Journal Entries
Ripping Good Time
Posted Dec 7, 2011
CDs are so last decade dahling. 
So I'm ripping mine onto the new laptop and shoving them in the loft. A bit more space created in the house. 
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Latest reply: Dec 7, 2011
Depressed
Posted Dec 6, 2011
Since my contract ended and I've had to sign on, I've noticed the gradual decline of my bank balance. Today, for the first time in about nine months, I sat down and calculated my income and outgoings. I now have about £65 per week less coming in than last time I did this calculation. Of course, electric, gas, water, food, petrol and everything else has gone up in the course of those nine months too, so in real terms I am probably closer to £90-100 per week worse off. 
In fact, after paying the unavoidable household bills, I'm left with slightly over £50 per week to pay for food, toiletries, petrol, saving for birthdays/Christmas/holidays/fun and everything else. I honestly can't see how I can live on this, and would love to see the politicians who decide how much in benefits someone needs 'to live' could do so. I bet they'd blow that amount on one meal and think nothing of it. 
Trouble is, inflation is soaring and unemployment is at its worst in 17 years, so I really don't have much hope for seeing an improvement in my circumstances. It really is indescribably depressing. 
The only slight postive on the horizon is that I have been asked to get involved in a project which will provide a few hours of self-employment. It's very short-term (a few weeks), minimum hours and close on minimum wage. There's still a chance that the funding might not come through and the project will be dropped, and me too. Plus I have to go through the rigmarole of becoming self-employed, contacting HMRC and doing whatever else I need to do to officially declare myself as 'self-employed', which is completely new to me. I'd been toying with working for myself anyway, so this project is a stepping stone to start me on that road. However, it's a lot to suddenly add to my load just before Christmas, when I already had a full couple of weeks ahead. But this project /has/ to start next week.
Best add 'stressed' to that subject line too. 
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Latest reply: Dec 6, 2011
Memories... like the corners of my mind
Posted Dec 5, 2011
After more than a decade of using the internet, it occurred to me this weekend to look up a couple of things online. No idea why I didn't think to look before, but it's been a revelation.
First off, I thought I'd see if there were any videos/photos online of a rather well-known 
stallion I used to look after. A bit of a long shot, as he was foaled in 1966! Nothing on YouTube, but I did find one photo which led me to a fantastic forum where others were discussing him, his progeny, and my former boss (RIP). The most wonderful nostalgia and happy memories of such wonderful four-legged friends ensued. 
Today I wondered whatever became of my favourite 
bar in the whole world, Cabana. After some searching and reading, I am a little wiser and a whole lot hungrier. Bring back Cabana!
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Latest reply: Dec 5, 2011
End of a Journal Journey (Monday 28th November 2011)
Posted Nov 28, 2011
After a massive effort to post to my journal every day since I returned, I think the experiment is over. Despite my new laptop arriving on Friday, I gave little thought to h2g2 or the internet (other than recipe hunting) over the weekend. 
I did however, along with Turniphead, make vegetable casserole with 'meat' balls, roasted butternut squash, lemon cake with home-made lemon curd filling, lemon meringue pie, chocolate and walnut brownies, fresh lemonade, 'meat' feast scone-based pizza and cheese & herb scones. There's surprisingly little of it left now though 
A fun and productive weekend. 
Now I'm going to sign on. 
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Latest reply: Nov 28, 2011
Friday 25th November 2011 11.51am
Posted Nov 25, 2011
has entered the 21st century with a DAB radio. 
After a long summer listening to the radio at work (some days felt much longer than others when enduring Radio 1 
) I really learned to appreciate Absolute Radio and their no-repeat guarantee. Now I'll be able to listen at home. 
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Latest reply: Nov 25, 2011
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