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

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Comments

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    I'm truly going daft my energy man's coming 9th april had it in diary twice so can watch the very undelightful RR and all the nonsense she's going to spout. Playing The Carpenters to relax before then , especially 'Sing' which the mutts like.

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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! 😊

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    You Are VERY considerate @jul1aorways thank you and especially for the warning re statement. I'm sat with my notebook and pen at the ready as I'll forget but I'm sure it will be on the news too continually.

    I always tell people to give me notice when they're coming (noone comes here generally just deliveries, workmen etc) i say so I can put all my dogs (4) in crates. I don't say what kind they are and they probably think I've got some great big scary dogs in here I've attached a photo they're all between 3 and 6 kgs lol. It's a palaver getting them in as they have to get up on the stool then the settee or window sill so I can scoop them up to crate them.

    My next door neighbour who I used to live next door to had a Jack Russell. When she opened the door to me once it tried to run out (really busy rd) I put my hand out to stop it and it bit my thumb very hard/bleeding. I said you little sod ha ha my neighbour wasn't impressed (it just came out I didn't really mean to say that ha ha). But yes, if all my 4 bark together one practically screams so I have to try my best to prevent it as she gets distressed.

    I've turned The Carpenters off now and got politics live on bbc2 on. God help us. By the way I'm from Wythenshawe originally in Manchester (the posh bit ha ha). I just sometimes feel a connection funny that. RR is supposed to be appearing soon on downing street.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 1,640 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    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
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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. 😊👍

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    AAw You too @jul1aorways

    It's the 9th April he's coming I made a mistake so going to watch her and then determined to let my dogs have some chicken and a bit of cheese, a party basically, as I'm not going to let her ruin my day or the rest of my life.

    Now my pnuemonia has gone I can sing again, in a fashion, as long as I don't walk at the same time, which my dogs like. I'll put the shenanigans of the world behind me for a few hours.

    There'll be a big fight to come against all this I'm sure, it's nothing short of scandalous and they're all scoundrels and that's me being polite !

    Take good care and 'speak' soon 😃

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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 😊

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    @jul1aorways oh your dog and cat are gorgeous 😍 sadly day didn't go to plan, watched RR and just felt totally beat by it all. No chicken cheese or singing. I'm hoping I sleep and that my Mojo comes back soon. Take care and I hope you have a lovely evening 🙏

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    @jul1aorways by the way, I can't sing I just do 🤣🤣. Scarring on my lung I have to sit down after 5 mins. I hope you have a good day today the weather looks like it could be good here.

    My dogs love sunbathing but they're limited at the moment as roofers next door. Once they're done and scaffolding removed I'll do them their little party.

    Years ago I entered a singing competition with my sister at the Willows, Salford (Lisa Stansfield won it). I sang the wrong words to a whole second verse my sister was not happy 🤣 didn't hear anyone laughing but I bet they were.

    I'm trying to rack my brains about the benefit cuts but have to even pace that as my blood pressure goes up very high for no reason (on maximum meds). Or maybe the reason is Rachel from accounts 😕 🤔

    Anyway have a lovely day and hope you have good weather too.

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    @jul1aorways sorry Good morning too I meant to say !! 😅

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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.

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    Aw I hope you can relax this afternoon now the plumbers gone. I know exactly what you mean I hate anyone having to come in here. The roofers seem to have finished next door for today so we're going out in the garden soon. Just had a text to say scaffold is coming down on 7th April so very very pleased about that. Think that's going to be a music day to disguise the racket.

    Yes Lisa Stansfield sang ooh can't remember now ha ha something about being around the world. I was always very shy when young and, this'll make you laugh, I had a lovely long white dress covered in little red rosebuds, must have been from a jumble sale, high neck, long sleeves, very 70s/of its time. I took it to school with me (primary not secondary 🤣🤣🤣), changed into it at lunchtime and stood on the school field singing 'Top of the World' with a teacher stood their and around 15 kids. Trouble was the goods train line backed onto the field and one went past whilst in full flow ha ha i carried on, ever the professional at c 9 yrs old. Cringeworthy or what, I didn't even have music playing crikey I don't know what possessed me. That was a very weird thing to do really. (I love The Carpenters). Did it again years later, Rainy Days and Mondays at a karoke in Tunisia while on hols with husband and friends (didn't change into a long dress though ha ha). I'm wondering whether to save up for a karoke machine although might be too loud for me and the dogs (and neighbours).

    Sorry I digress... played a bit of samba/bossa nova this morning which the dogs loved the change of tempo/mood. Hardly thought of her from accounts, well compared to yesterday anyway!

    Am having a think about how I can fight the changes but I'm going to leave that for tomorrow now and appreciate the sun.

    Have a really lovely day yourself too it's good once a job has been done as it's a worry off your shoulders now and free-er to relax. Take good care 🙏

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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.)

    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. 😊

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    Have a lovely evening 😊 since ears affected i can't cope with noise easily. Oh thanks ive forgot i recently joined Benefits and Work I must download that . 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 🤣 cheaper and more neighbour friendly to stick to my cds and you tube! Now I know I must be weird I liked the 70s fashion ha especially my bellbottoms thought I was the bees knees ha ha . I don't know any heavy rock metal music, guessing led zeppelin. I love Santana especially flor d/luna. Anyway have a very relaxing evening, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, can't imagine why but I am so that's a plus, take care too.

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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. 👍

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    Thanks so much for your message @jul1aorways and I hope you're starting to feel OK and ready for your day but sorry you felt so rough last night. I always get swollen/painful glands in neck the other night when it happened pulse was 134 and high temperature but then normal the next day which is weird. I hope you don't feel rough today. I'm taking paracetamol 4hrly at the moment thank god for them, and antibiotics !!

    Oh yes I've heard of those bands just not the last two you mentioned. Had a shocking migraine this morning and not been able to see properly (2 diseases of eyes 🙄) so couldn't read your message till now sorry but blurriness has gone now thankfully. Think I should have slept earlier last night instead of watching Question Time!

    Workmen are here taking out asbestos in my side/back ginnel so can't let dogs in garden but they're OK. And racket again but at least it isn't directly overhead so small mercies and all that.

    I've not been on the B and W website much yet but think it might be helpful when i prepare for review of PIP in 26/27.

    I'm just going to chill today and try to not stress.

    Tried to get notes in October from my long covid clinic who had said derogatory things about me/gaslighting etc. Long story short got them via the legal dept at hospital a week ago and its disgusting some of what's written including some lies (ie I thanked them profusely for everything they've done - I didn't as they've caused harm). Anyway I'll leave that until Monday to work out how I'm going to deal with it as it's been upsetting as now I feel I can't/won't engage with other services that are connected as I now trust none of them.

    Hoping these workmen finish early, they do seem to on a Friday. I hope you have a lovely day and weekend. I've enjoyed our chats and take very good care 😊

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 51 Empowering

    @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. 😊

  • Santosha12
    Santosha12 Online Community Member Posts: 676 Empowering

    @jul1aorways thank you so much for your message and I hope you've had a really lovely weekend with your grandson and that you've felt well enough to enjoy it 😊.

    I've not been able to come on here because of my eyes, I know I have to 'pace' myself because of my Long Covid, but I don't normally relate it to my eyes and I forget sometimes it was my eye problems (and GI especially) that caused me to lose my job.

    Anyway I can see again now so making the most of it 🫠😅.

    I have (I think):dsyautonomia too and my blood pressure, heart rate and temperature are sometimes all over the place I don't think watching Question Time helps that.

    You talk a lot of sense re health/services/PALS etc. I still need to re-read my notes but I think I know where I'm going with it all. My LC clinic has lost its funding now but there is some associated healthcare that although I need it, I can work a way around it to not need their help. I think. I'm going to read through the notes this week and not act until I've had my appt next week with my GI consultant.

    Even though I've not been able to read them again because of my eyes, I've got to be careful this week as reading something that is littered with a mixture of inaccuracies (some outright lies), and omissions and judgemental comments is quite upsetting and I don't want it setting my heart off. Luckily, I've got evidence that supports what I'm saying and it's most likely that I'll be going straight to the CEO with it and circumventing their complaints procedure which aims to fix it. Sadly, because I've got the notes there is nothing to 'fix'. You can't fix a person's lack of integrity or honesty and I don't need them causing me further harm.

    Anyway, I live to fight another day 🤣. I think the workmen will be back to do the ginnel work so dogs can't go in garden. When i looked on Friday they've only done I'd estimate c 25% of it so could be in for a long week 🙄 . Hopefully they'll still be on target for scaffolding to come down next week.

    I hope you have a good week, do you tend to go out and about? I loved gadding around previously to getting ill. Not too happy at losing an hours sleep yesterday but it's hardly like I can't make it up exactly is it when I sleep so much anyway 😴 😅.

    Well, take very good care and sorry for my 'War and Peace' as is my usual!! 🙏 😊