All Entries In Family & Personal Category
By A friend was kind enough to pass me some Manchester United memorabilia earlier this year; as thanks for some work that I had done for them. However, I now find myself in the position of needing to raise some cash to fund a trip later this month and have taken the unfortunate decision that the memorabilia may help raise the necessary funds. I would really have liked to keep them but needs must.
If you're a Manchester United fan then please check out what I'm selling on eBay.
Sorry for the dreadful pun.
Anyway, with all the warm weather we've had recently, even when it's been wet, I've cropped my mop. Quite severely. It's down to a uniformed number 8; which means it's about an inch long at most.
I've also shaved off the Van Dyke.
So, short-haired and clean-shaven again.
I had an interview this morning for a Medical Lab Assistant with the Pathology department of the local hospital. I thought the interview went okay and the interviewer mentioned that they were unlikely to make a decision today. However, I've just received a call to say that I didn't get the job; and I have a feeling that my honesty about the circumstances surrounding how I left my previous job may have cost me. In the long run I'd rather be honest than lie to get a job.
I feel pretty good today. No major headache and no major pain anywhere.
I was feeling rather tired yesterday evening so ended up going to bed just before 9pm. I woke up just after 1am and couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to get up, have a wee snack and watch WWE Raw. By time that finished at 4am I was feeling tired again. I went back to bed and got up just after 10am this morning.
Ankle feels a wee bit sore, my back is feeling a lot better than it has been in a while; just a twinge between the shoulder blades at the moment and I have a wee bit of a headache at the back of my head. All in all, a lot better than I tend to feel.
Like I said; I feel pretty good.
My kid sister was released from hospital today. They've diagnosed IBS with a swollen bowel. She never said if they'd prescribed any medication or if she has any follow up appointments to attend. She's still in a bit of pain but seems to be a lot better than she was on Friday night.
Catherine, my kid sister, was admitted to hospital on Friday night suffering from abdominal pains and vomiting. She has been examined and they really aren't sure what's up with her. They've finally managed to stop her vomiting and are keeping her in until Monday at least; when she will get a scan. This is the second time she's been admitted to hospital with abdominal pains over the last couple of years and they weren't sure what the problem was previously either.
I've had a splitting headache all day. I had planned on getting some serious work done on a friend's website today but only managed to get 4 or 5 pages converted before giving up. I've taken some tablets for the headache but to no real avail and ended up going for a lie down about 3pm. I woke up briefly as a thunderstorm rumbled outside with rain pelting down, before falling back asleep. I finally woke back up just before 6pm to discover bright sunshine splitting the curtains and just a slightly damp ground to suggest that any rain had actually fell.
After having some problems with the bank incurring charges for unpaid Direct Debits I cancelled all my direct debits and have been paying my bills via my debit card. Unfortunately, since losing my job I've been struggling to meet bill payments, especially since I've been on hardship payments for the last 3 months, and have not paid my O2 contract bill for those 3 months. It had always been a case of I'll try and keep some money back and make a part payment with the intention of settling the full amount once I had the cash available. However, events have conspired against me time and again and I have been unable to do so.
Anyway, I received a letter the other day from the above company regarding my O2 account and the outstanding Airtime Balance and Remaining Contract Charge. The total amount comes to just about £132 and they wanted payment by 2nd July; today. After getting my benefits payments stopped for the last 3 months or so I am only now back to receiving £121 every other week and cannot meet this full payment. I phoned them earlier today to try and come to some arrangement regarding making a part payment when I next get paid and get the 3rd degree regarding payments I make for lodge, contents insurance, the internet, the normal phone bill and Sky. I was more than willing to make payments every payday to ensure that I resolved this debt as soon as I felt comfortable.
To be honest, I can't really afford to continue making payments for an O2 contract at close to £40 a month when I can just use an old O2 sim-card and top up with credit as infrequently as I like. However, after saying that I couldn't afford to pay the whole amount and that I couldn't afford to just pay the Airtime Balance and get the phone reconnected the woman on the other end of the phone wasn't interested in anything but getting half the payment today and the remainder by next Monday; going so far as to ask if I could get my Dad or other family member to loan me the money to make the payment. She even suggested making a £5 payment today and then paying the remaining amount in full next Monday. Sometimes I wonder what kind of Dream World they live in.
I probably could've made a payment today to cover the Airtime Balance but only if I didn't pay other bills due this week and next; when I don't get paid. However, this would have a knock-on effect for the rest of the month and I would potentially end up in a worse position than I already am. I felt under pressure the entire length of the call and got more and more worked up as she continued to try to get a payment out of me rather than help me come up with any sort of agreement moving forward. I eventually ended the call by telling them to take me to court.
