Friday 20 May 2011

What a dull month...

I can't figure out where the sun has gone!

This time last year I had a fantastic suntan, sitting out on the balcony sunbathing while I read 8 of the 9 books by Henning Mankel. The Wallander books as featured on BBC4. I could hardly walk so getting a suntan seemed the best thing to do at the time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself doing it. It was only later on in the year it was discovered I had rheumatoid arthritis.

Last Spring was glorious.This year it's ... alright. But I do have a set of books waiting by the balcony. The Stieg Larsson triology, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Can't wait. Better still, I was lent them by a friend I thought I had lost. We had a big falling out, actually caused by misunderstandings created by my failing health. So I'm really glad to be lent these books as a sign we are back in the pink again. That lunch we had was really good. No animosity, we just listened to each other and were both equally glad to put it behind us. Ah friends, what would we do without them.

So while I've been waiting for the heat of Summer, I have been dealing with the admin of my life. The biggest headache really is debt management. I sorted out a lot 4 years ago when I started a debt management plan but this month after re-assessments of my disability benefits, I can now afford to apply for an IVA which will see me debt free in 5 years instead of 17. I feel really pleased with myself for managing as well as I have. Of course it would be better if I hadn't got into this mess in the first place, but I did. Now I'm responsibly sorting it out without becoming a bankrupt. Everyone's happy. So I'm waiting for the paperwork to arrive and then I can start counting the months. 60. At my age they will fly by. The even better news is that getting a car with my disability benefits looks even closer. Once the IVA is up and running my DLA will be reassessed and if all goes as predicted by benefit advisers, I'll have a new car by the autumn.

But meanwhile, I want hot sun, and lots of it!