Paper Work


Yesterday I almost went stir crazy.
It was an odd day for so many reasons
I earmarked myself the whole day to transfer all of the joint account direct debits to my personal account but what with the different tariffs, " easy" on line ways of doing things, the occasional threat to a call centre to cancel my accounts and a marathon change of details with the delightful Vikram in an Indian BT call centre , it took much longer than I expected
I have now finally sorted every account, every debit, and every change of name, 24 hours later
I was on the phone so long with Vikram that I feel that I need to send him a Christmas card.
Such is modern life.

A friend broke my rhythm. They were tearful and needed some time , so I took them to the cafe Mary and I go to in Colwyn Bay were we had buckets of coffee and the thickest buttered toast this side of the English border.
Thick buttered toast always makes things better

My work contract came yesterday too. I made an appointment to sort the mortgage out.
Trendy carol ( wearing light summer linen) called round with a basket of plums
I spoke to Nu and Nigel on the phone, wrote the blog and started work scrubbing the patio and Dead heading the potted flowers

One outstanding problem with the council tax was sorted this morning. The council clerk was chirpy
And rather sweet.

I had a dream early this morning too
It was one of those I'm having another ten minutes in bed dreams that ar so vivid that they hurt your chest when you eventually wake up.
I was around seven years old and I was dancing with my grandmother
It was a fast sort of waltz and she was wearing her cheap blue everyday dress that smelled of cold cream. Her ham sized arms dwarfed my own
We were in her neat back garden on the lawn
I was looking at my 1960s sandled feet and skinny knees
And I felt loved

58 comments:

  1. I remember having to do all the changeovers too John when my husband left me. Trouble is, I also went back to my maiden name (which the French can't pronounce, let alone spell) and although I'm very organized I reckon my brain cells looked a bit like that sheet of paper of yours!

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  2. In this lovely dream, as you waltzed around the garden, did you by any chance sing "Grandma We Love You" by The St Winifred's School Choir?

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    1. It was rather silent..like a silent movie YP

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  3. A full day is far better than an empty one. I keep trying to convince myself too.

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    1. Keeping busy is harder even when u have loads to do

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  4. Although it took hours of your day, hopefully you feel greatly relieved getting all of that out of the way - especially arranging the mortgage which now means you can stay put! That sounds like a beautiful dream. -Jenn

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  5. We loved Colwyn Bay when we stayed there in a B and B. Oh and that sheet of paper looks like the progress I have made with 'the leg'.

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  6. Lots ticked off your list.

    I find those early morning dreams once I have gone back to sleep so vivid too.

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  7. This sort of paperwork is always a nightmare! So good that you have now got it done though. Truly a new start can now begin.

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  8. Doing everything online is supposed to be simpler - not in my experience. And there's that scene at the beginning of the original Marigold Hotel film, where the character is trying to change an account into her name, but can't without the account holder's permission, and it's her husband, who is dead. That would be me!
    Well done for getting through it - and you have claimed single occupancy for the council tax?

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  9. Sometimes things come to us in our dreams when we need to be reminded that we are loved still by the deceased I think.A couple of days ago I stayed in bed an extra half hour and my beloved too dog who I had to have put to sleep a year ago climbed up on the bed and snuggled up beside me in possibly a dream as always x

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  10. Maybe she's letting you know through a dream that shes watching over you xx

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  11. I loath most "customer service." Often it is anything but helpful. Sometimes it is easier to close an account and open a new one. I never did get Dad's electric company to talk with me. I love those last minute dreams, you felt loved because you are.

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  12. A grandmother’s love never leaves you. I hope I can stay in the hearts of my grands so that the memory of me will give them comfort when they need it.

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  13. I can only hope that some day my grandchildren, all grown up and in need of some love, can dream of me that way.

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  14. Take a deep breath and keep on dancing! You are very much loved....

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  15. A good day all round; lots of horrid 'stuff'out of the way, a friend comforted and some grandmother love - she always will.

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  16. I could just eat some thick buttered toast right now.

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  17. Oh my, the last sentence took my breath away. You are a writer, dear John. Your writing is what keeps me coming back -- your stories are so soulful and honest. And this is not a knock: they are what Kurt Vonnegut described when he described a new kind of novel in Slaughterhouse Five: " A series of telegrams, no particular relationship between all the messages, except that when seen all at once they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. ... the depths of many marvelous moments..." Life is marvelous.

    And I had three grandmothers (one was a step-) and none of them ever made me feel loved. They were scary. And they didn't like kids, or they just didn't like me and my sisters.

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  18. Ugh.
    I loathe doing bank related things online or on the phone cause most times I have ten thousand questions. And everything being automated doesn’t let you with many options. Glad you did that though. I’m sure it’ll bring peace of mind.
    And it’s so funny you dreamed with your grandma. Last week I dreamed of mine. And she looked like she did when I was a little boy. She’s been gone for years now but the memories still linger...

    XoXo

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  19. Tracy1:55 pm

    What a lovely dream. I am sure you will be replaying it in your mind for days to come. I know I would. Having rung customer services regarding a couple of different problems lately, I am convinced that some of them should be renamed customer disservices!

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  20. Have you tried to change the TV Licence yet?

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    1. Oh yes. I see it is ticked off. You usually have to go through the hoop of being a criminal before they will start any conversation.

