Dear Sylvia, Sue, Karen, Loo, Saffie and Flowerpot - Thank you all for your posts.
Loo, I am so glad your got your refunds for the back years of Council Tax, even though they were per centage payments for the years 2009 and 2010. It was the chap who came to do a Financial Assessment of Brian's income and outgoings (to see what he would have to pay towards going to the Day Centre - it worked out at £9 per day with travel included - in contrast to to-day's costs) who told me that as from the date of Brian's diagnosis of vascular dementia, we could get a 25% discount on Council Tax. The diagnosis was made in February so we got a bit of a refund and then the discount began with the new Tax Year, April. And has continued ever since.
I tried ringing Age UK about something, Loo, something to do with the house, but I could never get through. Same with the local Citizen's Advice Bureau. In the end I rang the Land Registry itself, getting the number from its website, and they were so very helpful. And I found the same with the DWP - they could not have been more helpful - and kind.
Saffie, I know exactly how you are feeling. Shall I go? What if something happened? It is a decision only you can make, of course. Much as you would like to go, you wonder if your anxiety at being further away than usual would overshadow your enjoyment. It may be that Dave will settle in a while and you will be able to consider taking a few days off and know that he would not be upset or miss you. Once he has quite settled into the routine of the care home, you may feel much more at ease about a few days off - and I am quite sure that it would do you the world of good.
I have just read all of your replies again and am beginning to feel that yes, I could do with a few days in a completely different setting, arm in arm with dear friend. Plus, of course, I would get to see my two youngest grandchildren again, ten and six, and dear DIL and eldest son. Very much something to look forward to. And things to look forward to have been a bit thin on the ground this year. This would definitely outweigh any angst about travelling.
Love to you all,
Nan XXX
Loo, I am so glad your got your refunds for the back years of Council Tax, even though they were per centage payments for the years 2009 and 2010. It was the chap who came to do a Financial Assessment of Brian's income and outgoings (to see what he would have to pay towards going to the Day Centre - it worked out at £9 per day with travel included - in contrast to to-day's costs) who told me that as from the date of Brian's diagnosis of vascular dementia, we could get a 25% discount on Council Tax. The diagnosis was made in February so we got a bit of a refund and then the discount began with the new Tax Year, April. And has continued ever since.
I tried ringing Age UK about something, Loo, something to do with the house, but I could never get through. Same with the local Citizen's Advice Bureau. In the end I rang the Land Registry itself, getting the number from its website, and they were so very helpful. And I found the same with the DWP - they could not have been more helpful - and kind.
Saffie, I know exactly how you are feeling. Shall I go? What if something happened? It is a decision only you can make, of course. Much as you would like to go, you wonder if your anxiety at being further away than usual would overshadow your enjoyment. It may be that Dave will settle in a while and you will be able to consider taking a few days off and know that he would not be upset or miss you. Once he has quite settled into the routine of the care home, you may feel much more at ease about a few days off - and I am quite sure that it would do you the world of good.
I have just read all of your replies again and am beginning to feel that yes, I could do with a few days in a completely different setting, arm in arm with dear friend. Plus, of course, I would get to see my two youngest grandchildren again, ten and six, and dear DIL and eldest son. Very much something to look forward to. And things to look forward to have been a bit thin on the ground this year. This would definitely outweigh any angst about travelling.
Love to you all,
Nan XXX