....but the real silliness today is that it's 5.20 am, I'm on about and hours sleep and I have to go to work now, ugh!
Saturday, 22 April 2006
Saturday silliness
I wonder, should I get the knitting needles out now and begin creating two of these designer 'must-haves' for Ditto and Tilly in readiness for next winter?
....but the real silliness today is that it's 5.20 am, I'm on about and hours sleep and I have to go to work now, ugh!
....but the real silliness today is that it's 5.20 am, I'm on about and hours sleep and I have to go to work now, ugh!
Friday, 21 April 2006
The child in me
When I was a child I used to imagine that ‘old’ people, I think at the time I defined ‘old’ as anything over about 23 years , knew what life was all about, they had it well and truly sussed, they knew the answers to the stuff I didn’t, they could solve problems, nay, they probably didn’t even have them, they seemed ‘grown up’, they seemed 'together' and in my little mind there was always going to be that stage in life for me, the one where everything in life ran like clockwork and on the rare occasions it didn’t I would be grown up too, I would fix whatever the problem was without delay and with expertise, after all, that’s what all those tall people I saw around me did wasn’t it?!
I was told in a moment of childhood complaint, about something I now don’t recall, that ‘no one promised me life was going to be fair or easy’, I can still remember it vividly, not because of the message it should have been taking from it but because my young mind was so astounded that anyone should even so much as suggest such a thing let alone believe it, my life, that’s for sure, was going to be all things good, including fair and easy!
How so then it didn’t quite work out like that? Don’t get me wrong, I may have had my fair share of life’s ups and downs but no more or no less than most of us.... but it just doesn’t seem to work out like that child imagined, where are the instant and all encompassing answers? Where did ‘fair’ go to and what on earth happened to the perfectly fun life I envisioned all those years ago?
Er..........life happened I suspect.
And then there is the question of life and it’s up’s and down’s, those tall people ( ok so everyone is tall in relation to me before one of you points that out) I saw as a child, those that had it sussed, they learnt things from life did they not, or that was the theory that I commonly heard bandied about, they came up against life’s troubles big or small, they struggled through them and they learnt stuff didn’t they? They gathered this vast store of knowledge on how not to fcuk up again and how to mend those glitches that occurred when all else failed and life dumped a big heap of something unpleasant on top of their heads.
So what happened to my childhood ideal then, how comes this ‘grown up’ isn’t, how come that when things go pear shaped in gemmak’s-ville there is no vast store of knowledge, no instantly available solution and no magic wand to put it right. How come that I like everyone else seem to flail around in a state of confusion just trying to do the best I can......and usually getting nowhere fast? Where did all those adults go that knew it all and what happened to my theory that ‘grown up’s’ had it sussed?
The child inside is still there, that idealist little kid that saw the world as a wonderful place full of wonderful things, that thought life was fair and the lives of grown ups were hunky dory, she’s still there but maybe, just maybe this time she has learnt a little, maybe despite herself she is beginning to be a grown up, just not the grown up she imagined.
.....but she never did get tall!
I was told in a moment of childhood complaint, about something I now don’t recall, that ‘no one promised me life was going to be fair or easy’, I can still remember it vividly, not because of the message it should have been taking from it but because my young mind was so astounded that anyone should even so much as suggest such a thing let alone believe it, my life, that’s for sure, was going to be all things good, including fair and easy!
How so then it didn’t quite work out like that? Don’t get me wrong, I may have had my fair share of life’s ups and downs but no more or no less than most of us.... but it just doesn’t seem to work out like that child imagined, where are the instant and all encompassing answers? Where did ‘fair’ go to and what on earth happened to the perfectly fun life I envisioned all those years ago?
Er..........life happened I suspect.
And then there is the question of life and it’s up’s and down’s, those tall people ( ok so everyone is tall in relation to me before one of you points that out) I saw as a child, those that had it sussed, they learnt things from life did they not, or that was the theory that I commonly heard bandied about, they came up against life’s troubles big or small, they struggled through them and they learnt stuff didn’t they? They gathered this vast store of knowledge on how not to fcuk up again and how to mend those glitches that occurred when all else failed and life dumped a big heap of something unpleasant on top of their heads.
