The builders are great mate, its the Victorian house that s old and wasn't very well built in the first place thats the problem, that and the DIY efforts of the people we bought it from - all looked lovely on the surface, dig a little deeper you find a plumbing system designed by Heath Robinson, extractor fans that blow moist air into the floor space, all held together with glue and string. In a way I'm glad these things are being found and sorted now, when I have cash, than in a few years when something collapses and I'm retired.
Guy on Radio 5 now promoting his book 'Why Austerity Kills'. These stats are good news for him at least>
I must admit I don't find the thought of living into my 80s or 90s anywhere near as enticing as I did when I was younger. I watched my parents in their final years at the mercy of the NHS and it was distressing to see their gradual demise. After my mum died in 2006 I spent a lot of time with my dad but it was heartbreaking to see him literally just give up. There must be so many other older people in similar circumstances, on their own, who just wait for the exit and our awful hospital management doesn't make the problem any easier...
Have to say my mother is bucking the trend....she's 92 this year and has been widowed for 20 years, she only stopped driving 2 years ago when the car gave up the ghost.....she moved over here 4 years ago from just outside Reading and lives half mile from us. She eats out every day, why cook when its almost as cheap to eat out, has a natter with lunch friends etc. Okay i have to clean the house each week, put her washing on, make sure she has clean clothes, but at least she is still independent, only has to take a couple of blood pressue pills each day. She could have given up when my father died but she didn't.....a lot of it is down to the individuals state of mind and as long as you have your health and faculties being elderly is not all bad....
my father in law is 93 my mother in law is 83 bastards are waiting till I have made the final payment on my mortgage till they depart
