Horace's Biting the Bullet Diary

Aesop

Horace wrote: »

Plans are afoot to change my business including charging an annual membership fee .

She suggested that I see it for a third time - I said that if I saw it again then I would have to move in:rotfl:
he will also have to pay for a removal van to remove my furniture because I don't see why I should pay it:rotfl:

I know the health trainer will go nuts because he thinks I should eat 6 meals a day and that I should eat regardless or not of whether I feel hungry.

Yesterday, I was miffed to say the least - I applied for a job at a local University College of catholic persuasion and their equal ops form was quite lengthy - no opportunity to say whether or not I was separated. What was more galling was I was asked for my sexual orientation - I declined to answer because I didn't think that such a question was legal. They also wanted to know my religion - I selected None - are they allowed to ask that especially when they say they accept people of all faiths?

well done on deciding how to take your business forward, that is such positive news.

yes, he should pay for your furniture removal

I would struggle to eat 6 meals a day too, even small ones.

well in today's day and age they shouldn't be allowed to ask those particular questions but I am sure they will have a very good reason why they can ask!

all sounding so positive Horace. Love the comment if you view the house for a third time, you will move in

Hope your mam and dad get to see it properly soon, so you can move in

Horace

Just had a lovely surprise - I follow my local police force on twitter and during December they ran a little competition asking for crime prevention tips to put on their online christmas tree so that people will know what to do to prevent their christmas pressies from being nicked. My little tweet was selected and I was asked for my address details so they could send me a little something. The little something arrived today in a rather large packet:

A pink microfibre cloth
A pen
A UV Marker Pen
Some crime prevention leaflets
An EON shower save
A keyring
A hanging smelly for my car
A sticker for my car telling burglars not to bother as nothing kept in the car.
Some anti tamper screws for my number plates
A wipe for my satnav
A personal attack alarm
A shed alarm inc batteries which is keypad operated.

These items will come in useful when I move house.

I have been toying with my business for a while - I know that I want it to be successful and know that it will be successful. My confidence took such a huge battering plus I was given duff advice by someone who likes to comment and criticise yet bemoans the fact that I want to charge a decent fee - £10 for breakfast would net me £2.50 profit but I want more than £2.50 - charging £12 would be more realistic. People are willing to pay membership fees - a membership fee and breakfast or whatever fee is classed as a business expense. Yes, I know there is a recession on but businesses are still paying £500+ for annual membership and weekly for breakfasts.

I would also like to run a business expo and have some actual learning going on instead of speakers who are self-appointed gurus. It may also be time for me to resurrect another business idea that I had a couple of years' ago that relates to disabled people. See, I am definitely an ideas person:D

I shall continue to see paid employment too because I need a regular wage coming in at least until my business makes enough money to keep a roof over my head.

beanielou

Any news on the house front?

greenbee

Great ideas Horace... now you need to turn the ideas into reality. That's where I always have problems. I need a completer finisher to actually DO the stuff.

Horace

What a week...and it is only Monday:eek:

Missed out on lunch at my parents yesterday because Mum phoned on Saturday afternoon to say not to bother as it was blowing a blizzard by her and the roads would be treacherous. Good job I had some stew cooking as I cooked it again and had it for dinner last night too. My mum is going to try and get dad to go and see the house this week - I said that I absolutely love it and could move in tomorrow. I want somewhere warm and safe - although at this moment in time I have no idea how I am going to pay the bills - cross that bridge when I come to it I guess. I have a plan re the leccy and gas and it involves UW.

Today I have been writing CVs and covering letters and applying for jobs. I have applied for an admin post in an accountants, a sales negotiator post with an estate agent (the same agents who are selling 'my' house). I have rung up about a medical secretary job in a medical practice in Droitwich - they fair swooned when I said that I had worked in Cancer Studies at the University for 2 years - they are sending an application form. I am toying with the idea of applying for a legal secretary job working at a law firm in Worcester dealing with criminal law (this and business law are my favourites) but there is the thought of getting there, I could drive part way and leave my car in the park and ride, I could go by train (this may mean I get a train to brum and a train out as I don't think it stops at my local station), I can also go by bus and this will take about an hour to an hour and a half...then what to do in the winter when the roads are bad??

