Tue 280125 Latest news...Jan 2025

Lastest news concerning this 1st month January of 2025...

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EDUCATION

I'm studying 3 different subjects at WMCollege/Working Men's College...Mornington Crescent branch:

- https://www.wmcollege.ac.uk

My 3 subjects are as follows:

1 - SUBJECT: GCSE Maths, DATE/TIME: Mon/Wed evenings: 6 PM-8:30 PM ROOM: 504/TEACHER: David Kamara

2 - SUBJECT: Photography & Video, DATE/TIME: Thu morning/evening: 10 AM-12:30 PM ROOM: 403/TEACHER: Hassina Kahnoom (sp?!)

3 - SUBJECT: GCSE English, DATE/TIME: Sat morning/evening: 10 AM-2:30 PM ROOM: 704/TEACHER: Sarah O'Hagan

I did the art course: Photography and Video...just  for the sheer 'fun' of it...;
but, I also must add I did do it last year's term, too...with the same teacher/inside of the same room: 403...; so, in effect that course is a continuation of my previous studies.

Both the GCSE English/GCSE Maths, I'm finding to be really difficult...; they want me to do homework 'online/offline'; but, with an ADD/Attention Deficit Disorder type of mindset...; then, all of my attention just tends to wonder off, endlessly, again and again.

Another difficultly I'm having is the usual 'lateness'; sometimes, I arrive there around 10 minutes late...in the which case you might be allowed to get away with it; but, when I arrive there more than 10 minutes late...the teacher is allowed to mark you down as being 'absent'...even, though, you are actually there...?! One did previously sign an agreement to attend, at least, 80% of the current term's classes.

If you do get thrown out of a course...; then, you will not be allowed to re-take being on that same course inside of the same college; but, instead, would have to apply to take the course elsewhere.

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EXERCISE

Done very little, indeed; hardly any at all. Too busy studying different subjects online...as well as, watching TV/Internet/getting involved in Facebook Instant Message chats.

I have to try and introduce exercise into my normal day...; by exercising...

- when the electric kettle is boiling...which, usually, takes 3 minutes long.

- whist still in bed...stretch

- when sitting at the computer...get up turn/twist/touch toes-touch the ceiling/-etc.

Something has got to be far better than having done nothing.


But, I seem to finding it really difficult to stick with any regular routine...

- press up's
- sit up's
- dance
- run
- skip
- shadow kick-box
- etc.

...of these I basically been doing very little/or, none.

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FINANCE

I still remain 'unemployed'...and, do have some difficulties with paying bills/-etc.

Streatham Job Center has moved me from being on JSA/Job Seekers Allowance/to being on UC/Universal Credit, instead.

I don't have hardly any savings left.

GAMBLING

I tend to do some online gambling at both...

- https://sports.williamhill.com
- https://sports.ladbrokes.com

I try to play FREE games there, regularly; and, sometimes, I get tempted to play with 'real' money, as well. But, as I tend to be broke an awful lot; therefore, I don't play for 'real' money much too often. Plus, the fact that I tend to lose when I play with 'real' money...; doesn't tend to encourage to gamble too much.

Even if I'm 'winning'...I still find I can't 'stop' gambling...NOT until when all of the money is gone...; and, this is because I'm a highly 'addictive' gambler.
 
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FOOD/DRINK

STOCK

I've managed to stock up on...

- sweet biscuits
- rice

- bread

- tins of food: green beans/red beans
- soups
- etc.

Of course, these things are always relative...; and, therefore, always changing...; meaning, sometimes, I have some.../and, at other times, none left.

WINE

I did buy 3 x bottles of wine...; which seems to have lasted right through Christmas 2024...and, into Jan 2025. I only have 1 bottle cap of drink per day.

- Ginger Wine
- Bailey's Original Irish Cream
- Coconut liqueur

JUNK FOOD

During this month Jan 2025 I did manage to buy some 'junk food'

- Super sized 18 in piazza, flavors: 'Vegetarian Hot'/'Sea food'
- MM Chicken and Chips/as well as, cheese Burger

NOTE: I don't try and buy 'junk food' too regularly...as, frankly, I get 'sick' of having too much of it rather quick...such as more than 2 days in a row.

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CAT

As well as, buying food for myself...I must also buy food for the cat.

For that reason I like to buy food that we can both 'share' together...; such as,...

- Chicken wings/drum sticks
- Tins of fish: Mackerel/Sardines

....naturally, of course, I also buy her 'cat food'...

- Whiskas, dry cat food pellets
- Pouch food, fish/meat

I feed the cat twice per day 6 AM/6 PM; and, also, leave out water for her to drink.


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SOCIALIZING

Frankly, I live an almost 'hermit-like' life...; so, my cat is pretty much all I have for company.

Occasionally, I will telephone family...whenever I prefer to chat with human company, instead.

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CONCLUSION

I feel at the moment, I'm struggling...with education/keep fit/finance.

But, I guess, it's pretty much always been that way...from as far back as I can ever recall.

100125 Latest news... Christmas 2024.

I HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING 'BLOGGER' PLATFORM FULLY UPDATED

Most unfortunately, I been really 'lazy' about keeping this diary being fully 'updated' during the year 2024.

I did, sometimes, write diary posts to my Facebook page...; but, I just couldn't be bothered to repeat/'copy and paste'...absolutely everything here, too, as well. The endless daily duplication was driving me mad.

CHRISTMAS 2024

I went and spent the day before Christmas -Christmas Eve, I think, it's called- with my cousins in the country.

G's dad was there...; and, I made sure to buy him a box of some expensive truffle chocolates...; as he is getting rather old...I think, he's aged around 87; and, frankly, I wasn't too sure if I will ever get to see him, again. I do recall one incident when we were listening to music...and, the old guy got up and danced...even, holding on to his walking stick...everybody there was 'amazed'. He's a really good dancer, too...; has a great sense of timing/and, some really excellent moves. (He returned back home after Christmas day.)

One bad thing that happened was after Christmas day...; and, they had opened up the Christmas presents. When I awoke purely by accident, I went and knocked over a whole cup of  tea...which landed over their very 'expensive' living room rug...which proved very difficult, indeed, to clean up. I'm really not too sure if it's gone and left a 'permanent' stain, in fact...?! This made the rest of my stay there feel rather uncomfortable(of course, they didn't complain); and, I just couldn't wait to get away...so I can return back home...without causing any further accidental destruction; sometimes, I can be very highly 'accident prone'.

I do recall going for a 8 PM walk with my 13 years old cousin, O; and, man, that was a little bit strange. Young guys like to play...and, he would constantly try his best to 'scare' me. We went down a short cut way that I'd never been down before...so, felt totally lost...?! On top of all this, he made quite a few attempts to attack me from the back; subsequently, I refused to let him walk behind me, anymore; as I just don't know what's going to happen, next...?! Finally, when our walk had almost ended...; and, we were along the path way home by around 50 or so yards...he picked up a big tree branch and came at me with that. I either jumped behind a big thick tree/or else, hid on the other side of the car; so, that he couldn't actually hit me with the stick. Eventually, he settled down and quit doing that.

But, it certainly made me think, twice...about going out walking with him, again...? I mean, as a youth I myself...was never given to attacking people who I know/or, even don't know with a stick/or, indeed, empty handed. I just couldn't see why he doesn't just walk/behave, normally. As he himself put it..."just walking, normally, is no fun!"

NOTE: His twin sister, C...is struggling with Bulimia (deliberately vommiting up her food/and, also, over-exercising. She seems to have developed an 'obsession's  to be more model-like. I even heard she self-harms by cutting her arms. (A week after I had left them; I was told she is now in hospital being treated for her 'serious' Bulimia condition due to having lost too much weight. All very deeply worrying for both parents/and, too, for me.)

The elder son, D...is doing well...he's made it into university...where he goes to study law. His dad was a lawyer...so, as they say, like father like son.

I recall leaving there, I think, it was Boxing day...; walked over to Kingswood train station; and, there took the train back home to West Norwood;1 change at Norwood Junction. One problem was I left at 8 AM...and, my 60+ FREE London travel pass doesn't actually work on the trains until 9:30 AM. So, I had to wait in the freezing bitter cold; -(I didn't wish to return back to their home to bother them, anymore by attempting to wait there)-; in actual fact, I just got on the train anyway...earlier than I should...; and, hoped the transport police wouldn't catch me...because, if they did I would have to pay a large fine of £40.00 or so...when the train ticket only costs around £5/6.00. Luckily, I managed to make my way home without incident.

When I did return home...my cat was only too happy to see me appear...; I had left 3 heaped platefuls of Whiskas 'dry pellet' food chicken flavor for her to eat; but, she only eat just 1 plate; the other 2 plate fulls she seemed to have totally 'ignored'. Anyway, as soon as I arrived in...I gave her the usual cat 'pouch food' meat...which she happily gobbled up, as usual.

JAN 2025/FINANCE...JSA CHANGED TO BECOME UC, INSTEAD

At the end of 12/24 the Job Center people have changed my normal JSA/Job Seeker's Allowance to become UC/Universal Credit, instead. The UC benefit will be paid into my a/c. on the 10th Jan. (Which was today...; everything went through ok.)

NOTE: The UC people want me to do 35 hours of job search per week...; which frankly I feel is impossible. Otherwise, they are threatening to either suspend/or, cut down my benefit money.

WEATHER JAN 2025

Unfortunately, the weather here is -2 degrees; and, because I cannot afford to keep the central heating on for the whole house; therefore, I have had to use a mixture of 'hot water bottle's/and, 'electric heater' to keep warm.

The weather forecaster said, the temperature will be less severe next week. I can't wait...; right now, my fingers are freezing...even as I type in this message.

EDUCATION

I already signed up with WMCollege, Mornington Crescent Branch...

- https://www.wmcollege.ac.uk
...to do 3 courses:

- GCSE Maths/GCSE English/Photography & Video

So far to date...I've missed classes...2 Maths/1 Photography & Video...;
as I'm finding it really difficult to withstand the cold. I just wish to stay in bed hanging on to my 'hot water bottle'.

I really don't know if they will decide to go throw me off the course;  due to lateness/or, the fact that I didn't complete doing neither the GCSE Maths/GCSE English homework(online/offline).
 
All of these course are FREE.