I haven't posted for awhile; I didn't feel I had anything of value to say. Plus, I was too busy putting out bush fires. Need to sell some property to pay bills and running into lots of opposition, including from the accountant who holds guardianship with me for my husband. For clarification, this lot is not part of my husband's children's inheritance, and we (the co-guardian and I) have the authority to sell it, with right of first refusal to his children. They threaten to take us to court.
Had a flare-up of ankylosing spondylitis along the way, which was painful.
But I have been reading the postings and thinking of all of you. But where is Kitty? And Sunshyne? Miss them both, they are such bright specs.
On the brighter side, I was invited to speak to a grade 11 class of 22 students at an independent school yesterday on writing, and I just loved being in that upbeat atmosphere. It didn't start well: someone was to pick me up and drive me to Surrey, about half an hour away, but there was an accident on the highway. A second ride was arranged, but she got lost and came an hour late. So now my hour talk was reduced to half an hour. While speaking - and just getting into the swing of it - the fire alarm went off. However, kids came up to me later and said, "That was cool." (I was surprised. I thought "cool"went out ages ago.) I was treated to lunch, given a healthy cheque and driven home by a lawyer-accountant-businessman, father of one of the students. Yes, Divvi, I asked him all sorts of questions about mortgages and property sales - all these bewildering, to me, complexities of capital gains, income tax deductions, fixed rates of interest etc. etc. Bottom line: I learned a lot, and it all supports my gut feeling that no, I don't want to take a mortgage out on the property lot; I want to sell it.
Got in the house and discovered that though I had put on make-up, I'd forgotten the mascara and had a slightly startled look. And the collar of my pink silk blouse that I had folded down to avoid getting sunscreen on, was still folded down, so now I look like a startled turtle.
But I had a great time! How wonderful it was to be me again and not Sisyphus pushing that rock up the hill.

mary75, i do hope it works out for you too. always something to set us in motion right? you have become savvy in your endeavors now so i know you will get it worked out soon. my best, divvi
and NEVER lose the opportunity to ask a professional for free questions! hah.

Divvi, G., the professional, also gave me his card and told me to call him anytime I had a question. Also gave me the name of another contact for info. G. is going through a similar problem: his 80-year-old father is retiring from the business (hotels), and they've discovered that one brother has been stealing from funds. He says they are now in their fifth year of trying to sort it out.
It's similar to what happens with everyone on this site: when you've been through it, you reach out a helping hand to someone else.