Go For It!

Wednesday. 6.45 a.m. Another fine day, but, according to the weather forecast, we're likely to get rain later on today or tomorrow.

Later. 10.15 a.m. I've only this minute had a phone call on my mobile. I was laying on my bed, which is the best place to go to clear my mind when coming up with plots, characters and so forth when I'm in the middle of writing. This obviously prerecorded voice, in stentorian tones, making it seem incredibly urgent, telling me I'm wanted by some crime agency and my National Insurance number is being stopped, for no reason they can tell me. I know perfectly well it's a scam, and I will panic and ring a number go to a website, and put in my bank details and they will be able to cream off vast amounts of money (which I haven't got.). I know that these organizations don't phone about such things, If it was HMRC or DWP they would send a letter (meaning HM Revenue and Customs for tax and Department for Work and Pensions for benefits of some sort.) and why would I fall for such a thing? I know that, unfortunately, they do. I just laugh and put the phone down. Why not simply go out and get a proper job and stop trying to cheat people out of their hard-earned money? I imagine if they do scam people out of thousands of pounds.I imagine it goes to fund terrorism somewhere in the world. Scary, but easy to deal with and avoid being scammed.

So, returning to my writing. I have done several more pages of A4, and it's going really well. But I haven't got to the next, what I would call 'crossroads' or 'junction', call it what you will, a sort of terminus for that special point in the story. You might call it the fulcrum, hub. Well, I know what I mean.

2.15 p.m. I've just been out with Alfie. A couple who were walking across the grass stopped to make a fuss of  Alfie. Oh, he does like the attention!

We got back, and waiting on the doorstep was a parcel. I had a good idea what it contained. An Amazon order was made yesterday, barely 24 hours ago. It contained a pallet knife and a couple of tins which will be ideal to bake brownies in. 

The phone rang as I had barely walked through the door. Another of those 'phishing' calls, a prerecorded voice telling me that the crime agency was after me and that my National Insurance number would be stopped. Okay, I get it. I'll come quietly, officer.

I have passed on the phone number that rang to the agency responsible, so let's see what happens next if anything happens at all. But least those who can make some concerted effort to sort out these scams.

Sunshine Is Good For The Soul

It's another of those beautifully bright and sunny July days which really lifts your spirits. Having taken the Diazepam tablet last night, I had yet another really good sleep and didn't wake until gone 6 o'clock. I think Alfie is gradually adjusting to my new routine of getting up later and later and we didn't get out until a little before 7 a.m. I am a little bit concerned that there are far more cars parked along Golden Drive and even a few traffic cones. I have an idea that these cars may belong to employees of the hospital which is just behind this house. I do hope it doesn't mean we're going to get more employees parking here as it's getting a bit crowded. I have no complaint about this issue, but if it means that Eaglestone residents don't have space to park then it is a serious issue. What does annoys me is when people insist on parking across the footpath. It's difficult to actually differentiate which is road and which is path for pedestrians and it's a bit unfair that you have to walk into the road when a car is in the way. Some cars even park on the grass, which is eventually going to destroy this feature along the roadside because this area isn't designed to take the weight of a car. It would be alright in the summer, when it it is dry, but when it rains or there's snow and ice it is going to cause more problems and merely churn up the grass and create mud.

I had decided to go into the Council offices and discover whether they had heard anything from the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) with regards my Pension Credit. I wanted to get there as soon as I could after they opened at 9 o'clock. I was daring when I wore my shorts! It has been hot enough to wear them. I parked the car in the usual carpark near The Point, using the RingGo app to pay. It actually worked, but I had a pocket-full of £1 coins just in case.

I walked into the shopping centre and then out the opposite side near Costa and near Marks and Spencer and on arrival in the Civic Centre I had to first sign in using one of the touch-screen terminals. I couldn't get the one I used to work so I had to ask a member of staff and then got a ticket from the machine with number 204 on it and went to sit down and wait. I was surprised how few people there were in there. I imagine most people would arrive later or simply couldn't get out of bed. I had bought my World Wildlife Fund reusable bag with me, containing reading as well as writing material. But my number wasn't long in appearing on the digital screen and the automated voice spoke out the number. No doubt this is for those whose vision isn't very good and I walked across to the desk. I explained to the lady behind the desk why I was there, to find out if they'd had any notification from the D.W.P. about my Pension Credit claim. They hadn't. Then I asked her about having my Housing Benefit paid directly into my landlord's bank account. She tried to persuade me against this, saying it was only done in exceptional circumstances and I was adamant that I wanted this. She said that it would require a signature from my landlord and she went away to find the relevant form for me to fill in. As it is about the time when I get a visit from the landlord and his wife, once a year for a mere ten minutes, it would be then that I would get him to agree to the Housing Benefit going directly into his bank account. I also learnt that the next payment of Housing Benefit (which should be to cover the entirety of the rent.) is on 22nd July. By which time I should have heard via the D.W.P. regarding the newly-discovered pension that Carol had when she was living and working in Bournemouth (which is going to effect the amount I receive from the Council.)