Housing NSW.......makes the Brady bunch look normal

Ok again i am sorry for not updating for a little while but you will get the reason why during this little or well long blog, for how ever long it is really.

Ok where to start here. As most might know i have disability and slowly going into a wheelchair, not that i am complaining but Housing NSW (or Department of Housing, like social housing as such) have been causing a constant headache for myself and my family.

First off late last year we applied to be permanently transferred to a new house with the intent it be fully modified to cater for a wheelchair to only have just before Christmas 2008 have that knocked back because i earn to much.

I understand the reasoning but with a declining person with restrictive mobility not being able to fully utilise a non wheelchair accessible house they are a listed tenant living their you think common sense would come into effect.

HELL NO, THIS IS NSW GOVERNMENT RED TAPE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE!

Not specifically having a go at anyone who i do know works for the NSW Government but still, it is a huge Joke if not just a major disappointment.

Now we are applied for a reconsideration to only find out that the reconsideration got lost, or they never got it to only have it handed into the office we deal with and to have it rejected because we didn't meet time frames (apparently you have to apply for the recon within 14 days yet there is no where i can find that actually says this within the legislation - typical eh)

Anyway we ended up going back as a party with my OT, Social workers and family members to work on a better proposal and try to re-apply for another transfer request which we have now down, but here comes the better part of the story.

As I type this, I am currently staying at a motel in Burwood because Housing NSW wanted to get the list of work it has had planned for the past oh.................. 11 years done with us being out of the house while this occurs.

The only good thing is that they are paying for this, the funny thing that isn't good about this is that so far the only jobs that have been completed are -

- Painting of internal walls and windows (mind you during the dust storm Sydney had on Wednesday) which started on that Wednesday and right through until Thursday

- Carpenters come in and fix any thing that needed a carpenters hand at fixing like the windows, doors, door frames, etc

But it is the things that need to be completed by tis coming wednesday that have us worried such as -

- New carpet and Lino to be put down, replacing what is still laid within the house

- New Electrical wiring to be done and completed

- Removal of a dehumidifier that hasn't worked for well over 5 years out of the roof

- further exploration of what damage has been done to the roof from the roofers who put on the new tiles without checking the supporting rafters or beams (Typical mind you if you ask me)

- treatment of the concrete cancer within the brickwork on the outside

- facia board at front to be fully replaced

- treatment of mould on the brickwork on the outside of the house

- guttering to be replaced

i could just keep going really but i wont, but that gives you the idea at least on what is really going on at our house, yet the Dept want to increase our rent by $20 a week because of the size of the house its the right thing to do in the area we live in

HELLLLLOOOOOOOOO..........IN THE WORDS OF A KELIS SONG HERE I DON'T THINK SO!

So that matter has gone to the tribunal (CTTT) and we are awaiting for all works to be completed before we even agree for the increase and let me tell you, they can fight us tooth and nail if they want because i will make sure that all work is completed before this happens!

It just amazes me that Housing NSW have had this list with them for well over 11 years but nothing has really been done about it until the federal government hands them some money and says "do what you need to do to fix all these problems"

Seriously it is just wrong and i wouldn't be surprised if the NSW government (Being the current Labour Government) gets a good swift kick up the rear ends it needs to get ousted and realise that enough is enough really!

On the other half i do have to say and make one small disclaimer here that our Client Services Officer (or CSO) has been brilliant when we have been trying to get things done and very helpful but for the rest of the Dept, if this was to be like an episode of Big Brother or the Brady Bunch, it would make those programs seem somewhat normal really

No wonder at the age of 25 i am starting to get grey hair..................

Red Tape is the new Black!

Ok so, well two posts in one day........obviously there is a lot happening huh???

Well all i have to say is........why the hell do state government departments have to make just even the smallest of any request to well huge request so bloody hard???

Ok to explain in depth here, I currently live with my parents in the inner south west suburbs of Sydney in a NSW Department of Housing house. Now i have lived in this house and suburb for well, about close to nearly 12-13 years (not including the time i moved out and lived with the biggest mistake of my life) and due to my disability plus the age of the house, being it was built in the 1950's and made from double brick, modifications to make this house accessible for a wheelchair are pretty slim to no chance.

