Billy Young's Blog, page 30
August 13, 2010
13th August 2010
I had an interview for a job yesterday. It meant a trip up to Glasgow so the wife went as well. Unfortunately I don’t think I got the job, the interview went to quickly. To add to the woes I got another rejection letter for another job today, the reason given is my age, apparently I’m too old at forty three. On the ad for the job it said open to all ages yet then they send a letter saying that it is only open to 16-19 year olds, why not just say this. Well that would be the new laws on ageism but isn’t rejecting me because of my age the same thing. Aren’t I able to do the job as good as a younger person? Well it seems not.
The government has also announced that it will be looking at hire private firms to help catch benefit cheats. This sends a shiver down my spine as I can see it now. They will be paid for every person they catch, so it doesn’t take much for people to be falsely accused. Before long you will have a back log of appeals leaving many struggling families hitting a new rock bottom. It is hard enough on benefits as it is and with an advisor like the one I have you’d be permanently on the banned list. Yes there are a lot of people fiddling the system, but to hire private firms as they suggest is dangerous as it will create a larger divide within our society. Of course this is what we expect from a Tory government, we only wonder where the Liberal’s voice has disappeared to.
I’m still not completed editing the new story though I have been working on it most of the week. It seems the more I work on it the slower I seem to get, and I really have to push myself. This has not been that easy with getting the phone call Wednesday night asking me to the interview on Thursday. Wednesday night was trying to find out what I could of the firm, as well as find out what I had applied for. In the end there was little info from the company’s website and I couldn’t find out exactly what the job was but I had a choice of three that it could be. Not the best way to go for a job interview. In the end I did my best and that is all you can ask from someone.
And finally my little lemon tree still struggles on.
The government has also announced that it will be looking at hire private firms to help catch benefit cheats. This sends a shiver down my spine as I can see it now. They will be paid for every person they catch, so it doesn’t take much for people to be falsely accused. Before long you will have a back log of appeals leaving many struggling families hitting a new rock bottom. It is hard enough on benefits as it is and with an advisor like the one I have you’d be permanently on the banned list. Yes there are a lot of people fiddling the system, but to hire private firms as they suggest is dangerous as it will create a larger divide within our society. Of course this is what we expect from a Tory government, we only wonder where the Liberal’s voice has disappeared to.
I’m still not completed editing the new story though I have been working on it most of the week. It seems the more I work on it the slower I seem to get, and I really have to push myself. This has not been that easy with getting the phone call Wednesday night asking me to the interview on Thursday. Wednesday night was trying to find out what I could of the firm, as well as find out what I had applied for. In the end there was little info from the company’s website and I couldn’t find out exactly what the job was but I had a choice of three that it could be. Not the best way to go for a job interview. In the end I did my best and that is all you can ask from someone.
And finally my little lemon tree still struggles on.
August 6, 2010
6th August 2010
I was clothes shopping with the family today. Getting the kids school things in, to add to the misery the weather was throwing water down on us. I was soaked before I even got to the bus stop. From then on the damp weather followed us as the wife filled my arms to breaking. There is nothing more tedious than shopping for clothes especially for someone else, even when it is for the kids. Well at least it’s done now.
The lemon tree’s still struggles continue. It now has only one mature leaf left. But it has a lot of new growth. Unfortunately we haven’t had a lot of sunshine round my way and that is what it needs most at the moment. The weatherman has said that it is to get a bit more sun next week, of course we know they’re seldom good at getting it right. I’ll just need to pray and keep my fingers crossed.
Editing is almost at an end, or at least this edit. Once I have I’ll have a rest and a game of Civ 4 or something. While I play I’ll let my family get their first look at it so they can tell me if there are areas that need work. It is always good to get the view of others to give you fresh eyes. At the same time they will find errors that I may have missed. You always miss something when editing your own work, it’s what makes having a family a blessing. You know you can turn to them for the help you need, well at least mine is, my wife and kids that is.
The lemon tree’s still struggles continue. It now has only one mature leaf left. But it has a lot of new growth. Unfortunately we haven’t had a lot of sunshine round my way and that is what it needs most at the moment. The weatherman has said that it is to get a bit more sun next week, of course we know they’re seldom good at getting it right. I’ll just need to pray and keep my fingers crossed.
Editing is almost at an end, or at least this edit. Once I have I’ll have a rest and a game of Civ 4 or something. While I play I’ll let my family get their first look at it so they can tell me if there are areas that need work. It is always good to get the view of others to give you fresh eyes. At the same time they will find errors that I may have missed. You always miss something when editing your own work, it’s what makes having a family a blessing. You know you can turn to them for the help you need, well at least mine is, my wife and kids that is.
