A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

kidcat

Having read the all about the workfare programme I can say that I have never seen such a blatant attempt to bring back slavery. Am extraordinarily cross and am drafting a letter to my local MP.
One thing that does bother me is how this is not being used by opposing parties as a massive campaign? Surely any party that stood and shouted out at the policy would be able to garner support.

Have had a very vexing day - I have spent two hours trying to load pictures of old car to ebay to try to sell it, but they would not load, eventually had to dig out littlies new laptops and try to do it that way, and hey ho loaded first time:mad::mad::mad::mad:, whilst it shows that the laptops are very good, its shown that the main computer is definitely failing:mad::mad:

Having finally listed the car we have already received an offer - looks to be from a dealer as all his feedback relates to cars - all state how he insists on winning, then viewing then re-negotiating so have declined the offer. AM looking into blocking him as I really do not need the hassle. Have listed all its faults and pointed out that buyers should take the time to view before placing any bid. Whether they will bother remains to be seen.

Byatt

Hi Guys, been reading with interest, but not up to posting much. Put the links on my FB page and intend to boycott Mr T's along with the others on the list.

PAH, good to see you again. So sorry about your depression but it's understandable. Huge hugs. Could you tell me more about the biobulb. I have a SAD lamp, but you say the bulb is better. Well done on the not smoking, but sorry about your gums.

Gardenia, sorry you have been low too. It's horrible isn't it. One of the signs for me is that I no longer want to listen to music. When I feel OK, I love music.

GQ, that's happened to me several times, and it's always my best posts!

Ivyleaf I've crossed over from IB to ESA. They first sent me the form last year and had my medical in August (I think, memory is so poor), I was given ESA and I'm in the work group (bit of a joke, because all it means is you end up going on courses which are voluntary ahem, mandatory, and they really don't help)...I am doing permitted work for my business. I didn't have a bad experience at the medical, but who knows what was actually written down. I had to fill in another form just before Xmas as it seems I was to be reviewed after 3-6 months, but so far I'm still on it. I'm waiting to hear what happens after the 12 months as the govt want ESA to stop after that time if contribution based.

smileyt_2

Petition against workfare here if anyone wants to sign it (sorry if it's been shared before, I am losing track!):
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29356

Companies like Tesco can afford to pay wages out of their zillions of profits :mad:!

Am off to do some cross-stitch for a while in the hope that I will calm down a bit. I hope all the poorlies on here manage a good night's sleep xxx

westcoastscot

It's totally unbelievable isn't it??? It feels like we're heading back to a workhouse mentality - I can see a day when benefits are treated like the workhouse was, something only to be used when absolutely desperate - which will push people further back into poverty, ditto those who have lost their benefits for any reason.
I find the whole situation really scary!
WCS

gardenia101

SDG31000 wrote: »

Gardenia- A very belated Happy Birthday :bdaycake: Can I suggest buying yourself something you really want/like and putting it away for next year. That way you know you have a present coming and if your memory is anything like mine, will have forgotten what you brought by the time it rolls around.

There is an inherent flaw in that plan - I will have forgotten about the present by then, & where I put it :rotfl:

paidinchickens wrote: »

On the other hand I am 40 at the end of the year, most of my friends turn 40 through the year and we are all falling to bits in one way or another. Is it all down hill from here???

Fraid so! I'm now 43 & feel so old most days even though I don't have any other health problems apart from my sight. Friends are also saying that body bits are starting to give up on them :eek:

ETA: After sitting cross-legged & catching up with this thread for almost 2 hours I had to stand up in stages, slowly & puffing. And my knee clicked as I went upstairs!

Sorry to hear about your recent problems PIC but you deserve a medal for not smoking :T

paidinchickens wrote: »

Just telling DH about the FB page and it's no longer there :eek:

I'm trying to ignore all the news about benefit cuts as I'm one of those who'll be kicked off ESA as my sight hasn't magically restored itself after 12 months :mad:. When I'm feeling a bit more eloquent I'll rant along with you all.

Did anyone else do CSE Home Ec? I wasn't "allowed" to do O level with all the brainy girls as we never had enough money to spend on obscure ingrediants or we wouldn't eat offal (& there was no help or understanding from school back then). But I do remember the exam - we had to make a 3 course meal from scratch & clear away afterwards, wash, dry & iron a shirt (were allowed to use a drier but had to handwash shirt) & write answers to questions about keeping to a budget, how best to cook certain cuts of meat & what to consider while decorating a room. All in 2.5 or 3 hours.

All quite useful skills really - us thickies in the CSE class passed (although I don't think you could really fail a CSE ) while some of those clever O level girlies left their exam in tears, not having finished... I learned a lot about time management from these lessons (Mrs. Thomas would be horrified if she could see me now). Nothing like my DD's DT lessons - why waste 4 hours on designing a darn pizza box?

mardatha

Signed and shared smiley thanks!

paidinchickens

I don't know anything much about benefits really.

My Mum had a stroke and was really poorly for a few months and they tried to get her back to work even though she is retirement age in May. I can not see the point in them wasting the money sending her here and there when she has proof she is ill and has very little time before retirement. She has worked all her life.

I have an uncle who has worked all his life and got made redundant and he has not even had chance to park his *ss down in his armchair before they have sent him on a work for your dole thingy. Surely he has experience of a job as he has worked all his life :mad:

As I said the other day two weeks of pain and I could not be asked to argue with DH never mind fill forms, argue, be called a liar and have to appeal every five minutes for your sick money.

We have three boys at home 15,12 and 9 what hope have they got if they can't even get a shelf stacking job because they are all taken by people on unpaid slave labour.

I gave up my job a year ago when DH and I sat and worked out we could save as much as I was earning and decided with all the issues we were having it would be easier. I am fortunate he is in a well paid job and we do not need to claim.

My eldest boy can't even get a paper round as there is a long list of adult waiting for the job :eek:

I signed the petition with pleasure

PIC x

moments_of_sanity

Count me in, I signed the petition too!

My Brother is on benefits, he is 42 but has learning difficulties. He can't count, tell the time or has no concept of money. He also has very severe lymphodema in his leg, it is three times the size of his other leg and weighs about 2.5 stone due to it being filled with fluid. This mean he can't walk far, can't bend to pick anything up and if he is sitting down he has to get up every half hour as his leg gets painful and he struggles to get in and out of a car as he can't bend it very much.

He has tried to get work after being made redundant some 5 years ago but has been completely unsuccessful due to his disabilities yet he is in danger of losing some of his benefits - how unfair!

Fortunately he lives with my Dad so although it will make things tighter it won't mean he goes without food or heating (although my Dad is retired and aged 68). Luckily we have managed to get him voluntary work with a local disability organisation running discos etc and he really loves it but as for paid work..............not a chance! :mad:

prepareathome

I bought these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecozone-Biobulb-Energy-Saving-Daylight-Bayonet/dp/B000F5FNXE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329683679&sr=8-1

What I like is it fills whole room with white light where as SAD Lamp is only that a lamp and lights just a small area. I usually don't like having ceiling lights on but this is like having sun shining in the room - its like being in harsh bright light, so I found I had to build up my use of it as I got headaches, so did half an hour a day for a bit then a bit longer etc., etc until I can now have it on hours without it causing any. If you have it on and put a normal lamp on you really can see how white the light is from it and how yellow the lamp light is - normal long life bulbs. It was someone on the preparing for winter thread that mentioned Biobulbs and I will be eternally grateful to them as although expensive I think they are worth every penny ( mine has been in use 4 months now, ok not all day every day but I hope it lasts me the winter, it will be worth buying one a year if it keeps depression at bay). I also have one in the study as so much better for working under and thinking of maybe putting on in the hall as its such a dark deary place no matter how we decorate it but hubby likes to have the hall light on all night and I think we will go through quite a few bulbs then and get a bit expensive, so can't decide.

katieowl_2

I've signed the petition too.

I've just been reading in the Daily Wail about placing homeless families in accomodation out of London to save money -
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103298/Send-Hull-London-house-homeless-north-save-money-rent.html) - So that's REALLY going to help isn't it :mad: Dumping a whole load more people in an already disadvantaged area where there's bu&&er all work for those that live there already!

On the general discussion of saving a few bob, and being prepared, when I was out with the girls the other day, I spotted some sprouting seed mixture in a health food shop. One of my self sufficiency books suggests they are a great thing to have to hand! It's been years since I've done any sprouts, so I bought some to try, and also got some mung beans from approved foods a week later and last nights stirfry had our home grown sprouts in! The man cub was MOST IMPRESSED with the beansprouts!

I'm just soaking the stuff from the health shop to go in my proper sprouter, they are the little shoots that you eat as salad. But back to the drawing board on the mung beans, they tasted fine, but they were a bit short and wiggly - the mark 2 home made sprouter has been constructed, after consulting the internet Four mushroom boxes: two with holes made with a hot skewer, one as a tray and one as a lid, should do the trick apparently they need a deep tray with a weight on! (top tray will be filled with water!) Isn't the internet a wonder.

Kate