Notices by Charlotte Walker (purplepadma@beige.party)

Some really shoddy reporting on benefits. Why can no journalist seem to get the facts right?

It’s Personal Independence Payment, *singular*, abbreviated as PIP (not Pip).

It’s an *in work benefit*, it’s not related to your earnings, so people don’t “come off PIP because they get a job”.

This is basic stuff and not hard.

It takes an average of 9.5 years to get a diagnosis of bipolar in the UK. If you want an ADHD assessment in Wales, there’s a 7 year waiting list. 10% of those still waiting for a 2nd contact in adult mental health services have been waiting at least 116 weeks. But tell me again about overdiagnosis, Mr Streeting

What I like about social media: someone can post a picture of an amazing cake, and you say that the cake is amazing, and then you both feel good about it

Hmm, it’s time to make dinner, but there is a sleeping cat on my lap. Guess we’ll just have to go hungry 🤷♀️

I had a very beige dinner of lightly dusted plaice fillet, oven chips and baked beans. Looked like a child’s pub lunch. But that’s the extent of my capabilities today #Food

Michael Sheen being awesome as usual

Michael Sheen writes off £1m of debt for 900 people https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1ewdgk7no

Man on Radio 4 saying that benefits payments to disabled people are unsustainable and we must reduce them.

Me: OR… we could tax the super rich who aren’t struggling to afford therapy or a mobility scooter or a power wheelchair? All of which are extremely difficult or even impossible to obtain though NHS or social care routes.

Hashtag crazy dreamer

Remember the lady on the train with the “fuck off” Jesus enamel pin badge? Tom just told me he asked her who it was supposed to be (I mean, IDGI, it’s so obviously JC), and she said, “IDK - my son-in-law gave it to me.” Seems a little odd to wear such a confrontational badge without knowing who it represents? I’m kind of baffled by the whole thing now. I wonder how many Christians she’s offended

My cousin was called for jury service and was excited to play her part in the justice system. She’s just been told however that she cannot serve after all because the court has no lift and she cannot walk up stairs. This a good example of how disabled people are excluded from public life #Ableism

Just had my first PhD rejection 😬 I wrote to this supervisor twice, once pre-application and once post application, and he didnt respond. The doctoral college admissions teams chased him up and told me that he said he wasn’t interested in my application. I’m quite disappointed but tbh if he couldn’t get his shit together to politely tell me that himself he would be awful to work with. Oh well, let’s see where the other applications go

@kevie Apparently not unless you are involved in a “fender bender”, the assumption seems to be that elevated insurance costs would act as some kind of deterrent. But having worked in the courts service in the UK I know just how willing people are to drive without insurance

A fun fact about Barbados we were told today is that there is absolutely no drink drive limit. If the police find you swerving all over the road, the worst that will happen is they take you to the police station to sober up and give you your keys back in the morning. You actually have to kill someone and face a vehicular manslaughter charge to be prosecuted. Wild

Morning/afternoon! I did not sleep well but I feel calmer. Beautiful blue skies and tropical foliage outside our window and the sound of unfamiliar birds drifting in. Time to go in search of breakfast 🍳

Good morning, another really rough night and so much to do this morning getting ready for the housesittser and finishing off packing. I’ve just made some lists and - argh! So many tasks! Must remember to breathe

My cat will play with literally anything as long as it’s not a cat toy

So I know some people who used to be diagnosed with either bipolar or BPD but found out they actually had ADHD or were autistic and had been misdiagnosed. I’m currently reading a book about ADHD (by a psychiatrist who specialises in the condition and has it himself) and I’m going “hmmmm!” big time. I’m genuinely starting to wonder if there might be a better explanation for my life’s struggles.

I did a basic ADHD screening last time I was under the community mental health team and it strongly indicated that I should be assessed. I was then informed that the waiting list for assessment is *7 years* in Wales. (No, English people, we don’t have Right to Choose here, thank you for asking.)

If Tom gets a job - which is quite a big if as no one seems to be hiring contract staff in his field right now - we may be able to afford a private assessment. From what I can see it could be anything up to £1000 depending on who you see.

I feel like I’m rambling on here…

I’m getting The Stare. The Stare means she wants her tea. Teatime isn’t for an hour, will I crack? #Cats

I got up and came downstairs and went to make some toast, but Tom said, “Shall we have some porridge??” as if doing so would be the naughtiest thing one could do on a weekend morning. What he meant of course was, “Please will you make me some porridge as I’m not sure how.” I don’t really know how to work the washing machine, so it evens out. We play to our strengths.

@Fragglemuppet I know this intellectually but struggle to out it into practice

Morning! Another busy day but I absolutely must make time to at least go for a power walk today. Last night I was overtired and anxious and I realised I have been so hyper focused on work I’ve neglected the basics like fresh air and exercise. Need to put that right. Have a fab Friday!