July 30, 2010
30th July 2010
Another long week of job searching. I dropped into a place on Monday to see about training. I thought if I can open up options by getting my SIA badge for security work. Well it can’t hurt can it? They took my name, address and phone number then dismissed me like a child, or at least that is how it felt. I still haven’t heard back from them though. How long it will I have no idea, let’s hope not too long.
My little lemon tree continues to fight for life. Almost all the mature leaves have fallen off now. There is only two or three still clinging on. Though new branches are now producing new leaves but they are still small. Yesterday it got a lot of sun, though today it is dull and overcast, which is no help to it. Still at least it is still recovering.
Banshee 2 is still being edited. I didn’t get a lot done this week, just the one chapter. Though the week dragged by I found it filled with one thing after another, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. You know all those smelly, rotting jobs like cleaning the toilet, or sorting out that cupboard that everything gets tossed into. This was me this week, yet after doing it nothing looked any better, just another, more organised mess.
Remember that my offer to get my book Bublos as a free ebook is still on till the 21st August when you get it from Smashwords.com Just use the code NV44Z when purchasing it and it cost you nothing. Join the many other readers that have already got it for nothing and see what you think. :~)
My little lemon tree continues to fight for life. Almost all the mature leaves have fallen off now. There is only two or three still clinging on. Though new branches are now producing new leaves but they are still small. Yesterday it got a lot of sun, though today it is dull and overcast, which is no help to it. Still at least it is still recovering.
Banshee 2 is still being edited. I didn’t get a lot done this week, just the one chapter. Though the week dragged by I found it filled with one thing after another, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. You know all those smelly, rotting jobs like cleaning the toilet, or sorting out that cupboard that everything gets tossed into. This was me this week, yet after doing it nothing looked any better, just another, more organised mess.
Remember that my offer to get my book Bublos as a free ebook is still on till the 21st August when you get it from Smashwords.com Just use the code NV44Z when purchasing it and it cost you nothing. Join the many other readers that have already got it for nothing and see what you think. :~)
July 23, 2010
23rd July 2010
As I signed on this week I got pulled for an unexpected interview with the same lady that wanted to sanction me. I pulled my mobile phone and set it to record the interview to protect myself if she decided to be nasty again. At first she try to say that I couldn’t record the interview, but I refused to stop recording. She left me to sit for a bit then returned with a manager to take notes. After this I was allowed to record the interview and everything went very smoothly, none of the nastiness as happened last time. I don’t think the manager was to pleased about it though.
My little lemon tree is showing signs of recovery. It is early days but there is new growth. I was quite pleased to see life returning to it. Over the past few weeks it has been looking very bad for it, and I did think that it wouldn’t pull through. Now it might just manage, of course it has some way to go before it is completely out of trouble. I will just need to keep an eye on it and my fingers crossed.
I am offering another give away for one of my books. This one is open till the 21st Aug 2010 and you use the code NV44Z at Smashwords.com to get Bublos for free. One person that has already taken up the offer was very impressed by it and gave it a rave review, I hope others like it as much. Whilst offering the free give away, I have also been working on the next book. I still have a long way to go with editing, though I am making good progress. I had a great night last night working on chapter 12, find the fun of building the scene of Munroe finding out that two older ladies and a pregnant girl had been fire raising. Better not tell you to much though. :~)
My little lemon tree is showing signs of recovery. It is early days but there is new growth. I was quite pleased to see life returning to it. Over the past few weeks it has been looking very bad for it, and I did think that it wouldn’t pull through. Now it might just manage, of course it has some way to go before it is completely out of trouble. I will just need to keep an eye on it and my fingers crossed.
I am offering another give away for one of my books. This one is open till the 21st Aug 2010 and you use the code NV44Z at Smashwords.com to get Bublos for free. One person that has already taken up the offer was very impressed by it and gave it a rave review, I hope others like it as much. Whilst offering the free give away, I have also been working on the next book. I still have a long way to go with editing, though I am making good progress. I had a great night last night working on chapter 12, find the fun of building the scene of Munroe finding out that two older ladies and a pregnant girl had been fire raising. Better not tell you to much though. :~)
July 16, 2010
16th July 2010
My little lemon tree continues to struggle. Even after repotting it seems to be stressed, and losing leaves. It’s stressed, I’m stressed try to figure out how to save it. Researching on the net has just thrown up the same advice of letting the soil dry out before giving it a good soaking. All of this I am doing, yet no sign that it is recovering, and the soil is still damp from watering earlier in the week. What to do? Hopefully it will recover, only time will tell. How long I have little idea, though I wish it was soon.