Yet you think that based on that alone and my deteriorating health (which i am trying to get back to normal, well at least to a certain degree) would allow for a simple transfer right????

To quote Kellis here "I DON'T THINK SO!"

No because apparently of my wage, being it is a little bit over the threshold, they have denied the transfer request twice. The first one came in Dec last year and it now seems the new request has been denied and we have to apply for a reconsideration on that request.

Now here comes the catch, both times i have been told it is because of my wage right and i am going to put it to you like this. If someone came up to you and asked, oh instead of getting lets say $26 an hour, can you go to about $15 per hour for work wage, what would you say???

Think about it, it doesn't take a genius to work out what the answer would be (HELL NO! In my case, but lets just say i used other...ah wording LOL)

Now the only good thing is the we are getting some sort of help from people who actually know what we should be doing and i won't go into further details there, but unlike before where everyone said one thing, but actually meant another (In other words back stabbing!!) we know what we should do to try and at least get a reconsideration made!

All i can say is that after running around trying to get all the documentation needed for this transfer request, then trying to find out what is happing, getting told "spin" in a way and also getting no where in the end - red tape seems to really be the new black in this case.

It's no wonder why NSW government is in a downhill spiral! just seems to "spin" its self right round, round round LOL

The only thing that makes me tissed off about all this, is that people who do the right things and try their best to look after such old places like ours that have mould growing on ceilings and wall (which we are trying to clean as much as possible), a roof that needs to be replaced after having new tiles put on it because the rafters are in need of replacement that it makes you wonder why they spent money on getting new tiles, only in the end to have to get the whole roof replaced, painting both inside and outside plus new carpets......the list is just endless.

And yet the NSW government says that tenants are happy and the housing is getting better. Where does Nathan come from again and is he really living in a Utopia Sydney, cause if so, where do i sign up to move in their!

Oh well, might have to go out and by a red tape special dress or something, that might just cheer me up.........

A Story of the Everyday Commuter

Come sit down children and i shall tell you a story of the everyday Sydney commuter.

Once upon a time in a city full of beauty and wonder, there was this transport system that everyone loved. The trains where on time and clean, the ferries hardly crashed into anything and where too clean and the buses where on time, never late nor stuck in traffic jams and free from any graffiti or dirt.

Yes children it was wonderful Sydney, where the commuters gave way for other passenger boarding on or off, smiles could be seen a plenty and everyone worked together to help achieve the targets of on time performance and commuter satisfaction!

YEAH RIGHT!

As if a story like that ever existed in all it's glory.

No the everyday commuter is rude, dumb founded and generally i would put it as either watching Jessica Simpson perform just such a blonde moment, making you wonder if you either awake or just living a horrible, horrible nightmare.

No the everyday commuter in Sydney never gives way for other passengers let alone people with prams or people in wheelchairs. No they expect those people to fit into such crammed areas its no wonder retaliation has set in through form of yelling or even just running over of little toes.

It has just surprised me that given a city the is popular with being so friendly and a welcoming place to stay and visit that this type of behavior actually exists. But then again what do you expect in a city where the only person who is important is yourself.

It just makes me wonder what went wrong and when it happened??

The only other thing i have to add to this is why people have to show their affections public. Don't get me wrong i don't mind it but let's just say that if someone of the same sex was to show public affection, it would be outrage - so where is the difference i ask you. If same sex partners who are totally in love are not allowed to show affection in public without getting snide remarks etc etc then why should "normal straight" couples be allowed to

Think about it, because it's just the way things are. All i have to say is grow up and stop acting like 5 year old children who have had their favourite toy stolen or broken! Get your dummy and suck on it because there is only so much dummy spits one can take without going mental!

With that said, here is hoping for the story in the begining of this blog actually comes true........one day at least!

Idol that ain't idols

Ok so, watching the first episode of Australian Idol 2009 (which has surprisingly lasted 7 seasons so far, so it seems ten truly is doing something right......fingers crossed) and i have never ever in my whole entire time sitting watching a show have ever wanted to get some domestos and clean out my ears and poor brain from the meltdown caused by people who just wanted their five minutes of fame really.

