Day 1, post exertion

Phew what a day. Am exhausted. Headed into town to the local social welfare office to sign on. At least, I tried to sign on. Spent ages before leaving the house getting all the required documents together, filling in all the forms etc. It took me an hour to find my birth certificate. So I headed in and stood in the queue. When it finally got to my turn, they made an appointment for me at 9.50 am ON THE 25TH OF BLOODY AUGUST! Today it is the 10th. So they take no forms, no nothing, just tell me to come back in fifteen days. It is crazy, but at least I have some some form of savings to get me through, I am not sure how other less fortunate people manage.

Walking home at around 3pm, I really noticed a whole different breed of people had taken over the streets. A total dearth of suits and sensible work shoes. Instead, men in tracksuits, young men most of whom had beards (I guess it really does indicate a lack of job), junkies, jobless couples pushing prams...and me! I felt as scruffy as everyone else and another thing I noticed - chip shops are open for business all day. Who knew? I could really degenerate into a fat chip scoffing layabout if I wanted to. Instead I walked past the chip shop and headed into my local library to join up. It was in here all the umemployed respectable people seem to hang out - well dressed, intelligent looking people making full use of their time. Boring. However must try and hang out here and apply for jobs, (not read Jilly Coopers). Off to clean out my drawers now!