So what happened to my childhood ideal then, how comes this ‘grown up’ isn’t, how come that when things go pear shaped in gemmak’s-ville there is no vast store of knowledge, no instantly available solution and no magic wand to put it right. How come that I like everyone else seem to flail around in a state of confusion just trying to do the best I can......and usually getting nowhere fast? Where did all those adults go that knew it all and what happened to my theory that ‘grown up’s’ had it sussed?
The child inside is still there, that idealist little kid that saw the world as a wonderful place full of wonderful things, that thought life was fair and the lives of grown ups were hunky dory, she’s still there but maybe, just maybe this time she has learnt a little, maybe despite herself she is beginning to be a grown up, just not the grown up she imagined.
.....but she never did get tall!
Thursday, 20 April 2006
ABC meme
I can't rememeber where I found this but it suffices for a day when my brain in fried!....oh and this time I feel mean, go to the bottom for those I have tagged! Heh.
Accent – Lord knows....South Eastern England, with a little mancunian somwhere in there.
Booze of choice – None, tee total...yes, really!
Chore I hate – Cooking.
Dog or Cat – You need to ask?
Essential electronics – Hey...... ok, computer, camera, phone, memory stick, is it possible to live without those?
Favorite perfume - Thierry Mugler, 'Angel'
Gold or Silver? Gold.
Hometown – Near London is as close as you get.
Insomnia? – Not usually.
Job Title – Customer Service supervisor.
Kids? – Nope.
Living Arrangement – Co-habit.
Most-admired trait – Mine? heaven knows, you're asking the wrong person there!
Overnight Hospital Stays – Yes, peritonitis age 12.
Phobia – SPIDERS!!!!
Quote – "The pursuit of happiness is the greatest cause of unhappiness" Anon.
Religion – None.
Siblings – One of of each...both younger.
Time I wake up – 6 ish....unless Tilly decides otherwise.
Unusual talent/skill – Um..... does still being able to do the splits (I think)count? If it doesn't I don't have one!
Vegetable I refuse to eat – brussels sprouts. Ick.
Worst habit – Smoking.
X-rays – Yes, quite a few but I don't recall what they were all for.
Yummy foods I make – Told you before I don't do cooking! ;o)
Zodiac sign – Aries but it's all hogwash to me.
...and those required to please join in are:
Natty, Paddy, Fletch, and Wallo
Go guys.......and don't say I never give you anything!
Accent – Lord knows....South Eastern England, with a little mancunian somwhere in there.
Booze of choice – None, tee total...yes, really!
Chore I hate – Cooking.
Dog or Cat – You need to ask?
Essential electronics – Hey...... ok, computer, camera, phone, memory stick, is it possible to live without those?
Favorite perfume - Thierry Mugler, 'Angel'
Gold or Silver? Gold.
Hometown – Near London is as close as you get.
Insomnia? – Not usually.
Job Title – Customer Service supervisor.
Kids? – Nope.
Living Arrangement – Co-habit.
Most-admired trait – Mine? heaven knows, you're asking the wrong person there!
Overnight Hospital Stays – Yes, peritonitis age 12.
Phobia – SPIDERS!!!!
Quote – "The pursuit of happiness is the greatest cause of unhappiness" Anon.
Religion – None.
Siblings – One of of each...both younger.
Time I wake up – 6 ish....unless Tilly decides otherwise.
Unusual talent/skill – Um..... does still being able to do the splits (I think)count? If it doesn't I don't have one!
Vegetable I refuse to eat – brussels sprouts. Ick.
Worst habit – Smoking.
X-rays – Yes, quite a few but I don't recall what they were all for.
Yummy foods I make – Told you before I don't do cooking! ;o)
Zodiac sign – Aries but it's all hogwash to me.
...and those required to please join in are:
Natty, Paddy, Fletch, and Wallo
Go guys.......and don't say I never give you anything!
Wednesday, 19 April 2006
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Now I'm angry......
....in fact absolutely bloody steaming.....for not only does PG find himself in his recent sorry situation of being unemployed but now we discover that the 'little madam' that made the accusation against him in the first place, that led to all of this malarky, has 'been there before'.....yes, she made the exact same accusation against a colleague in her previous position and the result on that occasion for the guy involved was much the same....he too felt he had no option but to resign!
