Things are getting worse....

I made my claim online for JSA (jobseekers allowance) online and got a phone call within half an hour giving me an appointment. 2.30 the following Monday...and was told to arrive ten minutes earlier. No problem. The morning of my appointment I received a phone call telling me that as the person who I was supposed to be seeing was off sick, so my appointment would be delayed by ten minutes. I got there at the allotted time only to be kept waiting for.. 45 Minutes!! I wasn't happy.The interview took 1 hour and I didn't get back home until getting on for half past 5....with an armful of paperwork.
The conditions for receiving JSA are very specific, and although I told the adviser that I couldn't reasonably meet them I had to sign the agreement or I would be refused.  I could still be sanctioned if, at my next appointment, they think that I have not "reasonably done enough" to find work. One of the most important conditions is that you have to find work with at least 40 hours a week. There is no way that I can be expected to work these sort of hours. I have M.E. A medical condition which has, as it's main symptom, severe fatigue, amongst others. The adviser has requested an appointment with a disability adviser ASAP..but when that will happen is any ones guess. In the meantime I face losing any benefit. All I can do in the meantime is hope for the best. And it doesn't end there .Because my circumstances have changed, my claim for housing and council tax benefit has been suspended and could take 6 to 8 weeks until it's sorted. That means it will be a repeat of last years fiasco with the housing association threatening eviction for non payment of full rent, and the council taking me to court for non payment of full council tax. Can't win really.  On top of all that I went up to the doctors surgery with a repeat prescription request, only to realise that there are 2 bank holidays and I wont be able to get my prescription until Tuesday...DOH!!!!    Will be without some of my medication over the weekend.....and..yes there is more..I have been asked to make a GP appointment for a prescription review, so I duly waited in the queue to told that there are no appointments for the next 2 weeks. OK..not urgent ....what about after that?  "We don't make patient appointments that far ahead"   Gobsmacked....good job I'm not really ill then isn't it!                     Rant over.

 A couple of cards I've made.  Crafting helps keep me sane......I think.

The first is a Hunkydory card for my sister-in-law.  Matted with some black card and I think it worked.   Linda Chapman's (Create and Craft) influence here.

This one I made for the Crafters re-united monthly inspirations.  Any occasion, any size, but no main image. Just embossing and/or die cuts and any embellishments. My photography makes it look a bit paler than it is in reality

Thank you for visiting.

Spoke too soon...

Just when I thought things were getting back on an even keel after the last year.  How wrong was I? Last month I had to attend a Work Capability assessment....not a medical.  Well the powers that be have decided in their ultimate wisdom that I do not have" limited capability for work,"  and that my Employment and Support Allowance...formerly incapacity benefit will end on the 8th of March.  So now I have to claim jobseekers allowance..... if I meet the criteria... while a "mandatory reconsideration" is made and then an appeal.  To be able to claim ESA you have to achieve 15 points, the same as when attending a medical for the former incapacity benefit......but I have scored..NIL points!  The health care specialist decided that I can "sit or stand ..or a combination of both....at a workstation and using a stick, crutches or propelled wheelchair for one hour."   Watch this space.

Now onto a few cards I've made.

Blue and yellow for eldest son.

One for grandson. Love this Woodware Owl stamp.

 A Hunkydory handbag for youngest's girlfriend.

Building blocks for great-nephew.

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Pretty in pink...for great-niece.

Another son..another birthday 

Thank you for visiting.

Things getting back to normal...

...I hope. Last year was a bit of a disaster for me. Financial problems with the council taking 8 to 10 weeks to sort out a claim for housing and council tax benefits. This started when youngest son found work. Any changes to your circumstances means that any claim you currently have is suspended. Meaning that during this time I was liable for full rent and council tax. Well this caused a lot of problems with the housing association..my landlords ..by constantly phoning and visiting, demanding full payment and threatening eviction. I could have understood their insistence if I hadn't been paying anything but as it was I was paying over the odds which left us very short. No wonder my doctor got a bit worried when my blood pressure went sky high.  Finally got things sorted when I spoke to another member of their "management team". So much for them saying" they are always there to help"...NOT!!!  Suffice to say Christmas was a quiet one all round for us.
During all this I had no computer and it made me feel very  isolated. I'm getting out much less now due to the pain and fatigue caused by the ME and arthritis.  Not been able to get out in the garden either ..and it really does need some work before spring.
I have managed some crafting but not a lot. Got to get a wriggle on though as I have a few family birthdays coming up. Any way here a few pictures of some of my work.....not many 'cos I forgot to take pics.
First off....a card for granddaughters birthday. It wasn't as bright as it looks in the picture....my rubbish photography.

Next a few Christmas cards

And finally  a card for grandson.

Well that's all for now. May I take this belated opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

I'm back....!!!

After a long spell without my computer. It crashed BIG TIME!! I've been using sons laptop to keep up with my emails and important stuff , but he didn't want any of the programmes I use downloaded on his computer. Perfectly understandable: so he bought me a new one as a late birthday and early Christmas pressy. Yay!! I lost a lot of stuff but luckily I had most of it on my portable hard drive. It's been a bad year all told and things are still not sorted. Lots of issues going on but more about those later. Just glad to be back online and not so isolated. 
Well that's it for now..going to get back to finding stuff and trying to get organised.

