Supermarket Car Park – Near Miss

I was strolling across my local Tesco car park the other day, when a car shot backwards down one of the roadways. The driver braked sharply and then had a shouting match with someone on foot pushing a trolley. The driver then drove off at speed. What she never saw was another person pushing their trolley across the road. The driver, when reversing in anger, only looked over her left shoulder instead of both. The innocent party in all this had a very lucky escape.

Some people seem to think that in car parks the ‘rules of the road’ don’t apply and you can drive however you like. Sensible rules are sensible regardless. If you are too angry to stick to the rules then don’t drive.

Mother in Law Again

Sorry to bring it up again but just as we are about to go on holiday, to our caravan, Mother in Law has another fall and ends up in hospital. We’re almost back to where we were a few months ago. She was found by the Carer who comes in twice a day. This Carer, who is not allowed to put Olive Oil drops in her ears or help her with her inhaler, picked her up of the floor and put her back on the back!! Needless to say the ambulance crew were not impressed. What’s the first rule of First Aid as regards old people falling down, that’s right, don’t just pick them up and expect them to be alright.

Car Parking in Supermarkets

Why can’t people park neatly in supermarket car parks? The car park in our local Tesco is plenty big enough with enough room to manoeuvre and yet people still manage to park across two bays or across the hatched areas (meant for pedestrian safety). I’m talking about able-bodied people, not wheelchair users or Mum’s with pushchairs. It’s sloppy, I just hope their driving abilities are of a better class but I suspect not.

Stockmarket falls

In view of the recent stockmarket falls I think it’s time to put some more of our investments into High Yield shares. It’s a buyer’s market at the moment, just needs a bit of courage. I did this in November 2006 and haven’t regretted it. The values have fallen (and will recover) but the dividends keep rolling in.

Update on Mother in Law

I think we’ve come to a conclusion. Mother in Law does not want to leave Manchester. Out of 20 or so friends and acquaintances only one thought her moving in with us was a good idea. It will mean more visits to Manchester but I think we can cope with that. Not an easy decision I must admit and one that certainly made us think about our old age future.

Mother in Law

My Mother in Law has had a stroke and whilst recovering somewhat she is not perfect. She want’s to come and live with us and my wife is weakening (guilt, emotional blackmail etc). NO one in the family or friends thinks it’s a good idea, but! Difficult times ahead for us all I think. Not a nice situation to be in and unless you are very involved, it’s an awkward one to judge.

Effect of Stock Market Recent Falls

Normally I would have have been a little bit upset at the recent falls, but since I moved a good proportion of our investments into High Yield Portfolio shares in an ISA I’ve not been too concerned. They were not bought to sell so the price fall is largely irrelevant. The dividends are fine and the price will come back eventually as the companies are basically sound. I can relax.

Changeing investments

The time has come to look at where my money is invested. Approaching 60 I need to look at protecting my income. At the moment I’m heavily invested in growth shares. I need to move some into income generating investments. So I’m looking at a High Yield Portfolio in a Self-Select ISA. There’s something of a learning curve but it’s got to be worth it in the long run.

Banks are so difficult

Why is that banks seem to fall apart when you want anything out of the ordinary? I can open accounts on the internet with no problems at all, but try opening something like a charity based account with any two from three signatures and it’s like you’re speaking a foreign language.

My wife has been trying to open such an account since October 2004. We have bets on at the moment as too when it will actually happen. Paperwork goes missing, people don’t phone back as promised, someone goes to lunch and the bank grinds to a halt. Maybe one day…

Bad Weather Driving

Here we are again – snow! So what do we do?

Clear the smallest possible area of windscreen to peer through. Leave the side and rear windows full of snow (‘cos we don’t go sideways or backwards too often). Don’t put your lights on so that people are forced to look for you. And of course ingore the fact that snow is slippy and ice more so. Keep the speed up, leave braking to the last moment and then protest your innocence when you hit something.

Is my copy of the Highway Code different from everyone elses?