I have been editing my new story, Banshee 2. Good progress is being made in this first real full edit. I already did a partial edit when I got a bit of writers block a few months ago. Yet it would amaze you how much still needed more work, and probably need more after this edit. It times it can be a chore. At others it is exciting because you can see it improving as you add some background to the characters that you hadn’t put in on the first write.
My job searching is the same depressing reality, checking the government website daily. Each day the same things are offered that have been on the site for over a month. When there is something new it is for skills I don’t have. I have taken the number of a couple of jobs, and sent away my CV. I also got an application form for another by phoning Jobseekers Direct. Though all of the ones I am chasing I have no experience in, but there is no jobs in the sector that I am used to. Factory work seems to have dried up completely. Not much to do, but keep on looking.
I have also set up an offer on my book, or should I say e-book Banshee angel of Judgement on Smashwords. I have set up another discount code that will mean that you can get the book for nothing until the 21st of July. Here’s where to go http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/... and the code to use is CS93L. So if you are looking for something to read why not check it out. Hope you take up the offer, and enjoy the read.
I have been editing my new story, Banshee 2. Good progress is being made in this first real full edit. I already did a partial edit when I got a bit of writers block a few months ago. Yet it would amaze you how much still needed more work, and probably need more after this edit. It times it can be a chore. At others it is exciting because you can see it improving as you add some background to the characters that you hadn’t put in on the first write.
My job searching is the same depressing reality, checking the government website daily. Each day the same things are offered that have been on the site for over a month. When there is something new it is for skills I don’t have. I have taken the number of a couple of jobs, and sent away my CV. I also got an application form for another by phoning Jobseekers Direct. Though all of the ones I am chasing I have no experience in, but there is no jobs in the sector that I am used to. Factory work seems to have dried up completely. Not much to do, but keep on looking.
I have also set up an offer on my book, or should I say e-book Banshee angel of Judgement on Smashwords. I have set up another discount code that will mean that you can get the book for nothing until the 21st of July. Here’s where to go http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/... and the code to use is CS93L. So if you are looking for something to read why not check it out. Hope you take up the offer, and enjoy the read.
July 9, 2010
9th July 2010
Got a letter of reply from the Jobcentre two days ago. I still have to write a reply to it as though they touch on my complaint they didn’t seem to read it very well and tried to fob me off. I’m not sure though if continuing with it would be worth the effort, yet at the same time if they think they can get away with treating people like something they would avoid stepping in, you know what I mean. At they same time will it cause my family problems, after all they could get antsy with me and sanction me from the brew. This would mean that I would not get any benefits and would have to apply for hardship payments, that are basically about twenty pounds a week, not enough to live off myself let alone my family. Worry, worry, it never seems to end.
Editing has been slow this week, more from laziness than any thing else. That and watching the semi finals of the World Cup. Now I’m looking forward to a good game of Sunday. My mate Mickey has a bet on Holland so I suppose I should support them, though it doesn’t really matter who wins. I don’t usually follow soccer, but when its international it’s hard not to get caught up in the fervour. I do like a good game of rugby though. Sadly I don’t get much chance to watch, there is always something else to do.
My little lemon tree has had a very bad week. I got some plant food the other week and used it to feed the tree. Come mid week and the leaves were browning, then falling off at a alarming rate. I tried washing the soil out with a good soaking but that did nothing. In the end I repotted it, which seems to have worked. I also got some new fertiliser for it, this one is for citrus plants, so should be okay. It will also do the orange seeds the wife planted, which have now begun to sprout.
Editing has been slow this week, more from laziness than any thing else. That and watching the semi finals of the World Cup. Now I’m looking forward to a good game of Sunday. My mate Mickey has a bet on Holland so I suppose I should support them, though it doesn’t really matter who wins. I don’t usually follow soccer, but when its international it’s hard not to get caught up in the fervour. I do like a good game of rugby though. Sadly I don’t get much chance to watch, there is always something else to do.
My little lemon tree has had a very bad week. I got some plant food the other week and used it to feed the tree. Come mid week and the leaves were browning, then falling off at a alarming rate. I tried washing the soil out with a good soaking but that did nothing. In the end I repotted it, which seems to have worked. I also got some new fertiliser for it, this one is for citrus plants, so should be okay. It will also do the orange seeds the wife planted, which have now begun to sprout.
