Here we can all be heard for a little while. Part 3

Izadora

One joy of the fact that my clothes weren't really in fashion when I bought them is that they can't go out of fashion

Lambyr

I've gone from feeling unfocused to just generally feeling sorry for myself today, but I can chime in on the DWP sorta.

I'm a full time carer but as part of that I have to attend a "work focused interview" every three years which isn't too bad though there's not a lot I can do. The last one rolled around towards end of last year and I didn't really feel comfortable leaving my mum for up to three hours (hour to the JobCentre, hour for the interview, hour back again) so I called in to ask whether I could postpone it until mum was a bit more steady (her issues are such that she has flare ups of barely being able to walk and three hours is really pushing the safe time I can leave her for).

Turned out, I could do the interview over the phone and it took ten minutes! They had someone call me back within an hour of my asking even though my actual appointment wasn't for a week and just got on with the interview. Wish they'd told me that before! I know they will refund travel expenses but I've never put in a claim for them cos I just feel kinda crappy asking for a fiver or whatever it would be.

I guess it's like the mental health stuff mentioned above. They can do these things but don't necessarily advertise them because they don't want people trying to take advantage. And I suppose since I have been to my last two, and tried to be upbeat and everything they figure I'm probably not messing about.

I was kinda surprised though at the stuff they note. Like last time I went, after the interview was over and I was getting ready to leave I asked whether I would be okay to study an Open University degree because you can't claim carer's allowance and study full time (obviously). They said that's fine, since it's home based and only part time. Didn't realise they'd make a note of that because I got asked whether I'd done anything about that on the phone interview. Explained to the advisor I'd taken an arts and humanities course because it helped me feel creative and gave me a chance to express some of the stuff I'd been keeping bottled up and she seemed really supportive of me for doing that.

Anyhoo, sorry, rambling a bit!

mellymoo74

As pickle was allowed in he bedroom (she got deflead so was allowed) I had 2 cats come scooting wAaaaaaaaing at the top of the lungs out of the room when I got up.

They have gone off mackerel
And don't like hot dogs
Tough
X

codemonkey

Arrrgh. Work crap. I have the urge to roundhouse colleagues. I'll be sulking in the fort if anyone needs me.

Waves_and_Smiles

Good on with the course, Lambyr! I hope you feel better as the day goes on.

I agree with you, I think they are probably reluctant to make these things easy to find because of the chances of people taking advantage when they don't need to. The information is there on their website about their safeguarding procedures but you have to hunt for it and know what you are looking for or you would never find it. I bet notes about telephone interviews are on there too hidden somewhere. I do see it from their point of view too, it's a question of making something publicised, nondiscriminatory but still fit for purpose and limited to the group in question which isn't easy.

Aw, code that's not good! Not long until home time hopefully! Imagine them sitting on the toilet and laugh!

Fussy but adorable kitties, Melly!

elsien

mellymoo74 wrote: »

They have gone off mackerel
And don't like hot dogs
Tough
X

Gitdog regularly turns his nose up at his dinner if I've not added something special to it. We still work to the "if he's hungry enough, he'll eat it" rule. Not sure if that works for cats?

Melly, would people per hour site be any use to you, if anyone needs a procedure knocking up or something?

tea_lover

Code, I have pepsi max (it's the only thing getting me through this afternoon), can I join you in the fort if I promise to share??

Lambyr

Waves_and_Smiles wrote: »

Good on with the course, Lambyr! I hope you feel better as the day goes on.

Thanks I'm just being a daft moo today. Few months ago a friend of mine who I met on an OU course tipped me off about a scriptwriting contest. Free to enter and all that so I gave it a go. Didn't really expect much cos he let me know kinda late, so I basically bashed out a script in an afternoon (only a 20 page one), sent it off and forgot about it.

Few weeks later, notification I'd made the longlist. Okay, cool! Few weeks after that, notification I was on the shortlist! Yay!

I know from the company's Twitter page they've made their final decisions, but I've not received any further correspondence. So I'm guessing that I didn't get past the shortlist, but not knowing and only having an assumption to go on is really bothering me. I did email them to ask but don't have a reply yet.

Logically I know it was an achievement to get to the shortlist cos there were professionals submitting scripts to this contest, and it isn't like I'd get paid or anything for it. But I kinda felt that it'd make my girlfriend and my mum proud of me if I could go all the way.

I guess I just want the email saying that I didn't so I can move on, and just take the accomplishment of getting as far as I did. Kinda feel a bit limbo-ey right now.

tea_lover

Shortlist is amazing!! Plus, they may not have contacted anyone yet, you might have won Getting as far as you have is a seriously fantastic achievement, but I do know what it's like when you know that in theory but your brain just sees the negatives. Hopefully soon you'll hear something and be out of limbo, and more importantly be able to appreciate how well you've done

FWIW, I bet your gf and mum are proud of you just for entering in the first place

Lambyr

tea_lover wrote: »

Shortlist is amazing!! Plus, they may not have contacted anyone yet, you might have won Getting as far as you have is a seriously fantastic achievement, but I do know what it's like when you know that in theory but your brain just sees the negatives. Hopefully soon you'll hear something and be out of limbo, and more importantly be able to appreciate how well you've done

FWIW, I bet your gf and mum are proud of you just for entering in the first place

Yeah, that's it! I think I am a bit on the naturally cynical side. Cos you're right, they might not have contacted anyone yet.

The email I had to notify me I was on the shortlist said they'd be sorting a meeting with the production staff this week (Weds) and then anyone interested in making my script would produce a document outlining their vision, and then sort out some chats and stuff with me.... so obviously, if I'm not being a clown about it, they wouldn't have had time to sort out a document on how they're gonna make a 20 minute film just yet, would they?

There's a lot of maybes that I know I'm ignoring - they could all be busy, someone could be writing up their document as we speak. I dunno. But yeah, I don't deal well with not knowing!

My girlfriend, the friend who tipped me off and another close friend all said how proud they were of me to make it to the shortlist (my mum doesn't actually know yet). I think sometimes I'm just naturally kinda nervous about things. Like with my girlfriend, she's got a good job and everything and I'm a carer. I've no reason to fear anything cos we've known each other so long, she knows absolutely everything good, bad and ugly... but I dunno, I guess I sometimes think she's backing a loser with me. No logical reason to think that, and normally I'm quite big on logic and critical thinking but emotionally, I could be a bit better!