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I spent most of the day grappling with long-distance legal professionals over a small remortgage. I cannot summon the energy to detail this, but it has been going on for weeks and has only been necessary because I am too old to secure a mortgage from my bank. I have grown heartily sick of prevaricating, incompetent, and mendacious professionals who are happy to take your money while providing a useless service.
It is thirty years since I last negotiated such a loan. In those days you could walk to an office, speak to a person, and trust that what you were promised would be done. I don’t think I need tell anyone how it is now, in our progressive, unprincipled, digital age.
Jackie spent much of the day in the garden where she reshaped and added plants to the Dragon Bed section beside the greenhouse.
By 4.30 p.m., for the sake of my sanity, I was desperately in need of a ride in a motor car. Jackie happily obliged.
We began with a look at the sea at Barton. One member of a group on the beach seemed to have brought along a tent;
another man played with his dog;
a couple sat together on a bench;
Walkers,
one with a golden retriever, kept to the path along the clifftop.
Whenever a group of dog walkers meet, they swap engaging stories about their pets. Sometimes the animals are not so friendly. Lily was in trouble. She was admonished as being very naughty for nipping one of the others.
Cliffs are still crumbling.
Only the crows (if they are rooks forgive me – I don’t know the difference)
can truly feel safe on them.
As if to prove this statement, one of these took off, and clung precariously to the loose pebbles.
Down below a jogger on the beach path
checked her watch without breaking her stride.
As we travelled inland, ponies periodically exercised their right to ownership of the roads.
Sunset smiled over Roger Penny Way on our return.
Later, The Raj in Old Milton provided our takeaway meal with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the malbec.
I have been through a truly upsetting week negotiating with the banks…I can really relate…
Sorry to learn that, Sofia. Thanks for the solidarity
Never mind the banks; when I was newly single in 1999 Vodafone refused me service because I had no credit rating (i.e. I had no debt).
🙂
Amazing shot of the jogger on the beach!
Thanks a lot Rekha. I was amazed myself when I enlarged the image and zoomed in on the girl
Yes – excellent shot – no wonder she is so thin, running with all that extra stuff – watch, water bottle, phone, I think. The only thing I run with is a tiny iPod attached to my clothing. And I am not thin. Perhaps I should take up the extra baggage.
I ran 9 miles to work regularly with a pack of clothes and books on my back 🙂
I see the attempt to hold back the sea – is it working?
Not really
WHAT? 9 mile runs to work? With baggage? I’ll assume there was a shower available? What an amazing thing to be able to say that you did. And I am not surprised. You, sir, have gumption!
Very many thanks, Jodie. You’ll be pleased to know that there was a shower – and a good café for breakfast 🙂
Ah, a shower AND a cafe. Excellent.
Great photos, again, Derrick!
It’s remarkable how many processes and tasks have changed. I went to renew my passport and the passport office refused to take cash. Since I don’t use credit cards, I just stared at the woman, open-mouthed.
Thanks a lot, Cnthia. That’s progress for you
Aren’t they required by law to accept any form of legal tender?
Apparently not!
Thanks, Cynthia
Sheesh!
Thanks, Widders
Probably. But we are in an age when there soon won’t be any real money
Sorry about your remortgage
In Maine, we have small local banking institutions called Credit Unions and they function very much like the old-lenders you describe. The beautiful pictures indicate the day ended better than it began.
The day did end well, Laurie. Many thanks. We had Credit Unions too. Not sure if we still do.
That’s where we got our second mortgage, and it went very, very smoothly. Love our Credit Union.
Personally I think it’s time to start divesting all ‘savings’ and ‘investments’ and keep all your cash under a mattress again 🙂 I like today’s shots and the way they showcase people doing enjoyable things together or alone -except for maybe Lily of course. The world goes on despite political, commercial and social craziness.
Many thanks, Pauline. Recently, when the Bank tried to persuade me to transfer money to a special account, I did actually say that it would be safer under a mattress.
I’m glad you got to get out after your frustrating hours with the mortgage person (or people). My niece recently had a similar experience with various people not doing their jobs while trying to get a mortgage.
The photos are beautiful. I agree the woman running is a wonderful shot. I like the crows, too. They don’t look like they’re plotting a murder. 😉
Indian food and Malbec sounds like a fine end to the day.
Excellent comment about the crows, Merril! I would call that a literary/scientific/comedic comment of which I heartily approve.
Thank you very much Jodierichelle! 🙂
(I really like crows.)
Very many thanks, Merril. Not doing their jobs is one thing – it is the lying that gets to me. I like the murder joke.
Wonderful that you were able to get out and about and forgot about your troubles, and going to the beach is always the best way to relax.
Yep. Thanks a lot, Ivor
I have never been able to get credit, a mortgage, a loan… anything – which is why I don’t even have a retirement fund – not even a credit card (they have turned me down numerous times!) I never earned any more than the week’s living costs! Once, a while back, the bank manager asked me “What do you own?” and he had a good laugh! I can, however, understand your frustration.
