Down But Not Out
I am truly humbled. It would appear the power of Twitter and blogging is quite far reaching. All I can say is truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the messages of support. I find it truly amazing that complete strangers (well OK not strangers as we chat most days but you know what I mean) would feel the need to contact me to offer their help and support. That anyone outside of my own friends and family would care to even show an ounce of compassion. And as for the number of people that came here looking to offer help after the mass re-tweet - flippin' 'eck!!! My poor blog nearly buckled under the strain. Again, thank you everyone.
So the state of play at the moment is this. We are "allowed" (God that sounds such a terrible word doesn't it) to go to England for the weekend. I think it is a much needed short break. I will be able to spend a few days with my family and friends (and hopefully see the nice "Paddy") and time to gather my thoughts, make a plan of action and make some very important decisions. Unfortunately I don't really have the time to take my time and think things through as most of those decisions need to be made pretty damn quick. So I guess I am just going to have to do what is best and what is right and probably go with my instincts on most things. And being away for a few days will also mean that small child will have a cheerier Mammy for a while. I know I should be stronger for her sake and not let it show, but being here on my own, what feels like a million miles from home right now, unfortunately small child has seen a few tears this week. I know, I promise to try harder in future to keep it under wraps.
I am off work sick at the moment, which is good in a way as I don't think a day job with responsibility is the best place for me right now. Although how long I can remain sick for I am not too sure about. That is also one of the decisions I need to make. For anyone that has read the full version of events, I think you will agree with me that small child needs to be in my company as much as possible, so one train of thought at the moment is that I shouldn't be working as much. I can either stay sick for a while and then maybe return part time when the school holidays are over. That makes the most logical sense, however finances may say otherwise. Money was already in short supply, however it does now look as though Batman will be forced to cough up. The benefits system is OK, but not anywhere near as good as my salary. But maybe now is not the time to be thinking like that. So long as I can get enough money to keep the roof over our heads and a meal on the table then everything else can wait.
And then that brings me to the next point. I saw a solicitor today who was very positive and the High Court appeal has been lodged. He said that my case was very well prepared and it was simply an unfair hearing. Which is good, right? An appeal is going to need paying for. We spoke at length about ways to keep the costs as low as possible with me still doing a lot of the work rather than a solicitor doing it. But we are still talking mega bucks. Legal aid will be an option if I am not working. But, if this was you, would you want the best man for the job or an over worked, under paid, do as little as possible, legal aid solicitor? I know, I don't think I even need to ask. Anyway, solicitor is going to come back to me with figures in the next few days. But an appeal hearing is likely to be 6 months away, at least.
A lot of you want to get going on a campaign, which is great, and solicitor also agreed. Not sure yet if it will be a media focused one, but will definitely go down the route of spreading the word through the likes of blogs, twitter, facebook etc, contacting MP's, lots of letter writing and hounding people to take notice, see if we can get a few celeb types to jump on the bandwagon as well.
But I will figure out all of that stuff over the next few days and get back to you. But if anyone has any ideas then please just let me know. I may have to assign jobs to people to cover certain areas.
*******************************
So, with all that going on then I think it's time to start focusing on the positive. So, some reasons to be cheerful;
The lovely Jason Orange is still alive and well, living in Manchester and according to the tabloids, still single. Yep, there's hope for me yet. Oh actually now I come to think of it, imagine the power that would give the campaign. Ummmmmm. (Sorry for yet another Jason picture but I just felt my long depressing blog post needed brightening up).
If I'm not working then it means I will have loads more time to write. Jeez, you never know I might actually finish that god damn book. Now I come to think of it, what am I on about, look at what is going on in my life! I think there is a book in that! Actually, that could also be very good for the campaign, and if I did actually manage to get some poor soul to publish my work, then that could help with the cash problems. Ummmmmm.
Also if I'm not working, I've sort of picked a good time to do it. It's summer, small child is off school, the weather is amazing right now, and as neither of us will be tied to too much, well except bloody Batmans access days, then we can have frequent trips over to England (Batman "allowing" that is). Which reminds me, who is going on the Butlins trip?
And last but not least, nobody died, well apart from Wacko Jacko that is.
