Diary 17th To 24th January 2020
@arthurchappell (44941)
Preston, England
January 24, 2020 2:08pm CST
Diary - Friday 17th January 2020 - Job searching, followed by collecting train tickets from the railway station for my trip to Manchester tomorrow to visit friends there.
18th January - I set out early and got a rather slow train into Manchester followed by a Metrolink tram out to Oldham where I was going on a pub crawl with friends. It was cold but dry and we met in a nice warm shopping arcade before going for lunch in a nearby bar, followed by two other great pubs. We went for a bus ride and a long countryside walk to the hilltop monument at Tandle Hill, and the nearby Tandle Hill Tavern, decorated in stuffed animals including owls. We returned to Oldham to call in two more bars before I headed home, on a train delayed by nearly half an hour. Te next train on the same route was just five minutes behind it now. Thanks to my lovely friends who I'll see again on my birthday in February.
Sunday 19th - a quiet day in, a library visit and catching up on my job searching.
Monday 20th - The Council housing tax people falsely assumed that my post office work which ended at Christmas, is still going on and ordered me to pay extra tax up o April this year. When I queried it they demanded proof that the job is over. I put the relevant information on a flash drive only to find the council refuses to put other people's flash drives in their computers.
Tuesday 21st - I had to get the relevant papers printed out and go back to the council again to submit the papers. I demanded a receipt as a precaution against them conveniently losing them on me.
This was my first welfare meeting this year though she did nothing apart from book my next one for Wednesday 29th.
Wednesday 22nd - I booked a Manchester restaurant for my birthday meal in early February. Later I bought in food for the next few weeks.
Thursday and Friday 23rd &24th January - community centre job search activity, and on the Friday, a neighbour kindly pulled over in his car to give me a lift home which saved me a long old wait at the bus stop, so very happy about that.
Arthur Chappell
13 people like this
12 responses
@LadyDuck (502391)
• Italy
25 Jan 20
I am so sorry for the problem with the Council housing, but I know because all the official offices do not want that people use flash drives on their computers, that is the way most computer viruses spread. Good idea to ask a receipt, people seem not to know how to do their jobs in our days. Good idea to have a birthday meal at a Restaurant. I want to book a place for Feb 5th, that is the day I met my husband and it was 50 years ago. I think this should be celebrated.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@LadyDuck certrainly a landmark achievement to celebrate
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@LadyDuck No doubt your golden wedding anniversary will be a great occasion too
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502391)
• Italy
27 Jan 20
@arthurchappell I cannot believe it was so long ago, I even remember how I was dressed.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
25 Jan 20
It must be an extra pain to visit the council twice. But glad things are worked out and it was smart of you to ask for a receipt for that. 
Nice of your neighbor to offer a lift
Nice of your neighbor to offer a lift3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@arunima25 my neighbours are very nice
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
27 Jan 20
@arthurchappell It's a good thing if we get good neighbors. I am also lucky in that way.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
25 Jan 20
Quite busy indeed! I hope that your job search is successful.
Job search for a senior position can be quite tough these days.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
27 Jan 20
@arthurchappell
Yeah I can tell from my personal experience!
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
27 Jan 20
Such a nuisance proving your job ended..you are so good to keep up with their demands Arthur.
A very Happy Birthday in advance in case I dont catch you here. Hope you will enjoy meeting with friends.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
28 Jan 20
@RebeccasFarm I look forward to it - February 9th
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97991)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jan 20
Lots of things going on. Good that you are able to prepare for your birthday ahead of time.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@RasmaSandra I like to prepare well in advance
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
26 Jan 20
an unexpected warm ride is a bonus in wintery weather.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24006)
• United Kingdom
25 Jan 20
These bureaucrats are painful Arthur. Shame that you even had to prove that your temporary job had finished. Don't let them get you down!
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@garymarsh6 it is an ongoing struggle with them
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@garymarsh6 At least you have your full pension to look forward to
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24006)
• United Kingdom
27 Jan 20
@arthurchappell I know and understand from others how demeaning and belittling it is. Fortunately I have never had to be in that situation but something that does rather annoy me. People like you are given a hard time but there are others who seem to swim along without any problems at all. I have just retired and have a small pension although will have to wait another 7 years before I get my state pension so I am still adjusting and being quite harsh with buying things now. Buying stuff because I need it rather than because I want it!
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
27 Jan 20
Couldn't you have emailed the proof?! Saturday sounds like it was a perfect day. :)
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@Poppylicious had to get the information scanned to send it in
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
27 Jan 20
@thelme55 I always try to plan such events ahead
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
25 Jan 20
Thanks for bringing us up-to-date with what's going on in your life. I'm glad you were able to spend time with friends. I'm also glad you were able to straighten out the job snafu. Make sure to let us know when your birthday arrives.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
25 Jan 20
governments and external drives are always interesting.
2 people like this