I mean come on, seriously if you know you are a bad singer (and god knows you should be able to tell because thanks to the geniuses at sony entertainment europe there is a thing called "singstar". If you don't own it, I suggest you get down to your nearest JB HiFi/Big W/Target/Kmart or where ever you can buy "singstar" and get one - immediately).

I mean for god sakes, if someone actually tells you yeah get to idol auditions, please and i am begging you, listen to your self sing either through "singstar" or through other means, like garageband on apple or if you don't have that tape your self or just record yourself singing! It's not hard people.

I just think that while yes it is entertaining, i do actually feel sorry for the judges and tv crews who have to go through the task of actually listening to deaf or well the tone deaf try to make themselves think (if you can call that) they can sing!

Who are they trying to convince here, because i am sorry hunny, but you either need to get that hearing aid checked or keep your day job, because you are certainly not the next idol!

On the same subject of ranting about Aus Idol

I have to say WTF??? I know that it is a singing contest and that if you have any experience at singing (which in my books should at least be a requirement if not some sort of basis for the rules here), but letting some guy who was part of a former boyband who where popular for the i believe 1 year they actually lasted in the comp and through to the top 100???

Like is it me or is there something i am missing. Yeah ok everyone should get their shot, but say if the likes of well................let me think here.......Guy Sebastian or Shannon Noll was needing a come back and wanted to get into the comp, would you allow it???

It just makes me think that there is somewhat of a unequaled advantage but then again it might actually help boost ratings.

Here's hoping that idol just isn't going to fall on its own sword this year, god knows they are going to need something to help pin it up with Kyle gone now...........

The View aint a View

Ok so while in hospital again - I know i am still here and i am hoping and crossing fingers, toes and well just about anything that could and can be crossed ( I will leave that up to your own imaginations).

Anyways getting back to the point of this blog. I got to watching some of "The View" on Channel Nine here (Its a free to view network) and i have to say it was quite interesting.

"The View" as it is called is supposed to give you or at least give a view about things in the tabloids, television and generally anything within the public and i found it quite interesting that they would stick to one topic but throw in other parts of another topic and some how compare it.

But the thing that got me was.....well this is probably going to sound really, really nasty but it just has to be said for the record that Barbara Walters really needs to know when to stop either having botox injections or surgery or what ever it is she is having done to her face.

Let me put it to you, when she talks her mouth is as straight at a line but it looks like it struggles to even help her speak. The other problem is that she really cannot show any sort of emotion.

It begs to say that with her age she does look good, but at what cost?

All i could think was, Barbara.... you need help and fast.

I wonder if NRMA can help as well it can't help but help.................

Hospital is soo much fun.............

I am sorry I haven't been updating this blog site to which I have to say is a poor reminder of how busy i have been with just a lot of things in general.

Anywhoo, I have to say so far the last well nearly two weeks have been fun (Not!). I am currently writing this from my bedside in Westmead Hospital because, well I don't even know why. It seems my legs did like the travel agent from Little Britain, to quote "computer says nooooo" well to me it was "Legs say noooooooo".

Anyway after finally getting out of bed with the help of my partner and well mum (I know sad thing to say but eh, leave me be - I am a mumma's boy hahahahahahaha) getting me into the shower, dress me and then getting up to my local doctors to which i was informed i would be best going to Westmead Hospital as there wasn't much he could do (which i understand but....... just can't stand this place!).

So with myself, my mum and my partner now in the car we headed down towards the M4 Motor way and onto our journey to Westmead (Sorry i have to sugar coat it a bit). Once arriving we waited in Emergency until my name was called and i was sent into Triage into what they call "Fast Track"

Fast Track my ass!

I sat in this well corner of this stupid area waiting for at least a doctor to see me which took well over an hour let me tell you. The other problem being where i was situated was right nest to this air thing that sends both specimens and other hospital related crap to various areas of the hospital fast (I suppose thats the only fast thing in this place that is.....well fast! Actually i think that's where the name for this part of the emergency department must have been used for!).

