The (not so old) Crocks Cafe -Part 2

Trialia

Hee, yay for housing chats. I have input on that, too!

I got a letter from the council today. The first open day to view plans for the new homes on my estate is next Wednesday, and they'll be allocating places in the first batch from May. There are no one-bedroom places, so those of us in one-bed flats will be eligible for two-bedroom apartments (ground floor in my case, there are 31 of those in this batch) or a two-bedroom bungalow (which I'd prefer, as they are talking about service charges on top for the apartments to maintain communal areas and I can't really afford the price they're muttering! There'll be five of those).

My carer told me today that a lot of the other disabled people who live on the estate are actually leaving the area and moving to different places within Manchester, so I could have a good chance of getting a bungalow and either way, a place in the first batch of houses.

The paperwork says they'll ALL be finished and ready to move into by the end of March 2012. I'll also get to choose all my own kitchen fittings, and will be getting a small lump sum in compensation for having to move - and a good chunk of that will go into savings towards a decent powerchair for when I need it. My housing officer also said that she'll see to it any place I get allocated will be pre-adapted, so I won't have to move when I finally do end up in a chair full-time.

I'm actually starting to get really excited about this

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Trialia wrote: »

Hee, yay for housing chats. I have input on that, too!

I got a letter from the council today. The first open day to view plans for the new homes on my estate is next Wednesday, and they'll be allocating places in the first batch from May. There are no one-bedroom places, so those of us in one-bed flats will be eligible for two-bedroom apartments (ground floor in my case, there are 31 of those in this batch) or a two-bedroom bungalow (which I'd prefer, as they are talking about service charges on top for the apartments to maintain communal areas and I can't really afford the price they're muttering! There'll be five of those).

My carer told me today that a lot of the other disabled people who live on the estate are actually leaving the area and moving to different places within Manchester, so I could have a good chance of getting a bungalow and either way, a place in the first batch of houses.

The paperwork says they'll ALL be finished and ready to move into by the end of March 2012. I'll also get to choose all my own kitchen fittings, and will be getting a small lump sum in compensation for having to move - and a good chunk of that will go into savings towards a decent powerchair for when I need it. My housing officer also said that she'll see to it any place I get allocated will be pre-adapted, so I won't have to move when I finally do end up in a chair full-time.

I'm actually starting to get really excited about this

:j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

You could point out that you wouldn't be able to manage the heavy security doors on a block of flats, nor get your scooter in and out easily and safely without a risk of injuring yourself or other residents - that should put you higher up the list for the bungalows.

Trialia

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

You could point out that you wouldn't be able to manage the heavy security doors on a block of flats, nor get your scooter in and out easily and safely without a risk of injuring yourself or other residents - that should put you higher up the list for the bungalows.

It should! Thank you. I do have trouble with the security door on my low block as it is, even without having to get a chair in and out, yet.

sunnyone

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

:j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

You could point out that you wouldn't be able to manage the heavy security doors on a block of flats, nor get your scooter in and out easily and safely without a risk of injuring yourself or other residents - that should put you higher up the list for the bungalows.

Trialia wrote: »

It should! Thank you. I do have trouble with the security door on my low block as it is, even without having to get a chair in and out, yet.

What jo jo meant the other day was just apply on your MH, your physical health dosnt matter and all MH claimants should have more rights than the physically disabled and families to the very limited social housing stock, no mitigation was mentioned just that she got her adapted home doing to be bi polar only and not dont to the things that we have all been reading about her falling dont the steps etc. due to her physical issues and that any housing MUST ALWAYS be considered on a full range of issues and never, ever just one.

Trialia

...The other day? What'd she say the other day? I don't think that was to me... Anyway, I'm also bipolar and have cognitive processing problems, and my housing officer already knows that, so she's doing her best to help, which is nice.

Also, I do not think people with mental illness should have more right to adapted properties than the physically disabled, simply because most people disabled by mental illness without physical problems can find flats in other places that are accessible for them and a heck of a lot of physically disabled people can't. I have a friend currently staying with me who's been trying just to find an adapted property she can afford and manage with her powerchair for the last seven months, council excepted.

formaldehyde_perfume

I am incredibly ill with a cold today (and fibro flare up), so please bare with me.

I got my manual wheelchair today.

My OT came on tuesday, she's fabulous, has a joint condition herself so can empathise and is fully supporting my application to move to a level access property. She has ordered some things that will be useful now but I can also take to a new property. I also asked her about referring me for an electric wheelchair and she said she would. She is coming back when my equipment is delivered and I have a feeling it will be an ongoing process until I move.

After I saw the OT I went in to town for dinner and drinks with a couple of friends, dinner and drinks turned into dinner + cocktails + BOGOF shots + two more bars + clubbing. Then the next day I did a marathon shopping session by myself. My body held up particularly well but I was already getting a cold because I had over stretched myself physically in the past week so, but it wasn't until I got home that the full extent of my problem became clear. I feel incredibly ill. Pacing fail! It was worth it thought, I wore a beautiful dress I got in a charity shop, I felt attractive, and both friends were incredibly supportive about my physical needs, as they always are.

Unfortunately tomorrow is a big family day, my aunt is coming up from London to see our new house and then we are going to another aunts for dinner with most of the rest of my family. This means I simply can't wallow in bed feeling sorry for myself all day. Having said this, I will keep in mind the EDS lady who did the marathon and if she can do that then I'm sure I'll find a way round this problem.

