Just wanted to share a bit of love and support today with this post. 💛

luvpink

@jul1aorways

Hi I thought the spring statement is on tommorow

jul1aorways

@luvpink

Hi. Your're quite right! 🤦 I'm glad you pointed that out. I shall have to put that down to my brain fog with ME/CFS. I make quite a lot of mistakes because of it. I know it's not my fault but I do find it frustrating! 🤷

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1006348#Comment_1006348

I will be watching it and obviously I'm not looking forward to what may be in store for us.

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

Hi and thanks for your reply. Our Tesco delivery is due tomorrow. My partner prefers to try to keep our dog in order while he gets the shopping in but he doesn't always succeed. 😁

I'm glad you've got the attitude that you would laugh rather than cry! 😮 What a problem you've had with people at the door! I must admit to chuckling to myself while reading that though. I hope you don't think I'm awful. The part where you said it was 3.15 and you were burning candles for your Dad and Mum was very bad timing, I do agree. However I really did laugh when you mentioned the dogs wotsits. 🐕😆

The Spring Statement IS tomorrow at 12.30. I feel like doing something worse than spitting at Robber Reeves when she comes on. 😡 I believe they are going to give impact assessments too, one of them being for the effect the cuts are going to have on us. I don't think our assessment, in particular, is going to have very much to do with the truth. However, what do you expect from the likes of Reeves. 😤

I hope you're feeling better for a rest and you've had some peace and quiet since. I'm feeling better today than I've done for a few days, which is good. I'll see how long it lasts. 😊

jul1aorways

@luvpink

Yes I will be watching the Spring Statement too. Nothing to look forward to, that's for certain. 😔 However, we do need to know what's going on.

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

I apologise about the late message as you want an early night. It couldn't be avoided I'm afraid.

Everything is alright with me though.

You've made me smile again, that's for sure. 🤭 I liked the bit about posting that you'd won a chicken 🐔 and a lamb.🥩 😆

Sounds like you could do with a doorbell🔔instead of having people hammering on the door. Before I met my partner, nearly four years ago I lived on my own after my marriage broke up. My partner answers the door now, which is a real help 😌 but then, I hated answering the door to delivery people (I do all my shopping online due to my ill health) when I was feeling off. It was very much better than having to go to town to go shopping but theres few things worse than waking up, half asleep (with my hair sticking up) to answer the door 🚪 to someone giving me strange looks.

It's what you have to do when your ill, as you know but you would think I'd just landed in a UFO by the looks of some of them. 🛸😂 At least I can see the funny side of it.

I don't mind you asking. I live in the South West in Somerset. Where abouts do you live? I don't need to know what town, just the county like me, with Somerset.

That's nice, what you've said about me feeling better. Thank you. 👍 I hope that we both don't feel too down when we watch the Spring Statement tomorrow though. 🤬

It seems that if you're not getting gaslighted by the government or the local council, it's the NHS. It doesn't seem much to ask for people to be honest with you but they've all got their own agenda, with no respect for what you might need. 🙄

I hope that you've had a good day apart from that yourself. I've managed to get quite a bit done for me, I don't want my partner doing too much as he's disabled too and I like to feel useful when I can.

Do take care. 😊

idk

I want to say thank you to the people at SCOPE on this forum, last year one member of the team reached out to me, and helped me get referred to therapy, it was a process I didn't know how to start, but I've gotten a therapist now, and it's going well, it's nice to have someone to talk to face to face.

mawempathy

Thank you for all the work you do giving us a space to be together online. It is so heart-warming knowing there's a safe place I can go.

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

Thank you for what you've said about when I message, I do appreciate that. I just don't like looking as though I'm being inconsiderate, that's all.

I've suggested a doorbell and, well, most of the time it's a good idea but you still get those who will bang on the door like a bailiff! 😆 It does cut the number of people who do that down by a lot though. 👍 I've even put up a notice about ringing the doorbell instead of knocking on the door but I think that there are always some that are convinced that your doorbell can't possibly be working! 🤦🤭

By the way, do you mind me asking how many dogs you've got? It sounds like quite a few! 🐕 Our Jack Russell is very protective of us. The slightest disturbance at the front, never mind the doorbell and he's growling then barking like a rottweiler! 😂

All Jack Russells, I've know quite a few of them in my time, amaze me by being such a small dog but having the bark of a much bigger one! I'm sure they are big dogs in small bodies! 🐶💪Fearless too. 👍

I'm not a local. I've been in Somerset for 24 years, this year. I come from quite near to where you are living now in Cheshire, in North Staffordshire.

