One year since I began this blog (plus teaching myself Linux commands)

Posted on by gizzajob

I have been inconsistent in my blogging, busy with other stuff, but a few weeks ago, a week after gran died, I was at an IT Meetup and learned how to create a Tarball file using Linux Terminal – I use Terminal on Mac OS X at the moment as my IT friend from Coagh is experiencing difficulty dual-booting my old MacBook with Ubuntu. Such is life. Trying to learn a few more Linux commands. 🙂 Bourne Again Shell. 🙂

Signed off Employment and Support Allowance today, hoping to do the same with Housing Benefit on Monday. I’ll be talking a chunk out of the account my gran had in her name, my name and my brother’s name on Friday and will arrange to pay rent where I’m currently at; though it will mean no more supported living costs. But I’m no longer a Charity Case. 🙂

Here are some links for my Terminal lessons;

 

Creating a Tarball GZ file; http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/creating-a-tar-file-linux-command-line/

 

Unpacking a Tarball GZ file; http://rebol.com/docs/unpack-tar-gz.html

 

Linux tutorial; http://vic.gedris.org/Manual-ShellIntro/1.2/ShellIntro.pdf

 

Watch out Wiggo, I’m out to see if you’re still juicing. 🙂

Been a while since I posted

Posted on by gizzajob

Gran is now at home and we have arranged an agreement which works out both better and cheaper than taking her to a care home. 🙂 I have to hold fort from 6 pm to 10 pm every evening, except Wednesday, including weekends. A few evenings I’ve been stressed out, but now I run my domestic errands during the afternoon to prevent burn out.

 

My voluntary job is going well, they’re mighty impressed at my work rate and how quickly I’ve been up to speed. Today I applied for a local Admin/Receptionist role, but feel that the issue around our Housing Benefit agreement at my place has caught me between a rock and a hard place. The Government here are pure catchpennies.

 

I try to make my presence known to the world and feel I’ve learned so much from it. More often than not, whenever I go for a walk I pick up the litter on the pavements and put them in my own bin bag. It’s an example of vigilante action reducing dependency on the state. I feel that the slothful are cannon fodder. They may complain about the state banning smoking in public buildings or public drinking of alcohol, but when the chips are down they expect someone else to sort out their rubbish; usually the state.

 

Back to School tomorrow for a lot of kids. My cousin’s eldest son’s first day in Primary School is tomorrow. Lord only knows what he’s letting himself into. Most kids here are raised in bars and learn all the smut of the day; even a song on 4Music today at 2 pm at the Kurdish Barber I attended today was called ‘Sex’ and had a Sex Ed Teacher enticing teenage boys; if it had been a man my age enticing teenage girls there would be a public outcry.

 

Tunes:

 

Another week of challenges

Posted on by gizzajob

On Thursday Gran got home from hospital, but she fell yesterday; my brother informed me through WhatsApp. But she wasn’t hurt, thank God, but is awful frail. I went to see her today and she needed to go to the commode and then the cleaner arrived for her mid-afternoon appointment.

 

I have no money for tomorrow. Can’t withdraw any money until Monday. But I have enough food to do me.

 

My first day of a voluntary placement was yesterday. I was shown the ropes, but it was pretty chaotic. I’m subject to the Data Protection Act; my lips are sealed. 🙂

 

Living within my means is still an alien concept for me. But, low and behold, I’ll survive.

 

Tunes:

 

Managing today

Posted on by gizzajob

I don’t get my next ESA payment until tomorrow. Today I had whatever I could find in my cupboard/fridge for me; bacon, chili peppers, carrots and rice. Soul Food. 🙂

 

Last Sunday I posted a letter to BBC Northern Ireland explaining my situation and wondering if I could appear on ‘Nolan Live’. My story is eventful, to say the least, and I feel that I could reach out to other young men struggling to find work.

 

Wales won yesterday, but England didn’t. :p Northern Ireland play today, can we create an upset? Can Fermanagh create an upset against Donegal today too? Or is ti too much wishful thinking? Wishing my life away as usual.

 

PIP is coming to Northern Ireland, but it will be different to the system in Britain. I always feel that those who NEED the benefit money to live on but WANT to work are the ones who suffer. Our Government spends too long listening to those who watch Jeremy Kyle; aka Misanthropic Utopians. 😐

 

Tunes:

 

 

Four day weekend

Posted on by gizzajob

Today I am taking it easy. Gran is now in Dungannon and her Niece-in-Law brought over her cardigans. Also, on Monday I have arranged to meet a woman in Belfast offering a Sony Experia from Gumtree for £90. My SIM card still works, it’s the screen that’s no longer workable. Hopefully I can hang tight for the next few weeks financially.

