The Challenges Of Finding Solitary Refinement ..

another_casualty

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6086376/system-failure

After taking the biggest gamble of my life 5 years ago I now have major hurdles and obstacles to overcome once again.
While being last to leave in good company, I prefer being on my own which is somewhat more of a challenge imho as there is mostly only me to do deal with life's custard pies in the face . No marriage, no children, no divorce . My choice , and  so far no regrets .

I have lived in London most of my life. This is MSE so like many others I have messed up in many ways. I received a lot of help and guidance , in my first diary here.
That will never be forgotten.

So, here I am living on the  south coast 200 miles from where I used to live . I know virtually nobody except a very close friend and his family.
I have many friends but we are all scattered across the country.

I do like the area I live , but at times do wonder what I've done as I'm on my own etc

The challenges ahead are justifying my existence to DWP/Universal Credit due to having a hidden disability(my term here ) Myasthenia Gravis.
MG is a condition that is like recovering from a stroke. It effects the auto immune system and the motor neurone system. My speech is often slurry etcDysarthria
Getting off of Prednisolone was a massive achievement . I'm not 90 stone now, but have to watch weight etc due to being allergic to many vegetables.
I'm still on many other things . immunosuppressant being one of the drugs I am on.

Heading towards 60 and unemployed since my big move in Dec 2016, I don't  see myself as employable. However, Voluntary work may well work for me socially and to keep getting UC.
Things to note here , is that since I left school until 2016, I had less than 6 months unemployment and only 'signed on' for 2 weeks. I didn't start claiming UC until 2018 or was it 2019?
I decided upon location and am living in a ground floor converted flat. Thankfully mortgage free . Something I thought I'd never be in. The lease has 103 years left.
I'm obviously still a little unsettled due to various tenants above and who is above me. Enough said.

Regarding the Universal Credit lifestyle , I was always petrified of such a thing . Being 'old  school' I expect the worst and take it on the chin.
I had to fight to get the Ltd Capability for Work award (no extra  pay). PIP remarkably was recommended to me from a work relations person. Surprised I got the lowest amount but expected nothing. These awards are only for ltd time and reassessment is due . Thankfully I have been paid the service charges and ground rent for my flat.
A grey area , on discretion of panel or job coach. 

I have a personal trainer who is a fraction of the price of a London monthly Gym membership.
That's enough for now so I'll leave it there ...

MrsPorridge

Happy new diary AC, I look forward to your continuing adventures.

GeorgianaCavendish

So glad you are continuing your diary - happy new year and happy new diary! 😊 

another_casualty

Thanks mrs p and Georgiana for joining me 😼
Those other diaries were rather long , so as I still have unfinished business and worries it's probably best I did another. 

For now , it's a mini catch-up . 

I am just beginning to come out of that horrid booster jab! 😷 I have had scrambled egg and bacon for lunch with toast .🥚🥖🥓. It's never a good idea to have eggs in flu like conditions imho but I had some today since 23rd . We'll see how that goes.

One of the reasons Christmas was enjoyable this year is that the undesireable tenants above have been away for a few days. I'm hoping they don't come back until New Year's Day or after . 🤞
The other tenant brings a couple of children ( sometimes only one) for a couple of hrs a day. Doesn't seem to be there all of the time . No probs with them . The children are loud like squawking budgies 🦜🦜but it's not all the time and thankfully my flat has lowered  suspended ceilings . 

What's in front of me bill wise / general finances:
To come in the next 3 months; Contents Insurance Renewal
                                                  Annual Boiler Service 
                                                  Ground Rent /Service Charges ( 1 bill in March/ 1 inSept)
                                                 

To  come at anytime ; Change of light fittings Bathroom/ Hallway
                                    Boxing Of Pipes Boiler which is in the home office + 1 or 2 other bits


Things to buy and do for flat : new dual bin for kitchen - getting rid of the 2  I have .
Declutter Kitchen ! Decide on best cooking essentials - ditch George foreman / possibly get new fan oven / gas hobs / possibly ditch bulky Halogen Oven. 

My Brief State Of Finaces : have a smallish credit card balance . Not overdrawn..yet!
No other debts your honour 
Regatding service charges ; I get paid the extra monthly and not six monthly . Have to be disciplined ! Hopefully charges stay the same as they have done .

Biggest worries : Hoping that whichever tenants are above me comply with rules and behave . So far so good 🤞
Universal Credit : Hoping to be able to hold on to it and hoping I'm not forced into something horrible and/ or lose it . I had been majorly proactive even going to courses off my own back . Then 😷 stopped everything . Not complaining as 😷actually worked in my favour but have to be wary .
Do I move / can I move / Possible Lease Extn ? 

Isolated ..probably need to address that .

Things I have to do more of : Properly Record my  musical efforts on Synthesizer / computer music and Bass Guitar . 🎶

Learn Word Properly on computer . 🖥

Walk for longer distances 🐾
Eat Less Stodgy Stuff! 

Train Every Day! 🥵🏋️‍♂️

Tidy up more often . 

Eventually socialise more .

Avoid more mainstream media , news and commercials and look for alternatives.
Try not to get infuriated with things that don't directly affect me . 

Remember it's not too late to listen and learn . 

There's probably more stuff I've left out , but I'll leave it there 🌧

jwil

Happy new diary, I am glad you decided to stay.

