Archive for February 2014
When it was rare disease day
 |
| Explain that. |
Today has been a very nice day. Good news followed yet more praise. Professionally maybe everything will come together. The next few years will be critical. Exciting times ahead.
Also I decided to add a couple more commitments to improve my productivity. I'd like to get into politics (we shall say) someday but right now it's a distant dream... It'll start as a book "Dave's soo camp."
... I'll have to keep this short tonight.
Tag :
dave's gay,
health,
When the JobCentre Did Fuck All
Recently I came across this blog: http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/
This post was originally a comment but I thought I'd expand on it a little and post it here with some pictures...
When I was out of hospital following heart failure (I was lucky not to die), I took a break from uni for what was supposed to be two years to fully recover and recuperate.
One of the first things to do was to attend an appointment at the confusingly named JobCentre. They had sent a letter to me following my social workers application she made for me to the even more ridiculously named Employment Support Allowance.
Naively I was expecting this to result in finding temp work in an office or something. The JobCentre is down the high street so I went there on my own, the weather was fine. It only took me about 20 min. I get to my appointment on time and I was greeted with: “Oh I see you’re in a wheelchair. I’ll just put you into the right category so you wont need to come here again.”
I was pretty wound up by that. I said “No, I want to work even if it’s just a job doing basic office work -I have experience working in an office…” She asked what other sorts of things I could do. I said: “anything as long as I can do it sitting down.” I gave her a list of my qualifications and told her about the units I’d done at uni. I’d been originally doing a bsc in computer animation but I’d switched to a ba in animation.
While at uni I’d been taking freelance work doing database web apps / websites / and hosting of websites. As well I ran my own registered company when I was 18 back when I was walking -it was a virtual pet software. I wound it down and it completely ended when I was 22 around the time I became a dribbling turbo mega spaz -the actual reason is because I wanted to do something else with my life.
I noticed how frustratingly slow she was typing with one finger obviously not adding in anything about the specialist software, video editing, or programming. I added “I can actually type properly and could do your job better than you.” Or some other such cheeky remark which, I felt, was justified by her being such a prejudicial douche-nozzle when the appointment began.
When she’d finally finished I left and took the elevator down stairs and saw all the dilapidated computers on these weird high-up tables which people stood at to find Jobs. I wondered why I had not been told to checkout some jobs and apply from a more accessible computer.
Several months later. I realised that the JobCentre was never going to write to me or ask me to attend a training thing like they were supposed to. I was getting pretty depressed by the situation. Being jobless and living in the middle of a densely populated council housing area in Portsmouth wasn't the only thing bringing me down.
The cuts to social care were just starting to really get ridiculous. My care package went from 40hrs per week to 5 and a 1/2 for a deteriorating, life shortening, genetic condition. Justify that IDS. So then I had 45 mins with a carer everyday rather than what I used weekly about 3hrs a day and 8hrs on Tuesday so that I could get the shopping, get help with cleaning the flat, open and close the windows as and when needed, and all the other things that are actually impossible for me to do like making a bed.
So for a year I lived in deteriorating filth. My mum would come visit and clean every 3-4 months but I live 300+ miles away from her. I had to have showers given to me by Adult Care Workers who rush everything because they don’t have time. I'd be shivering in the bath seat because they didn't have time to wait for the heater to warm up. They'd make me a sandwich and stick it in the fridge. That was lunch. I’d microwave a ready meal for dinner. They'd prepare and put a hot drink on my table for breakfast, wash my dishes from the day before, make the bed, and then leave taking down the trash. And repeat tomorrow.
I'd spend the rest of the day struggling with laundry, ordering food on-line, and doing other things that able people take for granted. I didn't have time/care to dust and I couldn't use a mop. My walls were white. My lights had no shades. There were no pictures on the walls. The windows were either open or shut all day and night. It was such a depressing existence. Not really a life.
I'd spend the rest of the day struggling with laundry, ordering food on-line, and doing other things that able people take for granted. I didn't have time/care to dust and I couldn't use a mop. My walls were white. My lights had no shades. There were no pictures on the walls. The windows were either open or shut all day and night. It was such a depressing existence. Not really a life.