Oh ****** just deleted my signature....doh!

Take care everyone
Sue x
                                                                

Halfway through February......

....already! Where is the time going?  I'm still struggling with my health. I have had a cold that hasn't developed fully for months now and it's really draining my energy. I will be glad when the warmer weather is finally here (whenever that might be!).  On top of that I now have a raging toothache. I have to confess that I haven't been to a dentist in nearly eight years, ever since my dentist of twenty five years went private and I couldn't afford the fees. Been browsing on the web trying to find a NHS dentist within a reasonable distance and who has places. Think I will end up at the dental hospital. Here in South Yorkshire we haven't been as badly affected by the weather as some parts of the country. Thankful for small mercies. Still doing a bit of crafting but not as much as I'd like to. I'm trying to get ahead with family cards but not making much headway. I have done what I needed to though.
The first one I saw in a magazine and decided it would be perfect for youngest grandson.....he loves his Lego. Had a bit of a job cutting out the circles for the bricks though....I don't have a circle punch or die the right size.

The next one.....for another grandson. I loosely followed a sketch ..again from a magazine....and used some of my scraps of paper. Got lots of scraps. It's my intention to try and use them as much as possible.

This one was for my eldest's birthday. I used a Dustin Pike image. Kept it black and white and only coloured the artist's materials....and added some buttons. A crafter himself and loves buttons on cards.

 He also attends an art therapy group (he suffers with depression) and he's becoming quite an acomplished (sp?)  artist.

An the last one..a card for youngests girlfriend. Again inspired by a craft magazine....great for when your mojo decides to go walkabout.....and used op some more of my scraps. I also entered this for this months challenge on Crafters Re-united. Haven't entered a challenge for a few months, but realized that it fitted the bill with all the right elements. 

Just a week...

...to Christmas day. Am I ready for it?....no I'm not!  Those lovely people at the benefit department have made an almighty cock-up. Was supposed to collect my benefit from the post office today.  Shopping in town tomorrow and having my grocery order delivered Thursday.  It ain't happening!! Why?  Someone has inputted a wrong house number on my claim so nothing has been paid out. After half an hour of answering security questions to confirm my identity,   (D.O.B.  N.I. number, post code, nationality, how long at present address, phone number etc.),  I've been told that someone from the office responsible for my claim will phone me tomorrow to try and sort it out.  You really couldn't make this up. Nearly eight years of claiming, and a week before Christmas someone goes and b**** it up.  I am not a happy bunny. I certainly will be glad when this year is over..it hasn't been a good one. 

On to some pics now. 

First...two things I made for my friend Anne. a little birdhouse inspired by Leonie.  The cross stitch was for her birthday last May but have only just got round to being able to give it to her.
 I apologise for the rubbish photography.

Next....granddaughters birthday card

A selection of Christmas cards made.

This will probably my last post this year, so I will wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas season, and a big thank you for visiting.

3 months since my last post

The reason?  I'm struggling with my health. My energy levels are very low and the arthritis is getting worse and slowing me down even more. The computer has taken a bit of a back seat as my concentration levels are practicaly nil.  I haven't been in the garden for months and it really does need some attention before the really bad weather sets in.  I have been crafting though....mostly making cards for my son. These have been orders he's had, but been unable to fill because of major decorating and all his craft stuff being packed away. Well I got them done..the customers were really pleased with the cards, and now it looks as though we both have potential Christmas orders in the pipe line. Still got to make a start on my own!!!

Here's a few that I've made...not posting them all.....it would take me too long and probably bore the pants off you!....LOL 

These 3 for son's friends 

5 cards for a special lady from members of her family. I used papers from Making Cards magazine  and the last one was done with the help of Craft Artist. The customer requested a floral theme for all of them.

Finally a card for son's friends 1st  wedding anniversary

Thank you for looking.... and being patient

Another one...

...card that is. This one was a bit more difficult as I know practically nothing about the recipient. My son passed this on to me to make as with everything going on with him at the moment he didn't feel that he could do it. All I know is that it is for an elderly woman to give to her husband. He likes gardening but has had to seriously downsize owing to his health, and it had to have husband on it. I hope it fits the bill. I madee it using CAP (Craft Artist Professional) and it is a hybrid. The background was printed straight out and the verse panel and butterfly was printed separately then matted and layered. I added glossy accents to the clock and the butterfly, and a bit of raffia. just need to find out if a sentiment is needed for the insert.

The last two days have been glorious weather wise so I have taken advantage and spent a lot of time in the garden. It's been hard work and very tiring, but worth it. Sons have been very helpful with the housework and cooking. I think they are beginning to appreciate how much work it takes. It's been swings and roundabouts with some of my plants though.    Things have really flourished..especially the Buddlia (which is 3 times the size it was last year) and my shrubs. The casualties have been my pansies and snapdragons which the heavy rain washed out, and my dwarf lupins. I bought them last year and they did really well. I've never been able to grow them in this garden before. Well they were flourishing this year until the snails got to them...and my hosta....decimated!!!