I have managed to survive for the last year or so by the skin of my teeth (what the hell does that phrase mean, anyway?) - I work off my rent by doing odd-jobs and accepting the barter-system tolerance (for food-stuffs and basic amenities) of people far better than I.
However, this cannot sustain the other simplicities of paying bills and all the other things people take for granted. While Ireland has an over-generous Social Welfare system, due to all sorts of snags and legalities, I find myself unable to avail of its services legally, and so must fall back on the above tried-and-true medieval methods above.
In short, this means my bills have all gone unpaid, and will continue to remain so until things improve. Thus, I am (rather literally) expecting my electricity to be disconnected sometime in the next week, with phones, etc., soon to follow (back to the real 18th-century!).
As such, I won't be around the forum for the foreseeable future, and will instead spend my free-time getting an awful lot of reading done by candlelight. At least the weather's not too cold this time of year, and the light is good, and they can't turn off my water.
It's kind of sad when you're 42 years old and there are no paying jobs to be had for love nor money. Hell, even MacDonald's didn't want me. So it goes.
I thank you all for the interaction here, and sincerely do hope no-one found my off-topic ramblings too annoying or intrusive, and any help I may have offered useful. It's been fun, kids.
P.S. I make this post simply because I was reminded last week by Narayan that it's always strange when people on the internet suddenly "vanish" for no reason - death, disease, poverty, marriage, children, or abduction by aliens - they all take their toll. It's just life in the new digital age. For what it's worth, I may be around for awhile yet longer, but the sword of Damocles is hanging by a very thin thread, and I just wished to say my peace first.
As this is a "family" forum, I've tried to stay on the right side of taste, but for my last word, I won't suffer any self-redaction (Fred can moderate it if he wishes).
"Fuck Wall-Street anyway."
Thanks everyone,John 1:14 wrote:But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
-- Greg