Once I had the bathroom finally adapted so I could use it independently. I did and got by without carers since they are not supposed to do the things I needed them to anyway.
Eventually my mothers partners eldest son got me a job at the company he works for. I could do it from home even though the office is in Chester. Things got better. I'll mention my favourite psychologist and his hierarchy of needs. Because it's relevant and right.
Eventually my mothers partners eldest son got me a job at the company he works for. I could do it from home even though the office is in Chester. Things got better. I'll mention my favourite psychologist and his hierarchy of needs. Because it's relevant and right.
My health stopped deteriorating so fast – it still does but it's more stable now. I'm married now. We only have one light bulb exposed and stuff around our home is prettier. The problem is not just something disabled people are faced with. It's something all unemployed people deal with.
The best thing was going into the JobCentre after eighteen months and saying I'm employed no thanks to you. I showed them my employment contract which they photo-copied for ceremonial reasons since my folder probably doesn't exist. I’d got off benefits after 18 months… Originally I thought I'd only be on them a few weeks. Welfare my arse.
They should simply sack the workforce at the JobCentre and fill all the vacancies with the unemployed. Let them taste their own medicine.
All New Monkey News: 3
He goes up the main street in Amsterdam. I don't know exactly which street; but it was like the main one. He reaches like the top of the steps down to the basement but there is one of those bouncer guys stood at the top of the steps. A little short guy but he wasn't one of those short people 'cause they are always sitting down. Like they'll stand up and then five minutes later they'll go "ohh I need to rest, my feet are killin'"
So the bouncer like looks at him through his sunglasses. Oh yeah he was wearing a bandanna as well. The journalist knew he wanted a password. Err. Yeah because the guy had found out what it was the night before from these drunk men so that's how he knew that the bouncer wanted it. So he said it to him. And the bouncer moved to the side and waved him past.
He goes in and it was like a strip club you know with the walkways and the poles. The next minute the little door opens and this stripper comes out. He can't believe what he is seeing. And there are loads of guys there like shouting stuff to this stripper like "take your knickers off" so she is like doing her strip show and that.
The journalist was really shocked by what was happening and he forgot that he had a hidden camera. He just stood there watching this show and getting into it. Another little stripper walked up to him and blinked her eyelashes to him as if to say 'hey would you like a private show' she took his hand and led him to these booths. Before they went in she pointed at a sign which said it was fifty euros to see.
The dance just gets started and then there is this loud bang and everyone is screaming and then the police burst in 'cause it's a raid. So they all get arrested. The journalist kept saying 'do you know who I am?' and that his boss knew he was working undercover. But it went to court and he got like 15 years or something.
This is a bit of a news thing about it:
Tag :
monkey news,
When I considered a new career
Last night I had a really strange dream. I was at the bottom of a road that goes down to the river. In fact it was identical to the lane behind the house I grew up in. That's where it was set. I was able to walk - which makes sense since I started using a wheelchair when I was 22.
There was snow about two inches deep settled and warn down with many foot prints and car tracks. I was at the bottom looking out as the high tide got higher. The water kept rising, the sky darkened with heavy grey clouds, I turned and started walking as fast as I could to ascend the hill, it was slippery so I wasn't running. I heard a helicopter above me, it didn't sound right so I looked up. I froze, not with fear, I realised it was out of control and only a couple meters above. I could hear the pilots instruments bleeping as he wrestled with the control stick. It was now banked and obviously coming down pretty much where I was stuck to the ground. I leant forward a tiny amount as the cold steel brushed over my shoulder. It made an enormous crunch as it struck the floor and immediately I heard the screams of those inside. The thought I had was "This is going to explode." I started to walk again. I didn't even look back. The voices didn't last long. Now all I could hear was water crashing. I kept trying to get up the hill and didn't look back...
Then I woke. It was a meaningless dream.
