This is a nice story.
It is also a true one .
It happened nearly three years ago now and it a testament to serendipity.
I shared it with a loved one recently, to illustrate how things will often change for the better when you least expect life will......
Like I said it is true.
It was my first visit to my divorce lawyer.
I had to borrow a car from Jason The Affable Despot to go.
The solicitor’s office was located in St Asaph, right next door to the cathedral, and like today, it was a sunny day.
I remember little else about the interview apart from the kindness of my solicitor and the projected estimated bill of “ several thousand pounds”
I left the office numb and silently panicked
I hadn’t got a bean to my name..
How could I fight any divorce with no car, no money and no job
I sat in the cathedral for the longest of times.
Long enough for one of the ladies that ran a small coffee stall in the corner of the naive to quietly wander over to rest a serviette on the chair next to me.
Eventually, with bleary eyes I got up and drove home
Mary was racing around the cottage when I walked in. She had a chewed envelope in her mouth. Her and William had attacked the post again, in transference to pulling off the postman’s fingers.
Flat and upset I opened the letter which was covered in bites and terrier saliva
It was from a Solicitor’s office I had instructed months before to look into any PPI claims (personal Protection insurance) I had with banks and credit cards I had in the 1990s
I had long forgotten about it .
Apparently, it said , I had a claim! ........in fact, the woman on the phone said when I hurriedly rang her , I had several claims that were successful and after 30 % fees and VAT and others costs I was in line to receive over eleven thousand pounds !
Eleven thousand Pounds ........in fact the final sum was greater than that!
I told the clerk that I could kiss her .....she laughed good humouredly
That serendipitous windfall saved me . It paid for Bluebell and paid off my credit cards and overdraft and vets bills and it allowed me to put some away for the solicitor , deadening the fear and the worry of officialdom at its worst.
Serendipity........
It’s such a frivolous sounding word
For something that proved to be so vital .
Sweet story and I love the video music. Reminds me of the Baptist Church I grew up in.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I commented on the "I Rise Up" video - it still haunts me.
ReplyDeleteIt has a special lyric doesn’t it not ?
DeleteLovely story of what I remember was a terrible time for you. So many of us following along from a distance. Wishing we could help. I know you're not religious, but I like to think it was angels looking out for you. That unexpected windfall. You are where you belong in Trelawnyd.
ReplyDeleteThe job at the hospice saved my cottage from being sold
DeleteIt's strange how often, when things are at their darkest, something happens to bring light and hope into our lives. xx
ReplyDeleteYes ......it was strange and rather powerful , like some unseen force is present
DeleteHaving faith in yourself to get through whatever is thrown at you is the key - and finding that when you do something always turns up.
ReplyDeleteAnd you got through.
I lost faith in myself then sue...I’ve not long found it again
DeleteYou had been at your lowest ebb and asking for help, a most wonderful example of serendipity/answer to prayer/the universe providing help...call it what you will, the timing was impeccable!
ReplyDeleteThis has happened to me twice over the past three years and both times money had been made available to me
DeleteSome more logs would be nice, too!
DeleteLol
DeleteSerendipity - my favourite word.
ReplyDeleteMine too now
DeleteI once had an employee who went into her daughter's school to complain about the spelling list her daughter had brought home. Serendipity was on the list, my employee was adamant there was no such word.
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteThat's a wonderful thing to have happened and wow, talk about coming just in the nick of time! Serendipity or Karma?
ReplyDeleteKarma .? Perhaps
DeleteI remember this just-for-Gentle John miracle of perfect timing. Thrilling then, still wonderful now.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson:
"Speak to Him now for he hears,
and spirit with Spirit can meet -
Closer is He that breathing,
and nearer than hands and feet."
Hugs!
I didn’t quite make it clear at the time where the money came from
DeleteI think of the times in my life when things were at their very worst and somehow, the path opened before me, and I was able to walk on. I went from feeling alone to feeling a part of something wonderful, something kindly disposed towards me. It's always a treat to read about another's journey onward. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes I’d be interested in hearing the other such stories
DeleteWell, for my "such story" I was unemployed with a previously promising but suddenly failing writing career, aged in my mid thirties with children aged 5 and 3, on income support, living in temporary council housing accommodation; but being much stronger in those days than I am now I told my wife, who was rather ill, "don't worry, something will turn up." About a week later I received an invitation from a US publisher, which I initially thought was a scam, to write a big textbook in return for what seemed a huge advance. A few weeks later the editor had flown over the Atlantic to meet me (and I made a poor show of trying to pretend the grandest place in Edinburgh that he took me to eat at was nothing unusual) and although there were quite a few bumps on the way, after that "something" turned up, everything gradually turned out rather well indeed. I nearly did not bother replying to the presumed "scam" approach, it seemed so unlikely. Life can take twists and turns, that's for sure
DeleteOh, how wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLife is like that at times,
ReplyDeleteYes.......I’d be interested in other such stories
DeleteSerendipity ... it is a very good word.