I have since calmed down a little bit and used their online system to make an offer of paying £40 a month. If they don't accept that they can take me to court and see how they will like getting paid £10 every other week for nine months or so rather than 3 payments of £40 or so.
Although, knowing my luck recently, the court would probably end up ordering me to pay the amount in full or go to prison.
In his own words, Dad got some bad news and some good news today.
He had a follow-up appointment at the hospital today concerning his toes. Apparently, just removing the affected toes isn't an option. The consultant has informed him that they will need to remove his remaining leg. That's the bad news. The good news is that Dad can decide when to go in and get it done. They're not going to force him into doing it at the first available opportunity.
It wasn't my idea but we have a new puppy. She is only 7 weeks old and has been named Petra.
She is every bit as cute as she looks in the picture but I'm just not 100% certain that I'm ready for a new dog so soon after losing Tasha.
I'm becoming really disillusioned with the entire job hunting process. It's been almost 6 months since I had my previous employment terminated, and in that time I've probably made close to, if not over, 200 applications and only had 4 interviews; 3 with the local NHS Trust and 1 with the neighbouring borough council. A lot of the applications I've made haven't even been acknowledged by the employer. I'm beginning to wonder if the prospective employers are even looking past the fact that I was fired to see what sort of qualifications and experience I can offer or if they're just looking at the fact I was fired and then dismissing my application out of hand.
However, I will continue to soldier on. I still have a couple of applications out there; including 1 that really excites me.
Since losing my job in November I've been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance but as of 22nd March 2008 that has been stopped due to a doubt on my claim.
When I originally made the benefit claim one of the questions on the form is why you lost your job. I lost mine through misconduct and said so on the form. I'm not going to go into the details, suffice to say that the company viewed my actions as misconduct.
In the middle of December I received a letter from Carlisle BDC stating that there had been a doubt and they were waiting for a reply from the employer. I spoke to my advisor about it and she informed me that the company had a month to reply. I spoke to her again at the back end of January and she informed me that the doubt seemed to have been resolved in my favour because the company had not responded.
In the middle of February I received a letter back from Carlisle BDC stating that the doubt had been reopened after they had received a reply from the company and that I had a month to reply with my comments. My advisor recommended that I take the full month just in case the decision went against me. I did so and sent my comments back in the middle of March, stating that I had been upfront from the start and was disappointed in the amount of time the company had taken.
Anyway, I've now received a reply from Carlisle BDC stating that they cannot pay me Jobseeker's Allowance from 22nd March 2008 until 13th June 2008. I also won't be awarded National Insurance Contributions for the same period. The letter then goes on to state that they cannot pay Jobseeker's Allowance from 14th June 2008 either. They cannot pay me because my entitlement based on Class 1 National Insurance Contributions has run out. It makes me wonder why I was paying National Insurance Contributions for the last six years.
The letter states that if I'm looking for work and intend to dispute or appeal against the decision I should still provide signed declarations on my ES40. Damn right I intend to dispute/appeal. How am I supposed to live, pay bills, buy food etc? I know I live with my Dad but he's retired now and receiving pension credit and disability living allowance. I can't expect him to pay for me as well. On top of everything else I'm not totally convinced they can legally stop the payments. When I first made the claim, and more recently when the amount went up, I received a letter from the DWP that stated the amount I was receiving was the minimum the government said I needed to live on. Doubtless, there is something in the provisoning of benefits that give the department the right to withhold payment.
I will be going to my local JobCentre Plus office on Monday to lodge an appeal against the decision and to also make a claim for Hardship payments.
One of the pieces of advice I was given when I had my toes done was that I should refrain from having a bath whilst they were still healing. The information suggested at least 2 or 3 weeks as a minimum. I've gone 2 months. Now, before you go 'ugh' I've not gone 2 months without any form of bath/shower. I've had regular showers during that period. Although we don't have a shower my sister does and I've been popping round to her house regularly in the last 2 months.
Anyway, I've obviously been paying close attention to the state of my toes whenever I've soaked them and changed the dressing. I had planned to go round to my sister's house yesterday evening but her shower is now broken; apparently the pipe from the unit to the head has come away from the shower itself. I decided that my toes were sufficiently healed and I had a bath instead. It's quite remarkable how you can miss something as simple as a bath. It felt so relaxing just lying there and having a soak; and my toes came out of the process relatively intact. I even took the opportunity to tidy up some of the scabbing when the scabs were suitably soft. Now you can go 'ugh'.
