Saving My Tomatoes & Providing Support

I decided to remove the remaining tomatoes from my outdoor plant. Apparently the temperature is set to drop to just above freezing by the end of the week and it's unlikely they will survive in the open. I managed to collect a punnet's worth, so not bad at all.

While I was picking, I was joined by a large Red Admiral butterfly. It looked stunningly beautiful and was a welcome late visitor to the garden and a sign that we're not yet fully in the grip of winter. It lingered long enough for me to take a snap as it sat in the sunshine.

I have mentioned in previous posts my fondness for a You Tube channel, 'Glen1040'. I really enjoyed his videos and I was fascinated by his efforts at self-sufficiency. I notice that his channel has now been closed and I have been unable to discover where he has gone. It's really quite sad and I worry whether something has befallen him.
My watermelons are now the size of small lemons and growing fast. I've had to provide some support for them and being quite high on the plant, I have decided to use tights as suggested previously. For one, I've created a hammock of sorts and for the other, I've supported in from the roof of the conservatory. All very Heath Robinson but it seems to be doing the job.

There will be a degree of despondency from me over the coming weeks as things begin to get difficult. We are lucky to have an insurance policy which protects our mortgage payments, but this claim period will end in February next year. By that time, I need to have found suitable employment and be able to cover the payments. If this doesn't happen then, frankly, the worst will happen. I must admit to trying not to think about it too much. Depression is one of those things that can be triggered very easily and I really don't want to suffer another bout. But as the weeks pass, I (we) will need to start thinking seriously about what we're going to do. I've always said that I never want to return to an IT career, but it is what I know and as I am still unable to complete and achieve my full PCV license due to lack of funds, it may be my only option.
That is the stark reality at the moment...

Still in one piece

I completed my driving assessment this morning. I arrived in good time and met a fellow trainee driver who had recently joined and was learning to be a PCV driver. He came with me together with the guy from HR and the driving instructor. We took the coach to the outskirts of Peterborough, my new (soon to be) colleague driving. Near to the A1, we parked up and it was my turn to take the controls. The size of the vehicle was daunting at first, but I soon found my confidence and managed a good hour's driving without any major problems. I did clip the curb a few times and managed to select the wrong lane using a roundabout, but on the whole I was quite pleased with my performance. I didn't hit anything and no harm came to my passengers - all three of them. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is certainly the biggest vehicle I have driven to date - a Volvo B10M coach, but it handled much like a large car but not as fast of course.
I was told I would hear about my start date as soon as my medical is complete. I'm really looking forward to starting and knowing there is someone else learning to drive, I don't feel too bad.
I did try to get a photo but my phone had run out of memory. There'll be plenty more opportunities I'm sure
So the medical is next on my checklist. Get through this and my new career awaits...

Frustrating...

I really had hoped to have made some progress this week with either my loan request or with the courts in getting my money back from the bunch of crooks who currently have it. Unfortunately, I've made no headway with either hence the frustration. I've in fact had my loan request declined, even though it was for career training. This really surprised me given the fact I was led to believe that they would be able to help. I did have an appointment earlier today with an advisor at the local job centre. She told me that they have something known as the FSF (Flexible Support Fund) which they can use with discretion to assist people like me desperate to get back into work. The amount I am requesting is rather large though - £2000 to pay for my PCV training course. She did tell me she would approach her manager to see if it would be possible. I'm due to see her again on the 21st, next week when I'm hoping I will know either way. It was the first time I'd seen this particular advisor and she was very sympathetic and could see that I've done all I can to get the job I want. I was on a real downer yesterday because of it all. I seem to be taking one step forward followed by two steps back and it's beginning to take its toll a little now. Sunday only reinforced my determination to pursue my goal. There has to be a way...

A few words of encouragement

I spoke a moment ago with a nice chap at a local bus company about PCV training. Although they sold their training vehicle, he encouraged me to stick with my current plan and give him a call once I've passed my test and have my license. I'm glad I spoke to him - he was very friendly and spotted straight away that I was a bit of an enthusiast and we chatted about old vehicles. So, I'm sticking with my original plan and if all goes well then I should be training from 20th June in Peterborough.
As an aside, I notice that my plan to win the Euromillions jackpot didn't come to fruition. In fact no one appears to have won it so next week's prize fund is a whopping £107,000,000! Personally I think it would make better sense for it to be split 10 ways to give more people a chance of living their dreams. Just what on Earth is someone expected to do with that amount of money? I suppose a million of it could be justified but surely there's a point at which a person would have bough everything they want...

Another setback

Letter received today telling me I've been unsuccessful in my application. Wonderful. I can only assume it's because I haven't got my D1 or D license. So after getting me hyped-up, this nice lady at TransL**c must have realised that I didn't stand a chance without it. Let's face it, if two others come along waving their PCV licenses, they're going to take them on regardless of anything else that may go in my favor.
So it's back to square 1 and all options to gain my full PCV. Something I have been looking at is a CDL (Career Development Loan). Apparently it is arranged between your bank and the training provider providing the funds needed to complete a given training course. You then pay back the loan at reduced interest rates over an agreed period. That of course assumes you get a job as a result of gaining your new qualification... Something to look into I suppose and can't do any more harm.
I'm a little p'd off that Easter is now upon us. Everything now shuts down until next Tuesday though in truth, nothing will be normal until well after next weekend as we have the Royal Wedding to focus on. For me though, it's not the most important thing going on at the moment.
So yet another blow that I mustn't allow to get the better of me. 'Brush yourself down and get on with it', as my father would say. I can hear him now. My mum would want to go to Lincoln and lynch them. My wife will be worried that I will slip into a depressive state in time for the weekend. We're invited over her parents for an Easter get-together of the whole family. I always struggle at these sorts of occasions. Maybe I should just get drunk?
Thanks then to whoever it is making the rules up there... Happy Easter everyone!

Progress!

I received rather a nice call earlier from a company I had sent my details to a few weeks ago in relation to transport jobs - Translinc in Lincoln. They provide specialist transport for the county and local bus services to rural communities. To my utter surprise, the nice lady at the other end asked me if I would be interested in driving for them. Wow - a complete shock! I almost lost my breath trying to respond to her, I think she could tell I was happy... They run little buses 8-14 seaters providing an on demand service for rural villages which then connect with the main bus network. The job would be to drive one of these on a full time basis. I's exactly what I've been looking for. Also, having read about my struggle to gain my full PCV license, the nice lady informed me that they provide full training for their drivers towards their full PCV enabling them to drive larger buses and coaches. I could not believe what I was hearing. There is hope! She told me she would call on Monday with a time so I can visit the depot for an interview with the manager there. I can't wait! What a difference a call can make...