....no doubt, if PG's ex-employer had made even the smallest effort to investigate the accusation properly, instead of reacting with with an ill considered knee jerk, they too could have discovered this piece of somewhat relevant information!
Yup, I think we can safely say that angry, damn steaming mad angry, about sums up our current mood!
F***wits!
....no doubt, if PG's ex-employer had made even the smallest effort to investigate the accusation properly, instead of reacting with with an ill considered knee jerk, they too could have discovered this piece of somewhat relevant information!
Yup, I think we can safely say that angry, damn steaming mad angry, about sums up our current mood!
F***wits!
What a lightweight!
Late yesterday evening, having stumbled in from a typically none too delightful bank holiday in retail PG instigated a discussion regarding Tilly and her 'bucket' and given that she so hates it and that we had managed to keep her
miserably tied into if for eight days, the minimum prescribed healing time being five days, the optimum being ten, he considered that now was the time to do away with her bucket.
The obvious of course immediately happened and freed of her encumbrance she immediately began pulling at her stitches.....as she had on every occasion we removed her hated head gear!
PG's solution was of course that rather than trundle her to the vets today or let her hurt herself by removing them with her teeth.....we would do it! Ok, I don't do things medical, this may not be open heart surgery but I just don't 'do' medical procedure at any level. My protestations went unheard and armed with a Leatherman (yes I know not very surgical but the best knife in the house) I was instructed to play nurse (no lewd comments please!).
The whole issue was over in a few moments, PG has apparently done this on a number of occasions before but while he and Tilly were happily celebrating her final freedom and congratulating themselves on a job well don't yours truly was parked on the floor doing her level best not to faint! What a lightweight! Lets just hope I never have to deal with anything major!
Oh....and whilst on the subject of Tilly and her recent medical maneuverings, the following little was taken when she first arrived home post-op. It felt unkind to post it then when she was feeling so poorly but now she's all fit and well her still 'recovering from anesthetic' gait is quite amusing! Just don't laugh out loud if she's within earshot! :o)
miserably tied into if for eight days, the minimum prescribed healing time being five days, the optimum being ten, he considered that now was the time to do away with her bucket.
The obvious of course immediately happened and freed of her encumbrance she immediately began pulling at her stitches.....as she had on every occasion we removed her hated head gear!
PG's solution was of course that rather than trundle her to the vets today or let her hurt herself by removing them with her teeth.....we would do it! Ok, I don't do things medical, this may not be open heart surgery but I just don't 'do' medical procedure at any level. My protestations went unheard and armed with a Leatherman (yes I know not very surgical but the best knife in the house) I was instructed to play nurse (no lewd comments please!).
The whole issue was over in a few moments, PG has apparently done this on a number of occasions before but while he and Tilly were happily celebrating her final freedom and congratulating themselves on a job well don't yours truly was parked on the floor doing her level best not to faint! What a lightweight! Lets just hope I never have to deal with anything major!
Oh....and whilst on the subject of Tilly and her recent medical maneuverings, the following little was taken when she first arrived home post-op. It felt unkind to post it then when she was feeling so poorly but now she's all fit and well her still 'recovering from anesthetic' gait is quite amusing! Just don't laugh out loud if she's within earshot! :o)
Monday, 17 April 2006
A lazy post
From Take Two because the rules say if you read it you have to do it!
1) smoked - Yes
2) consumed alcohol - Yes
3) slept in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex - Yes
4) slept in the same bed with someone of the same sex - Yes
5) made out with someone of the opposite sex -Yes
6) made out with someone of the same sex- No
7) had someone in your room of the opposite sex - Yes
8) watched porn - Yes
9) bought porn - No
10) done drugs - No
11) taken pain killers - Yes.
12) taken someone elses prescription medicine - No
13) lied to your parents - Yes
14) lied to a friend - Yes
15) snuck out of the house - Yes
16) done something illegal - Yes
17) cut yourself - By mistake yes! Not intentionally
18) hurt someone - Yes
19) wished someone to die - Probably said it in the heat of the moment but never meant it.
20) seen someone die - No
21) missed curfew - Yes
22) stayed out all night - Yes
23) eaten a carton of icecream by yourself - Yes
24) been to a therapist - Yes
25) been to rehab - No
26) dyed your hair - Yes
27) recieved a ticket - Yes
28) been in a wreck - Yes
29) been to a club - Yes.
