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

katieowl_2

the_cat wrote: »

I'd tell him the truth and hope I could word it in a way that didn't offend.

Otherwise in 12 days (or however long it takes for the dog to finish the first batch of tins) you will be back to worrying and the dog will be back to being hungry

Yes I think you have the essence of my dilemma there...if I do the lying thing, I can't do it again....and I want to be able to if the problem persists (which knowing how long these appeals and things take I think is likely)

I suppose I could do the my dogs won't eat this as an icebreaker? Then say this is a pressie from my girls next time?

Kate

the_cat

katieowl wrote: »

I suppose I could do the my dogs won't eat this as an icebreaker? Then say this is a pressie from my girls next time?

Kate

Hmm, not sure. I would personally feel more awkward/embarrassed if I were in his shoes if it came to light on occasion number 2 or 3 that I had been 'duped' and that there had been a couple of unknowing acceptances of 'charity' than if you were up front from the beginning. However well intentioned, I would feel worse if I were lied to and tricked into it rather than talked to about it sensibly

Maybe that's just me though

Charis

katieowl wrote: »

Yes I think you have the essence of my dilemma there...if I do the lying thing, I can't do it again....and I want to be able to if the problem persists (which knowing how long these appeals and things take I think is likely)

I suppose I could do the my dogs won't eat this as an icebreaker? Then say this is a pressie from my girls next time?

Kate

Honesty is always the best policy. He sounds a nice guy, why not just offer him six tins and say that you hope he won't be offended but you understand how much he loves his dog. Hopefully he will be very grateful and you may feek able to help him again. We take the risk of rejection when we offer someone something they are not in a position to repay, but we don't know how truly desperate they may be.

In the meantime, to address his real problem, the iniquity of taking food from someone confined to a wheelchair, maybe dropping a line to his MP might sort things out? It's probably some Jobsworth who lacks the intelligence to interpret the rules who's made such a stupid decision.
Here's a web page that helps you contact your local councillor/MP that you could share with him to hopefully get things put right.

HariboJunkie

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

...and the BOE dursen't raise the interest rates because they know that we will be well and truly up a certain creek without a paddle.

Absolutely. It would be the surest way to speed up a major house price crash too.

KatieOwl, I don't envy you your dilemma. An MSE way to go may be to buy him a big bag of complete dog food thereby negating the need for meat at all (as it's very expensive and in 12 days the dog will be going without again) I would be honest and say that you've heard this brand is very good and nutritious for the dog. We weaned our pup of tinned meat quite easily.

Wet and windy here. Quelle Surprise!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Mountains of ironing to do to get ready for the childrens' holiday so better get on.

katieowl_2

HariboJunkie wrote: »

KatieOwl, I don't envy you your dilemma. An MSE way to go may be to buy him a big bag of complete dog food thereby negating the need for meat at all (as it's very expensive and in 12 days the dog will be going without again) I would be honest and say that you've heard this brand is very good and nutritious for the dog. We weaned our pup of tinned meat quite easily.

Well I'm buying 15K bags of complete from the local farmers Co-op...it's working dog food and high protein (and vat free!) My dogs do like it even plain, a rare thing! It's about £8.99 a bag! Only thing they've ever agreed to eat that was on budget... I did wonder about buying some of that, but it's a bit difficult to slip someone a bag of something you can't lift up yourself

OK I need to think this through...I'm hatching a plan.

@ Charis. He's onto the MP thing already, his daughter is helping out with appeal, but she's a student so not financially able to help I shouldn't think.

Some flaming jobsworth was what we thought too...it's so stupid to interpret the rules like that, but what I'm reading on here more and more, this seems to be what's going on. It's a great wheeze isn't it? I wonder how many people just give up on these hoops they are asked to jump and just crawl off and die in a corner! Saving LOADS of money for the govt. Barstewards.

Kate

Gingerbiscuit_2

Kate that is lovely idea, I am disabled myself and we all expect to be hit hard buy all the changes to DLA and other benefits you get. So if I was really stuck I would have to swollow my pride and accept help from friends espeically if I had to look after someone else or a pet. I would say to him look Im going buy you this food to help you out while it is sorted out so you have one less thing to worry about, I will bring it over tomorrow etc that way he cant wiggle out of it.

katieowl_2

Gingerbiscuit wrote: »

Kate that is lovely idea, I am disabled myself and we all expect to be hit hard buy all the changes to DLA and other benefits you get. So if I was really stuck I would have to swollow my pride and accept help from friends espeically if I had to look after someone else or a pet. I would say to him look Im going buy you this food to help you out while it is sorted out so you have one less thing to worry about, I will bring it over tomorrow etc that way he cant wiggle out of it.

:kisses3: Perfect! I do also happen to have some funds at the moment which are strictly designated for using to help someone else, some funds from an estate I administered, I know my friend who died would have, and in fact did, EXACTLY the same thing on several occassions...so it all feels good!

Kate

maryb

You could also say, I saw this on special offer and thought of you, it was too good to miss and hopefully it will last until your appeal gets sorted

maryb

Feeling a bit down because I've just seen DD off to university for the start of her final year. You would think I would be used to it by now as she's doing a four year degree. Actually, I did get pretty used to it for Years 2 and 3 but this year feels more like the first time she went off. Lord alone knows what I'll be like when DD2 goes off in 3 years time.

I'm trying to resist retail therapy, but I might go and price some nice fabric to make a blind for my "sewing room", where I sit during the day. (Actually my laptop which is in there as well gets more use than my sewing machine) It's a tiny room but faces North and it has got a big sash window so once it gets dark and the temperature drops you really feel the cold air. And the nights are really starting to draw in now.

I might, however, splurge on some YumYums

Seakay

There seems to have been a secret memo to get as many people off DLA as possible - sister of friend who has ME went to appeal and was shouted at and harrassed by one bloke the whole time; she was told that she doesn't need to be able to carry a sauce pan of water to drain veg, she can remove one potatoe at a time with a spoon. She was told that falling over on a hill doesn't count, only a flat surface. If you fall on a flat surface and no one comes to your aid and you eventually manage to get up it doesn't count as a problem. She was so traumatised by the experience that she will not complain not will she apply again because she cannot risk the negative effect on her health - she could not speak all the way home, then she cried for ages, then she had to go to bed for a week. She's still not really recovered and it was weeks ago.

Get someone from CAB or social services to go with you to an appeal, or at the very least tape the whole thing on a dictaphone so that you can force your MP to listen to it at their next surgery.

This will not be a case of a jobsworth, this will be someone who will be scrutinised and have targets to ensure that they are implementing government policy where MPs of all parties have conspired with the media to make "benefits" synonomous with "cheat" and "scrounger" so that there will not be a general outcry when vital services and money is taken away from the most vulnerable in society.


"I have a pile of white cotton bedding to wash but don`t think today will be the day, looks like maybe tomorrow. I hate the way my washer takes nearly 3 hours to do a bog standard 60 cotton wash and by the time I have done two washes the drying opportunity has gone. We put two long lines up this time of year as the whirly line takes too long to dry a lot"

you can get plug in timers (I use them to make lamps come on and off if I am away) which you can use to make the washing machine come on at night so that it's ready to go aout first thing and you can take instant advantage of any fine weather.
They aren't very expensive, eg http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackspur-BB-TS200-HOUR-TIMER-SOCKET/dp/B000QFCQ88/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1317903639&sr=8-4