Anyway once actually seeing a doctor and have an MRI done (For those who don't know what an MRI is, its a X-ray Imaging thing that is a long well tunnel or tube - get your mind out the gutters now if you think otherwise, and it dark and cold at first to which the x-ray specialists talk to you though this microphone thing, mind you they do give you ear phones which are of no help and you shall find out why, and you lay in this tunnel until it cranks up but not before they say 'your doing fine Alex" or "next one will be about six and half minutes" and then the noise starts which its is a mixture of like a jackhammer, tractor motors and aircraft motors starting or taking off - thats if you fly virgin mind you, if its Qantas or Jetstar, then you pray!)

Anyway then after having a CT scan also done and a couple of blood tests and urine samples for them no one could tell what was going on, mind you this was well about 7 hours after coming into "Fast Track".

Then they decided without telling me that i had to have an angiogram or heart thingy done to which i asked and said i wasn't going as it turned out that they wanted to do a lumber punch (now for my friends who know that due to complications of a previous back surgery in 2003, I am not able to have more surgeries done to my back because there is not enough skin etc etc etc) anyway to which the docs where not happy but after about fifteen minutes of talking we came to the conclusion that lumber punch was out of the question.

So after having more meds and more docs coming to see what they could do, it was decided after 12 hours of being in "Fast Track" i should have be admitted to the hospital. Finally!

Now the slight irony for me is that "Fast Track" is suppose to get you in and out of the hospital emergency department fast, but instead of doing this i was "Fast Tracked" into the hospital - Great huh???

Anyways it wasn't until about 3am Friday morning until i was moved to a ward and well settled for the night. I have to say that i did have a good night's sleep thanks to the meds i was on but still it meant i had to stay in this place.

So the next morning i was told i was having more tests done such as another MRI, but this time i had to have like a contrast put in so they can see things more colourful and everything (I think LOL) then i have to have like an EEG. Now this was the part i wasn't sure on or that as it was a test that sent electrical shots through targeted areas of your body, to which they did my arms and both my legs.

Now i have to say with my arms, it hurt, not the legs really because, well there was not much feeling down there but it did increase the pain. So that test went on for about 20 minutes in total.

After that test i was sent back to the ward to which i was advised that at about 4pm or 5pm that i was being moved to another ward as i was not in the right ward (great yet again they stuff it right up). So i was transferred to the right ward into t common room (mean you share with like 3 others) the only problem being that it had no TV (like WTF???? are you serious).

Anyway i was told i wouldn't be in that room for long!

2 days past, then a week passed. It wasn't until about a day ago i was moved into a single room because wait for it - i picked up an infection in here (for the people who want to know it is MRSA which is like staph/golden staph - YAY!!!!!!! NOT)

And on top of all that the team i am under here (nurosurgery) have been trying to palm me off to another team (Rehabilitation) but so far nothing has come up.

So yes my time here in the NSW Public Health system has been somewhat of a fun train ride. I have to say is the only thing that has been good is some of the people i have gotten to know here and some of the staff who are funny and well make the day seem just a little bit brighter (while the rest......well we won't get into that)

So yeah fun and games! That's all i have to say really

I soo need a drink........waiter.......oh right, your a nurse :(

What a shocker - Logies 2009

Ok I have to start off here by saying that, Channel Nine really has hit rock bottom.
You can tell that either they hired monkeys to run this years show or they had to do some rethinking in the budget department or both perhaps??

Not only was it the most disappointing Logies Presentation, but it was truly very hard to watch. God even some of the actors either didn't have enough to drink or if the rumours where true that there was a limit???

I mean Dave Hughes paying out on Grant Denyer - if i was Grant i would have decked the guy or at least thrown something at hime. You can tell that there was MASSIVE cut backs. Even the jokes or so so called "Light" Humour was more painful to hear.

To think that i might have to even Domestos my ears and eyes because of such crap makes me want to puke.

Oh well just thinking about how much Channel Nine IS actually trying to save its self is even enough to make one person actually go, yeah there in trouble.

With that all i have to say is that if this is what we have to look forward to next year, please spare me the humliation of having to sit and actually watch the crap you put on. instead maybe put a health warning or something to actually warn that its going to be a crap show and to tune into either Channel 7, Network Ten or fr the old fogies in us all, the ABC!

