I’ve found out something that, frankly, anyone on benefits in the UK needs to know - the new ESA system which has been open to new claimants and will replace IB entirely in February 2011 has one aim and one aim only: to not let anyone qualify for it. If you’re on IB, start making contingency plans because when they get round to you, you’ll be going onto JSA and forced to look for work, whether you’re actually employable or not. They don’t care anymore.

If you can sit up and move your arms for 30 seconds at a time, then you can work, and they don’t care if that applies in the real world or not.

If you’re studying but can’t study and work at the same time, they don’t care. If you can do one: you can do the other: whether you can do them at the same time or not? They don’t care.

According to the knowledge I was given, over 95% of people on IB will not qualify for ESA, so the chances are - that does include you. It certainly includes me. The final 2 years of my Uni degree? Let’s face it, nobody will employ me even if I was physically capable of going to Uni and work at the same time! I’m actually now spending my summer holiday doing a Diploma in order to try and make myself look professional enough to drum up freelance work I can do at home on the computer - and then all i need is enough business to keep me fed and, oh yeah, some miracle cure for the chronic pain so that when I’m done at Uni for the day I can still focus on doing work and assignments - having barely managed just the assignments through my Foundation Year.

I should point out that this is a process the Labour Gov. set in motion, the Tories are just continuing it. Their basic plan to make it acceptable is to tell us that if they don’t get everyone off benefits, then they’ll have to start cutting police and hospital services instead. Personally, I think that’s disgusting, but then I’m not a politician. Plus I’m disabled, so I don’t actually matter.

What they’re going to say about the unemployment figures when they shoot up, and when somebody realises that everyone on JSA is disabled and unemployable, I can’t wait to find out! 

Anyway, that’s the heads up from me, figure if I get advance knowledge then anyone else I can give it to deserves to have it too. 

 

TC x 

Alright, I don’t really like to stand on my soapbox here, but unfortunately being compared to Al Quaeda is just too insulting - and ridiculous - to ignore. So skim on if you’re not with me, or click below to join in.

Let’s face it, this isn’t the first or the last time Bill O’Reilly has used his "fair and balanced" platform to shout derogatory insults at everyone who isn’t him or a clone of him, and people listen, because people listen to those who scream loudest.

So, I’d like to bsuggest that actually the people who matter are those who respond quietly and calmly, which is what this is - we’re asking Fox and BO to apologise, and Fox to try and stop this form happening - because it’s not just about me, or the gay community, it’s about everyone who this man hurls abuse at. It has to stop.

 

 

OK, I’m a person who loves my little toys, gotta admit it - and they’re not always so little (or very cheap, come to that).

But here’s one that is both little and cheap - and the coolest idea I’ve seen in ages and ages, especially as it was just the other week when I was wishing for some way to carry stuff without having pockets…

 Ever do that? Wear something then realise you need a way to carry stuff but you don’t have useable pockets?

You’re gonna love me for this, in that case - Hip Klips 

Now bear with me, cos i don’t usually plug like this. But honestly, check them out, they’re cool - the little clip and the pocket to put stuff in, such a good idea.

And the inventor, that’s kinda how I know about them is I put one a cd I’ve not listened to in a long time, it was one of those where I put it on and remembered how awesome it is, so I popped to the old website of the band - they split a few years but the site is still there - to see what the lead singer had been up to, if anything. Turns out, she invented these things, which are so cool.

That’s the story, heh, I just think it’s such a great idea, I wanted to share

Toodles x 

We made it onto Amazon, sorry it took a while, heh - but there we are. Land of Fears, £7.99 from Amazon - plus free shipping from there too Clicky here 

Yes, I know it’s been ages in coming, but it’s here now! The second Shadow Walkers novel - Land of Fears - is out waiting for you to read it! Just £7.99 direct from the publisher - Turner Maxwell Books.

Wanna see? Click me! 

And of course there is now a page for it in the library - for that, click right here

Good luck and enjoy! And if yoyu have a few minutes - tell me what you think, or write a review on the publishers website, you’ll be doing me a real favour!

And of course if you happen to be friendly with any librarians, or anyone who works in a bookstore - you could do worse than mention it to them on my behalf - I’m plenty happy to talk to anyone who might be interested, so feel free to send them my way.

And while I’m here, can i just say a great big happy hello to Russia! Because somewhere in Russia there are people walking around speaking English as I wrote when I was about 20, thanks to their teacher Olga, who uses my ebook Virtually Real to help teach them! Seriously though - how awesome is that?!

Alright, I’m all done with the news! I promise more writing soon. Been trying real hard to find a regular sort of balance between Uni and social life and rest/sleep and pain in leg and being able to actually write stories - but I’m coming to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a settled schedule for me any more! So, I’ll be doing what I can, when I can.

Take care all xx