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I find it difficult to believe that a mother would knowingly deprive their child of the enormous benefits of breastfeeding on the grounds that her tits might sag. Jeeeez. I suppose they hire wet nurses.
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I’ve always found the changing surface area of infected eczema a hugely accurate reflection of my stress levels. But what are glucocorticoids?
For the record
Nothing much is happening beyond the continuing attempts to battle with the benefits system while actually continuing to feed, clothe and house the family.
It is full of ironies. The first is that it transpires one cannot be ill and a single parent at the same time. By claiming incapacity benefit (for being designated as too ill to work by a doctor – “certified”, indeed) one is not eligible to be considered for help with council tax, mortgage interest repayments, school meals, prescription charges, dental care etc etc.
I applied for benefits as a lone parent with two young children and was not aware of the complexities of the situation. It seems those who make the decisions about these things are not aware of the complexities either. What I require is income support. I can’t have income support and incapacity benefit at the same time. I was awarded incapacity benefit which is for me alone, ignores the existence of the children and excludes the possibility of help with anything else beyond a payment of £61.35 per week.
So I have had to stop claiming incapacity benefit, (which unsurprisingly took immediate effect and elicited a letter a day later informing me all payments had ceased); I have opened a new claim for income support (which took four days and will take a further fortnight to process) and have appealed against the original decision to give me incapacity benefit rather than income support (which I have almost no faith will achieve anything).
It appears that now, after days of dragging the poor half-terming-holidaying children round municipal offices all over the borough of Brent, there is nothing left to do but to wait and hope.
Another irony is that if I sell anything to raise money in the interim I am deemed to have income. This then excludes the possibility of obtaining more in benefit than any object I have to sell is worth. The cut-off point for income is £25 per week so perhaps I could sell one item or group of items a week for £24.99 (just to be on the safe side).
Not ironic at all is my admiration for the principles of the ex. He regrets that it is not possible for him to provide financial support towards his child without negating more benefits than his contribution would cover. But obviously he cannot be a party to any form of benefit or tax fraud by making payments in any way other than directly into my bank account. It is inspiring to come across such honesty and devotion to the rule of law in a world where so many people think only of themselves.
Tomorrow I shall pick up my camera which, after a month away (presumably in intensive care) is now, I am told, better. (Oh yes, I mentioned that already. Well, no harm in enjoying the fact twice.) I shall have some time without the children also for the first time in a month (it’s really annoying being the only child of a disfunctional family – no relations around for childcare options) and I shall hang out with friends. I shall imbibe culture and companionship. And very probably coffee. And click, lots, I hope. 🙂
links for 2007-11-01
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At last – research to prove a long-obvious fact of corporate life. And the incompetent employees are then elevated in their turn and so the appalling cycle of shit rising to the top continues.
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Fascinating.
Double dendritic delight
The latest Festival of the Trees is up at Windywillow! and it’s got two branches – a frightful one (with accompanying howl, turn the sound down if you’re easily startled) and a fruitful one. Both are well-foliaged with beautiful pictures and words. (Yes, I toyed with the idea of their being well hung, but thought I’d already ridden that one on a previous occasion. So to speak.)
(And more delight – I am going to see Orchestra Baobab when they are in London. When I was at the bottom of the pit and could barely exist at all theirs was the only music I could listen to. They hold a really special place in my heart and I am overjoyed that I shall see them play in a great venue. Last time (the only time) I saw them play was in Dakar (back in the raised-from-the-dead archives there, sorry about the unavoidable discontinuity in appearance). It was a stadium concert and they are so “old fashioned” in domestic Senegalese terms that they were about the first band on in a huge line-up and when they played audience barely covered a handkerchief. So I was right at the front! In London the smallish venue will be crammed full of devoted fans so the atmosphere will be wonderful, I hope. Now all I need to do is find a sitter for the boys. Also the camera is cured and I shall probably pick it up tomorrow so I may be able to take some pictures of them. And other stuff before then, no doubt. Oh joy! oh happiness!)
links for 2007-10-31
links for 2007-10-30
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Warning: People who use the knitted condom have a much higher risk of pregnancy and STDs. The knitted condom may also cause burning, chaffing, vaginal dryness, loss of erection, and extreme pain. People who want to enjoy sex should not use the knitted con
A great wave of happiness
I mentioned earlier that the poet George Szirtes has contributed to the online culturezine qarrtsiluni.
I’m absolutely delighted that the editors have used one of my images to illustrate his most recent contribution, Say, which is published today.
I think it’s a really beautiful poem, please read it if you have time 🙂
(Actually delighted doesn’t even come close. But it will have to do since I’m trying to be grown up.)
links for 2007-10-29
Forty hours off-line shock, horror, misery
Fault finally tracked down to the modem. Which will now, with persuasion, talk to the ISP server and to the laptop but not to the wireless thingy. Still, being tethered by a cable is a very very great deal better than no internet at all. And the children are probably better off without it, although they of course don’t think so.
I was not better off without it. I was sad. Miserable. Bereft. When on holiday one expects not to have it. At home one does. (The internet of course. Before anyone sniggers and suggests that I’ve got those two the wrong way round.) And it is, and has long been, a very important part of my life. The internet. My social, intellectual, emotional and creative life. A necessity, not a luxury then.
Two days without being able to go online, however, meant a lot of knitting got done. The scarf is finished.
It was a lovely journey. We meandered through woodland of coniferous and deciduous green and rowan berry red; had a rather volcanic session with sulphurous scarlet and glinting amethyst; pottered through an iznik palette of turquoise and orange and roamed over a highland glen of heather and bracken. Amongst other combinations. The colours aren’t actually as bright as they appear on the above picture, taken on the mobile using its flash. (Still no word as to the well-being of the camera.) But it will have to do since it’s off into the post it goes tomorrow.
No excuse now not to start the Austenesque.
links for 2007-10-27
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Should I ever marry it has long been my desire to do so in a knitted garment. And here is the pattern! Yes, yes, I know. Pigs. Flying. Ha ha ha. Especially since elfin is not the word that springs to mind. More junoesque I should say.
frizzyLogic 