Winter admin

This year despite having the house and very relaxing surroundings, the winter was one of constant admin challenges. For some reason the Gremlins were on double time, nothing went to plan.

Louise’s Temporary Greek Residency Application:

1. Greek biometric residency application started via immigration police.

2. AMKA, a basic health certificate, was required for (1) above.

3. Health Insurance policy was required for (2) above.

4. Greek Tax Number was required for (3) above.

5. Full paperwork & copies finally submitted to police.

6. Fingerprints taken.

Success – 5 year residency approved

7. Residency then requires an annual tax return to be submitted.

8. Tax return requires a visit to an accountant.

9. Above (8) requires firstly a visit to the Tax office for a TAXISnet , yet another tax number distinct from (4).

10. Above (9) then requires a return visit to the accountant to be registered on tax system.

11. A further visit to accountant in May to actually submit the return but advised tax system not open yet, helpfully takes the info I have prepared  & will submit for us and advise when done.

12. Final visit to the accountant planned for mid June to pay his fee.

Successful in that (we believe) nil tax payable in Greece.

Gordon’s Final Salary Scheme Pension:

1. All required paperwork submitted on line & acknowledged way back in Sept 2020.

2. Further letter received from them in Feb 2021 advising no paperwork apparently submitted?

3. Re-submitted all lost paperwork again. Advised all OK, again!

4. Lumps sum due to be paid in April & pension will start May 2021.

5. April comes & goes – No lump sum, loads of phone calls.

6. Eventually lump sum paid after having to contact CEO.

7. May – monthly pension doesn’t start more phone calls.

8. Apologies “we missed payroll because of late submission”, caused by us losing the first one, lol. It’s a pantomime.

9. Now awaiting double payment in June……….

Louise’s Pension Scheme:

1. Numerous phone calls to determine options.

2. PensionWise 40 minute phone call one night.

3. Deferred decision until heads no longer sore, next year maybe.

Santander:

1. Closed old, as in money used up now, bank accounts.

2. Transferred ISA’s to Virgin……effin admin nightmare! You’d think we were money launderers for the Medellin drugs cartel.

Brexit, Boat, VAT and Transit Logs:

Would take a dissertation to explain and still some elements unresolved, thanks Cameron & Boris, to be continued

Covid Jabs:

1. Good news – Louise gets hers in Greece, the first 3^rd June, second 25th June.

2. At this time I couldn’t get mine in Greece so headed back to Scotland as my first appointment was due.

3. 6 flights, 3 hotels 5 Covid PCR tests, 10 days quarantine in boutique hotel EK, and 1st Astra Zeneca jab. Roll up cost >£2k, plus drove my sister in law mad, lol

4. On return temporary AMKA issued to me by Greece, I can now get 2^nd vaccine in Greece, which I now have done.

5. Explain to medics this is 2^nd jab / 1^st in Scotland. All fine medically.

6. However I won’t get required auto vaccination passport for travelling as 1st in Scotland & 2^nd in Greece, 2 different systems Aaaaargh!

Rental house challenges;

1. As previously advised Roland rat & family in roof void.

2. WIFI connection failed needed telephone engineer to reconnect external carry wiring.

3. Boiler broke down took over a month to replace in the coldest period.

4. At same time electrical water heater failed – no hot water.

5. When replaced I’m convinced the shower is live when switched on, so imperative to switch water heater off at fuses before having shower. Louise keeps forgetting! Note to self check life insurance policy.

6. Pool overflowing threatened to flood into house until I fathomed drain pump.

7. Toilet blocked and effluent pit needed emptying once a month, just don’t ask, lol.

Mail redirection Scotland

The Royal mail are failing abysmally with our postal redirection. Louise has phoned to complain at least 5 times possibly more . They say they will sort, but they don’t.

Louise’s sister has handed in SAE to the tenants as a stop gap to get mail sent to her.

Eventually RM sort it out and without us asking refund our redirection charge for the year in full.

Finally (so far)

I have sent my UK passport back to Liverpool for replacement.

Looks like there will be issues with that because I am in Greece and they want me to send in my Irish one as well, which I can’t because I need it here!

It could be I will need this for Brexit/ Boat issues so time out on this one at the moment ….watch this space .

All that said it’s been great having the house and the car to enable all the required trips and with a fair wind we will have cracked most of them to allow us to continue sailing for the medium term at least.

Hopefully that last statement is not a kiss of death

and we have actaully relaxed as well,lol