The future is bright for 3Dogs and it's about time too

3Dogs

So, the story so far - part three:

We had bought a car on hire purchase very shortly before hubbie had gone off sick with his back – he was on a good wage and we could afford it (little did hubbie know that we couldn’t afford it – but I could not talk him out of it without admitting the extent of our debt and I just couldn’t do it – I couldn’t face it myself) Luckily we had taken out PPI on the loan so we were covered on this insurance for our monthly payments when he was ill – or so we thought. Fine print – always read the fine print. We made a claim and submitted it with medical certificates but it was rejected due to it being an ongoing problem – existing problems were not covered. So, with the income we had, we could not make the payments and fell behind, but they allowed him to take a payment holiday “don’t worry they said, we will just add them on to the end of the term of the loan” – no problems. When he was made redundant, in July 2006, they, eventually, agreed to cover the payments until he found work, so that took the pressure off that problem for a while

We were really struggling by now. So he signed off the sick and started to look for work. He was a time-served Sheet Metal Worker and we had moved to this area in 1985 when the engineering industry was fast disappearing from our native North East. This was the first time in his life he had signed on the dole and he did not like it at all. Anyway, he did get a job fairly quickly, starting in November 2006 – he had been Works Manager with his previous employer but had to go back onto the shop floor at much lower wages for this job – but work is work so he just got on with it. He worked there and we continued to do the odd car boot to help make ends meet

By this time, the term finished on the car loan and we could not pay the balance – Mr 3Dogs knew we were behind with the payments, but not the extent of the debt owing. I was still hiding things – trying to open the post when he was not there, saying ‘oh that’s just a statement’ or ‘oh that the new direct debit details confirmation’, and filing the letters away in a drawer, dealing with them only when I had to

Also, my arthritis was getting much worse and I was suffering from depression but it had not yet been recognised as such by me or my doctor, and I could not understand why I felt the way I did. I had always been very capable – the one to take charge of things. I had been in a very good with loads of responsibility, but couldn’t even cope with day to day mishaps. I suffered a torn hamstring, which was agony and took over a year to get over. I was struggling to get about, and could only go upstairs one step at a time and in great pain. And coming downstairs was even worse. So we applied for Council Housing (Social Housing as it is now called) on the grounds on my ill-health, and with the support of my doctor. I desperately needed single-floor accommodation and we applied for a bungalow in any of the nearby villages (we lived in town at this time). We were very lucky to be offered one within weeks but it turned out to be totally unsuitable. We did consider taking it just to get away from the stairs in our house at the time but I realised that I would have been very unhappy there and would get even more depressed – I really could not have coped with living there. We agreed to wait for the next offer, whenever it would be, hoping that it would not be long. But this was a very bad time for me as I was let down by a very close friend and I took it very badly. I felt so alone. My nerves were shot but it was at this time that I was at last diagnosed with depression and anxiety attacks, and the doctor started me on different medications, to see what suited me best. With this, my health and mobility problems, as well as the mounting debt which hubbie still did not know the extent of, I really was a wreck

And that was when the real bombshell fell ..........................................................................

....................... to be continued

beanielou

SW~whats your night class?

beanielou

3Dogs~Thank you so much for sharing your story xx

3Dogs

Back from slimming class and I had stayed the same weight but that's OK 'cause I have definitely lost inches this week - my 'weigh-in' trousers are nearly falling off me - had to keep hitching them up!!! And I know, on reflexion, that I went slightly over on my treats this week, so I am pleased - total loss 4 stones :j :j

Time to ring Mam for today's chat so will be back in about half an hour - hope everyone has had a good day - I have

savingwannabe

oh my gosh what a story!! And you are one of the nicest most cheerful people i know. You have a real empathy with people some people are nice because they have been through so much. You are amazing 3Dogs, it is so hard calling you that!!!!

Well done on your trousers. How strange does that sound???? I must start doing some exercise one day.

Beanie hello sweetie, just arrived after A Level English Night Class. I had to do a test and everyone was so quick i had to think and it took me a while. That makes me sound thick doesn't it? But earlier in the lesson people didn't even know what adverbs and nouns etc were. We did all this aged about 9 so i think they all blagged. I find out next week how i did.

Has anyone heard from the boyos today? I hope they are having a ball on their holiday.

3Dogs

Hiya SW - bet you did fine on your test - you speak better English than me - I speak Geordie!! Mind you, Engish Language was my highest pass mark in my O'Levels (Physics as my lowest but at least I passed it!)

savingwannabe

Physics was my lowest too. O level Grade C, i wrote down the wrong experiment on the 15 mark question. My Physics teacher went ape with me. Years later he visited me when i was working in a shop (whilst studying a degree) and he was still going on about it!!!! Sorry Mr Mac i loved you really.

Speaking Brummie with a good grade at O level English almost negates it 3 Dogs, you have nuffink to worry about!!!

3Dogs

When we did our mock exams the year before, my Physics teacher wanted me to drop Physics as I only got about 40% but I persuaded him that I loved Physics and would work harder so he let me take it (really, I was frightened to tell my Dad that I had to drop a subject - I hated letting him down). Anyway, our actual exam was mainly about magnetism and I had been top of the class the year we did that as I found it very straight forward - so I was lucky and remembered most of it. Lucky or what!!

savingwannabe

I still remember a few bits the calculation for specific heat capacity, and V=IR calculation, some nonsense about reflection and refraction. I had a fantastic education, and years later i can barely remember it. How embarrassing.

I still know my Latin off by heart! But how often does one meet a cute Roman or any Roman ????

If I ever need a plug changed i will call you ok?

savingwannabe

Steve just texted he is happy and having a fab time. He cannot get to a computer and wants to send you his love.
I have tomorrow off from work and i have some lesson prep to do but i am going to enjoy myself.
I am very tired i think i am going to sleep. Have a good night. love, SW.