The personal and the social

During my brunch with Neighbour HH yesterday, she talked about money and matters where rich people like her will be left penniless by government policies. She is compelled by the government to take an income from her personal superannuation fund each year of $192,000, and she worries that the balance of her superannuation will reduce and she will run out of money. 

She hasn't seen her husband for many months, who is in dementia care in the South Gippsland area. The last time she saw him, he didn't recognise her. Their daughter lives not so far away and checks in on him. That's the huge achieving daughter who HH is scared of. 

I don't know if it comes from her superannuation or other money, but her husband's care costs $150,000 a year. This will reduce soon to a public old age care level level of $3,700. It is a very nice care home and he is cared for very well. In a a way, her husband died before Ray died. It was hard for her at the time to put him into care, but essential. She is effectively a widow, just technically not. She battles bureaucracy to get power over institutions to recognise her as the contact person and decision maker.

While she is rich, she lives as modestly as I do and unlike me, she is reluctant to turn on heating and cooling because of the cost. I lecture her about it, and so does her son.     

My latest is my Etag, placed in the car on the dashboard to pay for road tolls, ceased to beep to pay tolls when I visited Ex Sis in Law and Tradie Brother last Sunday. I tried to sort it online, that is to get a replacement, but at the final step where the 'Proceed' was lit, the website did nothing. Normally they would send you new device with a self addressed prepaid envelope to return the old one. It was half an hour before I was to meet HH, so I called on the telephone. The account was still in Ray's name although I had changed the payment details to my credit card. The old account had to be closed and a new account opened. The credit on the old card will be refunded to my bank account, once the old Etag is received by free post by the company. The account had just auto topped up, so a balance of $109. That took twenty five minutes on the telephone and I came close to being late meeting HH. Of course the response came when I said Ray was dead was the standard, I am so sorry for your loss (Like 14 months ago). I wish I had just pretended to be Ray and kept his account going. I was already paying anyway. 

Photos came from Fire Fighting Nephew of his twin sons. They have their cards and the $20 note I sent each of them. 

When the greats turn 6, they receive $50 and for subsequent birthdays. I've worked this out after years of arguing with Ray about how much to give the kiddies. This applies to all of the greats. Jo turns 18 in July and there is afternoon party at a yacht club. I'll give her $100. She is my niece, not a great. 

The photos came with a note. "The boys were very excited to receive their letters. And my how your hand writing has improved. 😉"

It hasn't. "Phyllis my scribe, write for me. They are three year old boys. Be as florid and fancy as you like", and he did. Kosov can do the same, but he wrote the address to return my Etag on the envelope, and he wrote straight, as I told him.  

Dinner last night was chicken bites, a fried egg, broccoli, beans with a nicely flavoured rice. Thanks Phyllis.

Much excitement for me today. Thursday is shopping day.