Oh Joy!

I've had a pretty busy week. It's been emotional for a number of reasons, like the two birthdays I've previously posted about.  I can't believe I am now the mum of 2 teenagers!  Eeeek! I refuse to be that old!

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A lot has happened this week. I attended a meeting on Friday organised by Enable to discuss the governments changes to Disability Living Allowance here in the UK.  A local MP, Angus Robertson attended to answer questions and to try and explain the changes to people.

The allowance name will change to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and there will now only be 2 levels: higher rate and lower rate, as opposed to 3.

Other changes are:- a medical test is now needed, you have to be ill for a year before you can claim, your wheelchair will be taken into account during the decision making process, your allowance will stop if you are in hospital or a care home for more than 28 days, you can only claim if you usually live in the UK.

My biggest worry is the 28 days in the hospital because Jack is no stranger to 6 week hospital stints and as I pointed out to this MP, the government then assume that the hospital is looking after Jack, when in fact it is me who is there constantly as they don't have the staff to sit with him 24/7. It is assumed by the government that local hospitals/care homes will then have funding for this kind of care should a person require it.  Well, I soon put him straight on that.

Then there is the problem of my car. I pay for it with the mobility part of Jack's DLA.  Are they gonna take it away after the 28 days?  What happens to it then and how will I get Jack to his appointments in Edinburgh and Aberdeen?  Take the bus? Then what is the criteria for getting it back and Jack's payments reinstated? Me thinks that David Cameron and his minions aren't really giving a shit either way because that will be the problem for local government, effectively passing the buck as is the governments want. Once again, David Cameron is punishing those in need, as if their lives are not hard enough.

I left that meeting feeling a bit frustrated and a little frightened if I am honest.  The future looks bleak for many of us and I am sick and tired of hearing about it!!!!

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I was only out of the meeting minutes when I got a text from Holly asking me to take her home early from the party she was at.  I was a bit surprised and asked why.  Turns out some of the kids there were taking the piss out of kids at their school who they were referring to as 'retards' or as one particular ignoramus stated "the correct word is mong!".  Just shows what a total idiot he was!  What pushed Holly over the edge was that one particular friend was laughing along with the others when she, who shall remain nameless, has spent quite a lot of time in our house and therefore should know better but alas no.  What cracks me up about this, is that this same girl, is so disapproving of Holly and her new boyfriend and was giving Holly a hard time about texting him just before this incident, really riling Holly but yet her disapproval didn't extend to people laughing at others who are different from themselves. She did finally say something when she caught the look on Holly's face but it was too late.

So Holly left and cried all the way home.  As she said, some days she lets it go over her head and other days she just can't.  Friday was one of those days.  To be fair to Holly, she left because she didn't want to be a party pooper as the girl who was having the party was oblivious to the goings on. She was only home 5 minutes when her pals, who do know better, rushed round and cheered her up.  Total stars.

These same pals, came round on Jack's birthday.  One, Daniel, gave Jack a home made card, in the shape of a bird and the other Jordan, bought Jack a bright yellow piñata and filled it with sweeties! I was quite emotional about it. People surprise me all the time and often in a good way, I'm glad to say.

the card from Daniel

Jordan's Pinata

Jack watching his ebirthday card from Joanna on my new laptop

Holly and I can't educate the world about disability but we can start by educating the people around us in our tiny part of the world.  I do think some of it is rubbing off.

Saturday night, my big sis, Kay and I drove to Montrose as we were going to a party.  My older sis, Julia lives not far from there and she was having a party for her husband Mark as he was 40. We had a brilliant night.  A rock band were playing and they were actually quite good although the lead singer did look like a Liam Gallagher wannabe!

The Southern Comforts were going down well, too well and I was starting to get a bit tipsy.  I was dragged up to dance by a young guy.  We were having a right laugh when a guy passed us carrying balloons and the young guy yanked one outta the guy's hand and presented it to me.  I laughingly took it and was quite chuffed at his gesture although, I would have preferred flowers ya know? lol I danced with him a couple of times and then went back to our table, where me and my balloon continued to boogie together much to the disgust of Kay, who hates balloons.

I was gaily waving my balloon around when Lauren, my niece came to speak to me.  Kay took this opportunity to stick her fork (left over from the stovies) into my balloon, popping it with a loud bang. Both Lauren and I jumped with fright, her drink jumped too and half the contents of her glass landed in my lap!  Both Lauren and I cracked up laughing and were helpless while Kay looked on bemusedly thinking "it wasn't that funny!!". Finally I managed to get breath and explained the situation to Kay who was even more gleeful cos she had gotten me a double whammy!  She killed my fecking balloon! WTF? Party pooper.

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Really really funny! Never a dull moment eh?