My partner is a Mancunian too! He then moved to Yorkshire then London and Birmingham before coming to live in the South West, then Somerset. It's a small world, as they say, you're both Northeners and I come from the neighbouring North Midlands. 😊

Somerset is truly beautiful but, even though I live here, I don't see anything like what I would like to see of it. 😞 As you rightly say, you can't get round the corner now, it's like that for me.

I'm afraid I'm ending this message on a grim note but I thought I'd better warn you. I expect you will be watching the Spring Statement, I certainly will be. In the Guardian this morning it says that the Treasury didn't approve of just having 6 billion pounds worth of cuts to disability benefits but wants another 1.6 billion, which they are going to announce today. 😱

It looks to be coming from the health element or top up of UC, the LCWRA. I expect you have that too as we're both unable to work. They want to freeze it until 2029 apparently (election year) As you've heard the (so called) government are going to slightly improve the basic rate of UC but it will still mean that our money will still have a another real terms cut. 🤬

I hope that I've done the right thing by telling you beforehand what to expect (that's if you don't know yourself already that is). I thought that it might be less of a blow to hear it from me this morning instead of directly from Robber Reeves, this afternoon, if you haven't heard about this yet.

We had better brace ourselves then. 😦

Message me at any time, especially if you want a good moan. Don't go keeping it to yourself! 😊

Holly_Scope

Thank you all. It's really lovely to see these comments and how you're all coming together and supporting one another. We've got this together 💛

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

You've done it again. You've got me laughing! 😆 Not bad going on the day of the Spring Statement, with more bad news facing us.

Dont worry about what you said about your ex husband. Mine was horrible and really makes me appreciate my partner that I've been with for a few years now. I do know what you mean!

Love what you put down about the incident about the chicken. 🐔😂 I avoid the Cherie Blair / sticking up hair look (sorry🤭) by answering the door in a hooded dressing up gown, if I truly have to go. I remember that back in 1997 so well. There's a lot to be said for not being in the public eye. I think she was too shocked at what she'd done to swear at anybody. I bet she still cringes with embarrassment to this day at that memory! 🫣

I'll let you get on as the energy assessment man is due to come from 12.00. You probably won't miss any of what Reeves has got to say as she is on at 12.30 and the Guardian says that the Statement is only going to take 25 minutes. I hope you have a good day too, in spite what she's got to say. 😊👍

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

The energy man not coming this afternoon gave you time like me, to watch Reeves. She was so smug, she has an ego the size of a planet! 🌍 😒 I don't think I've ever seen a chancellor behave like that. What a arrogant 🐮 😆

At least what we were threatened with in the media didn't happen but the Treasury doesn't think the government is taking enough money off us so you can bet that they will take that 1.6 billion off us at another time. 😤💸

Still, less of the downbeat. I liked what you said about not letting RR ruin the rest of your day, never mind the rest of your life. Good for you! 🤗 I couldn't agree more.👌

My cat, is always after a bit of cheese or chicken, plus milk and fish for that matter. With her being nearly 11, I give her a less treats than I used to as she puts weight so on easily, these days. I do like the photo of your dogs, 🐕👍 thank you for that. I'm sending you a photo of Bertie. I expect you've seen the photo of Lunar, my choice for my profile picture.

Both of them were really noisy today. I had the cat mewing every time I put my head in the kitchen, hoping for a tasty top up and the dog was crying in the lounge, as my partner had gone out to do some gardening. Telling him off hardly makes any difference, he's so close to his Daddy. 🐶💙 At least there's some piece and quiet now. Both are sleeping off their dinner.

I'm glad to hear that your pneumonia went! You can sing, lucky you. My partner makes sure I listen to music on headphones, if at all, as I love to sing but the dog joins in every time I do, howling away. 🎶🤣 I'm only kidding but I only annoy people when I sing, so I avoid it. 🙄

I'm sure the idiots who make the laws will not be forgiven for this and it will come back to slap them in the face eventually. Whatever they say, although they make sure that we lose the most, they're forcing working class and many middle class people to cut back too. They won't get any growth if they keep hammering us, whilst giving it to the wealthy, whatever they say.

Anyway, that's behind us now 👍 so do enjoy the rest of the day, you certainly made the most of this afternoon! I've no doubt your dogs enjoyed it as well.

Take care of yourself and "speak" soon 😊

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

Yes, Good Morning! Just.