Hope 2022 is full of good things for you.

doingitanyway

So pleased to see a new diary from you AC.

You do great with your health and fitness and whatever the future with benefits/DWP I have no doubt you will be able to handle it.

You are an inspiration to me as I am trying to do what you have done!

Just thinking about your 'socialising eventually' comment.  I know you like walking. Would joining a walking group be something you might do? It is social but outside so no Covid worries? 

I'll leave it there

another_casualty

Thanks @jwil @doingitanyway for your encouragement and kind words 😼 

Yes, I mentioned the ' socialising ' challenge ahead 😬..
It's funny really . I have become more wary about meeting new people ( or old 😸) over the years . Hard to explain , but I can chat to people pretty easily , but have the ' trust nobody'stamp in my head over the years. Sometimes I chat too much, while others seem to be warming up . Part of me thinks that if/ when universal credit push me into a corner then I'll have to meet people whether I like it or not 🙀.
Then watching various snippets on the news telling everybody about how many 'lonely ' people there are etc . I find that depressing but I try not to dwell . I certainly don't want to be an intruder having bisto with strangers who feel sorry for me . ( joking but you get the picture 🌅😸) 

So ,  back to 😷; I'm still having the effects albeit not as severe as it was.
I had a chat with my local friend who I met for coffee on the way back from having jab 🥊
He got it from me ! It didn't take long . 

I looked into my cupboard to prepare for breakfast ..almost out of coffee ☕️!
Looking in the fridge ..almost out of Green &Blacks 🍫! 

This meant that I had to go out and get some asap
I decided to go to the new co-op in Ashley Cross ( 12/13 min walk each way ) 
High temperature and sweaty / clammy 🥵. Not too bad going down the hill . Still dizzyish 
When I got there , it was virtually empty . Got coffee ☕️. Green and Blacks ? Not a chance🍫. This meant that I have emergency supply ( minimal by my standards) of snickers , Bounty and Kit Kat Chunky! The chunky? Well, it's more of a pencil ! Still they were all cheaper buying in 2's. 

This morning around 4am, I heard a couple of voices along the road .( I I live on busyish road . ) I went back to sleep around 7 but woke up around 9.20 am 🛏
I found that the recycling people put a wheelie bin outside my window so I moved it to the right house . 

Anyway, I'm rambling again . Happy new year!

I'll leave it there ..☁️

jwil

Happy New Year

another_casualty

I decided to check my energy provider ⚡️and find out when I could renew tariff to try and comfort the huge blow that is coming our way 🥊. My tariff expires end of July . Apparently I'll be getting a reminder email in June . I actually found this out on live chat after being transferred to a live customer service person . Not allowed to change tariff before . Mmm.. 
I got some bad news regarding a warm home discount for pensioners and people on u c etc. last year I applied and got £140 rebate . I never heard anything this year , and something told me to check . I did just that . Apparently it is only pensioners who get it  according to the adviser I spoke to . Whatever, but I missed the cut off date to reapply.
next date to apply is in July .  A few energy companies do/ did it. I think the best thing is to relax until June ( possibky before ) and see if another company does it plus whether I should stay with same provider or not .

Received a general email from mr trainer yesterday .🏋️‍♂️ He is in Orlando and had covid .was in hsp for a few hrs . He'll be training me again probably next week 🥵
Speaking of fitness etc. my local friend and myself are going to do a walk once a week 🐾
He realises he needs it . It will no doubt be a boost for both of us . 

I'm staying put until Tuesday and will start my walk ( longer than previous  )weather and health permitting . As you probably know by now, when I wake up I can feel groggy, lethargic and unwell, or I can do what I intend .

Last night the tenants upstairs went elsewhere to party. 👍 Hopefully that is the end of those. The pluses about them is that they both work. Normally quiet. 

The downside is that they are both in their early 20's and self centred and arrogant .
The bloke is repulsive to look out and occasionally does his wheeling and dealing  outside my bedroom window. I hear him being loud sometimes when outside drunk coming into the flat.
The woman is quite well spoken but despises me as she knows I complained about them having random drug parties in 2020 while 😷was just happening . 

I was in a dicey situation as I complained to landlord , letting agent and property mgt co to nip it in the bud . It was frowned upon by the posters on the buying and selling board but it has quietened everything down for now. If I didn't it was only going to escalate and I would have been treated like a doormat . I hope there are no repercussions , but we'll see.

What is noticeable is that rental prices have gone up somewhat over the last year , so they'd pay a lot more if they wan to stay in area .

I have tidied bathroom &kitchen. I have a few big jobs to sort out this year .
Will paint kitchen at some point . Maybe bathroom . I need to dismantle metal kitchen bins , dispose ( probably illegally ), and get new double bin for recycling and ordinary waste.
will have to make worktop less cluttered. 

I'll leave it there ..🌧

harz99

AC, in relation to your energy supply, DO NOTHING, when your current fixed rate finishes your existing supplier will move you to their standard tariff which is price capped and will both be the cheapest and the same cost at every energy supplier. There currently no better deals available anywhere.

another_casualty

harz99 said:

AC, in relation to your energy supply, DO NOTHING, when your current fixed rate finishes your existing supplier will move you to their standard tariff which is price capped and will both be the cheapest and the same cost at every energy supplier. There currently no better deals available anywhere.

Great advice ! Thanks Harz 😼👍