7 days on the breadline
FRI 23 OCT 2009
Instead I am in a terraced street with a determined, charming, funny
and clever lady called Christine, the OAP; just about to turn 70, heavy
smoker, disabled and grandmother and great-grandmother to 46. Although
very dependent on a cane to get around due to the state of her artery
weary legs, asthma and an aneurism, she has a 3 storey run down junk
filled house, in a very run down area of Leeds, in a diverse ethnic
community, in a house with little fresh air.
I arrived yesterday apprehensive as to who it was gong to be with and where, imagining a very tough 60's tower block and rough estate. Instead I am in a terraced street with a determined, charming, funny and clever lady called Christine, the OAP; just about to turn 70, heavy smoker, disabled and grandmother and great-grandmother to 46. Although very dependent on a cane to get around due to the state of her artery weary legs, astma and an aneurism, she has a 3 storey run down junk filled house, in a very run down area of Leeds, in a diverse ethnic community, in a house with little fresh air.
I am to spend 3 days understanding her current life and the next four perhaps thinking of ways to make it easier for her. To sit back and absorb her life without making comment I find quite difficult, but I know that I must bite my tongue when I feel the inclination to suggest she should try to do something another way right now, first I really need to understand her situation.
We have been given 250 to live off for the week, which is the married persons allowance plus some disability and housing benefit. By the end of Day 1 we had already spent 100, Chinese and bingo. She is paying extra towards the heating now so that she doesn't get behind with the big winter bills. We went to the local bakery and bought three loaves of bread, 4 custard tarts and three trifles for 3.
I arrived yesterday apprehensive as to who it was gong to be with and where, imagining a very tough 60's tower block and rough estate. Instead I am in a terraced street with a determined, charming, funny and clever lady called Christine, the OAP; just about to turn 70, heavy smoker, disabled and grandmother and great-grandmother to 46. Although very dependent on a cane to get around due to the state of her artery weary legs, astma and an aneurism, she has a 3 storey run down junk filled house, in a very run down area of Leeds, in a diverse ethnic community, in a house with little fresh air.
I am to spend 3 days understanding her current life and the next four perhaps thinking of ways to make it easier for her. To sit back and absorb her life without making comment I find quite difficult, but I know that I must bite my tongue when I feel the inclination to suggest she should try to do something another way right now, first I really need to understand her situation.
We have been given 250 to live off for the week, which is the married persons allowance plus some disability and housing benefit. By the end of Day 1 we had already spent 100, Chinese and bingo. She is paying extra towards the heating now so that she doesn't get behind with the big winter bills. We went to the local bakery and bought three loaves of bread, 4 custard tarts and three trifles for 3.
