World Of Winfield

Author: admin

Complaint: Harrow Council Housing Benefit

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Harrow Civic Centre

I was not amused during my recent spell of unemployment, to be awarded just £87.40 a week in housing benefit.  My rent is £600.00 a month – not exactly an overwhelmingly expensive amount in London. But apparently the government decrees that I should be able to find a room in a house for £378.73 a month.  In London.  Yep.  I haven’t paid that kind of rental amount since 2003. However, as I am over 35, if I were living in a one-bedroom flat, then I would get up to £800.00 a month.  Logical, isn’t it? So because I am doing … Continued

Complaint: HMRC & My Proposals To Repay Unpaid Tax

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Watlington Street, Reading

Whilst I was unemployed, I received a demand from HMRC for £87.02 of unpaid tax.  As you can imagine, I was not especially amused, given that I had roughly £80 a month after rent. My first reaction was to ignore it.  Then they sent me a follow-up letter advising that I needed to pay the full sum of £87.02 by 7th March 2017. I did try to call them on several occasions to arrange a repayment plan, and when I eventually made it through their automated menu system (my impatience doesn’t help – “JUST PUT ME THROUGH TO SOMEBODY” – … Continued

War With Spain

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A Mistica, Gibraltar

Another example of why I can no longer support this current government occurred this weekend, when we had some horrid comments from Michael Howard suggesting that we would go to war with Spain over Gibraltar.   An utterly unnecessary threat to a fellow European country, for which there is a continued long-standing territorial dispute, but one that I believe is a close ally of ours.   Sure, if Spain had moved a couple of battalions and its warships within the vicinity of Gibraltar, or there was serious intelligence to suggest that it was about to embark upon a military strategy … Continued

Complaints: Sainsbury’s & Short-Dated Chicken

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Chicken clipart, farm animal illustration

A complaint from last year, in May, after my Supermarket Slut project and part of my ongoing relationship troubles with Sainsbury’s Online. ******* Hi Sainsburys Do you remember me? We used to be close.  Really close.  We used to date each other every weekend. But then you kept sending me short-dated chicken…and I can only stand being cheated on so often, so I decided to play the field – as they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Well, there are 6 supermarkets in UK sea – Asda, Techno, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Ocado.  There may allegedly be … Continued

No Longer A Conservative

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On Wednesday, shortly after midday, the letter was submitted to the European Union that we were triggering Article 50. Shortly after 10pm, my Margaret Thatcher mug fell down and broke. Normally I would have been annoyed, but I realised that this was a sign from Planet Brexit.  This was the culmination of 9 months of being pissed off with the direction of the Conservative Party, particularly under the leadership of Theresa May. It wasn’t exactly something new.  It has been a long process of anger and loathing experienced when agreeing with people like Liz Kendall against my own party, over … Continued

Still Fucking Unemployed

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I sometimes worry about writing blog posts expressing negativity as I don’t want to be seem as that grumpy, miserable, depressing bastard to avoid. However I have checked the last 20 posts and I reckon you could only count 3 of them as at least semi-miserable.  The 20 prior, I don’t think any of them are miserable.  And if you include all my music, politics, football and roast dinner blogs, then you are looking at roughly 1 in 2-300 that have espouse negative emotions (do shit roast dinners count?). Writing when I am fucked off is quite cathartic.  And I … Continued

Trying To Annoy A Recruiter Part 1

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man and woman wearing black and white striped aprons cooking

Hi James As we are predominately ex teachers ourselves, we can support you through the lesson observation and coach you for your interview. We specialise in permanent teacher recruitment across Primary, Secondary and SEN and we have strong relationships with many schools across Berkshire. Here is a selection of positions that we are currently working on for September 2016: Head of Geography – Reading – lovely school with a dynamic and effective Head teacher Teacher of Science – Reading area – “Outstanding” Independent school! Teacher of Art – Reading area – SEN Specialist school with “outstanding features” Teacher of Food … Continued

Higher Hate Of Hangovers

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blue drinking glass with water and white medicine pills

It’s only two weeks since my detox finished but already I am collecting post-alcohol frustration. Last Friday I got rather hammered.  I had a self-rage from leaving my suitcase on the train, only then to feel the need to celebrate retrieving it.  I was pretty hammered – somehow and for some unknown reason, I got the 6:15am train back to London.  I do not remember the tube journey at all. 15 years ago that would have been a badge of honour.  Now it pisses me off. I like a beer.  I like a beer or two.  I love a glass … Continued

Cancelling My fabric Membership

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close up of striped curtain

Hard times.  Not that I ever go any more but I do like the CDs and sense of belonging. ***** Dearest fabric It pains me to say it but I am going to have to cancel my membership.  Temporarily, of course. I am trying to work out how long I have been a fabricfirst member.  I would take a metaphorical synth stab at 11 years.  I have every one of your CDs.  Room 1 feels like home (well, until my feet get tired and I realise it actually isn’t my home).  I still have my original leather membership card – … Continued

Lent 2017

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gray sanda

Every year I give up something fundamental in my life as a sacrifice. Last year I gave up high-5’s.  The year before I gave up trimming my eyebrows. Other years I gave up important aspects of living such as French swear words, zebra crossings, semi-colons and paper clips. If you know me, you know just how religiously I like to follow the nine commandments of the moon and giving something up for lent is my way of worshipping her. So onto this year. Well, I really want to give up recruitment consultants.  Sadly, until I get a job, I am … Continued