Category News

Just Vote!

Whatever your politics, tomorrow is the chance to have your say. I’m one of the lucky ones: the postal vote went off last week but some others have been scrambling for theirs.   The alternative is to pitch up in person…

Personal Independence Payments Consultation

My thanks to everyone who contributed ideas and examples to a combined response. Three main points are coming across very strongly: 1. PIP should be about helping us regain as much Personal Independence as possible so we can fulfil our…

Beaten by two spring onions.

Last year I fell down the stairs and fractured a vertebra.  Three weeks in hospital and more weeks in a special bed at home, it is proving a very long haul to recover.  I’m trying to do all the right…

Damp all over.

Water spray is a great alternative to smoke for controlling honeybees. Yesterday, we were extracting over 20 kg of honey from the wax honeycomb frames  from three of the sous-chef’s hives. Sticky work: removing the cappings from the honeycomb; spinning…

Slept on it.

I confess that I was incandescent yesterday hearing that proposed tax reductions would be funded by removing benefits from many disabled people.   But I took a bit of time to mull it over and realise it was just appalling presentation.…

Latest ONS data on us military veterans.

As likely as others to be working but less likely to be self-employed.  We tend to work longer hours  and to work in public administration and defence sectors (no surprises there) Especially for fellow ex-Wrens, on the gender front, we…

Wheat-free dessert.

My latest cooking experiment: pear and cardamom almondine courtesy of Sarah (another with the patience and understanding of a beekeeper’s wife).   I was testing out with the amazingly complex Thermomix that has been languishing on the worksurface until friend, Joan,…

PIP consultation: Last set of questions

Here are the last questions in the Personal Independence Payments consultation being undertaken by the government. You can answer some or all the questions and I’m very happy to gather responses and send them off as one group input. Chapter…

PIP Consultation penultimate set of questions

Here’s your chance to influence a change to our disability benefits. Don’t mis out: let me know what’s important to you and I’ll put it in a composite response. Chapter 3 – Consultation questions Q18. PIP provides a contribution towards extra costs.…

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