We had a lovely old dear on the round. Always offered a glass of cold orange drink on a hot summer's day over the years. (We seemed to have better summers in those days.
) She died some 12 years ago now. She was always complaining about how difficult it was to manage on an old age pension. When we were given the round she and others were paying £4.50 for a 3 bed house build in the 1930's. Access to the rear was over the outside wash room unless they open up for you. But you still had to get up on the washroom roof anyway to clean the landing window. She was very distressed when we raised the price to £6.50.
Her house was always lovely and clean but the internal furnishings were rather dated. I felt very sorry for her tbh. And by extension I also felt very sorry for all the old pensioners struggling to survive. Do they eat or do they heat?
We rocked up to clean the windows a couple of days after her died. The son was there starting to clear out and I could tell he wasn't too charmed. I had never met him so I offered my condolences and said that we were very sorry and we would miss her as she was so nice and hospitable despite struggling to survive on her old age pension.
He said that because of this the family regularily helped her out buying groceries and on ocassion they all chipped in the pay her gas bill in the winter. They would take her shopping etc.
He had just come from the solicitors and she had £254,000 in her bank account. None of them had any idea where she got that from.
I just cracked up with laughter which caught him by surprise. I then told him that she had conned us all. It was only then that he saw the funny side. I hope that the rest of the family saw the funny side as well after that.
I will never forget Mrs X. Even at a sad time she still managed to bring a smile to our faces.
I hope one day to see her again in the resurrection.
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