Earlier today I was talking to my brother the physics teacher. I've been busting my balls working insane hours over the weekend. He's off this week because it's half term. Instantly I had a new life long dream. To be a teacher. Pretty soon the government are going to add a gcse for programming - my brother agrees. It is the sensible thing to do. Especially because the government has announced plans to teach youngsters about programming. So maybe I'll go back to uni to get a degree and QTS.
"But, but, but you're a wheelchair user." I think it wouldn't be much of a barrier. "But, but, it'll take four years to get qualified." Right that's the downside.
There was snow about two inches deep settled and warn down with many foot prints and car tracks. I was at the bottom looking out as the high tide got higher. The water kept rising, the sky darkened with heavy grey clouds, I turned and started walking as fast as I could to ascend the hill, it was slippery so I wasn't running. I heard a helicopter above me, it didn't sound right so I looked up. I froze, not with fear, I realised it was out of control and only a couple meters above. I could hear the pilots instruments bleeping as he wrestled with the control stick. It was now banked and obviously coming down pretty much where I was stuck to the ground. I leant forward a tiny amount as the cold steel brushed over my shoulder. It made an enormous crunch as it struck the floor and immediately I heard the screams of those inside. The thought I had was "This is going to explode." I started to walk again. I didn't even look back. The voices didn't last long. Now all I could hear was water crashing. I kept trying to get up the hill and didn't look back...
Then I woke. It was a meaningless dream.
Earlier today I was talking to my brother the physics teacher. I've been busting my balls working insane hours over the weekend. He's off this week because it's half term. Instantly I had a new life long dream. To be a teacher. Pretty soon the government are going to add a gcse for programming - my brother agrees. It is the sensible thing to do. Especially because the government has announced plans to teach youngsters about programming. So maybe I'll go back to uni to get a degree and QTS.
"But, but, but you're a wheelchair user." I think it wouldn't be much of a barrier. "But, but, it'll take four years to get qualified." Right that's the downside.
Tag :
dreams,
wheelchair,
When I read the news
So the Thames floods.
"Money no object" says the prime minister.
Woah, woah, wait a minute, so were the cuts to public spending actually necessary?
Didn't think so.
"Money no object" says the prime minister.
Woah, woah, wait a minute, so were the cuts to public spending actually necessary?
Didn't think so.
What about the people with "disabilities" that rely on help?
Who have had the help taken away because of policy changes.
"We're all in this together." Disproportionately.
Who have had the help taken away because of policy changes.
"We're all in this together." Disproportionately.
...
Tag :
politics,
All New Monkey News: 2
Well it was, actually I remember now, 1989 and this Artist was like a wildcard entry because he won some contest. You know like they have in golf and poker. So they are doing the heats in front of the judges and they have to paint like still lifes so, er, some flowers and a bit of fruit and that. 'Cause this was before the modern art stuff so they were all painting. Except in a few of the heats there were people who only drawed with a pencil.
Anyway the little fella, I think it was called Michael, got through to the final. At the final they had changed it around a bit and they weren't doin' still life. It was one of those nude women that they were drawing. Well there were, er lets see, tsh, tsh, tsh, about four artists in the final. Michael, the little fella, wasn't painting his canvas though he couldn't stop looking at this nude woman. He had his head tipped down so he was looking at her over his glasses. The time was ticking away because there was a time limit on the final.
He like walked up to her and the judges were like 'Oi, what are you doing?' and he like put his hand up to say like calm down it's ok. So he is right up close to this woman who was nude and he lowered his glasses and gave her a little wink. She like smiled back at him without smiling cause she couldn't move.
Well Michael went back to his easel, the judges all did like a tut, because he kept looking back at her as he was walking away. So Michael walked into his easel and it like fell on top of him somehow. The bottles of paint like splashed over his blank canvas and dripped all over his hat. The organisers quickly went up to help him. They pulled everythin' off him and helped him up. One of the guys noticed the paint on his Trilby so he says "pass us your hat, I'll give it a quick wipe for you." But Michael shook his head. The guy is like "no really, I just want to clean it for you" and he grabbed the hat. Everyone gasped.
He was a little chimp. Anyway the time just ran out. He didn't win and he left with the lady who did the modelling.
This is the picture:
Tag :
monkey news,
