Monthly Archives: January 2025

Benefit Proposal Changes

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Hello all,

As you have probably seen in the news the previous government wanted to make changes to benefits such as Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit.

Changing the benefits system would mean a huge challenge to some of the most vulnerable in society. Making claimants worse off.

The benefit changes which I am going to focus on are Personal Independence Payment. This is because as as a Disabled person this is something which I am more aware of.

I fully understand the Labour government has a deficit which it needs to fix. I fully support the idea of getting people who can work into work, if it is the right decision. But not all Disabled people can work. Not all areas of our society are accessible, which reduces Disabled peoples access to not only work, but life in general.

The fix cannot just be take benefits away and people will work. There are so many more layers to this.
Disabled people need access to specialist equipment, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, Braille displays etc, which can cost a lot of money, they then ned to be able to access buildings which are not always accessible. The ‘Get Britain Working Again’ has so many different areas to it which need to be addressed it is not as simple as ‘heres a job go do it’. At least not for Disabled people.

The changes being proposed are things like replace money with vouchers. How long will it take to implement this? How many business are going to have to wade through filling in forms to replace a voucher given to them by a Disabled person just so they can exchange goods and services? Business will either stop serving Disabled people, making them even more marginalised, or the business will go out of business because they can’t keep going with lack of money while they wait for the vouchers to be exchanged back into cash. Meaning less services for Disabled people. Leading to more marginalisation.

Disabled people need better access to support and that is not going to come from putting more barriers in their way.

Follow stories of Disabled people online and you will see how unfair the system really is. Follow charities such as Scope (click here for Scope) and read about their campaigns to help Disabled to get the support they need. 

I am on Threads @VisuallyImpairedPip

I am in no way affiliated with Scope, I just think they do a great job.

Books in 2024

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Hello all,

It is that time again where I tell you about all the books I read in the last year. I listened to six books. In 2023 I listened to seven books. So really I didn’t do to bad in comparison.

I do wish I had listened to more books though. We’ll see how we get on in 2025… 2025!

Cher
By: Cher

I saw this book advertised in a shop and had to download it on my Amazon subscription. The book is absolutely amazing. Cher talks so openly about everything and there is so much that made me laugh and made me feel quite sad. If you love Cher then you need to listen to this book. It is part one of two and I cannot wait for part two.
This is the last book I read last year I got through it very quickly. I think it took less than two weeks. I just couldn’t stop listening to it.

Sonny Boy
By: Al Pacino

When I was in London I saw this book advertised on the tube and I added it straight to my collection. Much like Cher’s Book it made laugh and cry.
I loved that he read the book it was a brilliant listen. I think I listened to it very quickly. Most people I think don’t realise how much effort actors and singers etc have to put into their craft. Al Pacino really lays out all of the things he had to do to make his dream a reality. 


The Third Gilmore Girl
By: Kelly Bishop

I listened to this book because I am a fan of Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love Kellys character Emily. This book as with the others made me laugh and cry. I think I loved it so much because she was so determined to get what she wanted and wouldn’t let anyone tell her no.

The Twat Files
By: Dawn French

I love Dawn French. I love anything French and Saunders. What was great about this book was that she was saying everyone makes mistakes and makes a fool of themselves. Thats just human.

Berserker!
By: Adrian Edmondson

His book was one I saw advertised and had to add to my list to read. I enjoyed his book because he talks a lot about the Comic Strip and how a lot of the people involved had a massive part to play in a lot of the comedy I have listed too. He only ever talked about himself and never delved into his personal relationship or marriage with Jennifer Saunders which is wonderful because it shows his respect for her and their marriage. Plus I have read her book it was quite difficult at times.
I found the parts where he wrote about his partnership and friendship with Rik Mayall to be a difficult listen because of what happened. You can tell how much he cared for him.
Plus he’s from Yorkshire, which is grand.

Making It So
By: Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart is a great Yorkshireman which is enough reason to buy the book. What I loved was his dedication to theatre. He has played so many great roles which I got to listen to as part of his book. He truly is a national treasure. I just loved listening to his book. Listening to the parts where he talks about growing up in Yorkshire and how someone saw something in him which helped him to push himself to do more and really work on his dream was wonderful.

I really do enjoy audiobooks, especially when the person who is reading it is the person who wrote it.
I do however wish I could access physical books. I miss sitting down with a physical book and just reading. With a nice cup of tea.

But we have audiobooks so I can use those. I can listen to them anytime I want. Its good to listen to them while you’re doing other things.

What books have you listened to this last year? 
I am on Threads @VisuallyImpairedPip