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    2. Funny question that, Rachel. Try and convince licencing that you do NOT need a licence.

      After years of to and fro I am now in proud possession of a printed "No Licence Needed Confirmation", signed by Jackie Garswood, Customer Service Manager. Let's see how long that peace lasts.

      U

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    3. I have. I felt like a criminal. And then recently renewing my licence without change collapsed three times on-line and I had to attempt to speak to a human. I could go on.

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    4. Ursula it lasts about two years...then the game starts again

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  21. Barbara Anne2:40 pm

    Ah, paperwork, the continuing curse of adult life. Well done in getting it sorted.

    I love dreams that let me visit with those who are beloved but are also long gone. Cherish that feeling of your grandmother's love. I believe that love never ever dies or disappears. You are still loved.

    Hugs!

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  22. That's a lovely dream. Comfort comes in many forms. x

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  23. That dream. <3 Thank you for sharing.

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  24. awwww....your grandma is happy for you. she is showing you how happy she is.

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  25. I think you are loved in a big circle all around the globe and must surely feel this!

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  26. I had to do the "change over" also, what a mess. Wanted to change my name back also but two children kept the name they were "born with" so I decided to keep the name. Oldest son (who lives in Japan) did take his Japanese wife's name.
    parsnip

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  27. Loved the world over and did you ever foresee this happening? Not in your wildest dreams I suppose?

    Love your stories John Gray.

    LXX

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  28. Dreams can feel very real. Not a good thing sometimes, but at others it is very welcome.

    I laughed at the Christmas card comment!

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  29. You are loved today too.

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  30. That lovely dream must have started your day off well. Congrats on getting all those account details sorted - such a chore and one of those things it is so easy to put off.

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  31. Your Grandmother is sending you her love and letting you know that all is well. Congratulations for getting a difficult job completed! Each day is leading you to a new and happier life.

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  32. countrygal7:36 pm

    The dream is a good sign (happy and laughter). Some people balk at the idea of dreams meaning anything. That is their prerogative. But you will find a happy life.

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  33. Just curious. Has Ursula ever demonstrated compassion on your blog? Even once?

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    1. Ask her, I am sure she will say yes

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    2. Suz, hi, haven't had the pleasure to meet you before. Good to see that you have a blog but no entries and the only blog one you follow is John's. Also remarkable that after years of my commenting on John's blog (and far too wordy for his liking) you suddenly pipe up questioning my compassion quotient.

      My "poor you" remark is a bit of an in-joke between John and me. Not that he would know it if it bit him in his behind. But when it comes to me his humo(u)r bypass is rather remarkable. It's what happens when someone (John) doesn't like you (me).

      Compassion? By the bucket load. Which is more than can be said about many a cold fish.

      U

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  34. What an incredibly productive day. And yes, you are loved.

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  35. All in all a well spent day good to get all the paper work sorted, out for a coffee cheering up a friend deadheading flowers you needed a good nights sleep John.
    What a lovely way to start today dreaming of dancing with your grandmother, I hope that set the tone for today and cleared your head with all the paper work behind you.

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  36. Oh, what a lovely dream. Here's hoping that you manage to get all the little bits and bobs taken care of. It seems like any official business, birth, death, marriage, divorce, if there is bureaucracy, there is way too much to do!
    Cat

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  37. Once a year or so I have a dream where I am a child again and I am with my grandma. The love carries out of the dream, and even thinking about it now I feel it in my chest. I am grateful each time.

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  38. It's the mundane minutiae that can get on your last nerve. Like switching infinite debit accounts. Good to have a friend bring you round to fat buttered toast!

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  39. Oh, I love dreams like that.

    We have a BT account that we took over from our previous landlord in Notting Hill, and it was in his name. We have tried and tried to convert it to our names, but even when we moved to West Hampstead, it stayed in his name. It's so ridiculous. We still get mail from BT addressed to our previous landlord.

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  40. I had a vivid dream last night. I returned to work at the hospice that I retired from 2 years ago and you were the Charge Nurse. You had a real go at me for wearing unsuitable ear rings.

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  41. A good achievement to get all that paperwork sorted..no mean feat.

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  42. I have a theory that dreams are mostly about the feeling, and if you felt loved and safe, then that's where you're at and that's very good to hear. recently I invented an incredible piece of software that did exactly what I thought most businesses needed. I woke up feeling very clever, only I couldn't remember what it did!!

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  43. You were lucky to get to speak with Vikram as long as you did. The times I have been transferred to overseas call centers, there would usually be one or two disconnects and then I'd have to start all over from the beginning.

    I enjoyed reading about your dream about your Grandma. I sometimes dream about my Mom and it is like I had a real life visit with her. Wouldn't it be nice if we could wish for and receive sweet dreams of people who we have been missing for so long.

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  44. I have a vivid memory of being in my nanas kitchen being fed mashed veg by my gentle quiet grandfather on a lovely warm summers evening. He died when I was two, so I must have been quite little. It has stayed with me all my life and like you I too know that I was so loved in that moment.

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  45. When my mom ther died, I tried t cancel her homeowner insurance, which was up for renewal that very day.I was told that, since it was in my mother’s name, only she could cancel. I repeated, “She’s dead.” “I’m sorry, sir, only the policy owner can cancel.” “You know what?” I said before abruptly hanging up. “Go ahead and wait for payment.”

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