Some thoughts that I have atm

Ok first off i have been wondering a lot as to why nice guys do tend to always either finish off last or even second best. for example their are people who i know that have been sucessfull in things recently that they have always wanted or dreamed about, but when it is something that i may have always dreamed, wished or even prayed about nothing has happened, or if it has nothing has even come about it or again i have been told i have been unsuccessful.

I mean in most days i just want to raise the white flag and surrender, but then i think, why should i even do that? It's just allowing other people to win and for once I want to be the winner, so from now on i am going to try and be a bit more controlling and well not so trust worthy to a lot of people (Exluding my partner their cause well, there are certain privlidges that well should always be given and met!)

I have been thinking also about where I see myself in five years time and to tell you it is kind of scary to even look that far into the future, beacuse in some ways i really have no idea where i want to. I know that i want to be able to have the things i have always dreamed about, like a house (preferrably in my favourite suburb, and for those who are close to me who know exactly where i am talking about), have no debts to worry about like i still have thanks to well some very bad decisions from my past that somehow keep haunting me and just generally good health and not have to spend nearly once a month or so in Westmead Hospital - for once! (seriously though i am considering maybe at least buying into the hospital or even maybe buying it, seeming as well i am there just about nearly every couple of weeks - again!)

i guess its just that i am well not so much depressed but just can't understand as to why nice people do finish last and all the kind of nasty and vile people (that i know of, and if you are reading this and spying on me, you know exactly who you are!) and just for once i would love it if you could finish last so the rest of us can actually have a chance to get in first place.

oh well like that is ever going to happen!

Sydney - FAIL!!!

OK well this really isn't directed at the whole of Sydney and really it isn't

I was going to post about this on Friday but thought i might do it now actually, seeming as i am on here.

Anyway i have had my shifts changed at work not that I am complaining, but on Friday i would have really swore at all the passengers on my part of the carriage on the 6.36pm Train from Town Hall to Lidcombe.

the first part is for the so called 'Idiots" for causing damage to the 5th car, causing it to be locked at Circular Quay and St James, leaving only 5 other carriages to utilize as such (being it was a 6 car service). Causing well a small yet disastrous overcrowding problem

Now common sense should somehow prevail here right when their is overcrowding you would think that people instead of being near the door, like i have to be when i am in my wheelchair, actually move up or down or fully actually inside the carriage, not at the doors right?

OH NO WAY TO SIMPLE. People standing the way, people run on knocking into me with their bags and do you think they even apologise - No. how would you like it if i ran over your skinny skanky arses and feet cause your in my way. its not like a wheelchair can fold up into a million pieces just so you can get your arse into the train.

so obviously i got hurt because of people rushing to get into the train and my little problem mainly lies around the fact that people aren't even giving way or using their brains and moving right out of the way, at least have some decency to move.

its only polite and its not really going to kill you know is it? its not like your actually going to miss your stop now either?

so please, i am begging, move fully inside the carriage after boarding your service and if you have either a heavy bag or a big back, take it off and place it in front of you.

If it whacks into someone then don't think they won't notice, actually apologise

So an update - at least

Ok well its been well nearly three months since i have even updated this space now and i thought i had better in a way lol.

So where to start - ah yes my little bitching on Channel seve for being cowards for axing the lesbian kissing scene jaust beacuse of some narrow minded little so and so's could have their way.

I just don't get it, we live in a country that is willing to accepting gay rights and equality to a certain degree but when two guys or girls kiss on screen its 'oh no we can't have that'

WTF????????

seriously get with the program, its not 1975 thank you people, its 2009. isn't it time we greup and well actually got with the program. for example i don't see anyone complaining about Kevin and Scotty and their kisses or shows of affection from Brother's and Sisters, or when showtime/ SBS/ Fox 8 shows Queer as folk or the L word (shudders).

seriously its a kiss and love is love right? so what's wrong with love. if we in the gay community have to put with so called normall straight kissing right in our faces, its abot time we gave some of it back.

To bad if you don't like it i say - SO GET WITH THE PROGRAM PEOPLE!!!

Yay finally its up

Well welcome to what is the first of hopefully many a new posts from the world according to and well through my eyes.

I do have to thank well my best friend Emmz who well helped me get to this spot

So please check regular and come back ya hear as i start posts very soon!