It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

katieowl_2

BigMummaF wrote: »

Our 'local' news covers Southampton, so we're pretty clued up about what certain councils are trying to do with their employees wage packets. There's so much I could say that I'm not sure I can post it in a joined-up-thinking way but I've got to get it out of my system or I shall explode!

1) This is directed at the toppest of the top! I shall be more inclined to believe that "we are in this together", when I see *supermarket's:- *value range fleece throws on the benches of both Houses during PMQ etc; they have half the lights on & those that are, are *energy saving bulbs; their dining halls are replaced with a few *budget microwaves & vending machines; their cars are electric/hybrids with no more than 995cc engines; they & their partners wear high street fashions--& more than once!--for offical duties, & their expenses equate to Ge0rge & Fr3d instead of 4tnum & Maisin :mad:

2) Those members of the general public who are 'asked for their thougthts' for news bits about dustmen's strikes etc, make me wish I were a venomous spitting spider when they are more concerned about their own comfort than the bigger picture. Many's the time I can be heard by my neighbours, shouting that they (on telly!) should try being--eg, a care worker--if they think it's so easy, & don't come to me for support when their job is the next being considered for extreme cuts :mad: We all need each other, doing what we do, to keep society ticking over.

Public transport workers lose their jobs = no way of getting to work.
Highways budget cuts = more potholes in roads & pavements = no way of getting to work.
Tanker drivers = no milk, no fuel, no grain, no support = no way of getting to work.
Education & social care = facilities closed = kids & dependent relatives at home = no way of getting to work.
NHS auxillery = nurses doing the cleaning & portering = longer waiting lists = longer off work.

And STOP telling the unemployed "there are plenty of jobs out there" when you look down your nose even driving past the j0b centre :mad: How on earth can you expect someone to take a position on a 12wk contract knowing that it's going to take you six weeks to get any money when that time is up & you're back on the dole, & you'll be charged with fraudulently claiming benefits because dwp haven't caught up with the paperwork from when the work started!

My brain hurts now but I'd just like to add that the situation has not been helped by people who think they are entitled to have exactly what they want, when they want it & to He11 with the consequences. I speak from experience, as a family member is currently boo-hooing over a situation that is entirely of their own making. I'm going through the motions of expressing sympathy, but in reality I wish I had the guts to tell them to wake up & smell the instant coffee

Here endeth the Rant according to me :cheesy:

I thought it was only members of my family who shouted at the radio and telly? Perhaps you are a long lost relation?
Sometimes I just stop listening for a few days as it puts my blood pressure up.

Totally agree that those 'in charge' of the country need a great big wake up call. Seems a spot of rioting wasn't enough. There are probably only a handful of MP's who have the slightest inkling what life is like for 'most' people. We hates 'em all!!!

And re your comments on the unemployed :T wonderful to hear someone else say THE TRUTH. I had my daughter with a degree and her qualified plumber BF here sleeping on my sofa for a year, as they both lost their jobs in London and could NOT find work in any sector. We had to go rescue them before they were made homeless. She finally managed to get one here (although it's only part-time), but he's still unemployed, despite adding an IT qualification to his CV during the last year at college.

My 19 yr old son has just gone to college after 9 months unemployed...he applied for every job that came up that he could conceivably get to by public transport, and one or two more that the job centre made him apply for, that he couldn't have got to... but got not one single interview and in all that time, only one person bothered to say 'no thanks' to his application. He decided last year not to go to Uni as having seen how his sister has struggled, he thought there was no point running up a debt - he thought he'd get a job instead - He wanted to do History, which is his passion, but he's looked and seen there's no work using it - so he's training to be a Carpenter! Lets hope when he's trained as a carpenter, he can find a job then?

I'm so, so sick of telling people there is no freaking work to be had!!! Everyone has some 'dumb a$$' suggestion, like we haven't explored every option possible. Yes we've trawled up and down the high street with CV's, YES we've been into all the supermarkets and asked for evening/weekend work, YES we have looked in the local paper - DUH - where there is one job a week if you are lucky.

My Middle kid is back for her final year at uni next week, and is looking at jobs already to see what is around. Nothing is around that's what! She's given up any hope of getting a job using her degree subject before she's even finished. She's planning on coming back to Wales, and getting any work she can. Oh and she'll have £35-40,000 worth of student debt (for a four year course)

What IS going to happen to this generation? How will they ever be able to afford to buy a home of their own, or have our grandchildren, if all they can hope for is a part time minimum wage job? What pensions will they pay into? Who will look after THEM when they are old or sick if they don't have a family?

Truly I despair.


Kate

Ladyshopper

I read this thread all the time, but have never posted, but I just wanted to add my experience of plantar fasciitus (sp), as I suffered from it for around 18 months.

Where I live there is a school of podiatry run by the university students at the hospital where you can self refer. Unfortunately my Dr either didn't know this or didn't bother telling me, it was purely by chance!