30) been to a bar - Yes
31) been to a wild party - Yes
32) seen the Mardi Gras - No
34) had a spring break in Florida - No
35) sniffed anything - No. Well ok, nice things!
36) wore black nail polish - Yes
37) wore arm bands - No
38) wore t-shirts with band names - No
39) listened to rap - Yes
40) own a 50 cent cd - No
41) dressed gothic - No
42) dressed prep - Yes
43) dressed punk - No
44) dressed grunge - No
45) stole something - Yes
46) been too drunk to remember anything - Yes
47) blacked out - Yes
48) fainted - Yes
49) had a crush on your neighbor - No
50) had someone sneak into your room - No
51) snuck into some else's room - Yes
52) had a crush on someone of the same sex - No
53) been to a concert - Yes
54) dry humped someone - Uh? :o/ nice question (not)....5th!....can we change this question please?
55) been called a slut - No
56) called someone a slut -No
57) installed speakers in your car- No....don't car come with them ready installed??58) broke a mirror - Don't rememeber.
59) showered at someone of the opposites sex's house - Yes
60) brushed your teeth with someone elses toothbrush - Yes.
61) consider ludacris your favorite rapper - Never heard of him so no
62) seen an R rated movie in theaters - Ok...what's R rated? X? if so of course.
63) cruised the mall - No
64) skipped school - Yes
65) had an eating disorder - No
66) had an injury - Yes
67) gone to court - Yes
68) walked out of a resteraunt without paying- No
69) caught something on fire - No
70) lied about your age - Yes
71) owned an apartment- Yes
72) cheated on your boyfriend/girlfriend - No
73) cheated with someone - Yes but only becasue I didn't know! :o/
74) got in trouble with the police - No
75) talked to a stranger - Yes, it's my job
76) hugged a stranger - Yes
77) kissed a stranger - Yes
78) rode in the car with a stranger - No
79) been sexually harrassed - Yes
80) been verbally harassed - Yes
81) met face to face with someone you met online - Yes
82) stayed online for 12 hours straight - Yes
83) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours straight- Yes
84) watched tv for 12 hours straight - No
85) been to a fair - Yes
86) been called a bad influence - Yes
87) cursed - Yes
88) prank called someone - Yes
89) laid in the bed with someone of the opposite sex -Yes...some odd questions in this.
90) cheated on a test - Not that I can recall
91) cheated on homework - Hell...too long ago to rememeber!
92) held hands with someone of the opposite sex - Yes
93) been pushed into a pool - Yes
94) played pool - Yes
95) watched 5 hours of mtv straight - No
96) had a crush on someone 10 years older than you - No
97) had a crush on someone younger than you - Yes
98) worn eyeliner - Yes
99) skinny dipped - Yes
100) laughed at someone who was seriously hurt - No
1) smoked - Yes
2) consumed alcohol - Yes
3) slept in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex - Yes
4) slept in the same bed with someone of the same sex - Yes
5) made out with someone of the opposite sex -Yes
6) made out with someone of the same sex- No
7) had someone in your room of the opposite sex - Yes
8) watched porn - Yes
9) bought porn - No
10) done drugs - No
11) taken pain killers - Yes.
12) taken someone elses prescription medicine - No
13) lied to your parents - Yes
14) lied to a friend - Yes
15) snuck out of the house - Yes
16) done something illegal - Yes
17) cut yourself - By mistake yes! Not intentionally
18) hurt someone - Yes
19) wished someone to die - Probably said it in the heat of the moment but never meant it.
20) seen someone die - No
21) missed curfew - Yes
22) stayed out all night - Yes
23) eaten a carton of icecream by yourself - Yes
24) been to a therapist - Yes
25) been to rehab - No
26) dyed your hair - Yes
27) recieved a ticket - Yes
28) been in a wreck - Yes
29) been to a club - Yes.
30) been to a bar - Yes
31) been to a wild party - Yes
32) seen the Mardi Gras - No
34) had a spring break in Florida - No
35) sniffed anything - No. Well ok, nice things!
