Doing my head in, and puppies. *Edited

 It's good how communities pull together following something dreadful happening, isn't it - especially if there are children involved in the terrible event.  Our local FB page is full of people offering help to the families of those still in hospital (the 2 big hospitals where the casualties were taken are both quite a distance away from here....one of the disadvantages of living here, no big general hospital nearby).  A JustGiving fund has also been set up, local taxi firms are offering free transportation for families to visit the hospitals, toys have been offered, someone is even offering kittens free to children who were involved in the bus crash.  The middle school has row upon row of flowers and teddies placed outside.

I've woken up with a tension headache this morning, it's manifesting in tense muscles in my neck and a throbbing pain behind my left eyebrow and in my scalp.  I expect it's from the events of this week - it's been a frustrating and brain-tiring week.  Following on from my reader Happy Introvert's comments about 'overlapping payments' (which I'd never heard of), whilst googling about that, I came across something called 'underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance'.  It seems to be saying that, although the CA will be stopped upon receipt of State Pension, if the carer is still a carer (why wouldn't we be?) then they may be eligible for an extra payment or entitlement to other benefits.  I stopped reading as it was all getting too confusing, but will carry on next week when hopefully my head will be a bit clearer.  Why don't 'they' (the DWP or the Gov.) simply give everyone whatever they're entitled to, rather than people having to go to the bother of finding out themselves?  Of course, we all know why, if we're cynical enough - if we don't know about things like that, and then don't realise that we have to actually claim for them, then the powers that be won't have to actually pay us!

I know the Gov is struggling to make ends meet (aren't we all?!), but hey, come on, we're not all Old Etonian hereditary millionaires who get given clothes and free holidays and can claim living and housing expenses for their 2nd homes.  Some of us (ordinary people) actually need whatever benefits we are actually entitled to.

Enough of that, I need a quiet restful weekend.

My sister has just got a puppy, a 12 week old Maltipoo - Maltese mother and Toy Poodle father, he's a tiny very fluffy little thing.  She loves him to bits already and I'm enjoying seeing the photos she's sending of the 'Tiny Tornado' - his nickname, his real name is Barney.  Although puppies are undeniably cute, I don't think I could cope with one now.....too much like hard work!  I'm in my bedroom typing this, Betty ran in a few minutes ago and jumped on my bed with her squeaky ball, I thought I'd have to take it off her as the squeaking was doing my head in, but she's now asleep.  Her now senior age means her play periods only last a few minutes - much like a puppy actually, sis says that Barney has numerous dog naps throughout the day and frequently falls asleep mid-play with a toy in his mouth.

*Edit

Postman's just been and I have three letters all from the DWP concerning my pension and carers allowance, my brain can't deal with them today, I've put them aside to read at a later date.  They must waste so much money and paper sending all this stuff in numerous letters on so many days. 😒