Musings

I somehow managed to fall asleep during the England v Italy match.


Had a houseful that left when I fell asleep, and the ladies returned for the last half hour to teach me, at full volume, lots of new words, and descriptions of what horrible things they'd like to do to various players that I thought were physically impossible. Apparently not. I gather they didn't like the outcome. Heh :)


I was half expecting a few loan requests this morning, as a few around here 'like a flutter' (a bet) and probably lost. That and the Natwest/RBS/UB bank fiasco. But as it happens, I was repaid £20 and was only asked for £1.60. 


Not a betting man myself. I just hate giving money away. It wasn't always the case. Many, many years ago I used to play poker at a casino with a bunch of workmates, and very, very good I was too. However, being frequently mugged in the car park at 3 am when you have to be up for work at 5 am is excellent aversion therapy. And banks are legalised mugging anyway..........


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For some odd reason its only just dawned on me that we have a remarkably eventful and sociable life. Listening to the ladies last night I noticed that apart from the normal bumps, scrapes, ups and downs of family life, most of my neighbours have quite mundane lives, toddling along before realising that their biggest complaint is being isolated and bored. 


I can't remember what bored feels like. Bear says (tongue in cheek, I hope)  that I'm too thick to get bored. I dunno. My first instinct if I don't get at least three visitors a day is to wonder if someone is ill - and I'm rarely wrong. There's always something to do. I don't get time to get bored.


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If I may dip my toes gently in politics?


If I hear one more politician claiming that unemployment and 'benefits' are a life style choice I'm gonna....


Sure, I know those who have been on benefits long term with drink or drug problems that make them unemployable. It grates that as a result of the disabilities those addictions cause they get extra income that gets spent on the very things that cause the disability. 


But such people are a very tiny minority.


Those people have complex problems underlying their addictions that need to be addressed. It's bonkers, and I understand those who resent it. 


For those who are unemployed and on Jobseekers Allowance, the idea that they can remain on it indefinitely is laughable and quite frankly wrong and rubbish. It isn't going to be a new measure that they lose benefits if they don't or won't find work.  Don't look for work, no money. End of.  


It's been that way for many years. 


Populist politicians playing on peoples need and greed may sound good, but they really do need to keep themselves up to date with that already in place. Both the politicians and their supporters.


There is a lot of help for people to find work or start their own business. Don't take advantage of that, you will lose government help, and rightly so.