 

Hopefully I can manage for the next few days without the phone, but at least I have found a solution.

 

Still no nearer to finding work, but perhaps I would get back to the idea of designing logos freelance. Just need a little bit of research regards the prices they charge.

 

Tunes:

Back to work schemes

Posted on by gizzajob

I am involved in a back to work scheme and feel that I’m running into several culs-de-sac concerning opportunities. Of course, the scheme is funded by the EU. Because of all of this I feel short changed.

 

Still dealing with Gran and she is still in and around the kitchen sink, at 91 years of age, and she said she ‘felt cold’ even though I was sweltering. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’ll just have to limit the amount of time I can be with her. Not that I don’t love her, but I need to attend to my needs as well.

Exhausted. Couldn’t be Arsed to watch the Europa Cup final on YouTube.But Liverpool are ahead at Half Time; BBC ticker. I’d love to bottle what Liverpool have in Europe.

Tunes:

 

Busy as a bee

Posted on by gizzajob

 

 

Today I didn’t visit gran, but sent a WhatsApp message to her cleaner who said she is awful tired. God love gran, she’s 91 now and age has finally caught up with her.

 

Today I bought groceries at Lidl, a day after lending £15 to my brother; he promises to pay me back on Friday. These past few days have been male equivalents of a bad hair day.

 

Finally bought Bowie’s last album on iTunes; didn’t wanna buy it too soon after his death due to possible accusations of being a johnny-come-lately. After buying Radiohead’s new album last Monday, I feel that I am compensating for my lack of avant garde taste when I was in School; when I was a puerile fan of U2 and Oasis. 🙂

 

Went for a meal out today. Had a pork pie, gluten free crisps and a cup of tea. Champion! 🙂

 

Tunes:

 

 

Voluntary placement

Posted on by gizzajob

This coming Tuesday I will find out about a voluntary placement and agree working time and conditions. However, I hope to sort out my gran’s money and get a power of attorney regards her money. Advocating for what I want and need is paramount for me.

 

Watching the whole financial debacle about Northern Ireland being so dependent on European Funding underlines exactly how important it is to be healthy around money. Our Assembly spends money for vanity rather than serving the people, but we’re too fearful of ‘themuns’ to change our habitual ways. A retired Teacher, who is married to a Second Cousin of my Dad, mentioned a term common in County Armagh about ‘Taking the Soup’ in relation to Catholics becoming Protestants; after the Churches would only allow Catholics Soup if they switch Church. I guess the people across Ireland and the UK are governed by irrational fear.

No tune, just a meme instead:

 

kermit_drinking_tea_trump

Sunshine :)

Posted on by gizzajob

Now it’s sunny outside. Went for a walk earlier today, prior to the weather warming up, got my stuff done for today. 🙂

 

Thinking of what it was like when I was in School and about how unwilling I was to go out and play when I got home; Asperger trait to watch TV all day. Perhaps it proved to be my undoing, but now I can look back and say I wasn’t ready to face the world back then.

 

Tunes:

At Dun Laoghaire

Posted on by gizzajob

I had an experience already. I’ve spent the last two hours at Dun Laoghaire getting WiFi, and recharging my Android, at a bar beside the Theatre my gig this evening is at and I was getting a Ballygowan Sparkling and crisps when I noticed someone with an American-Style Obey Baseball Cap, which I think are lame, worn the other way round. First I thought it was a young lad, but it was actually a Lesbian out with her pals. Takes all-sorts, I guess.

 

At Maghera park-and-ride I was talking to a family from Maghera who were getting off at Dublin Airport for a flight to Boston. Then a guy from Lavey, village near Maghera, got on the same bus to get off at Dungannon. He actually recognised me, perhaps he is a father or uncle of an old schoolmate. Who knows?

 

I managed to get the Irish News in Dublin and got the DART to Dun Laoghaire. €3.25 for a single ticket? WTF?

 

I voted in the Assembly Election, but cut my losses with my third preference. Not that it makes much difference as Sinn Fein and the DUP are still gonna remain the key players.

 

About Gerry Adams saying ‘The N Word’ on Twitter, all I can say is that us Culchies call foreigners all the names of the day. Even as gaelige it’s the same. The English are Seaneach; Saxons; the Danes are Dubh ghall; Dark haired Vikings; and the Norwegians are Fionn ghall; Fair haired Vikings. It’s just in us all. 🙂

Tunes