I have at last started to write more than just this blog. It all began when I started attending a writers group at the Looking Well in Bentham.
Since then I have written two book reviews for a magazine published by the Depression Alliance and have just sent one off to another published by a mental health group in Lancaster. It's great to start again.
Once I get going I really enjoy it.
Friday, 9 January 2009
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Show me the money!
I like films and try to keep up with them but there is one scene I keep hearing about and have no idea what it is.
It includes the phrase "Show me the money!" and I think it is in the context of bank raid. But I don't know any more than that. If anyone could enlighten me I would be very grateful.
But to go on to what I really wanted to say - that is I have been forced by my lack of income to be very careful with money. I now think before spending anything, no matter how small the amount.
I don't have a credit or a debit card so I have to pay for everything with cash. This is a good thing as it helps me realise how much things really cost. I used to put it all on a card before I gave up my job and never thought about the reality.
Also, I have learned to make a little go a long way. Living on benefits is an eye-opener. The money just isn't there, so I can't spend it. Every purchase, however small, has to be weighed against what's coming in.
This has been a good exercise for me and I am beginning to appreciate the value of money.
It includes the phrase "Show me the money!" and I think it is in the context of bank raid. But I don't know any more than that. If anyone could enlighten me I would be very grateful.
But to go on to what I really wanted to say - that is I have been forced by my lack of income to be very careful with money. I now think before spending anything, no matter how small the amount.
I don't have a credit or a debit card so I have to pay for everything with cash. This is a good thing as it helps me realise how much things really cost. I used to put it all on a card before I gave up my job and never thought about the reality.
Also, I have learned to make a little go a long way. Living on benefits is an eye-opener. The money just isn't there, so I can't spend it. Every purchase, however small, has to be weighed against what's coming in.
This has been a good exercise for me and I am beginning to appreciate the value of money.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
And so this is Christmas...
Well, I had a good Christmas but now I'm going down with a fluey cold.
Nathan's girlfriend Laura came over from Hull to spend New Year with us. She went yesterday at 1414 and at 1907 Emma arrived back from Edinburgh with her new boyfriend, Andrew, in tow.
Interestingly this is a short little fellow with strong Scottish connections. My sister Sheila is married to a man named Andrew who could be described in just the same way. How about that?!
Oh, and I could be described thus too, but I am Peter. Do genes influence our choice of a mate?
Nathan's girlfriend Laura came over from Hull to spend New Year with us. She went yesterday at 1414 and at 1907 Emma arrived back from Edinburgh with her new boyfriend, Andrew, in tow.
Interestingly this is a short little fellow with strong Scottish connections. My sister Sheila is married to a man named Andrew who could be described in just the same way. How about that?!
Oh, and I could be described thus too, but I am Peter. Do genes influence our choice of a mate?
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Volunteering
THIS IS GOING TO BE A POSITIVE POST.
A few weeks ago my NHS Counsellor suggested I have a go at volunteering in order to build up my self-esteem and prepare for being in the workplace. So I did two things:
1 I started going to the Looking Well in Bentham. This is a sort of drop-in centre for wellbeing of people in the Bentham area. As part of this I have attended a writers group, an art class and also volunteered to help older people learn to work on computers.
2 I also offered to drive for Community Transport, taking people to the doctor's surgery or the hospital.
Well, amazing things have come of this today.
1 A man and his wife whom I took to the hospital yesterday rang Community Transport and told them they had enjoyed the trip very much. This has led me to hopefully having three more opportunities of transporting them again.
2 I was challenged in the writers group to write a 450 word book review for the magazine A Single Step. This I did and read it out to the group. The next step was to send it in to the editor.
Today I hear that it will almost definitely go into the next issue.
Amazing, or what!! My self-esteem has really been boosted by this. Thank the Lord for His mercy.
A few weeks ago my NHS Counsellor suggested I have a go at volunteering in order to build up my self-esteem and prepare for being in the workplace. So I did two things:
1 I started going to the Looking Well in Bentham. This is a sort of drop-in centre for wellbeing of people in the Bentham area. As part of this I have attended a writers group, an art class and also volunteered to help older people learn to work on computers.
2 I also offered to drive for Community Transport, taking people to the doctor's surgery or the hospital.
Well, amazing things have come of this today.
1 A man and his wife whom I took to the hospital yesterday rang Community Transport and told them they had enjoyed the trip very much. This has led me to hopefully having three more opportunities of transporting them again.
2 I was challenged in the writers group to write a 450 word book review for the magazine A Single Step. This I did and read it out to the group. The next step was to send it in to the editor.
Today I hear that it will almost definitely go into the next issue.
Amazing, or what!! My self-esteem has really been boosted by this. Thank the Lord for His mercy.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Energy
I haven't got much energy these days. Or at least I only have it every other day.
On Thursday I went to Liverpool to see my aunt who lives in a home there. I was away all day and then in the evening set about organising readings for the upcoming carol services.
On Friday I was so tired I didn't get up till 10.00 a.m. and spent all day just reading stuff off the internet and watching a two hour special about Helen of Troy.
I will just have to pace myself.
On Thursday I went to Liverpool to see my aunt who lives in a home there. I was away all day and then in the evening set about organising readings for the upcoming carol services.
On Friday I was so tired I didn't get up till 10.00 a.m. and spent all day just reading stuff off the internet and watching a two hour special about Helen of Troy.
I will just have to pace myself.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Surprised by Green
This morning I was surprised by green. Why? Because I have been living in a white world for over a week.
Here in this little corner of Northern England we have had ten days of frost and snow. I can't remember the last time we had wintry weather for this long. But last night it thawed and everything looked green again.
When I looked out of the window and had a shock at this strange colour, it made me think. How soon we get used to the unusual. The older we get, the more we hate change. And yet, when it comes we take no time at all to get used to it. Then we find it a shock to get back to normal.
Here in this little corner of Northern England we have had ten days of frost and snow. I can't remember the last time we had wintry weather for this long. But last night it thawed and everything looked green again.
When I looked out of the window and had a shock at this strange colour, it made me think. How soon we get used to the unusual. The older we get, the more we hate change. And yet, when it comes we take no time at all to get used to it. Then we find it a shock to get back to normal.
Monday, 1 December 2008
honesty
When people ask me about my life at present and how I feel about it, I tell them honestly. Often they finish the talk by saying something like: "I appreciate your honesty." or "Thank you for being so honest with me."
When they say that I think to myself that this is a code for "You've told me too much. A man should not feel like you do, and even if he does he should not talk about it."
Well that is how I feel, and if I'm honest, as I hope I am, I have to tell them the truth. Ah, but as Pilate said when he stared it in the face, "What is truth?".
When they say that I think to myself that this is a code for "You've told me too much. A man should not feel like you do, and even if he does he should not talk about it."
Well that is how I feel, and if I'm honest, as I hope I am, I have to tell them the truth. Ah, but as Pilate said when he stared it in the face, "What is truth?".
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