Little Miss Wonders

The budget comes around again on Wednesday and we are being told to prepare for yet another income levy.  The dole is said to be cut for under 23’s by 20% but why hit them all with the one stick?

If you’ve been signed on for longer than a year without being able to prove you are looking for work, why shouldn’t your money be cut down?  The dole is there to be an unemployment aid not a lifestyle choice.  I can count off at least 15 people who have never worked a day in their lives.  And why should they when money is handed to them without proving it?

I know of a girl claiming lone parent, who went and asked her welfare officer for money for safety gates for her stairs - the money went on flights to Spain.  The same person got money for a brand new buggy, cot and mattress because she is "on her own".  The same girl went in and said she needed money to get clothes for an interview, she got clothes alright - and a night out.

I know of three other girls claiming lone parents whose partners live in the house with them that taxpayers are paying for them.  The reasoning? They can’t afford the rent and childcare if both of them were working.  Its easier for her not to work and claim this money while he works and gets more money to add to their little pile?

All this and my mother and sister have had their hours drastically cut in the past few weeks.  They have to prove that their hours are cut.  They have to hand in a letter every week showing that the hours are still cut.  They have lost days of wages and can only claim for one of them.  And yet, have a child and all you do is fill out some forms and the money is there practically straight away. My best friend gets the same amount I do in child benefits each month - she works as well so it can be done. Show up and say you’re recently unemployed, and while you’re waiting for your application to be processed you can get money from the welfare officer.

How does it make sense that the people who have been paying their PRSI have to get reduced money while people who have been out of work since well before the recession and BLATANTLY are not looking for work get money handed to them?  How is it that hardworking people have to prove that they are working reduced hours?  How is it fair for all those under 23 to get their unemployment benefit, what if that person has been working and paying tax since they were 16 and are recently unemployed compared to the person who has never lifted a finger never mind paid tax who is complaining that they can’t live on 40e less a week - eh yea you can just stop ordering in!

 Don’t get me started on the people who are getting the dole straight into their bank accounts when they’re not even in the country anymore….

This country is fecked and the people milking it dry aren’t being stopped or hindered.  Its being encouraged while the people keeping the place going are being punished with higher taxes, levies, and being berated for shopping up north to save a few bob.

Its time for a change but if Brian Lenihan announces anything on Wednesday that will help this country I will be dumbstruck!

Following on from Tcups, pet peeves I decided to do a few of my own:

1. Drivers who slow down when there’s no one in front of them when I’m trying to cross the road so I don’t know whether to make a break for it or wait until they’ve past - but no wait, the car behind them is actually pretty close and they’re starting to get faster so I wouldn’t make it either way… Does MY NUT IN!!!
2. I am actually pretty anal about spelling.  I cannot stand short text in messages.  It costs the same for 160 letters, try using them up.
3. People who moan on about something and don’t do anything about it.  If you’re bored of not doing anything in the evenings, start doing it!!! If you want to lose weight, don’t moan to me about it, take the McFlurry out of your hand and start eating right and doing exercise!
4. People who think they have some right to treat others as less than them. Just because someone lives in a council house / is a different race etc does not give anyone the right to look down on them.
5. People who think that their opinions are the only ones that count. It’s not, and I’d rather have a conversation with my 9month old godchild than listen to you tell me what I should believe.
6. People who continue to question the fact that I do not believe in God.  I don’t question the fact that you do believe or why you do.  I understand that everyone has their own beliefs. Share me the same courtesy.
7. Seeing the Sterling price in stores has been ripped off - Hello Oasis and Warehouse.

Continuing our fitness buzz, Partner in Crime and I walked into town last night for a look around.

Neither of us could afford anything but we said we’d take a look at the bikinis and what kind of holiday clothes we’d like to get.

Stopping off in River Island first.  Have the 80’s completely come back? It was like the stylist from Fame was running it, with a member of the Navy and the shoes were all from Gladiator.  If I plan on losing weight what the hell am I going to wear???

New Look wasn’t much better.  Lace Leggings, PVC leggings, red and blue pvc leggings, over sized tshirts, the gladiator sandals were alot higher.  But the Nautical clothes were actually quite cute.  I saw a summer dress I think would be lovely when I’m on holidays, and a few skirts that would be quite nice with a tank top and sandals.

Topshop, Awear, Oasis…nothing in them I saw that I fell in love with - actually I lie.  I saw a black body con dress in Oasis that I would LOVE to get when I’ve lost the weight, actually I think it might be better as a birthday dress or something, but it is fabulous…

But if we’re entering a recession, and shops are worried about losing out on money, should they not be trying to entice people into the shops with decent clothes that have a decent price on them and won’t lose shape after a while…

Walking to work this morning I made a startling discovery.

It shouldn’t be startling, or a discovery for that matter.

I discovered one of the bottoms of my heels (shoes* in the pic) had come away, leaving the nail in all its scraping glory.  This shouldn’t be startling because I keep heel repair shops in business because of how I walk on my heels.  I constantly need to get heels replaced and can go through many pairs of shoes in a year.  Also I manage to scuff the top of them quite bad - what bloody way do I walk???

Last year the number sat at 7.  That’s a new pair of shoes 7 weeks.  Although some lasted longer, some shorter.

I got these current ones before christmas in New Look and they’re the comfiest ones yet and at a bargainous €24, I think I’ll be heading back there when I get paid to get another pair of work shoes.  I quite fancy being one of those people with more than one pair of work shoes, who can choose what shoe they’re in depending on the mood of the moment.

The ones I’m wearing now will get reheeled as well.

Two pairs of work shoes…I could get a third pair if it wasn’t for that STOOPID levy coming in next month…

*These cost £15 on the new look site, which is currently €16.71.  I’ll allow for the fact I got them before Christmas and say they should have been €19…ripped me off by €5