h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not even sure if i can face writing this just now...

i fell asleep on the sofa last night at about 4am i think and woke up at 11am cold and stiff with a fowl hangover.

the day then progressed to lots of calls to benefits people that are "far too busy to worry about the fact i have no income" - ok they didnt actually say that but it amounts to the same thing as they are busy, but I still have no income.

F19585?thread=267061&post=3308920#p3308920
didnt help either,

Then my boss came round and terminated my contract of employment after 6 and a half years of work because i am on long term sick leave (since last July). I knew it was going to happen and he has said that he will always re-employ me when i am well again, and it *is* the best decision really as i dont have to worry about letting them down by being off etc or rushing back to work when i am not ready, but even so...

Poor you. Just when it seemed as bad as it gets, it got worse. I hope you have some good friends/family to take care of you at this time. This probably won't help now but things will get better. If you have trouble sleeping and need to talk I'm here from 22:00hrs to 07:00hrs tonight. I know you don't know me (I'm a newbie) but I checked out your space last night and was impressed. Take care,
Meg

Keep fighting. I've been in your situation a few times and things have always resolved themselves eventually. Your work in the guide shows what a great person you are so keep telling yourself that. It worked for me when one of my schools was giving me a really hard time recently. If you want to discuss things outside this public forum my e-mail is [email protected]
sbe

Thanks mad meg and sbe, I have had a sleep and apart from a bad headache i feel okish.
I knew it was coming, its sad and my boss was upset too as he does value me, but since its not likely i am going to be able to return to work withinn the next 6 months then there doesnt seem any point in keeping me employed. i could get another job easily enough - for some reason vet nurses are in short supply in the south of England, but i am not well enough at the moment.
Its the cash that is stressing me out really, getting benefits sorted is a total minefield - my SSP (stat sick pay) ran out last month.

Now i am getting 7 weeks pay (6 inlieu of notice and week holiday pay) which will completely b***er up this and i will have to reapply for everything in 7 weeks and wait until i am penniless before i get any. What they dont realise is that i have had to borrow so much while awaiting benefits that the pay off will be gone within a week! when i think about it.

Stupid system.

Deep breath, and new day today - albeit very early!

It is very early but it promises to be another beautiful day. It is a shame that I will be sleeping through it. My night duty finishes at 7am
I had trouble with the benefits system when I was Pregnant and working for an agency. When I couldn't work due to advanced pregnancy I was informed that I had made myself Jobless and didn't qualify for benefits. Unfortunately my partner wasn't working as he'd had a breakdown (breakthrough) and had therefore made himself jobless. We survived on the kindness of family and friends and I learnt to be humble. I learnt to accept charity and still cannot turn down anything offered to me! Things rapidly improved over the next few months and there's been no looking back. You'll look back on this time in years to come and appreciate what lessons you are currently learning

OK- I've been thinking about you a lot. Here's what I want you to do. Go into the fair city of Edinburgh tomorrow- I've checked BBC Weather and it's going to be sunny- and do all the tourist things. As you're on a budget take a walk through the park to the Scott monument, and take some time to appreciate the beauty of one of the world's most beautiful capitals. Then walk to the castle and meander down the Royal mile. Get yourself a pint of heavy on the way- or whatever's your poison! Drop into the Museum of Childhood and lose yourself in thoughts of simpler times. Browse round the Christmas shop if it's still there and buy yourself something cheap and cheerful that can go up in December to remind you how far you've come. Finally take a walk up to the hills at the back of Holyrood Palace, and breathe in that sweet Scottish air. Please try it and let me know how you feel. I guarantee it will help.
Affectionately yours sbe

SBE,

Thanks for thinking about me, it was really nice to read your message.
I live within a 10 minute walk of Holyrood Park. Its a beautiful place. And i do like a pint of Heavy!(although haven't had one in ages)
That's the trouble when you live in a place you never do the 'touristy' things.
Maybe i will go climb the hill today and admire that fantastic view over the Firth of Forth and look across to Fife

Thankyou

Mort

Hi Mort,
Did it help?
sbe

actually, the weather was dull in the morning and i hadnt had much sleep so i wnet to bed at 2.30pm and have just woken up at 6am this morning

so i missed out on doing anything, but i guess i must have needed the rest anyway.

Mort

about your situation, (I hope you don't mind my quick lurk around the place)

I wonder if you've tried the Citizens Advice Beareau, or failing that keep harrassing the benifits system, it does work in the end, really.....

Hi Z, feel free to lurk!

I know they will get there in the end but honestly the system sucks. (just received another 40 page claim form to fill in for incapacity benefit now!)

Still onwards and upwards - or something like that...

At least h2g2 fills the time a bit and keeps my brain ticking over. If i can stay awake past 6pm, i intend to get trousered tonight so that should brighten up the day a bit

Official notification of being terminated came today to so what better, way than to get p*ssed to celebrate my incapacity

getting trousered is good!

To be honest all my family but me is stuck in the system at the moment, and I've spent my holidays temping in benifit agencys soI've seen it from both sides. Most of the offices are inhabited by people who think that everyone who speaks to them is scum who should just get a job. Not realising that I can't see anyone who would choose to live on benfits unless they had a good reason.

Actually that was one of my thoughts - that they are so used to dealing with people that are riding the system or have half a brain cell - but it didnt sound too pc.

But its true, i expect if you had to work their full time forever you cant help but let it get to you. Saw a docu on the DSS staff once and they were so stressed, to the point of needing psychiatric support.

I used to work for an animal charity and was quite shocked at the attitude of my co-workers which was almost treating the clients like half humans. Within 6 months my idealistic views were crushed and i became the same as them.

I have paid NI for 16 years - with exception of 3 months - i have worked since i was 17 years old after quitting my A levels, and only want what i am entitled to, i am no sponger but i guess the system is the same for everybody (as it should be) but i dont particularly enjoy being made to feel the scum of the earth just cos i am too ill to work at the moment. soapbox!

Still i got trousered last night on a bottle of Cava that was on offer (financed by my parents ) and i dont have a hangover so i think i will repeat the process tonight

Oooh a soapbox, pass it this way please.......

Me on the left?

Anyway how are you feeling this morning? ? or are you just lucky, and hangover free?

Actually hangover free, and I must confess that I have just opened another bottle! I know it's a bit early but I have been up since 9am and it makes for an awful long day.

I love a good rant when i get going!!
...but there is alot to rant about...

So what have you been up to? Anything much?

Don't know about you but it feels like a Sunday today.

It feels a lot like a Sunday today, I'v failed to find a company that will Insure an estate car for me, because I'm 21 and male, (it's Amy's antmobile, and only worth about £400).

Do you see boy racers in volvos? I ask you!

Then done some revision, since I've been on study leave my sleep pattern has changed beyond all recognition, I tend to work from 12pm til 4am, In fact I'm working at the moment!