So, I have just learned that the local council in Crewe are taking me to court for none payment of Council Tax, since my 6 month ‘grattis’ has apparently expired? Now. “If” I was still in the country I would concede my responsibility and cough up. BUT I have lived in New Zealand for over half a year now, and here’s my big problem with all of this….I have an empty house yes, but I have it currently on the market with every intention to sell as I am pretty settled here in New Zealand now. I am not currently in the UK, nor do I have any intention of returning for any period of time - so I cannot in any way physically benefit from anything the council tax pays for, so why the W#$%@ should I be held liable?

I have of course voiced this concern to my (ex)local council, and await their response but failing this, I will perhaps explore contacting the government more directly, alas I fear this approach will fall on completely deaf ears…but you’ve got to admit - this is pretty ‘irregular’

I can see the council’s argument “if” I was keeping the house, and intending to return, but I am not! So, the fact they are throwing court summonses my way, gets my hackles up. I’ve got enough on my plate with family, without local government in the UK adding to things!

They’ll do anything to scrape any last pennies from us serfs and peasants - it would appear to me that feudal disparity is alive and well, and currently living in the UK!

Simon’s Cat….I so want to see more of these, certainly gives GARFIELD a run for his money!

Purrrrrr Genius!!

You know what? I am FUMING!!!

Here I am, on the opposite side of the planet, I get through to the nurses station of the ward my mum is on, and they tell me I have to use ‘Patientline’ to speak to her….I politley explain to the nurse that I am calling from New Zealand and can I not have a quick chat on the phone at the nurses station?…”No, it would be too difficult to get mum to there….”, ok so mum is physically impaired and can’t move much, but it’s not impossible! I was given no option….this amounts to physical discrimination and institutionalisation on my mum’s part, since I am the calling party and incurring no cost on the hospital…..

Thanks for FUCKING NOTHING…..NHS…..

I apologise for swearing so clearly on my blog, but I had to illustrate how strongly this MADNESS incenses me. I will wait till the morning, and try once more when a new shift of nurses are on….but there’s is no force on earth that will make me phone through Patientline from New Zealand, it’s bloody extortionate in the UK never mind from abroad?! Load of Crooks!!

To quantify it, to speak to my mum for just 5 minutes on one of those devil-lines would incur a tariff of over $6 not to mention any surcharge my local carrier would levy since this is not your average UK landline.

There’s got to be a better system guys, it’s about time Labour pulled there socks up with their social responsibilities or got out, and lets face it, they aren’t far off the door now! I’m so glad I’m not in the UK any more. The system is sapping it’s people - in fact the whole system is broken in my opinion. Funny really? In a bygone age when governements got into such a mess the opposition would call for a vote of ‘NO CONFIDENCE’ and a new government would be built. The more I see, the more I believe democracy in the UK has become flawed and corrupt.

I was once proud to call myself a loyal subject of the British nation; but now, I am ashamed…

EDIT - OK, so whilst I have my consumer bee in my bonnet; and the soap-box is still warm, I have taken the liberty of getting in touch with ‘patientline’ to ask if they can explain to me, how they reached the tariff figure they currently charge so watch this space…..if I get a response I will post it here for all to see.

On the news of my continuing exploration of the art of …er…. moving pictures; and my increasingly lack of any acting ability I have decided to invest in a piece of software by Sony called “Vegas Studio Platinum” as this is the most affordable step in the right direction for me, ok so it isn’t a top of the range Mac with ‘Final Cut Pro’ but it comes with multiple audio and video track editing and over 200 odd special effects and transitions!

Once I have this we will put to the test, whether better software truly does mean better videos! Or whether I’ll simply remain CRAP!