Many thanks, Bruce. Sorry to read about your difficulties.
Thanks, Derrick. I wasn’t actually complaining, but just concurring with you that life isn’t always a bed of roses as you well know!
At least you are not owned by a bank.
🙂
I like how all of the complaining was followed by a beautiful photo. My blood pressure went right back to normal with that.
I’m glad you followed my changing mood, Jodie. Many thanks
Me too.
Thanks, Mary
Bank and government bureaucrats – ijits cut from the same cloth … glad your day ended well though. That sunset is spectacular. 🙂
Quite so, Widders. And solicitors. Many thanks
Jackie is so wise. I hope the fresh air and beautiful photo opps cleared your head Derrick 💛
Many thanks, Val. They did
Wow gorgeous scenery! Things seemed so much easier years ago when it was more personal!
Quite so, Lynn. Many thanks.
Prevaricating, incompetent and mendacious…You have chosen apt tags for the murder of (c)rooks. These scavengers of society are country cousins after all, waiting for the chance to dip their beaks in the flesh of their clients. Such magnificent ponies, such brooding nightfalls!
Marvellous comment, Uma. Very many thanks
Most excellent!
Don’t you drive Derrick? Perhaps you can harness one of those lovely horses/ponies to a nice little trap and take some of the pressure off of the C.Q.
Is that a lovely little cavalier King Charles spaniel, in that group, with a beagle, sticking his nose round the corner?
Dog people always like to have a chat with each other, it’s what adds to the pleasure of your dog taking you for a walk.
Thanks a lot, Brian. I’d say you have correctly identified the spaniel. Have a look at this post: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/11/27/why-i-no-longer-drive/
It gave me a chuckle let me tell you, 😀
I understand your pain and frustration. I feel no regret in naming The Woolwich (Barclays) as the source of my pain, with months of worry and the agent here has not yet contacted me to tell me the house is mine, despite me getting the house 3 weeks ago now – the keys were left in the doors of the empty house for months! No wonder you needed to get out. I am glad you had such a womderful drive in such lovely countryside.
Thanks very much, Geoff. I may name and shame when it is all over.
It is hard to reconcile the way that modern banking is with the notion that we have progressed. My brother (who lives in Thailand) recently closed his HSBC account in favour of the TSB who have a small branch near my mother with a real live Manager in it. It remains to be seen if this calms his blood pressure which had been severely compromised on several trips to Britain by the Bank. Bon courage and I wish you well. On another note, The Bean wants to show her solidarity to Lily – she feels she is unjustly treated on the occasions when I admonish her for less than decorous Behaviour amongst her fellow canines 😊
Many thanks Osyth and The Bean. The main culprits in this case are the incredibly hopeless solicitors appointed by the lender.
Excellent first paragraph and you get my vote. Derrick! The tent might conceivably be somebody sleeping outside for the Jewish festival of Sukkoth which is around now, at least if ‘Neighbours’ is to be believed. Rooks have a buff-white base to the bill and they tend to be more gregarious with huge noisy colonies in the tops of roadside trees. They also like looking for road-kill at the side of motorways.
Many thanks, John. I relied on you
I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to get or refinance a mortgage these days – I’m too old and crotchety to do that again!!
🙂 Me too actually
I never grow tired of your day trips….or the ponies <3
Many thanks, Kim. That is encouraging
Too old? That’s a first for me. Progressives will drive away our initiative, our creativity and our independence. Pardon my rant. I’m still amazed at the time independence of horses. Maybe they ignore progressives. 😉 best regards, steve
Very many thanks, Steve
Many thanks, Uma
What a terrible time you had! I am pleased the drive to the beach restored your equilibrium. Since my husband’s retirement we have a very nice man from the Pru who visits us (for a fee – but he’s worth it) and he advises us on everything financial. We trust him and it is so good to talk to an advisor face to face instead of on-line or even over the phone.
Many thanks, Clare. Our advisor is very good and very thorough. It is others who have let us down
Nice to get out after a fraught morning. 🙂
You bet. Thanks a lot
🙂
Beautiful walk, and I have already read Uma’s post inspired by your crows. I call it a successful collaboration 🙂
🙂 Many thanks, Inese
Ahh those fine horses!
Many thanks, Bipasha
I am sorry the remortgage process is distressing. Things have changed over the years, and not always for the better. If only we could take the best of the old ways and bring them along with the best of the new.
Beautiful photos of your day, and I always love to see the ponies. 🙂
Your comments, as always, much appreciated, Lavinia. It’s the utter lack of integrity we now have in the business world that really gets to me.
I really like the black and white ponies picture. I’m sorry it is such a hassle to move forward with the business dealings and yes, scoundrels are just everywhere, anymore, it seems…
Many thanks, Cynthia