Yesterday I went to pick up the last of Mum’s documents held by the accountant and to sign various forms. I hadn’t really twigged until I was in the middle of signing forms that this was it. The end which I’ve been longing for. The end of all the paperwork to do with Mum’s estate. No more tax returns (well, except for a teeny one for 2012 thanks to a company paying their dividend in July rather than June, but that will just be one thing to sign, no more work for me). Her super fund has been de-registered so I no longer have to worry about that. Nothing left to do. I can finally pack away ALL paperwork to do with Mum’s estate and store it for the seven years that is required by law. I still think it’s wrong that the ATO could audit a dead person’s taxes, but there you go. Apparently they can and therefore I have to keep everything for seven years.
I walked out of the office feeling like weight had lifted, and feeling the urge to celebrate with a glass of champagne! I did walk into a light store and fall in love with a desk lamp. I may just have to go back and get it as my little token of this momentous, yet oh-so-ordinary day.
So that’s the “business” side of the estate finally wrapped up. Now the only things that are left are personal; sorting through the artwork, sorting through photos and organising a memorial plaque. I have the wording and rough idea of design that I want for the memorial plaque; it’s just a case of getting down to Geelong to talk to someone about it and get it made. It’s something I want to discuss in person, not over the phone or via email. Day trips are still challenging for me (sleep, sleep, oh wherefore art thou sleep?!!), so I’ll probably organise to stay with Rafe’s folks for a couple of days soon so that I can spend some time focusing on the memorial plaque.
Yesterday was the 20th – a year and a half to the day since her death. At the time, I just could not imagine how long it would take. Partly it took that long because I have been otherwise occupied, but even if I’d been completely focused on it I still think it would have taken about a year. There are just so many steps, and every step takes time.
Next on the agenda: a house extension. Yeah, I don’t know much about slowing down!