Spent some time at the local college this morning having a literacy test - you will be pleased to know that I am at GCSE standard whatever that means. This is to get me onto a 4 week getting ready for employment course - I hope I am in work before then.:mad:

I rang the JCP Compliance Officer last week to say that she couldn't come around because I had an appointment elsewhere - she hasn't bothered to phone me back nor have I had a letter about another appointment. How much proof do they need? They are asking for sight of my passport, copies of my bank statements, copy of my rental agreement plus a copy of a utility bill - they have had all this more than once already:mad:

I have spent the afternoon writing up the divorce papers and printing them off - three copies of the ruddy things - now I need to find out which court to send them to because the information is vague - it just says Birmingham, however, we have several courts in Birmingham - does it go to the family court or the crown court? I have no idea.

chevalier

hi Horace
Still seems to be a bit up and down in your life at the moment. I hope that now your dad has had the operation, he perks up enough to be able to see the house, so you can be settled.

I find it astonishing how much evidence you seem to have to produce, yet others don't seem to do sweet FA to get their benefit. I guess you have got on the radar some how, ie tall poppy syndrome?

I really hope one of them comes off for you.
chev

Horace

It is all up and down at the moment. Sometimes life sucks.

Dad has had the lump removed - it seems it was a cyst. He is as well as can be expected for an old 'un who has congestive heart failure.

This morning I called the law society because I did not have a number for the court - the Directgov website told me that I must issue the papers to the Birmingham Courts, however, there are several and it was case of finding which one. The receptionist at the law society was most rude, the only number I then found was for the probate office so rang them and they gave me the right number to ring because they are in the same building - far more helpful than the cow at the law society.

I am on the radar of the jobcentre because I do things by the book - it was unfortunate that I had to turn to them when my business struggled and I couldn't live on £51 a week. Hopefully, I will be rid of them soon, I am signing on on Friday anyway and shall have words with them - after all, where were they when they sailed me down the river and made me work for con woman back in 2008? The only way I could get a back payment of benefit then was to make a formal complaint about my DEA.:mad:

I am job hunting in earnest because I need the wage coming in. Something must come up trumps - I found out yesterday that the next phase of the rebuilding of Longbridge is about to start and a new 72 room hotel will be built - wonder if I can get a job there?

I need to get confidence back into myself because I keep thinking that I am carp at things when the reality is different.

Last night, I watched Superscrimpers on the tv - that woman annoys me. They showed this young couple who spent loads of money decorating their house and set them a budget of £50 to decorate their spare bedroom - they claimed it needed a new carpet because it had a massive stain on it. Must admit that I was boggled when they produced a carpet cleaner that they had had all along and set about cleaning it themselves - talk about lazy. I am starting to think that the programme is a complete scam as folks have these means of cleaning/decorating yet miracles happen as they drag out their cleaning machines and sewing machines - hey look at me I can clean the carpet and I can use a sewing machine.

peb

Not sure if you got to the bottom of this Horace but it County Courts that deal with this sort of matter.#]


HTH

LondonGirl252

Hey Horace,

Hope your Dad recovers well, at least that lump has gone now which must be something of a relief.

You're doing so well with all your applications and your job hunting, I have everything crossed that you find something soon and can be rid of the job centre. If I was an employer reading this diary I know I'd employ you, you should definitly keep your eye on that new hotel development, they'll have allsorts of opportunities.

I didn't see that episode but I know exactly what you mean!!!

Horace

More applications submitted today both online and post (although I do need to go to the post box) I have also printed out all the divorce stuff and found which address I need to send it, I may actually put a letter in with it because soon to be ex has agreed that I keep my furniture but is bemoaning the fact that I have asked for £15K settlement as i have put money into that house, I shall then ask in the letter about a financial clean break order - I may just re-open the envelope (thank goodness for letter openers and sellotape:rotfl:)

I am slowly learning to use my fountain pen although I do think it is a bit scratchy and my writing does not seem as good and to think that I submitted all my O Levels etc in fountain pen (hark at me showing my age).

I have applied for a job in Worcester - I had to think about it for a while and then I looked them up on the map and found that they are a few steps away from the main railway station and right by the park and ride stop so I can leave my car on the outskirts and go in by bus or get the train. They asked what salary I was after so I said £18K - after all I have bills to pay and I want to accrue some savings.

I have even applied for a job as a wedding planner in a posh hotel today. It was listed on caterer.com on 27 Jan but I only just noticed it so rang the agency who I had to submit an application to and asked about it. Seems that someone was lined up for the job and they didnt want it and they may be someone else in the offing but was asked to submit my application anyway. Surely they want someone with extensive business contacts for their event rooms and someone with a posh diploma in wedding planning, who has planned some awkward weddings and worked with a wedding business in gran canaria who is also pink approved.