Steve from England

The damn Coach House just called to tell me they can’t make it today because they have arranged for another service user to go out today! Just like that, no how terribly sorry they are or how much they apologise for leaving it until 1 1/2 hours before they are due here to tell us!! I have been on the phone to them, they knew Tuesday, they even had a meeting about it yesterday and yet, they decided yesterday to pass it on to a staff member to say they were not coming this morning despite it being a management decision!!! In the words of the manager I just spoke to “We never saw it as an arrangement, just a request”. So, as a request they don’t have to show any courtesy at all? She lied to me, she tried to pretend no one knew until this morning and then admitted about the meeting yesterday! We really don’t need this sort of shit from people we are meant to be able to trust!

The damn Coach House just called to tell me they can’t make it today because they have arranged for another service user to go out today! Just like that, no how terribly sorry they are or how much they apologise for leaving it until 1 1/2 hours before they are due here to tell us!! I have been on the phone to them, they knew Tuesday, they even had a meeting about it yesterday and yet, they decided yesterday to pass it on to a staff member to say they were not coming this morning despite it being a management decision!!! In the words of the manager I just spoke to “We never saw it as an arrangement, just a request”. So, as a request they don’t have to show any courtesy at all? She lied to me, she tried to pretend no one knew until this morning and then admitted about the meeting yesterday! We really don’t need this sort of shit from people we are meant to be able to trust!

There is a lot to be said for “The way things used to be” Of course, I was a kid back when, back in the days when kids respected elders and, that was kids of all ages including adults. Elder people were afforded respect unless they proved they didn’t deserve it. These days, it seems no one is respected unless there is some sort of reward for doing so. Back in 1977 I remember a nation proud to be British, I cannot even write that without someone thinking it is somehow a racist comment! Television was a social activity shared by family of appropriate age, it wasn’t a babysitter. I remember, back in the early 1980’s, I called my mum on the phone and, I can’t remember what I said but it was disrespectful and she hung up on me, she had never done that before. You know what I did? I was in London at the time 30 miles from her. I left work, I got on a train, I got to my home town, bought her some flowers, gave her a huge cuddle, said how much I loved her (and meant it) and, from that

There is a lot to be said for “The way things used to be” Of course, I was a kid back when, back in the days when kids respected elders and, that was kids of all ages including adults. Elder people were afforded respect unless they proved they didn’t deserve it. These days, it seems no one is respected unless there is some sort of reward for doing so. Back in 1977 I remember a nation proud to be British, I cannot even write that without someone thinking it is somehow a racist comment! Television was a social activity shared by family of appropriate age, it wasn’t a babysitter. I remember, back in the early 1980’s, I called my mum on the phone and, I can’t remember what I said but it was disrespectful and she hung up on me, she had never done that before. You know what I did? I was in London at the time 30 miles from her. I left work, I got on a train, I got to my home town, bought her some flowers, gave her a huge cuddle, said how much I loved her (and meant it) and, from that

Deej is not going to Kent, it’s Gwent! Totally wrong country and direction!

Deej is not going to Kent, it’s Gwent! Totally wrong country and direction!

I come on here all ready to make a blog entry and, wow, my software is ahead of itself and in 2011 already! I have done loads of work today on the Carers website , Done a total revamp because the Young Carers Website is going live soon and I wanted them to compliment each other. Am not sure whether I am being brave or just plain stupid? Deej is off for the week tomorrow, staying with his sister and her family in Kent, am going to miss him loads but, I think we could both do with a break, at least one of us gets one! Took a picture of Adam yesterday and done some editing in CS5 and am very pleased with the results, I hope Adam likes it too Going to book Florida tomorrow, kind of nervous as I don’t really think I have the money but, sometimes I just have to take the risk Ordered some new specs earlier, don’t think I really like them but, they are barely affordable and I do need something I can see clearly with. They recommend laser eye surgery. They don’t think I’d be cured

