Ever increasing fuel bills

margaretclare

Ooooops. Dalby Forest, I know it well. Acres and acres of mixed woodland, not all conifers, and I wouldn't worry too much about it being private land. There's bound to be fallen branches, there won't be too many people walking there at this time of year and even if they are, they're unlikely to argue. Wood can be kept until it dries out and is seasoned - a wood-pile used to be something that every householder kept, a place for hedgehogs, toads etc to hibernate in, and the wood to be used as it seasoned.

Margaret

computerwoman

Hi I live in whitby north yorkshire just down or up the road...scarborough boro council re-use all the wood they find for chipped bark but if you went along and asked them the foreman would probably let you take some...also my DB used to work for a scaffolding firm based at scarborough and he told me that they pile up all the tile lats that they don't use and burn them they would probably let you have them as well as it save's them burning them...but I agree who is gonna know that you have filled your boot with fallen braches from dalby forest...go for it make it a day out...an adventure for the kids prehaps...I used to love walking through mulgrave woods when I was kid...:D

Ken68

I know Dalby Forest, just realised walked the Cleveland Way 20 years ago. Left Scarborough YH for Lockton YH, then eventually Hutton Le Hole. The YH at Scarborough was full of old soldiers who had been billeted at the barracks being pulled down. Luvverly part of the country nearly as nice as Norfolk.

Poppycat

Scarborough YH is about 2 miles down road from me. I assume the barracks you mean were on Burniston road which is now private housing estate, about 3/4 mile from Scarborough YH which is also on Burnistone road. The barracks went in the early 90's

countrymusicfan

TBH I find it unfair that the winter fuel allowance is just paid to oap. For example I have a daughter is who frail, and has poor circulation and we are fighting to even get disability living allowance, I would be happy with even a small amount just to help with fuel and travelling costs for her

If and when you get DLA ask your social work department about a travel card. My son gets DLA and has a travel card. He can travel anywhere in Scotland for free, only on a bus. But that would help you quite a good bit.

Poppycat

Thanks countrymusicfan.

I have to take her every where in car which is expensive. I also pay a contribution of £100 per year for school taxi she used to get it free until she reached 16, although tbh she does get the £30 per week ema now. She is much more frail then I like to think, she cant open a can of beans and she doesnt have the strength

I applied for DLA primarily to help with heating and travel, I be happy just to get the small rate just to help.

computerwoman

I think the price of fuel is ridiculous you'd think in this day and age that they'd come up with something alot cheaper or make these firms lower there price's...I feel sorry for the oap's who can't afford alot...I was in heron (shop) the other day and this old lady about 80odd years came over all funny so the shop manager made a fuss getting her a chair and a drink of water then I over heard her say that she had'nt eaten for day's cos she'd run out of sardine's and that's all she could afford to eat cos she only got 60 odd quid aweek to live on and was finding it hard to cope with the bills she said as long as I pay my bills and keep the roof over my head it doesn't matter if I don't eat for afew day's the manager started putting thing's in abag and gave them to her which I thought was very sweet...anyway I felt so sorry for this old person that I had saved up £370 for a new tv which now seems a waste of money considering what this poor lady was going threw so I went to the bank and drew it out and put it in an envelope and asked the manager to give it to her as a good will gester and an early christmas pressent you should have seen her face...it was a delight to see it light up the way it did...but I felt alot better for it...she said she could buy some more coal now and some extra food...but the manager took her address and said he'd drop some more shopping off later in the day they even paid for her a taxi back home...that's christmas for you...I hope she has a good one...and I'll get my tv another day it's seem's very unimportant now that I get one at all...:D

Poppycat

What a wonderful gesture computerwoman thats very thoughtful of you.

Its a shame in this day and age people regardless of age have to live like that. I hope that the lady can get some advice from CB on benefits and how to keep warm, even if its just to keep on room warm, people should not have to make a choice between food and fuel. Sadly I think that we are being exploited by countries like Russia who can dictate how much we pay and the fat cats of these corporations, shame on them.

I sometimes think in this country we get our priorities wrong. Shame on Labour for the last 10 years for letting the rich getting richer, and for going to wars when we should be helping people in need.

Farway

Whilst not disputing the 60 quid a week to live on as stated, I think this woman needs help with claiming all her benefits

My mother was getting 88 plus state pension for a start, then pension credit on top

Any way, nice one computerwoman, made someones Christmas and like they say, what goes around comes around

margaretclare

I got into an argument recently with a man who writes a lot of letters to the local paper. He challenged my assertion that it was better to help closer to home rather than pour unlimited money, personal donations as well as government aid, into African countries. He wrote that we are a rich country, no one starves, no one is without the necessities of life and no one need be homeless. He actually wrote that the homeless prefer to remain homeless - they'd rather sleep on the streets than have the responsibility of paying bills in a home of their own.

Have a look at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=504358&in_page_id=1770

One bloke says '
"I am Muslim and we would never have this Father Christmas at home," he said. "But in England, people are happy at this time of year, they want to help us.
"In England I will get a passport, money, a flat. It is a dream for me."

Well, I don't know where he gets these ideas from, but as long as we have people like the lady quoted, his dream can remain a dream, as far as I'm concerned.

I was talking to my eldest GD this morning. The last year or two have been anything but easy for her. But she's now on holiday from the job she had, accrued leave and her notice. Her police checks have come through and she starts her new job on 7th January. She keeps referring to the fact that she now has a roof over her head, a job she really wanted, enough money to live on, food in the house....'How lucky am I?' she said. 'I'll get paid for doing the things I love best' - the 'outward bound' type of activities as a youth worker. I couldn't be more pleased for her.

The kind of impulsive warm-hearted gesture, giving the money you'd saved for a TV, is the kind of thing I sometimes do if opportunity offers. I come over as a real tough cookie, but given a chance like that, I'd probably do similar.

Best wishes to all

Margaret