July 2, 2010
2nd July 2010
I have had a summer cold this week sapping my energy. Nothing worse. It hasn’t stopped me from the daily job hunt with little in the way of success. I expect that when I head to the jobcentre on Monday to get more than the normal hassle after handing in my complaint, not much I can do though. And things look like they are going to get even tougher for those of us struggling to find work with the government announcing more measures to punish those who are deemed not to be doing enough to look for work. They said that people could face up to three years ban from receiving unemployment benefits. Who makes the decision on who is not trying hard enough? A jury? No. A judge even? No. An advisor that is supposed to help the unemployed, that is who. At the same time they will now be able to force you onto training courses with the threat that you will get sanctioned if you don’t take the course. Now if you have never been on a government training scheme then you wouldn’t know how bad most of them are. They are only training in name and then where are all the schemes going to come from? With the expected rise in unemployment and government cuts, they must be dreaming that they will hide the figures as they did in Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister. It reminds me of the Disney song, “The Circle Of Life,” hehehe.
Looking on more enjoyable things I have managed to get on with editing some more of my new story Banshee 2. I have also added some more to it. It seemed to me to be missing Susie McLean in the early part of the story. She is a reporter for the Standard in my tale and plays more of a role later in the story but was needing more of a presence earlier, which I have now done. Though I will need to build on what I have this weekend. I have plenty of time to edit and improve on the story with no job to fund publishing it. Let’s hope that changes soon.
Looking on more enjoyable things I have managed to get on with editing some more of my new story Banshee 2. I have also added some more to it. It seemed to me to be missing Susie McLean in the early part of the story. She is a reporter for the Standard in my tale and plays more of a role later in the story but was needing more of a presence earlier, which I have now done. Though I will need to build on what I have this weekend. I have plenty of time to edit and improve on the story with no job to fund publishing it. Let’s hope that changes soon.
June 25, 2010
25th June 2010
It has been one of those weeks, you know the kind I mean. It started out bad on Monday. I had a Back To Work interview at the jobcentre. Well I had the interviewer from the dark side. It began by her telling me that I wasn’t telling the truth, after I explained what I had been doing to look for work. I don’t keep one of those diaries they want you to keep, I see it as an invasion of my privacy and breach of my human rights, after all they only advise you to keep one; you don’t have too.
Anyway, after this things got worse as she accused me again of being a liar. Then came the demand that I change the type of jobs I was looking for. In reality this is not a real problem as I will consider any job I can get, but it was the way in which she demanded that I do this. More demands followed with me being given details to jobs that I would have real difficulty in getting to on time. I rely on public transport, having never learned to drive.
As the interview came to an end I was informed that she did not think I had done enough to find work and that I was to be sanctioned, this means I would have no money until the Jobcentre decided to lift the sanction. When I asked how I would take care of my family, feed my children, I was told to ask for a loan.
As you can imagine my anger and shock at this sort of treatment. I held my tongue, though I must admit I came close to calling her the b word. Instead I said she was a nasty person. This strangely shocked her ad I saw this on her face. Then I asked to speak to her supervisor. She couldn’t find one yet had spoken to a manager, who had decided I would not be sanctioned this time, but I was under warning.
In reply I asked for information on how to make a written complaint. After being given the form I left feeling very much angered and depressed by all of this. I held in a written complaint yesterday, though whither this is a good idea I’m not sure, for these people seem to hold a little too much power over our lives. Someone though has to stand up for what is right. I don’t even think anything will be done about the treatment I received. I was hoping for a receipt for the complaint I held in but was informed that they don’t have any procedure for complaints being handed in. This doesn’t bode well.
Now I worry about how this all may affect how my claim is dealt with in the future. Will they look for or even invent reasons to deny me a means to feed my kids? Will it lead to more interviews for the dark side? I will have to wait and see. One thing though I don’t wish to let this simply drop. I know it is probably cause me trouble I don’t wish, but if I have to write to my MP over this I will.
Anyway, after this things got worse as she accused me again of being a liar. Then came the demand that I change the type of jobs I was looking for. In reality this is not a real problem as I will consider any job I can get, but it was the way in which she demanded that I do this. More demands followed with me being given details to jobs that I would have real difficulty in getting to on time. I rely on public transport, having never learned to drive.
As the interview came to an end I was informed that she did not think I had done enough to find work and that I was to be sanctioned, this means I would have no money until the Jobcentre decided to lift the sanction. When I asked how I would take care of my family, feed my children, I was told to ask for a loan.
