Somewhere To Live?

I've come to the conclusion that the only answer to my housing situation (such as it is) would be for me to have a lodger.  There is a perfectly adequate spare room for this purpose. And it has a bed and other furniture in it. This is because Milton Keynes Council will not pay for the entirety of my rent. I have been attempting to find alternative accommodation, a smaller, one-bedroom flat or house within Milton Keynes, which would hopefully mean lower rent and mean that Housing Benefit would pay the full cost. I'm still not sure why they won't pay my full rent costs. I will need to consult our landlord to get his agreement as regarding having a male lodger. If he is, he would need to interview prospective candidates and it would need to be someone I could trust implicitly, probably someone nearer my age, who likes dogs and wouldn't let Alfie out as he would likely get out and run off if the front door was left open. I think a lot of the problems regarding my situation is that there aren't enough affordable properties within Milton Keynes and it's extremely difficult to find what you are looking for. It doesn't help that, even going through what I imagined was the right route and approaching Milton Keynes Council to get help and support, I was told I couldn't be helped, basically because as I already have a home I'm not classed as 'homeless.' I have attempted to use something on-line which is called 'Homehunt,' which is a tool which you use to apply for accommodation, a house or flat. But I have tried to use it but it will not function properly. So many on-line tools such as this are not functional and, to be honest, totally useless.

I had intended getting up a good deal later because it was a Saturday. But Alfie wouldn't have it. He kept shuffling about in the bed and came to stare at me. So, I got up, somewhat reluctantly, and got dressed, took my medication and we went out for our usual walk around Eaglestone Park, and before I had breakfast. I think he was well and truly pleased. When we got back home, I managed to have breakfast. It's not quite as cold and icy as it has been for the past few days.

Later. I wrote out a shopping list and then went to Sainsbury's. It was a little after 9 when I got there and I'm glad I did, because it was virtually empty of other shoppers. Carol and I generally went shopping early, because we could then go out somewhere afterwards, usually Whipsnade or a National Trust property. How I miss her! We did so much together as a couple. I just have to keep going on my own. I never for a moment imagined I'd be back as a single man again.

I got some spray limescale remover for the bathroom, to clean the toilet, sink and bath. It comes in one of those plastic bottles with a trigger. But they've put a child-proof lock on it, which I cannot remove. If I can't remove it to use it, then it will definitely not allow a child to get into it and do damage, to itself or others. I just want to use it for the purpose for which it was made to CLEAN the bathroom! Crazy situation. Perhaps if it's child proof I should find a child to open it! It would be a challenge for said child. The question being, how long would it take a child to open a child-proof item?