Just to show that my life is not one big happy smile, we are going through a bit of a rough patch. Because of my health and the current state of employment, I can’t get a job. My husband is likewise unable to work (both health issues and the lack of jobs). Fortunately, Scotland is a very supportive country and we will not be left without. My daughter’s hours are being cut at work and my son-in-law recently lost his job when the restaurant in which he was working had to declare bankruptcy. So, we are all a bit adrift right now. But, not to worry. The council to the rescue. Chris and I have met with the housing people on the council and, as of Thursday, we most probably will be housed in a B&B until we are found a more permanent place to live.
I refuse to be upset or angered by what has happened. The economy around the world is making it hard for people to find jobs and make enough to pay the bills – as utilities rise and rise without a thought to how it is impacting on users. Banks and utilities and super-companies post profits and give out bonuses. The rest of us – well, we just have to keep on keeping on. For those of us over 50, it is difficult to find work. I even had one job enquiry end with the recruiter telling me that they were looking for younger people. That is against the law, of course, and I reported it and received a telephone call from the head of this particular agency. Prior to my diagnosis of severe osteoarthritis in my knees and hips, I would have gone forward to be considered for the job that agency was advertising. But my health issues and increasing immobility would make that impossible. I wrote to the gentleman and told him what had occurred and that I could not pursue the opportunity. He was very kind in his response and wished me well.
The UK has a wonderful safety net for people like us. The national insurance payments we have made over the years and the taxes we pay help us now that we need it most. We will be provided with a nice to place to live and assistance in paying our living expenses. I am currently applying for a living allowance for people like me who have health issues and are unable to get around easily. If awarded the top tier for my mobility issues, I will receive a payment that can be used to lease a car through a programme called Motobility. We will be all right.
My business, which is the best option for me and something I enjoy very much, is puttering along nicely. I have over 300 subscribers to my monthly newsletter and my website is receiving hits from places as diverse as New Zealand and Brazil.
I am an optimist. Always have been and always will be. I believe that if we believe the best will come to pass, it will. Sometimes there are bumps along the way, but we will arrive at a place and time when it all makes sense.
The wind is howling today, the sea is churning and the sky is grey. But every once in a while, a beautiful rainbow appears – a harbinger of better days to come.