Oh and one more. Sometimes I feel that a good fight brings out the best in me. If something is worth it, like my freedom, then it's worth fighting for. Batman may well inspire me to greater things.
Until next week xxx
P.S. Will also be updating the other page. Those in the know will know what I mean.
So the state of play at the moment is this. We are "allowed" (God that sounds such a terrible word doesn't it) to go to England for the weekend. I think it is a much needed short break. I will be able to spend a few days with my family and friends (and hopefully see the nice "Paddy") and time to gather my thoughts, make a plan of action and make some very important decisions. Unfortunately I don't really have the time to take my time and think things through as most of those decisions need to be made pretty damn quick. So I guess I am just going to have to do what is best and what is right and probably go with my instincts on most things. And being away for a few days will also mean that small child will have a cheerier Mammy for a while. I know I should be stronger for her sake and not let it show, but being here on my own, what feels like a million miles from home right now, unfortunately small child has seen a few tears this week. I know, I promise to try harder in future to keep it under wraps.
I am off work sick at the moment, which is good in a way as I don't think a day job with responsibility is the best place for me right now. Although how long I can remain sick for I am not too sure about. That is also one of the decisions I need to make. For anyone that has read the full version of events, I think you will agree with me that small child needs to be in my company as much as possible, so one train of thought at the moment is that I shouldn't be working as much. I can either stay sick for a while and then maybe return part time when the school holidays are over. That makes the most logical sense, however finances may say otherwise. Money was already in short supply, however it does now look as though Batman will be forced to cough up. The benefits system is OK, but not anywhere near as good as my salary. But maybe now is not the time to be thinking like that. So long as I can get enough money to keep the roof over our heads and a meal on the table then everything else can wait.
And then that brings me to the next point. I saw a solicitor today who was very positive and the High Court appeal has been lodged. He said that my case was very well prepared and it was simply an unfair hearing. Which is good, right? An appeal is going to need paying for. We spoke at length about ways to keep the costs as low as possible with me still doing a lot of the work rather than a solicitor doing it. But we are still talking mega bucks. Legal aid will be an option if I am not working. But, if this was you, would you want the best man for the job or an over worked, under paid, do as little as possible, legal aid solicitor? I know, I don't think I even need to ask. Anyway, solicitor is going to come back to me with figures in the next few days. But an appeal hearing is likely to be 6 months away, at least.
A lot of you want to get going on a campaign, which is great, and solicitor also agreed. Not sure yet if it will be a media focused one, but will definitely go down the route of spreading the word through the likes of blogs, twitter, facebook etc, contacting MP's, lots of letter writing and hounding people to take notice, see if we can get a few celeb types to jump on the bandwagon as well.
But I will figure out all of that stuff over the next few days and get back to you. But if anyone has any ideas then please just let me know. I may have to assign jobs to people to cover certain areas.
*******************************
So, with all that going on then I think it's time to start focusing on the positive. So, some reasons to be cheerful;
The lovely Jason Orange is still alive and well, living in Manchester and according to the tabloids, still single. Yep, there's hope for me yet. Oh actually now I come to think of it, imagine the power that would give the campaign. Ummmmmm. (Sorry for yet another Jason picture but I just felt my long depressing blog post needed brightening up).
If I'm not working then it means I will have loads more time to write. Jeez, you never know I might actually finish that god damn book. Now I come to think of it, what am I on about, look at what is going on in my life! I think there is a book in that! Actually, that could also be very good for the campaign, and if I did actually manage to get some poor soul to publish my work, then that could help with the cash problems. Ummmmmm.
Also if I'm not working, I've sort of picked a good time to do it. It's summer, small child is off school, the weather is amazing right now, and as neither of us will be tied to too much, well except bloody Batmans access days, then we can have frequent trips over to England (Batman "allowing" that is). Which reminds me, who is going on the Butlins trip?
And last but not least, nobody died, well apart from Wacko Jacko that is.
Oh and one more. Sometimes I feel that a good fight brings out the best in me. If something is worth it, like my freedom, then it's worth fighting for. Batman may well inspire me to greater things.
Until next week xxx
P.S. Will also be updating the other page. Those in the know will know what I mean.
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