Quit..rest ..restart . Diary no.3

another_casualty

Thanks DIA .:)
Regarding the job situation : yes I am finding it more daunting . Thankfully I'm in the situation where I don't need full time employment
My confidence is stuffed tbh . Having said that , it does look like my job coach should show consideration for travelling and the hrs I hope I'm physically able to do . Hoping for a positive change of fortune to put my mind at rest . When I was talking to James ( who turned up around 6pm) my speech issues and tiredness issues were apparent.
He did actually say that I have done the right thing by resting as long as I have ,and not rushing back to work too quickly.
There's me initially thinking I'd be back to some sort of work pattern within 6 months . Oh well.....

Regarding pension withdrawal . I will have to withdraw some of that extra cash I set aside . Considering I have to pay for energy bills , Moble phone , internet ,food, mr trainer, dental cover, boiler cover , water , hair cut , Service charges for 5he flat and life in general I have to plan ahead . I may have to get a new sofa and possibky boiler but no more spending after all of that . I cannot do all of that on £317 pm . It has to be said that although I'm initially cheerful I have become a morbid realist at times and at almost 57 years of age I do not see anything worth looking forward to since 2005/2006
In a way I'm lucky that I have access to that extra cash I set aside.
At the end of the day , the world has become unrecognisable and I am bored of it and want to get off eventually . I will not end up in a nursing home that's for sure . Talking about pensions can make you morbid

Anyway , onto today ..
After looking at the lack of bushes by the bedroom , I think I may have been too judgemental in my shock. I took pics and I can see where the gardener was coming from..if it grows back. It won't be as high, but I got used to the way the other gardeners did it . I just miss the windows being slightly covered and now I see too much of the entrance to my block and the main road . There are worse things in life

I have had no proper hot water and looked at my policy . TBH I should've rtfm before as I am actually covered for an emergency call out . I'm getting a visit from engineer between 7 -10 pm this evening.
When I phoned , I was told the boiler must be under 15 years old
After doing some research , the boiler dates back to 2006. I'm just hoping that there are no more hidden charges . If I knew from the off, I would've bought a new boiler when I moved in , but mr surveyor told me not to buy the flat as boiler is in small bedroom . Remember the gas room ?:)

One strange but good bit of news from Vodafone ..
My landline was dead a couple of weeks ago. I complained that my name wasn't used. Just " mate " not mr casualty .
Today I had the same issue . A nice Egyptian lady spotted the problem and said they can give me a replacement face plate on m6 phone socket for £3. I politely asked could I have it free as it's not my fault .
I got £10 put into my account and the replacement is on its way as I'm a great customer . Being with them since 1999 is hard to disagree with

doingitanyway

I can understand why you might need to take out some of your pension money, as you say £317 won't go far. I don't know your financial position so your pension might be the only option?

Nothing worth looking forward to? That's not good AC! I think you need to find something to look forward to

Glad the bush isn't as bad as you initially thought. Hopefully it will grow back.

A good result with Vodaphone

Wishing you a positive week ahead.

another_casualty

Thanks DIA .
Yep pension is the only option I'm afraid . With the proper mgt of my budget after doing so , I may be able to have a less stressful 6 months plus financially . Things I could do for example is pay the energy and Water bills a few months in advance at least say six months . The idea being that I won't be behind in anything and the derisory £317 would be Miraculously manageable .

Last night the emergency engineer came out around 7 pm .
He was the only engineer so far who more or less condemned the boiler . I maybe foolishly , mentioned that I have had a new heat exchanger and diverted valve fitted since I've been here .
It kind of threw him as he initially thought that the heat exchanger was the problem .
He then came to the conclusion that it may be the thermistor or failing that possibly the circuit board . Unfortunately he couldn't fix the issue and should be back either tonight or tomorrow .
Tbh by the sound of all of that it seems like a new boiler is the solution .

While I was showing the engineer out , the other quieter neighbour had the communal area open while smoking . I obviously said hello from outside my door . It's not too bad if he's there as it's only gonna be a short while before he goes back to his flat and the door is closed.
This brings me to this morning . 7.30am and the door is wide open !
There are a few things going on in my head regarding this :
On sat afternoon the baby has been getting louder with the dad playing with him. The only thing I could do is turn up my tv .
That seemed to quieten things down . I am wondering if the door left open was deliberate . If I see the other neighbours I will have a chat and say the notice put on the door is not aimed at them but the other ones who treat the whole house as their house and not spit into 4 flats
The other things I'm thinking about is to buy a door closer and get James to fit it . At the end of the day this should've been done in the first place for security purposes alone . The other 2 options are to speak to the snoop next door who is a director of the block here and mention my concerns again. He keeps telling me I should become a director but why bother if they wouldn't even sort out the door closer
The other option is to look elsewhere to live . It's my first move from London and I may need another move or 2 to finally get sorted .
We'll see

Gigervamp

You can't afford to move again.

another_casualty

I know Gigervamp unless I do something potentially stupid if I go into survival mode . I have a lot to weigh up . We'll see .
I won't go headstrong into anything , and will assess everything before I do anything if at all .

harz99

another_casualty wrote: »

I know Gigervamp unless I do something potentially stupid if I go into survival mode . I have a lot to weigh up . We'll see .
I won't go headstrong into anything , and will assess everything before I do anything if at all .

IF you do move, which much like Gigervamp I don't think you can afford to do anyway, unless it's to a much cheaper area, for heavens sake don't buy a leasehold flat!

enthusiasticsaver

I am weighing in too AC to say you cannot afford to move and you will come up against similar issues wherever you live, some neighbours may be even worse and living in a flat you are even more on top of people literally.

As you are over 55 you can access a SIPP or your DC pension and I do not believe you have done anything wrong re universal credit as the savings limit normally applies to bank accounts not investments. Whilst you can access the pension I urge you to consider carefully beforehand. You have only £317 per month (is that JSA or ESA?). Is there no part time seasonal work you can do?

another_casualty

Thanks enthusiastic , Harz and gigervamp . I am probably over reacting to the neighbour situation . I do agree it can be much worse.
The little things can seem to annoy us more than the bigger things .

I'm also probably and possibly letting off a bit too much steam because of being still unwell and having unnecessary pressure put on me by the universal credit system . It seems that I'm ill at the wrong time of life in a massively over populated world and that everything is means tested and cut to the bone because of this . Anyway , I'll leave that for now ..

The engineer is back servicing the boiler . He can't do anything with it
The system is filthy and unfortunately I have to get a new boiler .
This of course means a lot of money to pay out .
So taking out of the pension is the only way out . I believe I have to inform universal credit if I withdraw and I go over £6,000 in total in my bank accounts
If I do that , then that £317 will be reduced . How much , I don't know
I'm in a way fortunate to be able to do it .
Regarding the job situation, I will as I mentioned drop into Poole library and see if I can get any encouragement there .
If I am allowed to recover and get a job for a couple of hours a week then my luck will have changed for the better after all .

doingitanyway

Good plan to get some support for the job search at the library.

I know what you mean about the small things getting to you with the neighbours. I feel like that sometimes too.

I don't know how much you have in your DC pension but if you take £6,000 out will you have enough to get you through the next 10 years until your state pension. Or will a P/T job be enough to cover your outgoings until then? No need to say here but please think about it and get advice if necessary.

db2016

whilst its great that vodaphone are giving you a credit and a free wall plate,


being with them since 1999, isnt so good, loyalty simply doesnt pay mate, have a look around at deals. i'm sure you could save here!