Today was a good day. I got the one little piece of good news any unemployed bum hopes to get. No not a job, but confirmation that I do qualify for Job Seekers Allowance.... Back of the net.. Back to the land of the living. It almost feels like a lottery win, all be it a very small win. The paltry sum of £65.45 per week. It's almost a kings ransom. The king being an extra from The Borrowers that is... Now I can understand the rational behind the amount being quite small. It acts as a mental "kick up the arse". It's not enough to live on, so it acts as a stimulus to finding, and getting a job. What the government don't understand is that whereas they look at the amount, they don't look at the value. What value are they really getting by providing such a measeley sum, that will inevitably force the unemployed into 1 of 2 decisions. Either they will end up taking the first available job, regardless of what it was, thus feeding the rhetoric, and eventually leading to far unhappier times for the recipient. The second decision is that the poor sole gives up pretty much straight away and decides to join a life of settling for second best, unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, Council accomadation, drug habits. Oh my god, I'm in danger of turning into Frank Gallagher....... NNNNNOOOOOOOOO......

Now being the eternal optamist, I live in hope of their being a third option. An option that provides a win win situation for everyone involved. Maybe the entrance of a new government next month might provide the catalyst. But baring in mind who we've currently got, and who we are likely to get I very much doubt it..... We can all live in hope.....

Philosophy aside, on an even brighter note. I'm going round to a very good friends house for dinner tomorrow evening. Not because of the promise of a home cooked meal (fajitas - and they are great), Not because of the conversation (he's my best mate, so we never really talk about anything anyway - You know how it is with blokes), but because he has found a local shop that still sells Carling Premier. Now that might not sound like a lot, but for those of you that tried it when it first came out in the late 90s, then you'll understand. Fuck Fosters being the amber nectar, It's Premier all the way. The best lager ever made. Now we are not sure if Premier is back under production, or if Appu bought a shed load of the stuff when it was still being made and only sells it every now and again. I truly hope that it is back under production. It would be the one ray of sunshine in another wise cloudy month........