36) wore black nail polish - Yes
37) wore arm bands - No
38) wore t-shirts with band names - No
39) listened to rap - Yes
40) own a 50 cent cd - No
41) dressed gothic - No
42) dressed prep - Yes
43) dressed punk - No
44) dressed grunge - No
45) stole something - Yes
46) been too drunk to remember anything - Yes
47) blacked out - Yes
48) fainted - Yes
49) had a crush on your neighbor - No
50) had someone sneak into your room - No
51) snuck into some else's room - Yes
52) had a crush on someone of the same sex - No
53) been to a concert - Yes
54) dry humped someone - Uh? :o/ nice question (not)....5th!....can we change this question please?
55) been called a slut - No
56) called someone a slut -No
57) installed speakers in your car- No....don't car come with them ready installed??58) broke a mirror - Don't rememeber.
59) showered at someone of the opposites sex's house - Yes
60) brushed your teeth with someone elses toothbrush - Yes.
61) consider ludacris your favorite rapper - Never heard of him so no
62) seen an R rated movie in theaters - Ok...what's R rated? X? if so of course.
63) cruised the mall - No
64) skipped school - Yes
65) had an eating disorder - No
66) had an injury - Yes
67) gone to court - Yes
68) walked out of a resteraunt without paying- No
69) caught something on fire - No
70) lied about your age - Yes
71) owned an apartment- Yes
72) cheated on your boyfriend/girlfriend - No
73) cheated with someone - Yes but only becasue I didn't know! :o/
74) got in trouble with the police - No
75) talked to a stranger - Yes, it's my job
76) hugged a stranger - Yes
77) kissed a stranger - Yes
78) rode in the car with a stranger - No
79) been sexually harrassed - Yes
80) been verbally harassed - Yes
81) met face to face with someone you met online - Yes
82) stayed online for 12 hours straight - Yes
83) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours straight- Yes
84) watched tv for 12 hours straight - No
85) been to a fair - Yes
86) been called a bad influence - Yes
87) cursed - Yes
88) prank called someone - Yes
89) laid in the bed with someone of the opposite sex -Yes...some odd questions in this.
90) cheated on a test - Not that I can recall
91) cheated on homework - Hell...too long ago to rememeber!
92) held hands with someone of the opposite sex - Yes
93) been pushed into a pool - Yes
94) played pool - Yes
95) watched 5 hours of mtv straight - No
96) had a crush on someone 10 years older than you - No
97) had a crush on someone younger than you - Yes
98) worn eyeliner - Yes
99) skinny dipped - Yes
100) laughed at someone who was seriously hurt - No
Sunday, 16 April 2006
Nowt so strange as folk!
It goes without saying that retail and Easter are not good news, never have been never will be, it's the point at which Joe Public seems to completely lose the plot one way or another each year in my line of retail and this year promises to be no different!
Over the years I have encountered many an indication of mans (that's the human race not a sexist remark incidentally) inability to behave rationally from the moment they walk into a store. I have been shouted and screamed at, insulted, had things thrown at me, been assaulted and threatened, asked out for dinner (and one or two other less appealing options) and asked to perform all manner of odd things, most of which seemed to fall well outside the usual remit of someone employed in customer service!
Ah, but yesterday one of the oddest presented itself to me.
I was approached by a man, maybe a few years younger than myself with partner and small child in tow, who asked me if I had a pair of tweezers. Stupidly I assumed he meant for purchase so informed him that no, not an item we stock. His response was that he didn't want to buy and, just borrow them....had I got a pair of tweezers he could just borrow. Um........., let me think about that one.....no I told him, sorry but no.
He persisted. Ok I thought, I'll check out the first aid grab bag and see if I can find this guy some tweezers.....four bags later and having navigated the entire store, still no tweezers.
I returned to my customer with this sad news but still he persisted so I asked him what exactly he needed this implement for so desperately, in the vain hope that I could find some other way to help.
I wish I hadn't asked for he began to regale me with details of an ear infection he was currently suffering and that he had further exacerbated the problem buy stuffing a piece of cotton wool so far into his ear that he couldn't now retrieve it! I was about to suggest that he make a trip to A&E when he leant toward me, ear proffered rather too close to my face and said "maybe you can just hook it out with your finger nail for me"!
Ummmm.......aside from any legal first aid implications, I think not! How delightful and why the hell was his wife/partner stood next to him not being subjected to thisheinous almost irresistibly tempting offer, rather than myself?!
