Due April 2009: Episode 9 - April Mums with Guns: Rise of the Fanjo Warriors?

[BabyBolat]

Here we go again....

I think if you didnt feel awkward about claiming it (even though you are entitled), it might suggest you were trying to get money for nothing - as BB saw in the doctor's surgery, and as my dh sees a lot - some people have a child specifically to get higher up the housing list, or to get specific benefits and its that that gives genuine claimants a bad name.

He also had a young female who when asked what her ambition was, genuinely had as her main ambition to be injured in some way so she could claim the benefits for that and never have to work (she would have been the third generation unemployed in her family).

But its a shame that these things mean that people who have paid their taxes and deserve the benefits, feel bad for claiming them.

Nutty, they backdate it to the day they received the form, so don't panic! If you get it you will probably be awarded it for a year.

Well the vast majority of people do work, and pay their taxes relatively willingly, and try to be independent so we shouldn't be too demoralised by the lunatic benefit grasping fringe. They are just more newsworthy.

Let me just bring you back to the chav's I experienced yesterday at the doctors who get (and this was just from their 30 minute conversation):

• Rent-paid accommodation with a minimum of 2 bedrooms
• Discounted fuel bills
• No council tax
• Job seekers allowance (none of them were looking for jobs!)
• Child benefit
• VOuchers for their older childrens school dinners

BELIEVE ME, I try not to judge (although it was their smugness more than their need that annoyed me!)
but when almost half of my salary goes on tax and NI for that, I will be claiming everything I can get and I won't feel bad for a minute! really!! You have to get what you are entitled to because there are people out there that don't deserve it and are getting loads!!!

ok rant over - I really am not a judgmental person at all I think they just made me very very angry and we shouldn't feel bad claiming things especially when we get a measly £118 a week maternity pay!!

Conker put it in a much more diplomatic way than i did

Yes but BB they will die 15 years earlier than you after a wretched old age, they are never truly happy, and they will also go to hell. So let's not begrudge them their penny pinched mean existence on benefits.

I wouldn't feel bad about claiming benefits at all, particularly if it is a short period of time.

What I find really ironic though is because of childcare costs there is no way I could have another until this one is at least 3 (so would be at school by the end of my mat leave) Whereas people who have never worked and never intend to are better off if they have another baby , interesting!

Springy - did you ask the doctor about the pain? It sounds very similar to the pain that I had earlier on. I got referred for physio. Only thing is that I got piles at the same time and when they were really painful it took the focus away from the other. I don't know which was worse.

Plus they all smoke and drink so much they look blardy awful by 30.

yup i agree boffin - shouldnt bother you at all - i didnt mean my first sentence to sound like she should feel bad for claiming - and reading back maybe it does. I just meant people automatically think of people claiming benefits wrongly so feel bad when they put in a genuine claim, and they shouldnt.

Dh works in an area where most people dont work, and he gets pretty annoyed when some of the kids come in going on and on about the amount they are getting for Christmas/birthdays etc etc, despite the fact that the parents are on benefits (sometimes genuinely but often not) and we have to watch what we spend very carefully. But then I wouldnt want to live in their shoes - lots of reasons that are not always obvious why people fall into the cycle that they do.

Haha - that's something I can't be too self righteous about but I did give up smoking by the time I was 28

brettgirl, I think it's just the kidney pain - paracetamol keeps it pretty much under control & the doctor had a good poke around & seemed to agree. Luckily my piles issue isn't painful yet. HUGE TMI ALERT It's just a case of often bleeding when I poo, feeling like I still need to poo when I've finished (& considering my kidney infection as well going to the toilet is the least satisfying experience it could be at the moment ) & a tiny bit of squishiness just outside my bum, which I think is its first piley voyage into the world. Hopefully, having caught it early, I can put cream on it & not put too much pressure on my bum & make it go away before it starts interfering with my life & being painful.

If it makes you feel better my piles have gone now - I think sometimes you assume that whatever you have will be with you till the birth and that isn't always the case.

Hmmm - been out all morning. Impressed that you have got to page 6 already.

And now I wonder if I have piles. Thanks Springy. Think I need to contort myself infront of a mirror and check or something. But prob better wait until DD down for her nap. Catching sight of that might scar her for life.

Springy, DH reckons the suppositories are good for piles.

damn it a client is coming in to see me at 2.30 - what does she think this is? A solicitors firm, or a way for me to be on mn without ds trying to wrestle the computer off me at every oppourtunity? I tell you...

Oh dear, I really can't keep up with you ladies! Tried to read all your posts but then gave up - one day without MN and you're lost!

Quick update from here, I have started to HATE work, my bump is in the way so I can't sit at my desk comfortably and how are you supposed to focus on a task anyway when there's a baby jumping around inside you? This morning she had her foot lodged in my bladder, not a nice feeling. Oh well, only 4 weeks and a bit to go - I am starting mat leave early

Also feeling very exhausted as I don't sleep well any more. DH keeps telling me that I have another 3 months to go, as if I had no right to feel tired and heavy yet. Thanks, very helpful

Springy, poor you with your infection, hope the antibiotics will work soon. Right, will scroll down now and see what else has been said...

Haha, I was trying to get a good look earlier with a handmirror between my legs whilst being unable to move my right side & knowing that DP may walk in to brush his teeth at any moment - it wasn't my finest hour

Luckily I got away unseen & I've still not mentioned it to him. He's bound to see the cream though, so I may say that the doctor said that piles can be linked to kidney infections, or something ridiculous like that, & that it's just a precaution. His ex told him that she had chlamydia because of a UTI (not because she was slagging around at uni, oh no) & he believed that, so...

& brettgirl, it does indeed make me feel better that yours have gone. I am hopeful

& Nutty, I shall be making my bowel movements more sloppy, as the doctor advised That's wording that I just can't top

conker, what an outrage! You should set her straight! Somehow I don't think that Boffin'll be able to back you up with the usual level of righteous indignation we're so used to on this one though

Schulte, that '3 months to go' thing is so frustrating. Luckily (for him) DP doesn't try it, but I've had it off other people. It's a bit terrifying if you take it to heart, so do try not to. There may be 3 months left, but we've already done 6 months, so I think we're allowed to be getting a bit fed up by now.

I often tell myself to stop complaining and enjoy pregnancy but it's so hard... I feel incredibly ugly and still have to wear my glasses because my eyes are still infected... after 4 weeks!

I know I won't mind so much once I am on mat leave... I'll just roll around at home and eat ice cream all day like I did last time