It was bright this morning, but has been dull and rainy this afternoon. The groundhog could take his pick.
Today is Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification. There is an old English superstition that if the day is fair, spring is still six weeks away, whereas if gloomy, spring is here. Climate-wise, it makes more sense here. Groundhog Day is presumably a secularisation.
Helen came, and we made some progress with my financial affairs. Even if I went into care, she wouldn’t be spared that. She and Alexander have a lasting power of attorney which inspires me to sit back and disclaim all responsibility.
Knitting progressed well as I listened to someone reading Ann Patchett’s “The Dutch House” to me. Two days at most will finish the current ball — well ahead of the fortnight I set myself.
Wordle: not so bad today. My starters gave me two browns, consonant and vowel. It was hard, but not as hard as some recent days, to think of a qualifying word. (That’s the secret — hold out for a real possibility on line three.) It was wrong, but I got it in four.
Alexander and Roger were with me on four. All the others — all five of them — needed only three.
This morning was cold and gloomy, this afternoon bright, sunny and nearly warm. So, how long until spring, I wonder! I haven't wordled yet so I shall give it a go now.
ReplyDeleteThat was a bit lucky! Wordle in 3.
DeleteAll of the key groundhogs in Ontario or northeastern USA apparently did not see any shadows and forecast early spring. We have had so little snow - what impact will that have on the flowers and trees?
ReplyDeleteA vote for joint accounts with at least one child, so the banks will not close automatically after death. Or at least that is how they operate in Canada. Power of attorney ends … Banks are so difficult.
Lisa R-R
Similar here in the US!
DeleteI've got that arrangement in place with my father. Going through power of attorney process now for us.
DeleteScottish and English law differ re joint accounts, but in the main when one holder dies, the other then owns all the money remaining in the account. Not ideal if it should really be part of an estate divided between beneficiaries. Also someone may be liable for what might be seen as an attempt to dodge estate tax.
DeleteFortunately, when someone dies and their attorneys lose their power, the executor/s of the estate take over. This is true of both Scotland and England, as I well know having handed three estates - two English and one Scottish - in the last three years. So as long as one has a will, it's better not to go down the joint account route.
sorry, above should say executors of the will take over handling the estate
DeleteIn Illinois, my parents assets were put into trust with them as trustees and myself as successor trustee. At an appropriate time, they "resigned" as trustees and I was able to write checks, close CDs etc. and continue after they passed. No clue as to how it works in the UK.
ReplyDeleteHere in the US, I was co-trustee with my mother of her trust and like KnitNance had full check-writing and decision-making powers, but I didn't own any of the money in her accounts. When she died, my brother became my co-trustee until all assets in the trust were distributed according to her will. One big advantage of a trust is that in the vast majority of cases the trust, which usually includes almost all the assets, doesn't have to go through probate. (The little that remains out of the trust--cars, for example--doesn't amount to enough to warrant probate.) You can set up an estate trust in Scotland, but I have no idea whether it holds the same advantages as in the US. Eileen in Chapel Hill
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we can rely on Jean and family to have appropriate arrangements in place. Trusts in the UK are difficult.
ReplyDeleteJennyS
And I wonder what is Candlemas connection to the blessing of the throats/Feast of St. Blaise. I wonder if that is still done. I have vivid memories of it from my catholic school childhood.
ReplyDeleteThe blessing of throats is still done in Catholic churches here (Ireland).
ReplyDeleteAnd here (the Netherlands). I once had a violent throat infection days after receiving the blessing. My mum just noted it would probably have been way worse without it. St Blaise is the patron saint of knitters by the way!
ReplyDelete