Families and their inheritances though, well ... ...

........................ 's ANOTHER story - as far as I'm concerned!

Because this Saturday will mark the anniversary of a very elderly aunt of mine's death a year ago. Aged almost 98, she was the last surviving member of the older generation on both sides of my family. Widowed since October *1969, she & her late husband (who'd been Secretary of the innovative Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy) had one adopted daughter - *then only 13 - who later went on to graduate from Edinburgh University ... [ultimately] serving on the Directorate of Lothians Health Board.

Okay, I digress. But, from the background I've provided, it'll be pretty evident mother and daughter [between them] were fairly affluent. Whilst my aunt herself kept good health, allowing her to continue living independently in the detached bungalow she & my uncle had bought prior to the latter's sudden demise, my cousin and a work colleague, some 14 years her senior - whom she'd married later in life - were able to buy [and gradually extend] an already HUGE new 2-storey villa overlooking the Forth Road & Rail Bridges ... which I'd always thought rather superfluous for a couple with no children.

Anyway, my cousin's husband died during the summer of 2015 ... around seven months before his mother-in-law.

So ... imagine my surprise when my cousin turned up with a new beau in tow at her mum's funeral. Initially, I was really pleased for her, being all too aware from my own personal experience how very lonely it feels to be widowed.

Perhaps, as it now transpires, my delight may have been just a bit premature! ... given the fact I'd half~expected 'a little' "token of esteem" from my aunt's estate, my seemingly being her favourite nephew. Alas, a year down the line ... zilch!

Tbh ... I'm definitely NOT the type of bloke who's motivated by £ signs, having never known what it's like to have a lot of money.

But with me living at the same address for nearly 50 years - and becoming less able~bodied - a few thousand would've come in very handy for "doing up" our house internally.