed into the box & it's his ball, so the shout goes up "Barnsies", gets his head to it well & it's a cracker ... into his own goal!!   
He did do better in the second half but the damage was done. They lost 8 - 2.
Deb was straight onto WhatsApp to tell the grandson about his dad. The grandson got man of the match in his game yesterday. 
The 2nd grandson lost both his matches, yesterday & today but played well. We will see him play next week.
We saw very little of the forecasted rain though & it's been a very enjoyable weekend. 

[StromGeeza]

Love hearing reports from the world of grass roots football. Big respect to the refs and the army of volunteers who keep youth football going.

[Barbel Mick]

Quite right Stromgeeza. Without those that, organise the leagues, manage, train the teams, do the books, ref, run the line, etc, etc. there would be no football for the kids, or any grassroots teams.
This is the same for all sports for kids I presume. One of the grandsons plays cricket & basketball & the organisation for those is the same, as is the gymnastics for the granddaughter.
Hats off to those who do volunteer for all grassroots sports. 

[StromGeeza]

While praising the volunteers who make youth sports happen, a big shout out also to those who volunteer at Parkrun, so juniors and not-so-juniors can walk, jog or run their 5k each Saturday. 

[Dark-Strom]

Took this for a test ride, quite different 

[2112]

Today saw a trip to the doctors for my Covid and Flu jabs. One in each arm, I'm now ready for winter, apparently.

[Dark-Strom]

Our turn tomorrow, can't wait

[The Doctor 46]

Today I booked my flights and bus transfer to Spain for Christmas with friends. I then spoke to my Sister and arranged a week visiting her and my Brother early next month. Then I washed and ACF50'd my bike. It's 5pm now but I'm going to take it for a ride and get it dirty again  . It's that time of the year when the roads are so dirty.

I feel good and the next couple of months are something to look forward to.