On the housing front it doesn't look very likely that I'll get a property any time soon, all the 1 bed bungalows are sheltered and I won't be eligible for a 2 bed .... although I've no idea how I'm going to fit in to a 1 bed as even my manual wheelchair is huge, I thought the space down stairs was big enough for an electric but seeing the manual makes me worry. And that's without all the equipment to try and help me stay at this level of fitness. I hate the rules. If I had a 2 bedroom place the extra bedroom would be for all my 'gym' stuff and then I could actually have what would be considered a normal(ish - adaptations etc) bedroom and living room.. But I don't have the energy to deal with all that right now, and I don't know when I will

Sorry to bring down the tone. Actually I'm coping quite well, it just doesn't seem like it from my moaning!

altocumulus

Just take it easy !!!

Blithering cold outside today - must be "Good Friday"!

Have a good weekend all !

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Trialia wrote: »

...The other day? What'd she say the other day? I don't think that was to me... Anyway, I'm also bipolar and have cognitive processing problems, and my housing officer already knows that, so she's doing her best to help, which is nice.

Also, I do not think people with mental illness should have more right to adapted properties than the physically disabled, simply because most people disabled by mental illness without physical problems can find flats in other places that are accessible for them and a heck of a lot of physically disabled people can't. I have a friend currently staying with me who's been trying just to find an adapted property she can afford and manage with her powerchair for the last seven months, council excepted.

It was on another thread, Trialia - so don't worry about it.

Careful_with_that_Axe

How exciting Trialia! Fingers crossed for you.

FP In reality, some two bed places come up on the housing list that a 1 bed entitled applicant can bid on. Sorry to hear you have a rotton cold, but sounds like you had a blast of a time!

I'm a bit fed up. After people telling me I am still run down after the move and everything and I've been saying I am doing OK, I have another bout of Oral Cellulitis come up which is an absolute sign that my system is off. Off to the Out of Hours Doc before it gets a chance to take hold and cue mega-ab's that make me feel sooooo sick. *sigh*

Still, the sun is trying to shine and it's warm, I have fabulous friends coming to stay, so it's not all bad.

Erme

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

It's lovely the first night you get back into your bed.

I have organised for some help to move all my bedroom furniture around this weekend. Once that happens, I will be able to see how long my first ever sets of brand new curtains :j are - two sets as I have two windows in the bedroom - (and whether there will be enough over to cut off and use to make matching cushion covers). Don't have a choice but to have curtains in the upstairs of the house, but wouldn't have bothered if I had lived in a high rise - although if you think positively, facing east and south means you get quite a lot of daylight, together with quite a remarkable view - the view from my old flat was great, but falling down the stairs wasn't , but my house faces due south and gets flooded with sunlight for pretty much all day.

(BTW why not apply for rehousing and actually have the council department make the decision, rather than rely on someone else's opinion? It might be that you are eligible after all)

Once this is all done (and I have recovered from the ordeal ), I am going to be looking in the shops the other end of town to see if I can find a sari fabric that will go well with duck egg blue curtains, to use as a bedspread, plus a couple of other throws. I probably should concentrate more on buying a carpet, as the floor is bare hardboard, but the 30 year old rug on it pretty much does the trick in the meantime; I shall carpet the stairs long before I get round to the bedroom.

I wouldn't say I'm completely settled yet, even though it's been six months now since moving, but I think I'm getting there - I was in the last place 17 years, after all. But it is the extra touches that make it feel like home, more than anything else.

Nope it took me ages to settle here...I finally feel really positive about the place. Phone up the local carpet dealers with your measurements and see if you can't barter a decent sized scrap piece true MSE style...Let us know how you get on...

I wanted the blinds mainly for when the sun hits you in the eyes and you can't see the pc screen. I also found last night it helped with my dusk problem (hate dusk in the house - SOOOO confusing. Dawn is fine - it's just dusk. It's even worse in the winter. I have a 25w daylight bulb on about 3pm LOL...if not sooner if it's raining all day)

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

Interesting to hear you say that JoJo. I've been in this house 2 months now and am really not settling and feeling terribly guilty as I realise how lucky I was to get it. I would never have chosen this house (it's just not "me") but it has loads of potential that I can do nothing about as I have to leave it as I found it iyswim. I don't like the area and it's about 25 miles away from where I consider "home" and where my family are.
I do realise it will take me some time to try to settle and that the move was very fast - a week's notice and at the same time as my DLA Tribunal.

To hear you are maybe starting to settle gives me a little hope.

You know it sounds when you moved it was very stressful - never mind the moving you had a DLA tribunal on top!!! Be gentle on yourself. Little things like fabric over the curtain rails, a nice table from a charity shop. A nice throw can make all the difference...:) or even some nice candles

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Hmmm, I can sort of remember how to cast on and do stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl - or is it knit one, purl one?), but that was when I was about 10 and was always punctuated by my mother's shouts at how useless I was. Mind you, it would make a change from the amount of time I spend online...

I'd be able to do a load of squares in different colours that way, and join them up...and do it when I can't move anymore in the evenings....

Hmmmm...I wonder if the nearest charity shop has any needles......big, thick ones....

[tick tick tick goes the brain]


That would be incredibly kind of you, CWTA!

xxxx

Okay easiest and quickest way to do this...crochet

Google 'australia crochet' for instructions.....(nice clear line drawings or was).....you need to learn to do chain (glorified finger knitting), and triple (english term) or double (yanks)...

Then you need two row (no bigger) granny squares which you then sew together patchwork style (over stitch) and you'll have one fab afghan/throw....then just edge...totally addictive. Just get double knitting and a 4- 5m hook if you're short of monies....

Or else sew together jumpers or anything fleecy and you have a throw. Can be done on a machine or by hand...Cheap and cheerful. Again patchwork style..just make squares big... get from jumble sales/ sale rail in charity shop/freecycle etc...

Hope that helps

....and yeah even though I don't have a physical disability I have to say you have a point about folk with MH probs getting disabled bungalows trialia. I eat my hat!!!


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