The Government letter inviting me to apply for my State Pension arrived this morning, now that doesn't make me feel old at all 😭. The actual online application process was simplicity itself, took all of 5 minutes (the pension won't be paid until after my 66th birthday in November). However, trying to register for a Government Gateway account so I can check my NI record and how much pension I'll be entitled to, was an absolute pain in the a**s. You have to have 2 forms of ID, they suggest passport and driving licence - I have neither. The registration process won't proceed without these, or some other form of legal ID, none of which I have. I was born in this country, have lived and worked here all my life (apart from 2 years living in Gibraltar when I was a child), have never worked abroad, so why the hell should it be so damn difficult to prove who I am and that I'm entitled to live here? I could be very controversial and say something about how certain people who weren't born here and just turn up with no paperwork don't seem to have any problems, but that wouldn't be very PC would it? Apparently, I have to phone (what's the betting the phone lines are horrendously busy and I'll be kept on hold for ages?) and explain, and they'll give me some advice. I can't be bothered to do it this afternoon, it's just too hot and I feel so listless, I don't think I could cope with any more problems right now.
This heat is really doing Betty and I in, neither of us is sleeping well, although Betty is dozing on and off all day. Just another 2 days of this current heatwave, then apparently it'll cool down again from Monday - and then the temp will go up again next Friday! Oh, joy. I know this weather is better than constant rain but, quite honestly, I'd rather be cold than boiling hot. Anyway, the garden is suffering as well, everything is wilting or being scorched. Apart from the courgettes (of course!), our 2 plants are producing almost more than we can eat. Oh, the shallots have done well too, husband has pulled them all up and the wheelbarrow is full of them drying in the sun.
I made courgette fritters yesterday, we had them for lunch with sweet chilli sauce, lovely. Think I'll have to make another big batch and freeze them. I'll make a roasted veg on puff pastry tart tomorrow, that'll use up another couple.
As for Wimbledon, how those people can play for a couple of hours in this heat I really don't know.
I read you faithfully daily. I can finally respond on my laptop. It does my heart good to hear that other counties are like it is here. Sorry...I am being sarcastic...when we renew our driver's license here it is like something you cannot imagine. When we sign up for government, we just about have to go in person. I am so much older than you, so when I turned that age, I signed up for the Social Security that I had paid into. I was getting ready to retire as a teacher and my retirement was a small payout...I only taught under 20 years...in two states...started OLD. I could not believe the time consuming documents, etc. of signing up. Each time I move (35 now) and each time I renew driver's, I must go through it all again. I will be 78 in September and hope to drive several more years despite physical limitations...so far so good. I hope yours works out easily for you. I also hope the transportation situation works out. I must say that you amaze me with all the cooking you do, meal prep...purchasing food...working in your home and garden...care giver for your husband. You deserve a crown, my friend. PRAYERS...
ReplyDeleteJust remembered, years ago, you told me what courgettes were. I have to admit here, even as a vegetarian, I cannot stand any of them...lol...
ReplyDeleteWhat a performance to open the GG account! I used to be against them introducing identity cards here, but I've now come round to thinking it would be very good to have a way for ordinary people to be able to show who they are - and it might also help to fight fraud, too. I know many still feel it's an intrusion, but to my mind the world is so tricky now that I would be prepared to accept ID cards as a lesser evil!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes think the Government doesn't want us to get the money we are entitled to. (Surely not, she said sarcastically!) It does seem to be the case that if you don't have a passport and/or driving licence, you don't exist. The fact that you've lived in the UK for decades, paid taxes and NI contributions, paid council tax and utility bills, etc, seems to count for nothing. Good luck when you do phone. Fingers crossed, someone answers the call quickly, is helpful and all works out quickly. xx
ReplyDeleteOh Sooze, bureaucracy strikes again ....do you have any utility bills in your name, or a rental agreement, or similar? Birth/Wedding certificate? Any correspondence from you local Council showing your name?
ReplyDeleteHope it can be sorted! xx
Hope you can get this sorted, this is where a national Identity Card would be a very good idea. I don't know why so many people are against them.
ReplyDeleteI keep my driving license up to date solely to prove who I am! What a pesk for you!
ReplyDeleteI do have a GG account but even with this I've found it almost impossible to get an answer to my slight shortfall in my NI contributions - I have 33 years and need 35 to get a full pension when I'm 67. The NI dept couldn't help with my query, so I was told to ring HMRC - who said they couldn't help either!! After waiting around 30mins on the phone, I gave up! I wanted to see if it was worthwhile making up the shortfall. As far as I can see, it would make a difference of about £20 a week????? A guessing game!
ReplyDeleteI've always grown courgettes and sometimes we would get an unexpected marrow, either because they were hiding, or when we went on holiday. We ate them raw in salads, had a few recipes for cooked ones, froze them raw, either sliced or whole, and the big marrows would keep for months. Having a large garden, we grew them directly into the ground. I grew them from seed and had 7 courgettes and 7 outdoor .cucumbers. my husband grew all the other vegetables. Other than stated above, we would give surplus to friends. One friend loved the marrows and ate them mashed in with potatoes. I've never made curgette fritters, but we enjoyed my other recipes, we both liked them in salads which was my favourite way.
ReplyDeleteIf all else fails, they can always be frozen and put in winter stews.
Oh, and we could do all this because we have a large chest freezer which I realise some people don't.
This heat is really getting to me and my two young cats too. Mentioning the chest freezer, I wish I could sit in it this weather! 🥵😭
J.
Not that it helps either of us but I have the same problem on this side of the pond. But we do know we have sympathetic company as we traverse this new and improved (lol) digital life. Hope you get some real relief from your interminable heat soon.
ReplyDeleteI feel your frustration. I'll officially be a pensioner next month and have just applied for my bus pass. What a chew that was trying to upload suitable photos.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that you can get through to your government via phone and get this sorted out. Do they not accept a birth certificate as proof?
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
If you sign up for a provisional driving licence this works as photo ID - even if you have no intention of ever using it, its handy to have.
ReplyDelete