Yup, nowt as strange as folk.....I've had some offers I was happy to decline in the past from customers but this one has to be one of the less tempting!
Having made my point, I thought suitably, and having offered advice regarding the local A&E department I thought the whole 'ear' business was over but that wasn't to be the end of it, twice more he returned to me asking for my assistance and twice more I declined politely. A third tie might have forced me to be a little less gracious but thankfully he finally got the message and wandered off, wife and child still silently in tow with a huffed look on his stupid face like somehow I had not fulfilled my duties in the line of customer service!
Hmmmmmm.......gimme the guys that shout in preference anytime....I can 'do' shouting I can't 'do' ears!
HAPPY EASTER! ;o)
Over the years I have encountered many an indication of mans (that's the human race not a sexist remark incidentally) inability to behave rationally from the moment they walk into a store. I have been shouted and screamed at, insulted, had things thrown at me, been assaulted and threatened, asked out for dinner (and one or two other less appealing options) and asked to perform all manner of odd things, most of which seemed to fall well outside the usual remit of someone employed in customer service!
Ah, but yesterday one of the oddest presented itself to me.
I was approached by a man, maybe a few years younger than myself with partner and small child in tow, who asked me if I had a pair of tweezers. Stupidly I assumed he meant for purchase so informed him that no, not an item we stock. His response was that he didn't want to buy and, just borrow them....had I got a pair of tweezers he could just borrow. Um........., let me think about that one.....no I told him, sorry but no.
He persisted. Ok I thought, I'll check out the first aid grab bag and see if I can find this guy some tweezers.....four bags later and having navigated the entire store, still no tweezers.
I returned to my customer with this sad news but still he persisted so I asked him what exactly he needed this implement for so desperately, in the vain hope that I could find some other way to help.
I wish I hadn't asked for he began to regale me with details of an ear infection he was currently suffering and that he had further exacerbated the problem buy stuffing a piece of cotton wool so far into his ear that he couldn't now retrieve it! I was about to suggest that he make a trip to A&E when he leant toward me, ear proffered rather too close to my face and said "maybe you can just hook it out with your finger nail for me"!
Ummmm.......aside from any legal first aid implications, I think not! How delightful and why the hell was his wife/partner stood next to him not being subjected to this
Yup, nowt as strange as folk.....I've had some offers I was happy to decline in the past from customers but this one has to be one of the less tempting!
Having made my point, I thought suitably, and having offered advice regarding the local A&E department I thought the whole 'ear' business was over but that wasn't to be the end of it, twice more he returned to me asking for my assistance and twice more I declined politely. A third tie might have forced me to be a little less gracious but thankfully he finally got the message and wandered off, wife and child still silently in tow with a huffed look on his stupid face like somehow I had not fulfilled my duties in the line of customer service!
Hmmmmmm.......gimme the guys that shout in preference anytime....I can 'do' shouting I can't 'do' ears!
HAPPY EASTER! ;o)
Saturday, 15 April 2006
Friday, 14 April 2006
The joys of the DSS!
The inevitable has happened, PG has had to approach the dreaded DSS office in what is turning out to be the not unexpectedly unpleasant business of claiming benefits.
What a bloody nightmare! Bear in mind here that I worked in the civil service for 12 years and in an equally unpopular department, yes I worked for the Inland Revenue so pelt me with tomatoes now if you wish) I know the drill, I know how it works and yet it is still a maze of what seems mostly to be pointless stupidity and red tape.
I appreciate there are those that 'work the system' to put it politely but hell, between the two of us we have worked something in the region of 45 years and only claimed on weeks unemployment benefit in total and still the attitude of the department seems to be that if you claim any benefit at all you must by definition be a chav with the I.Q of a peanut!
The system has changed it seems and the first point of contact is by phone where myriad details are asked for. Once that is over another phone appointment is made where one is required to put aside and hour to be interviewed by phone. Next is the required visit in person to an office where one is greeted tersely by an almost underage upstart with an attitude Vinny Jones would be proud of...who again goes through the same endless list of questions! Can you believe, and I exaggerate not, I was asked how much money I had in my purse...right down to the loose change! I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist asking the aforementioned upstart if he would also need to know what colour my underwear was!
