As 2014 draws to an end, my thoughts turn to the new year, but also and perhaps more so, to the old year we’re just leaving. What have I achieved? What has changed in my life? All these things are important if I am to consider what changes to make for the new year. Or else, how am I to progress, time would repeat itself. (more…)
Category: Unemployment
T minus 29
So, day 1 since the notice. I’ve not even recovered from the blow dealt by the letter, and things aren’t getting any better. (more…)
Looking for a new home
As some readers will know, particularly the ones who’re close friends, I am looking for somewhere to live. For reasons beyond my control, my current flat-share is coming to an end, and I will need to move out soon. (more…)
And so it continues…
I was on my way out this afternoon to get an injection done, when I saw a brown envelope by the door. It was urgent, from the DSS people, and so I opened it. It appears that they wanted to inform me that they had to stop paying me any benefits since August, and that I cannot get them to reconsider until I do what they want… Oh and they wanted be to know this would affect any housing benefit I claim and also that I am no longer entitled to free NHS prescriptions until it’s sorted out. (more…)
Here we go again…
Sorry for the tone of this post, but feelings of despair and everything… (more…)
Job Centre Blues

It would seem that each and every time that I get a new adviser¹ at the Job Centre², the requirement for filling in the job search changes. I’m not certain that they even have a standard. In the past I have been told I provide too much detail and not enough detail, that I need to be applying for more jobs, and that I make them look bad by applying for too many jobs. I have been told that I need to use Universal Jobmatch†, and also that it’s optional, and indeed on more than one occasion, that I shouldn’t be using it. Right now, I don’t think they know either.
What an exciting morning!

Today was signing on day, and an early start, which would have been fine except that I couldn’t settle last night and hence had next to no good sleep. As a result, it was only by the power of Lavazza that I was even capable of getting out of the house. (more…)
Anticlimax
As you’ll know I was rather panicky yesterday about my impending interview at the JCP today. Well, as it turned out, I needn’t have worried, at least not for the moment. (more…)