I hope in studying Web Applications Development it will boost my skills and better my chances of landing a Web Designer job. It would be a dream come true to become a Web Developer career-wise. Things are starting to look up for me and I am thrilled. I hope now the only way is up and not down. I can do this!

I have been doing quite a bit of thinking lately, I really want to get back into studying. I have had a few people recommending the Open University and it is something I am looking into. I figured if I am going to be unemployed, I might as well do something productive with my spare time, such as developing on what skills I have and possibly help me on the employment front. I am not sure what course to do, I have been looking into the Certificate in Web Applications Development. It sounds interesting. I don’t know whether to go for the course before that one that seems relatively easy, it seems so basic for someone with my web design skills. However, starting with the basic course may get me back into the swing of studying. Anybody ever took an Open University course? Any advice?

I’m not sure what to do at the moment. I’ve been applying for work left, right and centre. I have been chasing up applications but not hearing a thing. I am stuck in a rut, and it is taking its toll. I haven’t been sleeping well, sometimes I have been awake until 4am. I am having bad dreams almost every night. I am wasting away in this pokey flat with nothing to do to pass the day other than apply for jobs and clean. I want to learn again, I want to stimulate my mind. I think doing some sort course will help me out. I can get financial help for the courses, so what have I got to lose?

In the news lately, that has been reports of an increase in drug addicts and alcoholics claiming for Disability Living Allowance, and getting it. This infuriated me. Now I must explain I have no problem with drug addicts and alcoholics getting some sort of help to cure their addictions, but why should they get the disability benefit? Drug/alcoholic addiction is not a disability. How would extra money help them? I am going to play devil’s advocate and say some of these people use their benefit money to buy more drugs and alcohol. What these people need is help to beat their addictions. Instead of giving them money, which may go towards funding their addictions, why not fund support groups, rehab and clinics? Anything that will help them in a positive manner.

Drug and alcohol addiction are self-inflicted. I am annoyed that the government is rewarding self-inflicted pain and suffering when individuals like my husband that genuinely are entitled get turned down for the benefit and have to go through a stressful, dragged out appeal process. Maybe the government are trying to “make an example” out of my husband and other claimants to show the British people that not everybody can get it and that they are cracking down on people “working the system”. The thing is, they are turning down people with genuine disabilities and that is certainly not fair.

I have learned a lot about the benefit system during the past year. It is an unfair system that rewards layabouts and scrutinises people who really do need the money. No wonder so many people are turning their backs on the UK. Something needs to be sorted out. I will continue to help Sean fight his case until his benefit is reinstated. We are getting help with the appeal from a wonderful disability advocacy team, they said Sean’s case has a good chance. I hope they are right.

We had a good time last night. We went to a local Indian restaurant and had a wonderful meal. It was so nice to get out for a change, we hadn’t been out for a meal for months. We had poppadums and chutneys to start with. I had chicken tikka for the starter, for the main course I had chicken balti with keema pilau rice and half a garlic nan bread (Sean had the other half). I could just about manage a pudding so I had ice cream. The food was just out of this world. I expected it to be since we have been to this restaurant a few times and they have never failed us. Not only is the food heavenly, the customer service was top notch. There was always someone around to top up our drinks or to take away empty plates. There was always a smile, too. I am not much a drinker, but I did enjoy the pint of Cobra I had. It is such a wonderful drink and goes very well with Indian food since it is an Indian beer. Needless to say it hit the spot.

The change did us some good. It was nice to get out and spend time together not in the home. I hope we can do it again very soon. I hope I get some sort of job offer. I am still waiting for responses, sadly.

Psst! I now have a questions page where you can ask me just about anything, anonymously. IPs are logged though, so don’t be a fool.