It's busy here this morning. We've got a plumber in to swap our bath outlet and plug for one of those new style all in one things, which we can press up and down. We needed the overflow and trap replacing too. It didn't matter what plug we got for it, it always let water out. The bathroom and kitchen sink outlets and plugs were the same, but we've had them done already. The housing association says it no longer replaces anything to do with sink outlets and plugs, as it used to. More like they don't want to spend anything on doing them if you ask me. 😒

Anyway, he's just gone so I can come out of hiding! 😆 My anxiety really does get the better of me if there is anyone else in the house apart from my partner and the dog and cat. 🙀🐶 Glad this morning's over. 🤗

Thank you for what you've said about our cat and dog. They are as gorgeous as they look! 😻😹

I think that Rotten Rachel wanted to put on a performance to try and make us feel even more demoralised than than we already are. What they are doing is so immoral and self defeating, I believe that it is going to slap them back in the face, big time, even though they, or course are to arrogant to see it, I really do. It's a fact of life that what comes around, goes around. 😡

The economy is going to go downhill with what they are doing. So many economists are warning them about it and the Labour Party's reputation has gone west, probably never to return. They won't listen to any of this, they are so concerned with being idologically right. They'll get their comeuppance, just watch this space. Probably, sooner than we think.

I'm sure that you will try not to worry too much as it affects your blood pressure. I've felt very down and ill lately because of it all but, although it will be on our minds, as time goes on, you find yourself feeling more positive and not worrying as much about it all as you did. I've felt better the last few days. Just think of Reeves reaction when all of this goes wrong, as I'm sure it will. That's something to look forward to at least. It will take time but I'm sure it will happen. 👍😊

It's a pity that you can't sing for long any more but I had a smile to myself about you singing the wrong words to that song. 🤭 Fancy the winner being Lisa Stansfield! She was quite famous once, wasn't she.

I still feel spooked by the plumber coming but I'll get on with the day the best I can. 👍

I hope you will soon feel more positive and that you are having a better day than you had yesterday.🤞Perhaps you might be able to get out in the garden with the dogs. 😊

Do take care.

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

I am relaxing now. So you're the same as me, you hate anyone who doesn't live with you coming in. Glad the roofing finishes for you soon. That must be awful with all the noise. There was a lot of banging and crashing in the bathroom. I don't know about you but all the noise doesn't do any favours for my anxiety either. 😬

I hope that you've been in your garden. I hope that you're weather is better than it is here. It's been dull and colder than usual here. Enjoy your music day when the builders but I'd feel worried, if I were you, about getting a karaoke machine in your small bungalow! I think you might become a tad unpopular with the neighbours and you might be tempted to sing for too long. 🫢 I hope you don't think that I'm being cheeky giving my opinion on that!

Your solo in the school field did made me laugh, especially at the bit when you said "ever the professional" even though nobody could hear you sing. 🚂😆

Weren't the fashions dreadful in the seventies. 👗 I had my dresses made by my Mum who was a dressmaker. She used to do alterations, working from home at the time. Then , I thought my dresses were beautiful but not any more! 🤦 Don't get me wrong, they were very well made, Mum did a really good job of them but let's face it, the 70's were was the time that taste forgot! 😂

You have a wide taste in music, which is like my partner who likes from trance to classical but (this may surprise you 🤔) I've been a lifelong hard rock and metal fan (with some blues occasionally.)

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

If you want a tip, there are some good ideas for fighting the Green Paper on Benefits and Work.(link above) As you say though, save looking into what you're going to do until tomorrow.

I hope that the rest of your day is a good one. I'm doing reasonably well today and I'm looking forward to some dinner and then see what the evening brings. (I've got my partner here giving the dog kisses again, Bertie does likes his cuddles) I'd better go and feed Lunar now. 🐈Bertie always waits to see what he can scrounge from our plates before he has his. 🐕

Do take care of yourself. 😊

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

I didn't have a lovely evening so much as a snoozefest evening. 😴 I started feeling really rough and could hardly keep my eyes open. I was sleeping by eight! I don't feel that good this morning, however I never do in the morning, at this time, I usually start improving from mid morning. I feel a lot better than last night though. 👍

I hope you had a good evening and that you don't feel too bad this morning. 😊

I can remember my Mum not being able to stand all sorts of different noises with her hearing loss so I do about know what your saying.