I come on here all ready to make a blog entry and, wow, my software is ahead of itself and in 2011 already! I have done loads of work today on the Carers website , Done a total revamp because the Young Carers Website is going live soon and I wanted them to compliment each other. Am not sure whether I am being brave or just plain stupid? Deej is off for the week tomorrow, staying with his sister and her family in Kent, am going to miss him loads but, I think we could both do with a break, at least one of us gets one! Took a picture of Adam yesterday and done some editing in CS5 and am very pleased with the results, I hope Adam likes it too Going to book Florida tomorrow, kind of nervous as I don’t really think I have the money but, sometimes I just have to take the risk Ordered some new specs earlier, don’t think I really like them but, they are barely affordable and I do need something I can see clearly with. They recommend laser eye surgery. They don’t think I’d be cured

Am feeling really tired, have done all day despite a sleep and have a non shifting headache plus my allergies are really bad as well … apart from that, I am good  :-) Josh is doing really well with is walking now. Was playing up and down the stairs earlier, obviously totally safe with at least one of us right near him ready to grab. He really loves music and always seems to dance when he hears it. Did really well at the surgery earlier and smiled through his vaccination.

Am feeling really tired, have done all day despite a sleep and have a non shifting headache plus my allergies are really bad as well … apart from that, I am good  :-) Josh is doing really well with is walking now. Was playing up and down the stairs earlier, obviously totally safe with at least one of us right near him ready to grab. He really loves music and always seems to dance when he hears it. Did really well at the surgery earlier and smiled through his vaccination.

It’s a liar and, annoyingly, it is very obvious that at least one person I live with is exactly that and it makes me feel as uncomfortable as possible to know that! Been working through some of the features of Adobe Photoshop CS5, oh boy, a huge learning curve there. Have also been working through Microsoft Office 2010, that’s not so difficult, not much different to 2007. Today I finally committed to ordering my holiday vouchers from Tesco. Scares the hell out of me as it is £350 in vouchers (cash equivalent) amounting to £1400 discount off a Virgin Holiday. Right now, I don’t even know I can afford the holiday and, if it turns out I can’t, I have just thrown away £350!   I thought the above link funny and applies to at least one person I know all too well. Of course, if it doesn’t work, then forget what I just wrote!

It’s a liar and, annoyingly, it is very obvious that at least one person I live with is exactly that and it makes me feel as uncomfortable as possible to know that! Been working through some of the features of Adobe Photoshop CS5, oh boy, a huge learning curve there. Have also been working through Microsoft Office 2010, that’s not so difficult, not much different to 2007. Today I finally committed to ordering my holiday vouchers from Tesco. Scares the hell out of me as it is £350 in vouchers (cash equivalent) amounting to £1400 discount off a Virgin Holiday. Right now, I don’t even know I can afford the holiday and, if it turns out I can’t, I have just thrown away £350!   I thought the above link funny and applies to at least one person I know all too well. Of course, if it doesn’t work, then forget what I just wrote!

I found out today (thanks) that Tesco are adjusting their Clubcard Voucher values. Instead of such things as 4X face value for holidays, they are reducing it to 3 come December! Damn and blast them! Went to London earlier with Tom, boy that was a lot of walking We started at Euston, technically we started at home but, let’s not dwell … from Euston to the British Museum, got hungry so went to Oxford St for a BHS dinner. Went from there down Regent St to Piccadilly Circus, down to Trafalgar Sq, into the Mall, Horseguards Parade and walked through St James Park. Do you know, I have never done that before! Went to the Palace, because all first time visitors to London have to and this was Tom’s first time. Walked down Birdcage Walk to the Houses of Parliament, around the Palace of Westminster onto Westminster Bridge so Tom could get a picture of The Palace Tower (Big Ben) and the London Eye. From there we walked to Charring Cross where we got the train back to Euston and home.

I found out today (thanks) that Tesco are adjusting their Clubcard Voucher values. Instead of such things as 4X face value for holidays, they are reducing it to 3 come December! Damn and blast them! Went to London earlier with Tom, boy that was a lot of walking We started at Euston, technically we started at home but, let’s not dwell … from Euston to the British Museum, got hungry so went to Oxford St for a BHS dinner. Went from there down Regent St to Piccadilly Circus, down to Trafalgar Sq, into the Mall, Horseguards Parade and walked through St James Park. Do you know, I have never done that before! Went to the Palace, because all first time visitors to London have to and this was Tom’s first time. Walked down Birdcage Walk to the Houses of Parliament, around the Palace of Westminster onto Westminster Bridge so Tom could get a picture of The Palace Tower (Big Ben) and the London Eye. From there we walked to Charring Cross where we got the train back to Euston and home.

