Diary Tuesday 22nd August 2017

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Welfare day, as dreaded as ever, to be followed immediately by a job interview at the welfare advice centre, for possible security work. Though he was on vacation, my usual welfare officer arranged for a colleague to sit in for him, and set my time for the fortnightly hearing to be right before the interview. This was a useful favour enabling me not to have to visit the centre on two separate occasions. Alas, the substitute advisor was running late which put me at risk of being late for the job appointment on the same premises. I alerted her to the urgency of the situation so my welfare hearing went quickly. The interview proved to be a general presentation on the security role, which normally needs a special license and qualifications, but they get round that by having the trainees work at buy stadiums for concerts and sporting events as ushers even though the main duty is watching for anyone behaving suspiciously (and thus being the first to get hurt if a suspect turns violent or even proves to be a terrorist. The hours could be appalling, with no work for weeks and 14 hour shifts in one go on zero hours contracts. The security firm, and a welfare representative who sat in on the presentation to make sure we attended the mandatary event, ushered us all to the welfare centre computers to fill in online application forms there and then. Fortunately, I failed the immediate screening questions due to my poor credit status and the application process rejected me. The welfare people looked unhappy about that but there was nothing they could do about it. I was free to leave. I was astonished that of twelve applicants there only two of us wore suits and ties. Many were in jeans, tee shirts and in one case, a baseball cap. Today was also the day the community centre allows its members to get a bag of fair trade food for a very low price. Though I missed the morning distribution itself due to the interview, the centre staff prepared a bag of food for me and I collected it on my way home (I pass their centre on route). There is lot of great food for me there for the coming week. A short story I submitted to a publisher was turned down sadly, (no specific reasons given). Hopefully I can find another home for it soon. Arthur Chappell