As you can imagine my anger and shock at this sort of treatment. I held my tongue, though I must admit I came close to calling her the b word. Instead I said she was a nasty person. This strangely shocked her ad I saw this on her face. Then I asked to speak to her supervisor. She couldn’t find one yet had spoken to a manager, who had decided I would not be sanctioned this time, but I was under warning.
In reply I asked for information on how to make a written complaint. After being given the form I left feeling very much angered and depressed by all of this. I held in a written complaint yesterday, though whither this is a good idea I’m not sure, for these people seem to hold a little too much power over our lives. Someone though has to stand up for what is right. I don’t even think anything will be done about the treatment I received. I was hoping for a receipt for the complaint I held in but was informed that they don’t have any procedure for complaints being handed in. This doesn’t bode well.
Now I worry about how this all may affect how my claim is dealt with in the future. Will they look for or even invent reasons to deny me a means to feed my kids? Will it lead to more interviews for the dark side? I will have to wait and see. One thing though I don’t wish to let this simply drop. I know it is probably cause me trouble I don’t wish, but if I have to write to my MP over this I will.
June 18, 2010
18th June 2010
Where has the week gone? Having little to do would make you think that time would drag but it rarely does. Is that just a sign of me getting older? I don’t think so. I think it is more to do with the brain being half asleep because of the lack of activity. The job front hasn’t changed, still nothing seems to be moving. The news was talking of the increase in the numbers of jobless, which reminds me I have another one of those back to work interviews at the Jobcentre on Monday. Why they bother I haven’t a clue as it’s not like they actually offer anything practical. It is more of an extended signing on. Of course we can all come up ideas that we think would change things for the better, but we don’t see the anything other than what is before us, our own small sphere so to speak.
I’ve not started the editing of Banshee 2 yet, another week of messing with Civ 4 instead. In reality it has been so nice this week that I had little energy for more than gaming. My garden has benefited from the good weather and I’ve even picked a few leaves off of my lettuce for the odd sandwich. It tastes so much better when so freshly picked. Mind with the sun the grass is now in need of another cut, well at least it gives me something to do this weekend.
I’ve not started the editing of Banshee 2 yet, another week of messing with Civ 4 instead. In reality it has been so nice this week that I had little energy for more than gaming. My garden has benefited from the good weather and I’ve even picked a few leaves off of my lettuce for the odd sandwich. It tastes so much better when so freshly picked. Mind with the sun the grass is now in need of another cut, well at least it gives me something to do this weekend.
June 11, 2010
11th June 2010
As the world cup starts I’ve been playing my own games this week. More precisely Civ 4 and indulging my megalomaniac side. Other than a couple of poems I haven’t written anything or start the great edit of my new story. I will have to get down to it soon but there is no harm having a break before starting.
Was at the garden centre today. The wife wants some plants for the front garden. I’m not really a flower person though I must admit that they do look good. We got Bizzy Lizzies and Petunias’ not that I know what they are, other than hearing others going on about them. Mainly the wife that is, hehehe. Whilst out at the garden centre I got some plant food for my Lemon tree, which has slowed down in growth recently. After searching online I got the impression that this could be due to it needing feeding. Yes plants need there dinner too it seems and there was me thinking that any old food would do. How wrong was I? Apparently you need a fairly strong feed as Lemon trees are rather greedy and sap the nutrients from the soil fairly quickly. The one I got should help the veg as well so another good reason to get it. I had another feed in the house but it’s a bit old plus I’m not sure it was doing much to feed my little tree. One or two leaves have got brown patches from using it. I read that has something to do with iron. You wouldn’t have thought that growing a plant could be so difficult, would you? At least I have the net to help.
Was at the garden centre today. The wife wants some plants for the front garden. I’m not really a flower person though I must admit that they do look good. We got Bizzy Lizzies and Petunias’ not that I know what they are, other than hearing others going on about them. Mainly the wife that is, hehehe. Whilst out at the garden centre I got some plant food for my Lemon tree, which has slowed down in growth recently. After searching online I got the impression that this could be due to it needing feeding. Yes plants need there dinner too it seems and there was me thinking that any old food would do. How wrong was I? Apparently you need a fairly strong feed as Lemon trees are rather greedy and sap the nutrients from the soil fairly quickly. The one I got should help the veg as well so another good reason to get it. I had another feed in the house but it’s a bit old plus I’m not sure it was doing much to feed my little tree. One or two leaves have got brown patches from using it. I read that has something to do with iron. You wouldn’t have thought that growing a plant could be so difficult, would you? At least I have the net to help.