Staying up until 3am is probably not good for my health but … when I have something on my mind I have to do it before I sleep. If I didn’t write a letter or settle a budget, I’d have it running though my head all night long. I am not happy about the Davies situation. I don’t think it is healthy, I don’t think it is fair, I don’t see how the current situation can persist without doing irreparable damage. I worry that, if things get worse, as they seem to be, that at some point in the future, Josh is going to be the one to suffer. Children do seem to blame themselves for things they don’t understand and, if the adults in their lives don’t have an answer for them, they will construct an answer for themselves which could be very damaging emotionally. So, I am doing something. I am writing to all those concerned and more. I am hoping that if enough people start talking about the realities down in Kent that they may do something positive to create a happy outcome. Of course, I am very we

Staying up until 3am is probably not good for my health but … when I have something on my mind I have to do it before I sleep. If I didn’t write a letter or settle a budget, I’d have it running though my head all night long. I am not happy about the Davies situation. I don’t think it is healthy, I don’t think it is fair, I don’t see how the current situation can persist without doing irreparable damage. I worry that, if things get worse, as they seem to be, that at some point in the future, Josh is going to be the one to suffer. Children do seem to blame themselves for things they don’t understand and, if the adults in their lives don’t have an answer for them, they will construct an answer for themselves which could be very damaging emotionally. So, I am doing something. I am writing to all those concerned and more. I am hoping that if enough people start talking about the realities down in Kent that they may do something positive to create a happy outcome. Of course, I am very we

You see, I could not understand how someone can claim to be a Christian whilst not living their life as a Christian. That simply did not make sense to me until I discovered they were Baptists. It would seem, from my limited research, that each church is separate from another, there is no central body controlling what they do. Further, each member of the congregation is free to decide for themselves their personal interpretation of the bible. Now, I read that from several different sources so I presume it to be true. As I take that, yes, they have to be baptised, full immersion is the way they do it. They have to acknowledge Jesus as the one true saviour and that’s about it. They are meant to prey, sing hymns etc but, other than that, have the freedom to cal themselves Christians without having any understanding of what that means. In effect, as long as a member of the congregation can claim they don’t know certain bits of the bible, they can ignore them and still call themselves

You see, I could not understand how someone can claim to be a Christian whilst not living their life as a Christian. That simply did not make sense to me until I discovered they were Baptists. It would seem, from my limited research, that each church is separate from another, there is no central body controlling what they do. Further, each member of the congregation is free to decide for themselves their personal interpretation of the bible. Now, I read that from several different sources so I presume it to be true. As I take that, yes, they have to be baptised, full immersion is the way they do it. They have to acknowledge Jesus as the one true saviour and that’s about it. They are meant to prey, sing hymns etc but, other than that, have the freedom to cal themselves Christians without having any understanding of what that means. In effect, as long as a member of the congregation can claim they don’t know certain bits of the bible, they can ignore them and still call themselves

There’s another type? Had a little bit of stress last night as I wrote about, all sorted now. I’d far rather sort things out agreeing as adults instead of having to the legal route but, some people won’t listen and, I’d never take the legal route if I wasn’t certain I’d win. Spent the day supposedly relaxing today but, it did still rather feel like work. Hey ho, tis the trouble with wearing more than one hat I guess. As a Carer I should be relaxing, as a volunteer, I have work to do. Much like my home life and how incredibly difficult it is to balance my role as friend or family and that of an employer. On the one hand, I want to sympathise, hug and make it all better but, on the other side, I have to be professional and kick ass … as professionally as ass can be kicked … you get my drift. Anyone who thinks it’s easy should try it some time … it’s sort of like parenting! The new car should, they tell me, be ready around December 27th … I am so not counting on that happening! Da

There’s another type? Had a little bit of stress last night as I wrote about, all sorted now. I’d far rather sort things out agreeing as adults instead of having to the legal route but, some people won’t listen and, I’d never take the legal route if I wasn’t certain I’d win. Spent the day supposedly relaxing today but, it did still rather feel like work. Hey ho, tis the trouble with wearing more than one hat I guess. As a Carer I should be relaxing, as a volunteer, I have work to do. Much like my home life and how incredibly difficult it is to balance my role as friend or family and that of an employer. On the one hand, I want to sympathise, hug and make it all better but, on the other side, I have to be professional and kick ass … as professionally as ass can be kicked … you get my drift. Anyone who thinks it’s easy should try it some time … it’s sort of like parenting! The new car should, they tell me, be ready around December 27th … I am so not counting on that happening! Da