My Dad was released from hospital earlier today. Apparently, it wasn't gangrene in his toe after all, and it's responding well to the antibiotics they've given him. However, he's not totally in the clear. He has really bad circulation in his leg and they are calling him back into hospital next Monday to operate. They're going to use some small balloons to try and open up his veins to improve the circulation.
Perhaps a bit harsh; but, in this case, true.
About a month or so ago he started to develop some blistering on his foot; more specifically on his big toe. At the time we told him to go and see a Doctor. He ignored us, and it's gradually got worse. Finally, today, he went to see a Doctor.
Too late.
They've told him that it's gangrene. They've taken him into hospital and whilst at first they had said that they were going to put him on antibiotics and see if that helped; it now transpires that they're likely to need to remove his big toe at the very least.
I received a phone call this morning stating that I had been unsuccessful in my application for the Clerical Officer position with West Cumberland Hospital's Pharmacy department. Normally, the hospital just tends to inform successful candidates by phone and informs unsuccessful candidates by post.
However, I apparently impressed them enough; I was in the final three, that they thought I might be interested in applying to join the local Hospital Pharmacy Technician Training Scheme. This was probably as a result of my answer to "Where do you see yourself in four years?" I mentioned that I hoped to still be with the department perhaps with a view to studying towards some sort of qualification to help me progress on a career path with them.
The scheme doesn't commence until September and will involve on site training and day release to Preston once a week. My only concern is that although they said that I easily meet the qualification requirements I'm a wee bit concerned that it lists English, Chemistry & Biology as 3 of the 4 subjects required at grade C or above when my Biology was a grade D. The saving grace may be that it states a dual science award would be considered which gives me hope that they may take my Physics grade into account instead.
Anyway, In the meantime I still need to keep looking for a job, even if it only temporary, and hope for the best with this application.
Spotted the above vacancy with the Forestry Commission. Wages are on a par with my previous job but it sounds really interesting. The post is permanent and is located at North West Region Office, Peil Wyke, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria.
They are looking for somebody to provide efficient administrative support to technical field officers in processing grant schemes and felling licence applications from landowners and agents, and also provide administrative support to field based Woodland Officers in processing England Woodland Grants, (EWGS), Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS), and Felling Licence Applications (FLA) from landowners and agents throughout the application process.
The duties listed include:
- Administer grant payments associated with Forestry Commission grant schemes and Contribute to the team’s requirement for data capture and information management.
- Assist Woodland Officers manage existing business through the closed grant schemes. Also support them by occasionally attending site visits in cases of alleged illegal felling and assist in the information gathering and report preparation of the same.
- Occasionally, carry out GIS |(Geographic Information Services) mapping work as required. (Training will be given)
- Undertake general administrative duties to the wider team including IT support, answering telephones, filing and dealing with visitors to the office, also helping other members of staff respond to Freedom of Information requests.
- Take part in the annual Outreach Programme to inform our customers through regional seminars, events and workshops.
I've emailed them for an application pack.
Not only am I heartbroken but I also feel like a complete bastard.
Was unsuccessful in my interview at the hospital last Friday. The search goes on...
Had an interview this morning at West Cumberland Hospital for a Ward Clerk's position. It's a part-time position for 19½ hours per week. I think the interview went okay and will find out if I've got the job by the end of next week.
Got home and I've got a letter inviting me to an interview for a Medical Laboratory Assistant (Bacteriology) position at the same hospital in the New Year.
Lost my job on Tuesday. Currently looking for a new one.
I've got two weddings to attend on Saturday.
Feeling more than a little bit delicate today.
At last!
For the people who've been worried with the fact that I ain't been about much lately.
I'm still alive.
I'm outta here for the weekend.
Was supposed to go to a friend's for dinner last night. However, she had to work.
Picked up my new glasses today.
Less than a month after my Mom dies and both my sisters have ended up on the same ward.
Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of children.
- William Makepeace Thackeray, 1811 - 1863
My mom passed away this morning.
I thought I had a handle on it until I wrote that line...
My uncle died today; he was in hi mid-60s.
I hope not.
Amanda stayed for the weekend, what with it being Valentine's Day yesterday and all.
A couple of people have asked for an update on the Amanda situation, and to be honest it hadn't occured to me. So, anyway, here it is.
Amanda phoned...
I'm seeing her on Tuesday night...
I'm an uncle again; for the 6th time overall.
It's been a week since my last entry and to be honest it's been a really long week. It's not even as if I've had a really busy week that I can reveal details of, it's just been once of those weeks where the days seem to merge in to one another. I'd orginally thought that I could take advantage of Amanda's holiday and try to catch up on a few things. I should have known that was never going to happen.
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