Anyway, they were fantastic there, we went through insoles, exercises, taping up, wearing a splint at night and even acupuncture (that was through work). Unfortunately none of that worked, and the only shoes I could wear throughout this period was crocs, so I had to be on light duties at work. Eventually they had no choice than to give me steroid injections into my foot (not pleasant but I bought the local anaesthetic cream emla and put it on an hour beforehand, and it made an amazing difference as could feel very little of needle going in).

Took 2 injections, as the first one wore off very fast, but touch wood the second seemed to do the trick and I have been free of the condition for about 2 years now.

I think mine was quite an extreme case, not many poeple have to go as far as having the injections, but there are plenty of options to try before getting to that point.

At my worst I was unable to put my foot flat on the floor when getting up from a lying/seated position, and as previously stated could only tolerate wearing crocs and nothing else.

ifonlyitwaseasier

Katieowl - with you there, i have applied for umpteen jobs and even out of the couple that i'd been lucky enough to get to the interview stage with only 1 person has replied with a thanks but no thanks email.

paidinchickens

Does anyone know the starting pay for an MP???


We spoke to the newsagent a couple of weeks ago to see if DS could go on the waiting list for a paper round. The man said there was 80 names on the waiting list :eek: children and adults. We have also spoken to the lady that sorts the free paper delivery routes to see if she has any rounds close to us and she has been getting roughly forty calls a day.

I think I may have to tell DS to put his name on the paper round list as it will probably be the only job available when he leaves school.

Went to two jumble sales today and got a brand new pair of curtains for 50p and two large water containers for 50p which I thought may come in handy if the pipes freeze/burst in the coming winter.

Had a lovely drive round a neighbouring village this evening. It is their yearly Scarecrow festival and some of them were absolutely fabulous and really mad me laugh. I am glad I forced all three boys to come with me as it seems ages since we have all been out somewhere together. I wish I did not have to worry about how much fuel it used though

The temperature really has dropped this evening. Some good advice I had recently was to go for a walk if the house is cold and when you come back it feels a lot warmer. We have done this most nights by going whoopsie buying and it does work:)

off to find some socks

PIC

HariboJunkie

paidinchickens wrote: »

Does anyone know the starting pay for an MP???

PIC

Pay for MPs. and a comparison of pay in other countries HERE.

katieowl_2

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Pay for MPs. and a comparison of pay in other countries HERE.

That's about four times what we've ever had coming in, even in a good year!

Kind of explains why they are out of touch?


Kate

paidinchickens

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Pay for MPs. and a comparison of pay in other countries HERE.

Well no wonder they need an expense account then :eek::eek::eek:


I must remember to pop round to my MPs surgery with a food parcel :mad::mad::mad:

Just shown DH and he is swearing now as well :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

mardatha

Ladyshopper thanks for that - my son got 3 lots of steroid injections but only the first one really helped for a bit. He has Tarsal Tunnel syndrome - like carpal but feet. He got told this op was his only hope and if that doesnt work then there's nothing else they can do for him. And it can take 12-18 months for the pain to go away after the op and then we won't know if it has worked. Am surprised at how many people suffer with this. I will get him a pair of Crocs for his xmas.
EDITED- He did have plantar to begin with and also has flat feet - that added to 12 hour shifts made it worse. So anybody else who has this please try to rest those feet !!

smileyt_2

£65,000 MP wages? Where do I sign up to become an MP? That's six times more than I earn! Plus they get their Fortnum and Mason and Harrods expenses! I know most of them work hard but boy, they must be out of touch. Imagine having enough money that you don't have to worry about the heating bills! I bet they don't sit at home in a woolly hat with two pairs of socks and legwarmers on (that's me at the moment and it's not even properly cold outside yet!).

Hugs to those who are in cr*ppy job situations. I suggest in the worst case scenario we all form a campaign, take our tents, and camp on David Cameron's lawn as we'll be homeless at the rate things are going.

Well, I am going to watch the last two episodes of Ashes to Ashes on DVD (my sister bought it for me last Christmas) and that should take my mind of the state of the world. :D I also have a warm dog snuggled next to me :smileyhea; I love my dogs

v8monkeyboy

Sorry this is so late, but here's the recipe for tomato ketchup:

Cooking time: 35-40 minutes, makes apporox 2.5kg/5.5lb

1-2 tsp pickling spice
450ml white malt vinegar
1.8Kg ripe tomatoes
225g onions
350g cooking apples, weight when peeled and cored
450ml caster sugar
salt and black pepper to taste

Boil vinegar and spices for 5 minutes, then strain.
Chop tomatoes, peel and finely chop the onions and apples.
Put tomates, apples and onions without any liquid into a pan and simmer gently, stirring from time to time until it becomes a thick puree.
Rub the puree through a sieve, making sure only the skins from the tomatoes are left.
Return the puree to the pan with the vinegar and sugar.
Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then boil steadily until thickened, and season to taste.
Bottle the sauce, then sterilize using a water bath, leaving enough space at the top of the bottles/jars for expansion. Sterilize for 10 minutes, then seal down.

*If you want to use a liquidizer instead of a sieve, then skin the tomatoes before cooking.

Hope this helps

T xx