Am finding that as soon as I clear one lot of work, another pops up to take over and keeping up with it is a pain in the backside with all the interruptions I get most of the time. As well, I am regularly getting some good news one way or another. This makes me happy  Is it really cold this evening or is it me? Just had a really warm bath and shut all the windows to warm up and, I hardly ever shut windows! Spent too long trying to explain to a child earlier how, on Facebook, it is not done to download someone’s pictures and then upload them to your own profile as though they were your own and, worse yet, to tag someone else in them! They didn’t get it so I had to report intellectual property infringement. I mean, I try to be nice and to help but, when push comes to shove and they try and make an issue out of nothing then being right is being right. I finally got an insurance certificate for my car yesterday, only took 15 months! I am so glad I have not been pulled over by the p

Am finding that as soon as I clear one lot of work, another pops up to take over and keeping up with it is a pain in the backside with all the interruptions I get most of the time. As well, I am regularly getting some good news one way or another. This makes me happy  Is it really cold this evening or is it me? Just had a really warm bath and shut all the windows to warm up and, I hardly ever shut windows! Spent too long trying to explain to a child earlier how, on Facebook, it is not done to download someone’s pictures and then upload them to your own profile as though they were your own and, worse yet, to tag someone else in them! They didn’t get it so I had to report intellectual property infringement. I mean, I try to be nice and to help but, when push comes to shove and they try and make an issue out of nothing then being right is being right. I finally got an insurance certificate for my car yesterday, only took 15 months! I am so glad I have not been pulled over by the p

Something actually went right and I was given the heads up at the right time! I called Motability last week to enquire about cancelling the Ford Galaxy and ordering the Renault … the guy said to get my skates on as the prices were due for review! I ordered the car Thursday, on Friday it went up by £600! Not exactly a lottery win but still nice to know that, for once, life was kind to me. Thank you

Something actually went right and I was given the heads up at the right time! I called Motability last week to enquire about cancelling the Ford Galaxy and ordering the Renault … the guy said to get my skates on as the prices were due for review! I ordered the car Thursday, on Friday it went up by £600! Not exactly a lottery win but still nice to know that, for once, life was kind to me. Thank you

A couple of hours sorting the family finances then 6 hours doing the returns for Northamptonshire County Council and my head is thumping! Doing returns is crazy stuff. It should be easy but, because they screwed up so long on making the payments it was all kind of fooked! I had to justify nearly £3000 and where it came from. The only good thing to come from this today is that I now know how to make it a lot easier for next time! Have recently hearing yet more back story on what happened earlier on this year, more lies it seems. I am getting truly sickened by just how gullible I can be! Our poor Sean is not well at all. His temperature is high and he’s off his food. He is all tucked up in bed now.

A couple of hours sorting the family finances then 6 hours doing the returns for Northamptonshire County Council and my head is thumping! Doing returns is crazy stuff. It should be easy but, because they screwed up so long on making the payments it was all kind of fooked! I had to justify nearly £3000 and where it came from. The only good thing to come from this today is that I now know how to make it a lot easier for next time! Have recently hearing yet more back story on what happened earlier on this year, more lies it seems. I am getting truly sickened by just how gullible I can be! Our poor Sean is not well at all. His temperature is high and he’s off his food. He is all tucked up in bed now.

Tomorrow ... that is, Saturday 2nd October, I am totally, 100% having the day off! I am not driving anyone anywhere, I am not resolving any disputes or, shock horror, helping anyone with anything. I have a ton of work to catch up on plus loads of sleep and, love you as I do, I NEED the day ... I thank you!

Tomorrow ... that is, Saturday 2nd October, I am totally, 100% having the day off! I am not driving anyone anywhere, I am not resolving any disputes or, shock horror, helping anyone with anything. I have a ton of work to catch up on plus loads of sleep and, love you as I do, I NEED the day ... I thank you!