Tried and tested

Up and spent two hours tidying up the kitchen, and studio and making breakfast and so on. Then to my desk for the next three and a half hours talking to Mum and applying for insurance. Went with one of the leading comparison websites, and after filling out all the forms, being on facetime with Mum getting her driving liscence number and so on, and getting a very expensive quote from the cheapest provider,  the site would not process the transaction, and said we should phone. They said there was a problem with an unreported issue, and showed me to the government site. Finding this I found a lapsed speeding ticket from three years ago. I called back to say I had found the details. The quote was then increased by over a half, to three and a half thousand pounds. We discussed this, and Mum decided that it was too much to pay for car insurance. 

This is very difficult, as it means mum's independence is compromised. But after hours of pursuing it, this seems the policy of insurers to wildly overprice insurance for older drivers.

Stressful to be hitting my head against a brick wall all morning, and having to disappoint Mum. We are going to discuss plan Bs another day.

Wrote a few emails. A thank you to Clare Best, who is marvellous. And to Steve who sent me lots of music files of The Sumerian Kyngs in their pomp. Anton dealing with funeral directors.

I fried some tomatoes on toast for Lorraine and I and Maureen. Maureen carefully taking the skins off them telling me that I should have peeled them. Then off in the car to Stratheden, where I put up a curtain rail under Lorraine's supervision, and we hung curtains. Their goldfish are looking healthy.

We weren't going to the pub tonight, so had a delivery curry instead, and relaxed, watching the final installment of Traitors. 

Below, beautiful world of orange and blue through Pat and Maureen's windows.