We have an annex to our house. My Mum use to stay there until she became too unwell and passed away. Afterward it was lying empty so we used to occasionally let it out via a well known website.
One of the visitors was an elderly gentleman, who would travel to visit family. He stayed twice over the space of a couple of years. He settled up via the websit. Was very sweet, and a bit dottery - so we would keep an extra eye on him and help him out.
Last year with Covid we didn’t let the place out at all. To be honest we are thinking of converting the space into a home office or maybe a play area for the kids.
Elderly chap asked to stay when restrictions were temporarily lifted at the end of last year. He texted my phone (which I gave him for emergencies) rather than through the website and I reluctantly agreed.
There was a chat about money and I gave him bank details for payment, but after a bit of a faff about him not understanding online banking etc, I let it go and said he could stay without paying. I figure it would be the last year he was visiting given his dementia seemed to be progressing.
Instead of staying the week we had originally agreed, he stayed two. I didn’t think too much of it. Place was empty anyway. We again helped out to make sure he was safe and okay.
This year he was in touch again. I felt a huge guilt trip. I again agreed to let him visit.
This was not small feat, as the annex had become a general storage area. So meant several days of gutting the place, trips to the dump and charity shops and general cleaning.
No mention of money. He brought some toys for the kids.
I’m not overly bothered about the money, but think the fact it wasn’t mentioned a bit cheeky. It’s possibly his dementia. Given both my parents died from dementia, I have a soft spot here.
DH thinks I’m mad. Am I?