Midwinter and all that

Was it freezing last night or what? I had the heating on and was still cold. Ironically, as I started to write this, Suki jumped up on the window sill and demanded to be let out. Cheers honey!

I guess the positive is that we have had the longest day and so we are heading towards the light..well more of it.

Not much of anything worth writing has been going on. Am just glad I got through the last week and without any additional trauma.

I did get to Woolworth's last day. That was a bit sad...I saw it as a reflection of how things are likely to be in this recession. More businesses going to the wall whilst people pick away at the carcasses. I can't say that I have any loyalty to a particular shop or branch of shops. Business is what business does (and it isn't all hearts and flowers) but I feel more for the type of people that will be seen at these closing down sales. The poorer end of society. And okay so things at really cheap prices are good for those of us on pathetically low incomes but times are not going to get easier for the poor. In fact if we look at history, it is always the poorest that have suffered in recession times. Then again the poorest suffered at the height of the British Industrial Revolution. Perhaps the poorest are damned whatever. Certainly, this Labour Government have done me and my father no favours whatsover and my daughter has had to take on ridiculous debt to continue her education. Yes, she has had opportunities but not without a big price to pay for them.

Anyway, this is part of a much deeper ideology I have which will take up more than one little posting.

Interesting that the government's latest thinking about the poor is that they no longer wish to offer them interest free loans and new applicants for disablity benefits are being turned down (or so my care co-ordinator tells me). When the going gets tough then the tough get brutal! Darwin's survival of the fittest at its worst!

If i think too much about this will have a downer for the rest of the day. So going to look at positives. Well things I can or am endeavouring to do.

Firstly, I have written a letter to the financial director at the local council. Raising concerns regarding the amounts of paperwork and waffle that they send and also to ask for a repayment shedule that is achievable. Like £5 per week!!!!

I got a letter from my MP, who has written to the CEO of the Trust about my father's care. I am going to try and organise a meeting with MP, as this situation cannot continue indefinately. Dad's brother rang this morning and was in quite a state. I was like "Am doing the best I can here but is only me and I am fighting within a system that mostly doesn't care". He hasn't got a passport (it ran out) but I think he is considering getting a new one. Until such time, is down to me and I haven't got the answers!!! Just keep searching for something better in amongst the not much of anything there is.

In another search I came across the local activities timetable and the Seventh Day Adventists are running free evening courses which are open to all. I wanted to do French. Was my favourite subject at school. I rang the number and was told the tutor was on pregnancy leave but that they are trying to get a new tutor and will let me know when the course starts. Something postive to look forward to and in a minute Hayley will be here for card making and chats.

And now is time to get dressed and make myself a strong cup of tea.