I was 21 years old when I was pregnant - and between my three jobs I earned almost forty grand a year George mate. The secret about children is that nobody can actually afford them, they are bottomless wells of consumption that eat, shit and destroy every pound you earn 😂
...it was the best year of my life and I thought I was made on it. I was saving a house deposit, and working hard with a view to getting promoted so I could lose the coffee shop and nightclub side gigs and enjoy myself rather than work 6 days and 2 full 15hr nights a week...
...I was 21 with only 4 GCSEs to my name and earning more than any of my old school friends who had been to uni. I had a massive 3 bed flat in a fancy part of town, all the books I could dream of, and a CHESTERFIELD SOFA. I was literally living the dream.
The point about poverty is that it can happen to almost anyone and the fall from grace is disgustingly, unedifying fast and furious. I got pregnant. My employer wouldn't adjust my hours. I had to leave. DWP deemed I had 'made myself workless' so withheld benefits for 12 weeks.
The fire service paid 2 weeks in advance and 2 weeks in arrears. I resigned on the 17th November, 2 days after payday. I wanted to rescind my resignation after talking to the DWP and realising how in the shit I would be. The deputy chief fire officer tried to help me do this.
We had a meeting up at HQ, the other side of the county from where I lived. I had to get three trains there. I was technically unemployed by the brigade but told to wear my uniform to the meeting. I thought this was weird but in a uniformed service you fall into line. So I did.
Anyone else with any experience of Sertraline? Week two and I'm throwing up like I've got morning sickness here. Not really helpful when I've got a very very busy day ahead!
Also for the replies saying 'stop taking them' - advising people to quit medication that has been prescribed by a doctor who has a comprehensive overview of that person's life, health and circumstances, is unhelpful at best and downright dangerous at worst. Please stop.
Secondly, stigmatising mental illness contributes to people not seeking help. There is no shame in needing a bit of chemical rewiring. When I broke my foot, I went to the doctor. Why should a broken head be any different? It isn't.
A reminder that under the Tories we now have:
11,000 fewer firefighting personnel
4.2m in poverty
1.5m food bank parcels a year
5,000 fewer bobbies on the beat
An £11,000 pay rise for MPs
A UN investigation into UK poverty
A landmark study linking austerity to 120,000 deaths...
...just tonight I heard from a food bank who have seen an EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT INCREASE in referrals since universal credit was rolled out in their town...
Just today I heard of a cancer patient who died with just £8 to his name after being declared 'fit to work' by this arcane and violent system...
I'm just gonna say I don't think 'Jacks' DOES want the Aldi/Lidl market. They've opened two stores. Aldi/Lidl have 21,366 between them. Jack's are also not big enough, opening in former Express shops. They look more like edging out the McColls/Londis but nobody wants to say it...
...So while their layout seems very Aldi/Lidl, along with the middle aisle of rando stuff, I'm not convinced they're a serious contender for the budget brands. They're going in the wrong places, the wrong size, and alongside existing Tesco stores. Watching with interest.
Anyway I could be entirely wrong, but it doesn't feel like it's even remotely a contender. Maybe a publicity stunt akin to pizza hut rebranding some stores as 'Pasta Hut' for a while, but opening 15 shops in a year in existing sites feels a bit like a piss in the wind IMHO
I can confirm today that following that landmark libel case, Katie Hopkins has entered into an IVA to avoid bankruptcy. I knew for a while but could not say anything for legal reasons. The arbitrary defender of free speech didn't want anyone to know, ironically...
...I have been paid in full, but many of her creditors, including my lawyer, will not be paid what they are owed. For the want of an apology, a house, a job, a column, a radio show, and now financial solvency, were lost. It's all very sad, actually.
I'm not cruel nor celebrating - that case cost me 18 months of sanity and work, and I think neither of us wanted it to turn out this way.
(I can recommend an excellent budget cookery book or three, for getting back on your feet, though)