When I lived in a tower block with a newborn.

The moon at 3am over Southampton, UK.

Tower Block

The 18 bus trundled down the cobbled Millbrook streets

Cold and wet, begrudgingly going to our home

We tried to stay out; nuisance neighbours kept us awake

Nothing the council could do, just hint at a move for our sake

The cold, thin chipped paint peeled off the railings in the block

The smell of cat food and roast potatoes was always a shock

Anti-social behaviour in the block was rife

Loud pumping music was just a way of life

The lift was out, now to tackle the stairs with a pram

People pushing past you, they don't give a damn

Rubbish bags collected, the postman is due

Not much to hold onto, faith was for the few

Paul is now crying, this is no way to live

Cold and hungry, carpetless and curtainless nothing would give

The woman opposite our flat starts to scream, nothing new

I pull the duvet over my head, this life should be only for the few

The strange sound of drilling always at 6 o'clock

The neighbourhood warden tried to give us a knock

In the midnight garden comes on at the same time

Never one for missing it, Paul smiles at the sign

Hot chocolate in the kitchen being kept wide awake

Pacing the floor thinking of how I could possibly escape.

Environmental health with all his gold rings

Never did anything to atone for his sins

They wrote a note on the system and told us to keep true

No sense of comfort knowing they didn't have a clue

Out all day and night whatever the weather

Never expecting it to even get better

Mental health and noise meant I sprayed crimson up the wall

Looking back now I can see how far I had to fall

Evaluating at the time I asked God if this was my lot

There was only a certain amount of strength I had got

The police, the weed, the noise and the phones

How on earth could anyone call this a home?

Comments

PIP should be paid in vouchers?

"PIP should be paid in vouchers" I'll explain in detail why this is a bad idea, but can I ask why all the solutions to the imagined mass fraud is to hurt disabled people more in the process? I'm sure some people think they're doing the right thing, many probably understand fine well it would hurt disabled people and they have forgotten they can become disabled at any point in their lives. Instead of starting with how it would hurt us (disabled people) I'll explain how it would hurt the state. It would cost MILLIONS to set up a whole IT system, set up partnerships with business, the amount of civil servants that would need to oversee invoices would just be immense. It would cost more than it would ever be intended to save, sort of like the current assessment system that sees tax payers cash endlessly going to tribunals because they've refused a disabled person help, 2/3rds of all claimants that take their case to full tribunal win. It again costs the sta...

A review: Portswood High Street and Chaiiwala.

Whenever I go to Portswood, it never fails to stop me in my tracks by how much litter is just everywhere. The bins are always overflowing. Portswood is neither inferior nor superior; it just is. Residents are more than a little ticked off with the protests from the far right and far left, and the police presence that goes with that. The traffic is always hectic when these protests take place, hard to navigate when all you want to do is pop to the shops for a quick bite. Portswood has a high number of muslims in the area and as such most eateries are halal. Problematic for many people, especially Christians. There are some churches within Portswood, but I have never stepped foot into a charismatic flavour known as Victory church. I hear they are popular, but I am more of the contemplative type. There are some good businesses on Portswood High Street. They have a large Sainsbury's, with an Argos inside. Shame they never have anything in stock. A popular Waitrose serves ...

PIP and how society treats the disabled.

Maybe the real problem with society is that people don’t think disabled people should be allowed any joy. They have to stay in their homes, moping, being sad, and not having any fun. Because everyone else is really fucking miserable. Therefore, we have to be too. And this is why people have so much of a problem with what disabled people spend their money on. “ If they are spending my hard-earned cash, then they need to be miserable” “ They can’t have nice hair or lashes” heaven forbid a disabled person makes an effort with their appearance. “ They can’t drink or smoke” but what if that is a coping mechanism for them to stay alive? “ They can’t have holidays! I can't afford a holiday, so why should they get one!” People forget that PIP is not an out-of-work benefit; it is there to cover the costs of things associated with disability and independence. People also forget that disabled people may have a working partner, families who give them money, inherita...

Essentially Samantha

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