Death and taxes

Week 2 at home has been pretty eventful globally. Ingrid went back to the rheumatologist and had x-rays taken and a full blood workup and the results seem to be positive. Her values and all are within normal limits and her aches and pains have resided. This is still a strange one for us... in Dutch they call it "vliegende pijn" (flying pain). One day it is in her shoulder and the next the knee and then perhaps back to the shoulder or any other joint. Positive news is that the rheumatologist is happy and Ingrid is going to decrease her dosage by 25%, but most of all Ingrid has very little pain this year! Last year was a real drama.

Bo is busy with her research project that needs to be handed in at the end of this month. She now goes to the public library in the city centre to do her stuff. She says that she is more focussed there and gets way more done than when she is at home. Too much distraction at home. Her mentor seems to be a bit of a dick. Bo handed in a draught copy expecting feedback, but dickhead said that they glanced through it and it all seems okay. Nice that for Bo, who would feed off that feedback, and want to make adjustments or improvements to hand in a well thought out and documented thesis. NOT! Why would you be the mentor if you don't give a rats ass? Pet peev of mine all through the Dutch system of schooling since primary school. The kids get appointed a 'mentor', but really it is probably more of a "look how good we are to our kids" from the schools side, but in reality it is a farce. One would argue that there are some good mentors out there, but these pearls have unfortunately not been appointed to our kids along the way.

Fleur is in Zeeland doing her apprenticeship at the vacation park where we used to have our holiday home. Here too promises have been  made, but once you are in the system these seem to be forgotten or brushed aside. Poor child still has a problem with her wrist from the injury and her person is bullying her into working whilst she just can not perform all of the tasks that are required. When she asked for other work so that she could heal, they came down on her which is not fair. Again a situation where you should know your employees/people and try to iron out the creases, not lay down YOUR law! Then when they arrange a meeting to discuss, the person does not pitch for the meeting. Fleur only had to drive an hour each way to get to the meeting. Oh, and they do not answer their phone. Makes me soooo cross!

Glen is working again. The first week I sat behind the front desk at the office which was good for me to suss out the scene and get a feel of how the practice is running. Funny thing is that an old boss of mine used to say that every 3 months one needs to give the staff a little kick in the bum as it seems that then things begin to slack off and the staff need a little wake up call. It is apparent that this rings true also in our case. The last 2 weeks or so (just on 3 months) things have been let go a bit and it is time to dust off the cobwebs and provide an energy shot. Sharpening them up a little will increase productivity and thereby decrease stress on the whole operation.

I thought that I would ease back into work doing 2 half days a week, but this last Tueasday my collague guy threw himself off of his bike and injured his elbow and wrist. He had been the working chiropractor in my absence and we are going to keep him on. This brings a dilemma with it as now with 2 chiropractors we need to stimulate some more business to feed us both. Anyway, he was working on Wednesday morning and I was the receptionist. As the morning progressed he seemed to be taking more strain and favouring his dominant hand. I sent him home at lunch and took over the afternoon shift. It was good to be back in the saddle. He apped later in the evening to say that he had in fact broken his wrist (radius) so it was logical that his hand began to play up. Well he only needs to come back to work on wednesday so I guess by then we will know more.

Being away for the 3 months did not really help with the tax man. I had forgotten that in the beginning of the year we get our blue "tax" envelopes. Provisional tax is a strange one for me.. pay tax on money that you have not yet earned. I understand the concept but it really is foreign to pay for things that you have not yet bought sort of thing. Also we get our years rates and taxes  envelop. Next is the concept year end of the last year which in my case means forking out a hefty sum this time. Finally I got an envelop for a tax for the business that I closed down at the end of 2022!!! Surprise!

Now I am guessing that no one else ever pays tax, but it is just a vent as I do not understand why we have to pay tax in the first place. I get that we need to pay for services, but last year we were told that if the government only took in the taxes for road tax (car licencing in South Africa) that would cover all of the government expenses for a year. Here comes my gripe and probably many others, we pay tax and do not have a say in where that tax is going. Our government spashes our huge amounts to Brussels (the EU) and to a war that I do not stand behind and to many other things that are outside of our country. This I find uncessesary and wasteful. At least the politicians in South Africa make themselves rich! LOL.

I did the sums for 2023 and paid 52% tax on what we earned and then we pay 21% VAT on what we spend on. Speaking to my father the other day on the phone he said that his brother had passed away 3 years ago and still the taxman is sending some sort of after death tax. I guess no one escapes death or taxes even after death!

On a sad note my brothers father in law passed away last week. We knew the man and he is a loss to his family and freinds! Rest in peace Uncle.