Rant!

Yes, I want to complain, whinge and moan in general. And I want to start with the fact that I felt like a total criminal for two weeks trying to convince a bank to let me open an account with them. Simply because I haven't lived in England all my life, they were convinced I must be some mastermind criminal trying to launder money. It also appeared that the fact that I had also signed on the job centre didn't help in convincing them that my intentions were nothing but honourable. In the end, all that would satisfy them was a letter of introduction from someone they consider to be an upstanding citizen. Get this though, the requirements for being an upstanding citizen are that you hold an account with the bank!!! So I had to drag Jamie from StudentLand to vouch for me. I mean a student is more upstanding than me, a respectable human being who wants nothing more than to do a hard days work and earn an honest crust - ok I'm embelishing my good character here, but you're getting my point. Anyway, I now have a very basic cash account, which can be upgraded to a current account when I prove myself worthy. I'm envisaging an episode of walking over hot coals....

Next gripe is a biggy - council tax! This apparently has increased above inflation each time it was increased over the last couple of years. This is shocking enough, but I'm not sure what we're getting for our money. We would have to pay over £1,000 a year but we get a 25% discount because himself is a citizen of StudentLand. The amount you pay is linked to the type of property you're in, apparently we're in a high band because it's an apartment. Still, it's like living in a town run by vampires and they're just sucking us dry here!!!

And finally, the lovely people in the DSS offices (who by the way went on strike on Monday, as if they do anything anyway, I can say this I've seen them at "work"). I was told on Monday, by a member of the skeleton team, that they would NOT be giving me a National Insurance Number because I couldn't prove I was me. Now a National Insurance number is required for just about everything, in my case the most important thing I need it for, is to be paid the money I am entitled to by the JobCentre people. Of course, Mr. DSS (or "The Man", I'm turning into an anti-establishment hippie type, really need a job) doesn't care about my poverty. Despite the fact that I am holding my passport and have produced proof of address, this does not verify that I am me and that I live in Southampton. Apparently, if I could provide extra information, such as a library card (!) it would substantiate my case! A LIBRARY CARD!!! Can we all see why the blood vessel in my temple is pulsating and why I am slowly turning purple from the stress of it all? I can get just about anything with my passport, but not a National Insurance Number, because the DSS want to see my bloody library card!!!!!

Prepare for more rants on these and topics like them in the future. There is another showdown with the DSS in March. I'm going in armed, it's going to be like the gunfight at the OK Corale - spurs, holster, guns and I'm going to be the only one who walks away...