ReplyDeleteIf it works. In your favour
DeleteI am glad you got what you needed at the perfect time!
ReplyDeleteSo was i
DeleteWhat a wonderful story and so richly deserved.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like another world and time ago now pat
DeleteI remember you telling me about this. But I liked reading about it. I, too, like a good story as you said on my post today.
ReplyDeleteYes I’ve posted about serendipity before but that was related to a another financial issue ...
DeleteI think you told me about this on the phone one day.
DeleteGreat story John. Made me puddle up a bit.
ReplyDeleteGood it’s nice to remember it
DeleteIt's so nice to have good things happen in the midst of turmoil. I am hoping for a little good right now.
ReplyDeleteI hope that for you too
Deleteit's pretty amazing to look back at the john saga and see where you are now. you pulled through wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteBy the bra straps
Deleteand you are stronger for having gone through that trial, john. I AM PROUD OF YOU!
ReplyDeleteThat means a lot deArheart x
DeleteSerendipity is one of my favourite words/concepts.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad it came to you when you most needed it.
Me too deArheart x
DeleteLife sometimes has a way of falling in place for us. I believe this happens when we are making the right moves and decisions, however difficult. I remember when these things were happening and how very difficult it all was for you. But oh John, look at you and your life now! You've come so far! x
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel I have and in other ways I haven’t .....
DeleteSerendipity indeed like a windfall at just the right time I remember the kindness of the lady who bought you a coffee she recognized your pain it's the little things that give us comfort.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember her face even today, gentle and concerned
DeleteWonderful story. Something was on your side. xx
ReplyDeleteIt was at last
DeleteToo bad it can't be proved that there are forces out there, ready to help, when we need it most and are able to be humble enough. Wonderful story, for me serendipity is just another word for miracle. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI wish serendipity could be explained , but then it wouldn’t be serendipity
DeleteI love this. I had no idea about all of the difficulties you were experiencing then and so glad that this came through at exactly the right moment.
ReplyDeleteIt was a dreadful time in my life, the worst time I’ve ever experienced
DeleteBut it’s over. Now x
Similar thing with my husband and me. Newly married with a little car that we were paying off in 5 years. We were facing a huge repair bill, but just then, we received a recall notice in the mail, telling us the car was being recalled for the very thing that we were going to have to pay for. I know exactly how you felt. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteMy serendipity story John:
ReplyDeleteI had decided to study chaplaincy and had enrolled. It's a mostly online course but the first week of face to face classes was due to start and Id been hit with a large bill for car repairs and couldn't afford to take time off to be in classes.
Covid cancelled the classes on the second day and I was able to join my cohort when the whole thing was moved to online.
I remember this story and I have to tell you it pops up in my mind every so often as several of your stories do. Thank You for the memories.
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then the good guys win.
ReplyDeleteYour guardian angel came through and the timing was perfect. I love it when good things happen to good people.
ReplyDeleteAnd think, if you had received the news pre divorce, it might have been spent, less wisely.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Joanne.
DeleteWhat a stroke of luck. I'd heard about PPI claims, but never heard of anyone actually benefiting.
ReplyDeleteI’ve subsequently heard of a load cro
DeleteThere's a website in the USA that can potentially tell you any money in your name (or your deceased parents', etc) that's been unclaimed. I had a friend who discovered more than $5,000. So, I checked mine. Not a cent! What a great and well-timed windfall for you.
ReplyDeleteWow -- that's amazing. I saw TV ads for PPI claims for years but I never imagined they were anything more than some kind of scam!
ReplyDeleteI love this story John. I totally believe in serendipity, the cosmos and karma. And I'm glad that whatever it was, found you at the right moment in time. ❤
ReplyDeleteIt saved my psychi
DeleteAnd a year and a bit ago I had another windfall just at the time I owed my solicitor and tax office a huge bill
That's lovely. I think it was karma.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie