Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary,
Hello HeadAboveWater, sorry I didn't see your post earlier, and thanks for the hug.

*Robin* wrote: »

...all of us are capable of reaching out to improve the lot of someone else.

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Absolutely

Karma I guess: what goes around comes around. As you've proved! But it's the giving that we get most satisfaction and pleasure out of, not receiving. Ever seen the film Pay It Forward? Seven Pounds is kinda along the same lines too.

You are so right! This morning I heard from a mutual friend that one of the gifts arrived yesterday, at a moment when the young recipient was feeling very low - she was delighted, so it cheered her up - which has pleased and cheered me up too. :T

Don't think I've seen that film - will watch out for it on the tv.

*Robin* wrote: »

The charity I mentioned is the only one I've ever come across where the donor is certain that 100% of whatever they give actually reaches the intended recipient

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

That's one thing I feel strongly about and why I'm reluctant to donate to various charities. Too much is spent on admin costs etc etc...

Had a look at the website and I like it! Will definitely be going back again and doing something for them Thanks for the link Robin

The website is a bit out of date - it was hacked, so is being 'improved' - but there's also a FB page where family put updates and someone will answer any questions you may have:
http://www.facebook.com/post.pals.7


Today is already a head-thumping, pill-popping day - can't remember yesterday's achievements at the moment, except that there were some. Time for a shower then my next brush with the opulent and efficient world of private medicine.

Igamogam

Lots of MSE stuff going on there Robin I think you are definitely in with a chance on the PPI as you where self employed.......and check out that mortgage and CCs etc.

If you need to buy anything technical- wireless mouse for example try Ebuyer and sevendayshop.com - often cheaper and quick delivery. Ebuyer also feature on cash back sites - I'm signed up to Top Cash B*ck - useful for insurance renewals too!

Enjoy the autumn sunshine if you have any......ooooh autumnal already

*Robin*

Hello Diary, fellow insomniacs and early risers,

It turned into a bit of a spendy day yesterday, in the grocery department. But almost all whoopsied so not too spendy, and the freezer is full which is great.

The medical thing went ok, though I cannot recommend an MRI as a headache cure - must be the oddest experience I've volunteered for while enduring a thick 'ead.

Igamogam wrote: »

Lots of MSE stuff going on there Robin I think you are definitely in with a chance on the PPI as you where self employed.......and check out that mortgage and CCs etc.

These diaries are a great way of motivating and keeping track of one's efforts, am keeping fingers crossed that the PPI comes through (didn't have PPI on the mortgage).

Igamogam wrote: »

If you need to buy anything technical- wireless mouse for example try Ebuyer and sevendayshop.com - often cheaper and quick delivery. Ebuyer also feature on cash back sites - I'm signed up to Top Cash B*ck - useful for insurance renewals too!

That's a good idea, Igamogam - or it would be if I could work out how to use TCB (joined a while ago but never managed to find what I wanted ). The mouse was replaced under guarantee so getting to grips with TCB's system doesn't have to go on my 'urgent' list, thank goodness.

Today's list:
Finish putting away the papers I've dealt with in the last few days.
Hoover everywhere.
Wash my bathroom curtains and clean the shower screen.
Walk daft dogs and take fresh flowers to DH's grave (sweet-scented red and white roses from the garden).
A visitor is coming for dinner, so I'd better think of something decent and prepare it.

If still compos mentis after waving off tonight's guest, I have some truly thrilling bed-time reading to look forward to: The Party Wall Act, 1996.
On second thoughts, that particular tome might be better suited to contemplative moments in the throne room.

Igamogam

Now the whole MRI with a bad head thing...............I have to have annual MRIs and when I turned up for last one I had a blinding migraine but it was totally impractical cancel..............have to travel to large specialist hospital, OH has to book AL and I have to have expensive cover organised at work etc etc. So went ahead and when I came out migraine had gone - totally! Usually a bad one like that can last for 3-4 days.........bit of an expensive way to deal with it though:rotfl:

Party Wall Act - now I thought I read some boring stuff

Hope your Sunday id not as soggy as it is here!

*Robin*

Hello Diary,

Yesterday was a frustrating day. A chap on the Bereavements Benefits helpline advised me to call the Disability Benefits helpline; after waiting on hold for 35 minutes :eek: they sent me on to a different helpline number - all premium rate calls - but the man on that 'helpline' told me I should be speaking to the previous advisor.

The question was: Should I apply for ESA? I am not eligible for JSA because I'm not fit enough to work in a job with regular hours; it would be sheer dishonesty to promise a prospective employer that I will turn up for normal work patterns, because I know it's impossible. The first day would be fine, and maybe the second, but after that; trying to perform the tasks that a 'normal' person could do, I can guarantee I'd then be in bed for days with migraine, generalised pain and exhaustion. When I was looking after DH, I got through three months' worth of migraine meds in a fortnight - because it was essential to keep going - but now, nearly two months later, I still haven't got back to the physical condition I was in before.

However, ESA is not designed for people with a fluctuating illness. I've read enough heart-breaking threads on here to know the government is trying to make it as hard as possible to claim, and it looks like the situation is only going to get worse. Do I need that stress? Stress has a very bad effect on ME people - I got stressed enough thinking about the £50 those premium rate calls have probably cost me - as the likelihood is that my application would fail anyway, unless I lie on the form and only describe my 'worst' days (which would be stressful in itself; am no good at dishonesty and would certainly be found out).

Despite the Bereavement Advisor's insistence that there is financial help from the government for people like me, I now think he's wrong. I will be better off muddling along by myself, even though the thought of doing that without back-up from PC is pretty frightening.

Hmmm. Wonder whether I should still be paying NI contributions? I am, but can see this year's Tax Return being a real mess if I go back to being self employed once I've finished sorting out DH's estate, which by my standards is a full-time job at the moment.

Thinking about what I am going to do with myself afterwards results in a mental picture closely resembling Munch's "The Scream" - every time I shy away, and turn back to the lists of things I can deal with now.

Everything on my last one has been ticked off, except cleaning the shower screen. Today's list is all emails, responding to letters and paying bills - DH's pension provider has adopted me; their contribution has gone into my account, so I'd better shift the money I owe before looking at the balance.


Hi Igamogam,

Igamogam wrote: »

Now the whole MRI with a bad head thing...............I have to have annual MRIs and when I turned up for last one I had a blinding migraine but it was totally impractical cancel..............have to travel to large specialist hospital, OH has to book AL and I have to have expensive cover organised at work etc etc. So went ahead and when I came out migraine had gone - totally! Usually a bad one like that can last for 3-4 days.........bit of an expensive way to deal with it though:rotfl:

Actually that's very interesting.. Although it took me three painkillers to get to the appointment, and my migraine was definitely still thumping away after the MRI, I did manage a short shopping trip on the way home and then did not have to retire to bed immediately on arrival. So I would agree there was a good effect, but £500 a pop to treat migraine? <sigh> Not for me unless I win the lottery, which is highly unlikely as I rarely splash out on a ticket.

Igamogam wrote: »

Party Wall Act - now I thought I read some boring stuff

Oh it's a hoot! The joke is that I live in a detached house, entirely devoid of party walls - but it is essential research for a different problem; I need to have some understanding of the rules before that one can progress. Am getting on better with it in the morning, as it turned out to be a pretty good cure for insomnia - but also caused amnesia, as I didn't remember a word that I'd read at night. :rotfl:

*Robin*

Hello Diary,

Well I have some good news to report - but hadn't actually mentioned the preceding bad news as it was just too frustrating.

The problem was my bank card. Despite chasing it up as part of another enquiry [twice] and being promised that all was well, my new debit card was sent to the branch and later destroyed - because I had been told it was being sent to my home address and therefore had no idea it was languishing in branch..
Which leaves me with no access to the funds in that account, and running up interest as I'll have to use my CC until the second replacement card turns up.

This morning I decided it was an insult too far, and complained. A very pleasant young lady listened at length, arranged for me to withdraw some money from a convenient branch without a valid card, and has said I will be given cash compensation for the bank's mistake. We also discussed their policy of pressuring clients to sign up for large loans when they are vulnerable - and I have an appointment to discuss this further with the manager of the branch in question.

Result!

*Robin*

The saga continues:
Post has arrived; two letters from the bank.
The first tells me that the loans with the account numbers I provided [for reclaiming PPI] were not sold with PPI. Yet these numbers were given to me by a young lady at the issuing branch, who checked my records and found five old loans two of which - the ones in question - she told me did have PPI.
The second letter appears to be a response to 'my query' about reclaiming PPI on my CC, referring me to the Ombudsman. Hmm.

So now it would appear that everything I was told during that particular 'phone-call was incorrect.

Can't think about it any more at the moment - I feel the need for a brisk walk in the sunshine - hope it wards off the angry thumping that has begun in my head, grrr.

NewLeaf_2

Oh Dear. As I am pretty new to the UK I never had a loan so I have no PPI issue but that sounds very frustrating.

I know there have been some folks on the boards who know how to work the PPI magic, I hope one of them turns up with some good advice. x

Igamogam

Hi Robin

Mmmm PPI and DWP.....will put my thinking cap on and get back to you. In the meantime if you use this website https://www.saynoto0870.com you can punch in any premium rate number and it will show if there is a regular geographical number equivalent - I use it a lot and now have all banks and CCs numbers to hand instead of using the numbers they would like you to ring

*Robin*

Good Morning Diary,

I must confess to being somewhat discouraged today; the headache rumbles on despite hitting it with each of my painkilling choices in turn. Looking on the brighter side, the knock-out drops gave me five hours sleep so at least I'm not stumbling into walls, and can type. Better not take any more pills though or I would be a menace on the roads - need to get to the bank later this morning.

The diet isn't working too well either; I've put on 2kg which is depressing, and my lovely neighbour isn't helping; she has the figure and face of a model despite her children being just a few years younger than mine. Yesterday she told me I was wasting away and needed more weight - trying to be kind no doubt, but a blatant lie! Knowing I'm a good 15-18kg heavier than she is, though we're the same height, I can't help but wonder at her motive for saying that?

Looking around at my piles of paperwork-in-progress and the somewhat tired d!cor* of the house which really needs painting before I hand it over to the tenant - who is becoming somewhat impatient - I am beginning to despair at getting everything done in time.
* Why does this site reject d[e with accent egu]cor? My brain isn't up to working out which swear-word the programme thinks it is..
<sigh>

Igamogam wrote: »

Mmmm PPI and DWP.....will put my thinking cap on and get back to you. In the meantime if you use this website https://www.saynoto0870.com you can punch in any premium rate number and it will show if there is a regular geographical number equivalent - I use it a lot and now have all banks and CCs numbers to hand instead of using the numbers they would like you to ring

Hi Igamogam, thanks very much for your suggestion - am already a huge fan of "sayno.." but some numbers - notably the government 'helplines' - simply have no alternative. They are the ones Talktalk charges a fortune to call. But I've discovered that I can 'phone the bank for free by using their "number for calling if you are outside the UK" - that works!

I'm going to take yesterday's letters in to the bank and insist on looking at the history of those loan accounts; see if I can find out why employees in different departments are contradicting themselves.

As for the DWP - I've given up on them. ME people appear to have such a hard time trying to claim disability benefits I really think it would not help me to get involved in yet another stressful situation. For years I've just about managed by working as self-employed, at my own pace. I'm in debt, yes, but I have resources in bricks and mortar, none of which is mortgaged. Just need to make them work for me, somehow.

Thanks for dropping by, Newleaf :wave: