Billy Young's Blog, page 3
October 17, 2015
17th October 2015
We made it through to the quarter finals in the rugby. It was a hard fought second half last week but we managed to take the win. Tomorrow we face Australia which I doubt if we will beat them though you never know. As long as it is a good game and no-one is hurt.
Magz has finally decide that we are decorating the living room. She had most of the stuff in but picked up a couple of rolls of wall paper for a feature wall. The gloss paint has left me feeling tired. I've never liked it and always seem to get migraines. Leaving the window open does help a little. This week though has been a touch too cold to leave them open as it gets dark. Not quite the icicles hanging from the nose but close. Winter is truly on the way.
I have been playing Skyrim this week. I was halfway through playing a new game when Elite Dangerous was purchased last year for me by my son. Anyways I reverted back to that even though the problems with ED have been sorted. I had been meaning to get back to Skyrim so it was good to do so. I have the dragon in Dragon's Reach in game when I left it though I wasn't ready to finish the game as there were a few things still to do. I also wanted to level up a good bit which I have been able to do this week. I will play for another week or so before going back to ED to complete the journey I am on.
Still looking for work. I'm applying but not getting much in the way of replies. That though isn't unusual though. Hoping to get something soon though it is hard as the weeks keeping growing and still nothing in the pipeline. I just have to keep telling myself soon.
Magz has finally decide that we are decorating the living room. She had most of the stuff in but picked up a couple of rolls of wall paper for a feature wall. The gloss paint has left me feeling tired. I've never liked it and always seem to get migraines. Leaving the window open does help a little. This week though has been a touch too cold to leave them open as it gets dark. Not quite the icicles hanging from the nose but close. Winter is truly on the way.
I have been playing Skyrim this week. I was halfway through playing a new game when Elite Dangerous was purchased last year for me by my son. Anyways I reverted back to that even though the problems with ED have been sorted. I had been meaning to get back to Skyrim so it was good to do so. I have the dragon in Dragon's Reach in game when I left it though I wasn't ready to finish the game as there were a few things still to do. I also wanted to level up a good bit which I have been able to do this week. I will play for another week or so before going back to ED to complete the journey I am on.
Still looking for work. I'm applying but not getting much in the way of replies. That though isn't unusual though. Hoping to get something soon though it is hard as the weeks keeping growing and still nothing in the pipeline. I just have to keep telling myself soon.
October 10, 2015
10th October 2015
Finally got my Door Supervisors badge this week. I also finished updating my CV and began sending it out to employers, Though I must admit to one minor error. I forgot to attach my CV to one email. I soon got a email form the employer to point this mistake out to me. I don't think that would have impressed them but I did reply to them with the said attachment firmly in place. Other than that no employers have been in touch to offer employment. Maybe in the coming week that will change. Got to remain hopeful.
Rugby is on this week again and it is a must win for Scotland. It is half time at the moment and the first half didn't really go our way. Samoa are in front though not by too much . So we could still win but the team will need to pull their socks up and stop let the other team get so much of the ball. As for last week well South Africa beat us which I expected. Though there was still that little bit of me that dreamed.
I've been put off of playing Elite for the next week or so. A major update caused big problems for explorers. At first Frontier Developments, the makers of the game, basically ignored the players. The trouble was that a lot of data gathered from exploring was lost. As you know I have been out for a long time and so was not happy. Less so when FD have said they can't restore any data that is lost. Though they have said they will compensate for any loss. Though they haven't said what that would be. But as the cash made from the data gathered goes to rank we lose the gains in rank as well. That I doubt will be made up to us. Yeah only a game I hear you say. That is why I am having a break from it. It also lets me see if the problem is truly fixed.
Well that is the second half begun.
Rugby is on this week again and it is a must win for Scotland. It is half time at the moment and the first half didn't really go our way. Samoa are in front though not by too much . So we could still win but the team will need to pull their socks up and stop let the other team get so much of the ball. As for last week well South Africa beat us which I expected. Though there was still that little bit of me that dreamed.
I've been put off of playing Elite for the next week or so. A major update caused big problems for explorers. At first Frontier Developments, the makers of the game, basically ignored the players. The trouble was that a lot of data gathered from exploring was lost. As you know I have been out for a long time and so was not happy. Less so when FD have said they can't restore any data that is lost. Though they have said they will compensate for any loss. Though they haven't said what that would be. But as the cash made from the data gathered goes to rank we lose the gains in rank as well. That I doubt will be made up to us. Yeah only a game I hear you say. That is why I am having a break from it. It also lets me see if the problem is truly fixed.
Well that is the second half begun.
October 3, 2015
3rd October 2015
The SIA has finally made their decision and now I am only waiting for my second security badge to arrive. I checked their site yesterday to the good news which was great. Over the past few weeks I was beginning to think that I had got lost in the system after scraping the cash to pay for the badge. On seeing that I had been successful I began updating my CV though I still have more to do which I shall do tomorrow as today Scotland play South Africa in the rugby world cup. Can't miss that now, can I? In fact the game start very soon so I have to write this post in a bit of a rush.
I was out checking the garden and found three of the carrots I planted were ready for tomorrows dinner. It may not seem a lot but they are big carrots so will add to the meal perfectly. While out I got some more blueberries to top up the bowlful I already
have. Magz is planning on using them tomorrow. Everything seems to be planned for tomorrow. Well that is other than my last day on the work placement. That is on Monday. Yeah in for one day. Though not the full day as I have to leave early to sign on. So not so bad.
Well that is the national anthems being sung so I must go.
I was out checking the garden and found three of the carrots I planted were ready for tomorrows dinner. It may not seem a lot but they are big carrots so will add to the meal perfectly. While out I got some more blueberries to top up the bowlful I already
have. Magz is planning on using them tomorrow. Everything seems to be planned for tomorrow. Well that is other than my last day on the work placement. That is on Monday. Yeah in for one day. Though not the full day as I have to leave early to sign on. So not so bad.
Well that is the national anthems being sung so I must go.
September 26, 2015
26th September 2015
What a start to the week this week. I left the Work Placement on Monday early to get back into Killie to sign on. I was told last time I signed that was what I was to do. At that time my advisor was on holiday so it was some other member of staff that was covering for her. Of course that didn't really help me much as when I arrived at the jobcentre to sign she was surprised and informed me that she had expected me in the morning as usual. She also told me she was about to sign me off the brew which would have caused me to get sanctioned. Apparently she hadn't been informed that I would be signing late as I had been told, though she did know I was on the Work Placement. In the end I was allowed to sign on though she had to get someone else to let me as she had an interview with somebody else. The other member of staff seemed less than pleased about it but I didn't get sanctioned. That would have been a disaster as that would mean living on fresh air. And all because of a mix-up I had nothing to do with. I hope that next time I sign on she remembers I will be late in.
I also was told she would need to speak to me over the job I missed out on last week. You know the one where I missed the call doe to being on the Work Placement after I told her of that. I got the impression this could also be a problem for me even though I phoned the company back as soon as I could. I'm hoping that they aren't going to try and use that to try and hammer me after it was they that put me into the slave programme which is why I missed the initial call from the company. It was also the reason I couldn't phone them back before the next day. I will know more in time but for now I must wait to see where it goes.
I also was told she would need to speak to me over the job I missed out on last week. You know the one where I missed the call doe to being on the Work Placement after I told her of that. I got the impression this could also be a problem for me even though I phoned the company back as soon as I could. I'm hoping that they aren't going to try and use that to try and hammer me after it was they that put me into the slave programme which is why I missed the initial call from the company. It was also the reason I couldn't phone them back before the next day. I will know more in time but for now I must wait to see where it goes.
September 19, 2015
19th September 2015
Got a call about a job this week while I was at the Work Placement in Irvine. Calum took the number down but the place was closed by the time I got home. I phoned promptly the next morning from the Placement but they seemed clueless to what I was talking about but said they would call me back. Of course that phone call never happened so it would seem the Government's slavery programme has cost me a potential job. I am not happy about it though there is little I can do now.
The scheme itself is going well other than the fact that I have been ill all week. An end of summer cold has gripped me. It has left me crabby and very tired and seems to not wish to break. I thought I was turning the corner with it the other day but yesterday and today has assured me that it still has the better of me. I hate being ill and I really dislike that yucky feeling that comes with the common cold. I will be glad when I can finally shake it.
My garden suffered more vandalism this week. One of my cherry trees being the victim this time. Just the one branch was snapped off. I would have thought it wild life had it not been for the fact that the branch was pushed under the hedge as if to hide it which would suggest kids looking for free fruit and feeling a certain guilt for the damage they caused. At least that is how I see it though I doubt I will ever truly know how the damage occurred. Sadly it hasn't been a great year in the garden this year. Really poor weather has caused much of what was planted to fade into nothing. Though I did get some good tatties last month as well as some juicy blueberries this week. So I will be looking forwards to the pie Magz will make from them.
The scheme itself is going well other than the fact that I have been ill all week. An end of summer cold has gripped me. It has left me crabby and very tired and seems to not wish to break. I thought I was turning the corner with it the other day but yesterday and today has assured me that it still has the better of me. I hate being ill and I really dislike that yucky feeling that comes with the common cold. I will be glad when I can finally shake it.
My garden suffered more vandalism this week. One of my cherry trees being the victim this time. Just the one branch was snapped off. I would have thought it wild life had it not been for the fact that the branch was pushed under the hedge as if to hide it which would suggest kids looking for free fruit and feeling a certain guilt for the damage they caused. At least that is how I see it though I doubt I will ever truly know how the damage occurred. Sadly it hasn't been a great year in the garden this year. Really poor weather has caused much of what was planted to fade into nothing. Though I did get some good tatties last month as well as some juicy blueberries this week. So I will be looking forwards to the pie Magz will make from them.
September 12, 2015
12th September 2015
My first week at the recycling centre as part of the Work Placement Scheme is over. It isn't to bad though the dust inside the computers we are taking apart causes a few sneezes. I look on it as positively as I can. It gets me up in the morning and I will be able to put it down on my CV as reference to help gain a proper job. Mind the work we are doing is real work as well as varied as there are many different brand of PC's to be dismantled. All have there own quirks which can make disassembly awkward. Still it gives me something rather than sitting around twiddling my thumbs.
I still have to carry on with the job search when I get home at night. Though today I had a break from it as I was down town with the family. I know I'm bad. Though in my defence I usually carry out a six day search and have only normally taken Sundays off from trying to get a job. I must admit though when getting home after working all day that I have to force myself to do a search. You know how it is when you get home and just want to put your feet up. Well it is the same for me. I just have to wait till after I have search through the mind numbing number of sites. Then check my email for all the alerts that have been sent to me. Yeah I know I should check the alerts first it could speed up the whole process. I just prefer going through the site as the alerts I am sent usual aren't that great. And going through the pain of configuring all those different sites alerts to be more relevant. Well enough said.
I got back my documents from the SIA this week but I'm still waiting for them to complete all their checks. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for my second badge.
I still have to carry on with the job search when I get home at night. Though today I had a break from it as I was down town with the family. I know I'm bad. Though in my defence I usually carry out a six day search and have only normally taken Sundays off from trying to get a job. I must admit though when getting home after working all day that I have to force myself to do a search. You know how it is when you get home and just want to put your feet up. Well it is the same for me. I just have to wait till after I have search through the mind numbing number of sites. Then check my email for all the alerts that have been sent to me. Yeah I know I should check the alerts first it could speed up the whole process. I just prefer going through the site as the alerts I am sent usual aren't that great. And going through the pain of configuring all those different sites alerts to be more relevant. Well enough said.
I got back my documents from the SIA this week but I'm still waiting for them to complete all their checks. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for my second badge.
September 5, 2015
5th September 2015
Someone or something caused a bit of damage to my fruit trees this week. Both my apple trees suffer serious damage. I know the cooking apple tree was top heavy so the damage and loss of branches on that isn't to bad. But the eating apple tree has suffer as it was smaller and lost one of its two main braches as well as left a deep gash where the limb was snapped from the tree. As you know this tree was suffering already from fungal apple blight which I was treating it for. Sadly the branch that was torn off was the good branch. The one that was responding best to the treatment. The fruit was scavenged as we can still make a pie with it. It just saddens me to think someone may have done this for badness.
My job search continues with the same lack of results. Though I have now paid for my second SIA badge and when checking their site they have received everything I need to send them. Hopefully as it hasn't been that long since I got my CCTV badge it will expedite things. I have begun updating my CV again. This time though I think I should go through it more thoroughly than before. Updating my personal statement as it sound very old and doesn't really represent myself as well as it could. Basically it needs a good refresh. And after all I need to add my new badge when I get it to the info so a good time to sort it out.
