Coming Soon to A Computer Screen Near You….

Right then, Christmas more or less out of the way, but unlike most writers who’ll look back at the last year, I’ll just be glad to get it over and out of the way, and move on. 

Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about what to do with this blog - I’m pretty sure that most people would probably want to read about more than the usual pieces about how I’ve been messed about with by various training providers, my failed attempts at holding down a steady job for more than six months or discussions on my latest bit of second-hand technology and so on.  Now I’ve tried various bits and pieces in the past like the rather nattily titled “Rock ’n’ Roll History lessons” on an old website several years ago, but after some deliberation I’ve decided to split the stuff into several sections:-

1. Personal writings - this section will include things like my job search experiences and general “this is what I did” type stuff - although it might end up getting divided up into several sub-sections. We’ll just have to see what happens with this one.
2. Old TV and radio memories. This’ll probably feature bits concerning either old programmes or old TV/radio stations which are no longer running, but are still remembered fondly to this day.
3. The music section - this is one bit I’m keen to expand on, having been a DJ in one form or another for around 15 years (and a record collector for more years than I care to remember.)  One feature I’m keen to have a go at is one I’ll be calling “Albums Revisited”.   Put simply, it’s just an excise to dig out some old stuff I hadn’t played for several years. Although I’ll be reviewing them, It’ll be from one fan’s perspective instead of a critic telling you what he/she thinks (although most of the time they’ll tell you it’s not worth the vinyl it’s pressed on.)

There may be other sections added but those are the main three groups that I have in mind moving forward.

Well, that’s enough of what I hope to do in the future. All I want to do is get the next few days out of the way, and then I’ll see what happens….

Are they allowed to do this?

I've had a chance to reflect on yesterday's appointment at Ingeus and my only conclusion is WTF?

It started routinely enough, just catching up with Marc (my adviser)   reviewing what had happened in the last two weeks fine tuning the CV, and basically discussing how the job hunting was progressing.  I was shocked however when he suggested what I can only described as dodgy - if I was working less than 30 hours, say around 27, I should do what he referred to as "self employment" for the other 3 hours - selling stuff on eBay for example.   That way I could qualify for tax credits in the same way I would if I was working the 30 hours as normal.  (To sum it up - a legal fiddle) Marc threw so much stuff around that it was too much to take in  all at once.  I'm due there again next month so I should be able to understand it a bit better - but I have my doubts about it all to be honest - and I wasn't exactly filled with confidence when he reckoned that he could only see me getting a part time job at best due to the various mental health issues (his words not mine) I had gone through in the past.  At least I get my spec letters posted off for nothing so that's one thing I don't have to worry about.

Well, at least Christmas should come as a more than welcome distraction....

So He Thinks I Need Therapy....

Not in the best frame of mind at the moment - despite taking my beta blockers as per instructions.  The truth is, well, I’m dreading this week, especially Wednesday, when I’m due for a regular appointment with Ingeus.

It all stems from one of the things my adviser asked me to do a couple of weeks ago.  According to him, the fact that I was laid off due to suffering from stress was a major reason for me not getting a job, or any interviews for that  matter. (I never mentioned that on any application forms - just that I was laid off on medical grounds.)  So he suggested that I get in touch with my old boss to see if I could persuade him to give a different reason (which there probably was - like cash flow problems) as to why I parted ways with him.

The response I got was less than helpful to say the least. Not only did he insist that he would have to mention the stress related problems, but he also added…

“I am more concerned about your health, I do not know what help you have had from the Medical Services, but I would encourage you to seek help in ways how you can manage your stress as you seem to me to be in the extreme category.”

Now I freely admit that I’ve had mental health issues in one form or another for the last 6 years, but for my ex boss to make out that I have more serious problems (and that’s the impression I’m getting from that paragraph) is, to say the least, upsetting.  I’ve found it difficult enough to find a job at the best of times, but thanks to him, any chance I have of finding work (of any sort) could well have gone out of the window - and that’s a depressing thought when you’re just a couple of years or so away from reaching the big 5-0.
 
In the meantime I just have to keep plugging away with the applications and speculative letters - and hope that something does crop up.

I somehow doubt that it will...