I love my big sister dearly but we are like chalk and cheese. She is somewhat estranged from her own DC & DGC, but expects to be invited to all of my family's events and get togethers. She has been widowed for years now -left very comfortably off with her own works pensions + 50% of her DH's, a big house on a posh estate, paid gardeners ect. - you get the picture. Meanwhile I, also widowed, am struggling financially as DH's private pensions died with him, I worked in a sector which did not provide works pensions, nor paid maternity leave ect. Most of our meagre savings went on Care Home fees for DH.
Sister's life style is totally different to mine. A member of various sporting and charitable organisations she has umpteen (not entirely Covid safe) days out, afternoon teas, evening dinners, with her many acquaintances, all requiring dressing up, ergo many shopping trips, whereas I live in jeans & jumpers, buy in thrift shops, mainly socialise with my family and a few close friends.
She expects that I will be her companion on holidays, short breaks, shopping/ theatre trips and so on. Now she has gone ahead & booked a week long touring holiday for us in the Autumn. All expenses shared 50/50 of course, and shared twin rooms, "because the single room supplement is horrendous". As she is an early riser and I a night owl this is going to be fraught.
I felt so sorry for her when she was widowed/left alone and have no wish to fall out with her completely, but really need to break this pattern for my own well-being. What can I do?
Water Pollution -“ A National Disgrace”? A case for renationalisation?
BBC Two- Surgeons: At the edge of Life
sticky labels on apples - remove before washing!