And then there will be the Government course that I start this Tuesday coming. The info say recycling computers which has me wondering what they mean. After all there are some hazardous materials found inside the circuit boards of computers. Maybe it isn't breaking them up but fixing them up to give to or sell to those who can't afford a modern system. I will find out on Tuesday.
My job search continues with the same lack of results. Though I have now paid for my second SIA badge and when checking their site they have received everything I need to send them. Hopefully as it hasn't been that long since I got my CCTV badge it will expedite things. I have begun updating my CV again. This time though I think I should go through it more thoroughly than before. Updating my personal statement as it sound very old and doesn't really represent myself as well as it could. Basically it needs a good refresh. And after all I need to add my new badge when I get it to the info so a good time to sort it out.
And then there will be the Government course that I start this Tuesday coming. The info say recycling computers which has me wondering what they mean. After all there are some hazardous materials found inside the circuit boards of computers. Maybe it isn't breaking them up but fixing them up to give to or sell to those who can't afford a modern system. I will find out on Tuesday.
August 29, 2015
29th August 2015
Got word back from the course I was on. I passed, wooohoo. I will get my certificate early next week but I was on the SIA site to apply for my badge yesterday. Though it will be next week before I can pay for it. Hopefully it shouldn't take as long as the last one to be processed, well I can't see why it would. Of course you never know. I just have to wait and see.
Got word through this week about that work programme the jobcentre are sending me on. I start it on the 8th September for four weeks. 30 hours a week for my jobseekers allowance. Yes that means I will be working for less than the minimum wage and if I were to refuse then I wouldn't get anything from the state to help me through these hard times. As you can tell I think this is tantamount to slave labour. I agree that as I have been unemployed for over six months that I should have to do something more to continue to get state help. I would agree with them forcing me to do two days a week which would then mean I would be working those to day at the minimum wage which is set by the government. That would be fair of course when is the Westminster government fair. I can't remember them ever being that. No they always like to give those of us at the bottom of society a bit of a kick now and then while blaming us for the struggling economy. The poor are to blame for everything that is going wrong in the world according to them. We after all are easy scapegoats.
Yes I admit there are some who don't want to work but they are a small minority of those claiming benefits. After all what you get doesn't really go far. I would for one prefer to be working which would then provide a better standard of living for my family and myself. It is for this reason I decided to get training to open up more possibilities into work. Of course the government won't tell people of those of us who want to work and go forward for training to broaden their options. No the only stories you hear from Westminster politicians is of those few who have given up so are happy to claim dole money. As for the rest of us, well we have to keep on as we are until we get another job. While accepting that in the eyes of those in charge we are less than nothing. At least until they need us to vote for them again.
Got word through this week about that work programme the jobcentre are sending me on. I start it on the 8th September for four weeks. 30 hours a week for my jobseekers allowance. Yes that means I will be working for less than the minimum wage and if I were to refuse then I wouldn't get anything from the state to help me through these hard times. As you can tell I think this is tantamount to slave labour. I agree that as I have been unemployed for over six months that I should have to do something more to continue to get state help. I would agree with them forcing me to do two days a week which would then mean I would be working those to day at the minimum wage which is set by the government. That would be fair of course when is the Westminster government fair. I can't remember them ever being that. No they always like to give those of us at the bottom of society a bit of a kick now and then while blaming us for the struggling economy. The poor are to blame for everything that is going wrong in the world according to them. We after all are easy scapegoats.
Yes I admit there are some who don't want to work but they are a small minority of those claiming benefits. After all what you get doesn't really go far. I would for one prefer to be working which would then provide a better standard of living for my family and myself. It is for this reason I decided to get training to open up more possibilities into work. Of course the government won't tell people of those of us who want to work and go forward for training to broaden their options. No the only stories you hear from Westminster politicians is of those few who have given up so are happy to claim dole money. As for the rest of us, well we have to keep on as we are until we get another job. While accepting that in the eyes of those in charge we are less than nothing. At least until they need us to vote for them again.
August 22, 2015
22nd August 2015
My daughter and myself have just come in from potato picking. I went out to check on the garden as I haven't had much time this week with me being on the course I told you of last week. Anyways the first thing I noticed was that the tattie shaws had totally died off over the past week. So it was time to retrieve the tubers. Of course I can't do this job without my daughter as she would murder me if I tried. It is one of those daughter-father jobs. We got a good bag full from the two sacks I grow the potatoes in. Better than it has been in the last couple of years. I am looking forward to having some for dinner tomorrow as Magz has already planned tonight's meal.
I completed the SIA course I was on this week yesterday. I felt that the tests went well but I did almost mess up. I skipped a question in the multiple choice and only just caught myself three questions on. Luckily there was plenty of time to correct my mistake. I know I passed the practical section of the course as you find that out after you do that one. It is to do with restraint techniques and breaking away from those who may attack you as well as breaking up fights. Hopefully I don't have to much of that to do if I get a job in the security sector. Really the best job would be a night watchman or control-room staff member. But that is me jumping the gun as any job will do at the moment. I do think I have passed these test though and I am more confident than I was when I did the CCTV ones. Time will tell though.
I completed the SIA course I was on this week yesterday. I felt that the tests went well but I did almost mess up. I skipped a question in the multiple choice and only just caught myself three questions on. Luckily there was plenty of time to correct my mistake. I know I passed the practical section of the course as you find that out after you do that one. It is to do with restraint techniques and breaking away from those who may attack you as well as breaking up fights. Hopefully I don't have to much of that to do if I get a job in the security sector. Really the best job would be a night watchman or control-room staff member. But that is me jumping the gun as any job will do at the moment. I do think I have passed these test though and I am more confident than I was when I did the CCTV ones. Time will tell though.
August 15, 2015
15th August 2015
Booked my self onto another SIA course. This time thankfully it is in Killie so not far to travel. I thought since I still haven't found work that it would be good to get another badge. This one will be for Door Supervisor. I have to use my ILA funding for it but that is what it is for after all. The course starts on Tuesday and only last four days so not a long course. My son had a book on the course from when he was going on one last year. Of course he got a job so dropped out of the course. The book is giving me a head start which hopefully help me pass the course. Keep fingers crossed.
While playing my game, Elite Dangerous, last night I became distracted talking to Calum. Well not the best way to play a space sim. Anyways thirty thousand light plus years from Sol and I ran out of fuel. I have appealed to the Fuel Rats for help and one is making his way towards me. He should with any luck deliver some fuel today or tomorrow. In a way it is quite exciting to have to be saved from certain death so to speak. After six months of travelling it would be a right knock to have to begin the journey again. I have insurance so I would get y Asp beck but I would need to do the whole trade grind again to replace the insurance cash. And at the same time I would lose all the data that I have collected over the months I have been out. Well hopefully my rescuer will get to me before my ship dies.
I got some peas from the garden today. When I say some I mean a handful. Enough maybe for one. With the wet summer not much has been doing well in the garden. The potatoes will need pulling soon as the shaws are dying off. The carrots look like they might be one of the few things which haven't been to badly affected with the adverse weather this year. Time will tell.
The jobcentre have said that they will be sending me on a back to work programme. That is where I will be place with an employer to work for a month and not get paid anything but my unemployment money. I haven't got a choice in the matter apparently. I am not sure if it is good thing or not. It feels like slave labour or at least very close to it. Though when I don't have a choice what can I do about it. Of course there is the old saying too, "beggars can't be choosers." Though it does feel wrong.
While playing my game, Elite Dangerous, last night I became distracted talking to Calum. Well not the best way to play a space sim. Anyways thirty thousand light plus years from Sol and I ran out of fuel. I have appealed to the Fuel Rats for help and one is making his way towards me. He should with any luck deliver some fuel today or tomorrow. In a way it is quite exciting to have to be saved from certain death so to speak. After six months of travelling it would be a right knock to have to begin the journey again. I have insurance so I would get y Asp beck but I would need to do the whole trade grind again to replace the insurance cash. And at the same time I would lose all the data that I have collected over the months I have been out. Well hopefully my rescuer will get to me before my ship dies.
I got some peas from the garden today. When I say some I mean a handful. Enough maybe for one. With the wet summer not much has been doing well in the garden. The potatoes will need pulling soon as the shaws are dying off. The carrots look like they might be one of the few things which haven't been to badly affected with the adverse weather this year. Time will tell.
The jobcentre have said that they will be sending me on a back to work programme. That is where I will be place with an employer to work for a month and not get paid anything but my unemployment money. I haven't got a choice in the matter apparently. I am not sure if it is good thing or not. It feels like slave labour or at least very close to it. Though when I don't have a choice what can I do about it. Of course there is the old saying too, "beggars can't be choosers." Though it does feel wrong.
