A bit of business in Gainsborough, then a bimble

I went to see Gareth this morning, he's the solicitor you know, he's dealing with my will writing. He seems pretty clued up, and he is young and charming, and good looking. It didn't take very long, some updates to the previous will which was ten years old. It's looking better now, changes had to be made. If I pop my clogs soon after I sign it, it will be relevant, but as I am planning to linger on a good few years, I may well find myself in the position of having to change it again. Life goes on.

Anyway, while I was in Gainsborough I thought I would have a look round. I took the scenic route alongside the river to get there. It was lovely and quiet, free of traffic. This is the route I walked at the end of my River Trent walk, the last leg of a 119 mile walk. Driving it today made me think, blimey, I walked this distance. Seemed ever so long in a car.

The weather was a bit dull, but never mind, I was well wrapped up. Marshall's Yard is where the solicitor hangs out, so I had a walk round there first. Britannia Ironworks used to occupy this site. Owned by the Marshall family, it was founded in 1848. The factory closed in the 1980's. Many of the original structures were listed, and these have been refurbished and retained. New architecture has been designed to blend the old with the new.

There is lots of parking in the centre of a big square, all the shops are around the outside. The cost to park is very reasonable, 50p for two hours, or �1 for four hours, and you can get this refunded in the shops when you buy something. I was too mean to pay that, I parked ten minutes walk away in a side street.

The Council offices are housed here.

I hoped the fountains were not suddenly turned on again to drench this little girl. They weren't.

This is one of two pedestrian entrances to the square. The archway design continues all along the perimeter wall to the next entrance further along the road. 

I didn't linger long around the shops, as you know I have no interest in shopping. I made my way to the river bridge, just generally looking around, but searching for Gainsborough Old Hall. I caught the whiff of fish and chips and followed my nose. It's about time I was due a treat of freshly cooked chips, haven't had any for months. Lots of months in fact. This is where the main road crosses the river, I walked this bit on my long walk. It was a bit chilly today, and it was threatening rain, but I didn't care, I had my chips in my bag.

Oh bliss, find a bench and sit in the open air and eat chips. They were lovely. I didn't eat all of them, brought some home and heated them in the microwave. All gone now, yum.

Aha, here is Gainsborough Old Hall. I don't know why but I had it in my head that this building was in acres of parkland, that's how it looks in the advertising bumf. Not in parkland, it's quite close to the town centre. It's an English Heritage site so there is a charge to go in. I didn't bother to go and have a look but it says on the web site that it's �4 for a senior to get in. Not so bad I suppose considering there is a lot more to see here than the ruins of Thornton Abbey which is the same price.  

The hall is over 500 years old, and one of the best preserved timber framed medieval manor houses in the England. I won't go into all the ins and outs of it here, but if you want to know more, they have an excellent web site here.  If you click on the Explore button you can take a 360 degree tour of some of the rooms. The community textile project is interesting, and there is a floor plan with photographs.

It had started raining so I did a quick walk round and took photo's under the shelter of my umbrella.

Pretty amazing, don't you think.

 Just across the road is the library. Looks a bit like an old school house.

Close by is this magnificent church.

By now the rain was getting quite heavy, time to go back to the car I think. A walk across the old market square, and had a look in a few charity shops. Didn't buy anything, nothing took my fancy, nothing I needed.

I was home by 2.30pm, and it's still raining. Best spend the rest of the day indoors. It's 'orrible out there. Toodle pip.

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Don't leave it for others to sort out

I've been meaning to do a little job for a while now, and hopefully it will soon be done. My Will is ten years old, and some details need changing. We all move on in life, nothing stands still, people move, and some we lose touch with. Our priorities change, as do our financial circumstances, and we need to update the legal document which will ensure that our wishes will be carried out after our death.

If you have not yet drawn up a Will, I suggest you seriously think about getting it done. It will save a lot of possible legal wrangling between relatives and friends which could go on for years. My Will is pretty simple, single and no dependants. I don't expect anyone to be scrapping about who has what, which could well happen with second marriages and extended families. Hopefully I will have spent a good chunk of my assets before I go, but if there is anything left, the distribution of it needs to be set out in a legal document.  

My last Will ten years ago was a freebie. No, I didn't write it myself, which you can do if you are sufficiently confident that you understand all the jargon. I am not. I found an advertisement offering a free Will writing service through local solicitors, with the possibility that you might wish to include a donation to one of the charities participating in the scheme. This is not compulsory, it's purely voluntary, but I thought it only fair to choose a charity from the list, and include it with my other charities. I can only afford to make small donations while I am alive, why not give a bit more after I am gone.   

I happened to come across an article on Money Saving Expert, yesterday, there is a scheme running at the moment, October is Free Wills Month. You have to be 55 or over to qualify. If you haven't made a Will, or need to update one that you already have, take a look at the article. Follow the links and check who is the nearest solicitor to you. http://freewillsmonth.org.uk/ If you wish to donate to a charity, check the list and see if there is one you would like to support. I emphasise that this is not compulsory, so don't feel embarrassed if you decide not to. Personally I think at least the cost of the Will writing service should be donated, but that is just my opinion. See, I am not really mean, ha ha.   

I have an appointment in Gainsborough next week to update my Will, so I will make a day out and have a look round the place. Apologies to my overseas readers, this scheme is for the UK only. Check on the www to see if there is a similar one in your own country, and comment here if you find one, so others may benefit. Thank you.

Moving on, a big thank you to those who have emailed me, it's nice to know a bit more about you. I am chuffed with your lovely comments, and glad you come to visit me here in Tightwad Towers. I will reply as soon as I have a minute. Welcome to my new members, glad you dropped by.

An update on the patchwork/quilt/throw thingy. It just about covers the bed now, I'll add another row  of mixed colours, then put a plain binding around the edge. Phew, almost there, watch this space.  

Anyway, must press on, need to wash the car, ready for it's MOT test next week. I have found a small garage to do the job, it will have a service as well. Small two man band = less overheads = better price.

Toodle pip

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