I'm so glad that you have joined Benefits and Work. 🤗 I've been with them for many years and I really can't say enough good things about them. Their expertly written benefit guides when you are doing an assessment are the last word. I must admit that I don't know what I'd have been without them. Their news about what the DWP are getting up to is really through and they do so much to help us fight the system at times like this.👌

Bless you 🫶 when you said

"I'm glad you said that about karoke, some things just don't work trying to turn back the years hobbling along with my walking stick in my 4ft of spare space 🤣I'm glad you said that about karoke, some things just don't work trying to turn back the years hobbling along with my walking stick in my 4ft of spare space 🤣"

I do feel for you, I was smiling sadly to myself as I read it. 🥲 There's so much we have lost to the past, not just because we're getting older but because we're both disabled. 🙁

On a brighter note, I'm glad that I made a good suggestion and you didn't think that I was being cheeky. Your neighbours will thank you for it! 😆

With the sort of music I listen to I have always found headphones to be the answer. 🎧 My partner likes some of what I listen to but really only part of it and I think that most of what I listen to would definitely upset the neighbours! Especially as my sort of music really doesn't suit being played quietly! 🔊 😁

Over the years I've listened to and some some cases seen bands like AC/DC, Ozzy Osborne, Saxon Iron Maiden, Guns 'N Roses, Rammstein and Megadeth. I don't know if you have heard of any of them. 🤔

Yes, Led Zeppelin is what was then called a heavy metal band. I think that they are excellent. Santana is more blues rock and he is (was) really good.

Like music, fashion is a matter of opinion lol. 😁 We are both music lovers but like very different types of music. It would be a boring world 🌍 if we all liked the same thing!

I hope today, that you've been looking forward to, which is good, goes well for you. It's sunny here, although cloudy. ⛅

I have enjoyed another chat with you, 😊 As ever, do take care. 👍

jul1aorways

@Santosha12

You're welcome 😊

I wasn't well this morning, as usual but a lot better than last night, thanks. I'd rallied by late morning but we both had to do some jobs as my partner's 12 year old grandson was due to come over this afternoon to stay until Sunday. He's here now.

You don't sound at all good yourself! 😕 You don't have to apologise because of blurriness due to eye disease and having a severe migraine. I know only too well that you can't help it. I appreciate you telling me why you couldn't read my message for a few hours but you don't need to say sorry for something that's not your fault!

So you had heard of most of the bands I'd put down. I'm familiar with all the artists /bands you've talked about so far but I've not heard of bossa nova. 🤔

I haven't got the patience to watch Question Time. The views that most of the people have on there really wind me up, they are so right wing. I only end up well, not shouting but complaining to the TV so for the sake of me and my partner I give it a miss! 😤

I hope the dogs got into the garden eventually and at least you'll all get a break over the weekend. The whole thing will be over shortly and you'll enjoy getting some peace and quiet back again. 👍

I always find B and W really helpful during an assessment. I do hope you will use them. Let's face it the disabled, including me and you need all the help we can get these days! 🙄

That's rotten what they've said about you at the Long Covid clinic. 😠 Well, you can't get in contact with them anyway over the weekend so it's a good time really to gather yourself and work some things out over that time that you can do to tackle them. That's a good idea 💡because, of course, it's always better not just to react to what's happened but work out a good plan to sort it out properly.

It just seems as though the DWP, the NHS, the council, the housing association, you name it, are all doing their best to see the back of us.

It is upsetting but don't take it personally as they do it to everyone. I'm afraid that's what they want you to do, to get upset, distrustful and not engage with them any longer. The whole system is all about saving money, it certainly isn't about looking after people like you and me so they do there best to discourage you in any way they can.

I personally can't stand any of this sort of behaviour, never mind trust them but they have the money we need to live on, the vital health services we need etc. They always put you in a position where you have to fight for these things, hoping you will give up. They will gain, if you do that but you will lose out, a lot.

My way of dealing with this is to fight them until they give me what I have every right to have. The best example of what I've been through was with the DWP, when I first became disabled and they gave me no points at all for the old DLA so I went to Citizens Advice who told me I should have come to them sooner and they helped me with my appeal. I persisted until tribunal and got awarded middle care and lower mobility. I've gone on in the same way ever since. I realised that I was the one who was going to suffer if I just let it go, not them.

I do hope that you will consider taking them to task over this. If you do, I know Pals are good for complaints at the hospital. Perhaps you can look on their website at least to see how their complaints procedure works. Just some suggestions of course. It's your decision how you deal with this but let me know what you want to do, if that's alright. At least I can be a sounding board and on your side, whatever decision you make.

I hope you are feeling more relaxed now and that you enjoy your quiet weekend. I will look forward to your reply and do take good care of yourself. 😊