Throughout this delightful meeting 'upstart' seems unable to prevent himself from treating us as though we couldn't possibly be doing anything other than fiddling the system and manners or sympathy were barely skills he had heard of, let alone practices.
During the 'are you looking for suitable employment' stage of this it was suggested incidentally that because PG felt that to travel 40 miles each way to a job of 20 hours a week duration for only minimum legal wage was not quite what he considered worthwhile, it was suggested that his attitude wasn't all it should be! Give me strength. Do any of these people actually think for themselves?
And so, torture over and once home again, having been dragged though all this hoo ha for what will doubtless be only pennies what happens? yesterday, two days later onto the doormat falls the written proof of just how little PG is entitled too....followed this morning by another missive telling him that they got it all wrong and have to start over!!! FFS, is it really worth it?
It would seem that the principle that is oft bandied about, that if you are honest the whole thing just falls apart is way too close to the truth, hey, I knew I got it wrong somewhere in life...... I'm sure if I was 17, we had never done a days work in our lives and had 6 kids we'd be worth a fortune in payouts! As it is the term 'social security' is in practice neither sociable or secure!
Gah! I think I'd rather starve than deal with this lot again. Can you tell I'm a little less than impressed!?
What a bloody nightmare! Bear in mind here that I worked in the civil service for 12 years and in an equally unpopular department, yes I worked for the Inland Revenue so pelt me with tomatoes now if you wish) I know the drill, I know how it works and yet it is still a maze of what seems mostly to be pointless stupidity and red tape.
I appreciate there are those that 'work the system' to put it politely but hell, between the two of us we have worked something in the region of 45 years and only claimed on weeks unemployment benefit in total and still the attitude of the department seems to be that if you claim any benefit at all you must by definition be a chav with the I.Q of a peanut!
The system has changed it seems and the first point of contact is by phone where myriad details are asked for. Once that is over another phone appointment is made where one is required to put aside and hour to be interviewed by phone. Next is the required visit in person to an office where one is greeted tersely by an almost underage upstart with an attitude Vinny Jones would be proud of...who again goes through the same endless list of questions! Can you believe, and I exaggerate not, I was asked how much money I had in my purse...right down to the loose change! I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist asking the aforementioned upstart if he would also need to know what colour my underwear was!
Throughout this delightful meeting 'upstart' seems unable to prevent himself from treating us as though we couldn't possibly be doing anything other than fiddling the system and manners or sympathy were barely skills he had heard of, let alone practices.
During the 'are you looking for suitable employment' stage of this it was suggested incidentally that because PG felt that to travel 40 miles each way to a job of 20 hours a week duration for only minimum legal wage was not quite what he considered worthwhile, it was suggested that his attitude wasn't all it should be! Give me strength. Do any of these people actually think for themselves?
And so, torture over and once home again, having been dragged though all this hoo ha for what will doubtless be only pennies what happens? yesterday, two days later onto the doormat falls the written proof of just how little PG is entitled too....followed this morning by another missive telling him that they got it all wrong and have to start over!!! FFS, is it really worth it?
It would seem that the principle that is oft bandied about, that if you are honest the whole thing just falls apart is way too close to the truth, hey, I knew I got it wrong somewhere in life...... I'm sure if I was 17, we had never done a days work in our lives and had 6 kids we'd be worth a fortune in payouts! As it is the term 'social security' is in practice neither sociable or secure!
Gah! I think I'd rather starve than deal with this lot again. Can you tell I'm a little less than impressed!?
Thursday, 13 April 2006
I need cake!
Really, it's the only way I can conceive of coping with the fact that I am yet another year older today....and never mind how many years, I ain't tellin', but cake, big, fat chocolatey cake might just take the sting out of the birthday tail......oh and from here on in I think all things chronological should be counted in reverse! ;o)
Wednesday, 12 April 2006
Two years old today!
My blog is two today!
Two years and almost 1200 (don't do the average ok? I know I have no life ;o) ) posts later I'm still kicking about somehow and driving you mad with cats and generally insignificant ups and downs....but someone is still reading so I thank you.
Happy Birthday little blog.
Two years and almost 1200 (don't do the average ok? I know I have no life ;o) ) posts later I'm still kicking about somehow and driving you mad with cats and generally insignificant ups and downs....but someone is still reading so I thank you.
Happy Birthday little blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
