I don't praise my sister very often but I do praise her for what she did today, she saved me money on a washing machine. Here we bargain shop as you probably do by looking for the best price. You start at one of the upmarket stores to get a basic price, go round the corner and ask their price and then go to where you think you might get the cheapest price. So we did that and the cheapest place salesman said:"Yes, we can meet that price." And she said;"Is that all?" And he said:"NO we can go maybe $10 lower" which made it $539 "to $530". She was on him like a cat on a mouse."$530., okay." He said:"Sorry, $539" She said:"No, you said $530." This salesman was young and of middle eastern appearance and I think admired her guts. So he trotted of and saw the head salesman and we got the washer for $530. She was so satisfied with that decision she decided we would go find some lunch.

Trev looked after Ray while all this was happening. One up for Trev, one I have to tell the social worker about. Then after we came home Trev suggested we ask *B* next door to keep an eye on Ray so we went and did the pick-up too, saving money for delivery. How's that, two lots of delegation in the one day?

Next week I have to buy another car. I have been contemplating what shape the car should be. My hunch is to get either a station wagon or a hatchback, and discussed with Bessy the merits of a smaller car and the saving on petrol/gas. I also have to think how I will get a car that can hold Ray and I, the wheelchair and the shopping, or Ray, me, our son Trev and possibly our grand daughter Tori as we sometimes take them to the beach. This is also our holiday (?) car so it may have to sometimes hold the wheelchair and a couple of suitcases. This is not a rush out and buy the first thing we see decision, I want the vehicle to be one suitable to our needs and within our price range and above all reliable.

I've read a few blogs and posts about how hard it is for caregivers to change their thinking and take over the role of their survivor and this applies particularly at times like these. Ray was the one who made decisions on car buying, not me. This car is going to bite into our rainy day money in a serious way and I am not a person who feels adequate in these situations so I can't say I feel confident that I will make the right decisions here.

I would value all the prayers, positive thoughts etc that you think appropriate to come in my direction as I ponder this. If this is how a woman of power feels I think someone pulled the plug out.