Emloyment & support Allowance

Has anyone had E.S.A stopped? I have recieved a letter today to say I scored no points at the medical. I can’t believe it.
The day of the medical I was not feeling well at all. I explained to the nurse (who cleary was not listening to me), I have suffered with exhaustion, aching limbs, bad headaches, back pain, pain in both arms and chest, depression, and am waiting for a bone scan.
I do not feel well enough to go looking for employment.
I now have no money coming in. Have been told to appeal it.
Any advice, I would be very grateful…

I was sent for a medical exam and as a result ESA was stopped. I’d been warned that this may happen and if it did to appeal straight away. In my appeal i just said that i wished to appeal against the decision and requested that they reinstat the allowance until my appeal was heard. They HAVE to continue paying you until your appeal is heard. I was then sent a form to fill in but as the questions they were asking weren’t really relevant I sent in an accompanying note in which i stated the reasons why I disagreed with their decisions. I included the problems that i had but they hadn’t asked about. It was reinstated but by this time I’d returned to work.

I understand that Macmillan nurses can help with filling in the forms if you need them to. All that you really need to say in your first letter though is that you are appealing, and that you want the allowance to be paid in the meantime.

Good luck

I came off JSA and applied for ESA to start from the date of my surgery. Had a loooong phone conversation but today I’ve received another form and I have no clue what I’m supposed to do with it!

I’m going to have to trot along to the cancer support centre next week to see if they can help me fill the thing in, as I am dreadful with forms but that £65.45 a week is all I’ve got at the moment. I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t said anything at all and just carried on on JSA! Isn’t it just ridiculous! And what am I supposed to do for the couple of weeks between recovering from surgery and starting the next lot of stuff? Go back on JSA? It’s a complete minefield!

I am on ESA and havent had a medical they have just accepted my doctors note first one for 3 month and second note for 6 months Hope you all get it sorted.

Thank you for your reply’s I will keep you posted…

Hi just want to say they seem to be doing the same to everyone just to save money, you must appeal, they will then reinsate your money until the appeal has been done, if again the same thing happens you must appeal again, you can do this until they send you to a ‘tribunal’ I think it is called. You are entitled to this money and should go through all the channels to get what you are entitled to. They have been doing the same thing with my dad and said he had 0 points which is ridiculous, I was with him at the medical and know exactly what he said so I cannot understand them coming to this decision.

Good luck

Debbie

Hi,
I received the same letter on Xmas Eve, great! Managed to speak to someone on the phone, who told me to appeal and they would send me the forms. Well, thankfully, my mum downloaded the form off their website for me and I filled it in and took it to the jobcentre on new year’s eve! (The form from them didn’t arrive until well into the new year!) They have now reinstated my ESA until my Tribunal - not looking forward to that at all! What gets me is that I do still have a job (at the moment anyway) and as I have 2 young children and am widowed, with no other income, they would have to pay me Income Support anyway,until I return to my job. I’ve explained to them that I have more surgery expected next month and I also photocopied appointment letters for my consultant, lymphoedema nurse and psychotherapist, but it seems that if you are ‘capable’ of filling-in these forms, phoning them and attending their medicals, then you are ‘capable’ of working…they don’t seem to care if you have any medical problems or are undergoing any treatment! It’s all very stressfull and upsetting, but the psychotherapist said they have a system to follow, so let it run its course and try not to worry about it too much, just make sure you get your Appeal in ASAP.

Good luck, Samm xx

Does this ring a bell for anyone???

Hope this gives you a chuckle’

I will be posting some more unsavoury stuff about ATOS and DWP. I was at my GP today who was shocked to the gills at what the “medical” entails. Seems that GPs actually don’t know anything about ATOS. I am emailing her the ATOS employees handbook - the web address is, I think - disabilityalliance.org/esahandbook.pdf

This tells the “DR” how to discredit the ‘claimant’ ie we poor sods who have the misfortune to become ill, but not die within 6 months of diagnosis.

I urge you all, BCC moderators included, to examnine their brief in full and would welcome any comments.

The Boob Poem

For years and years they told me,
To be careful of your breasts.
Don’t ever squeeze or bruise them.
And give them monthly tests.
So I heeded all their warnings,
And protected them by law.
I guarded them most carefully,
And I always wore my bra.
After 30 years of gentle care,
My doctor, Dr. Pruitt,
Said I should get a Mammogram.
“O.K,” I said, “let’s do it.”
Stand up here real close" she said,
(She got my boob in line),
And tell me if it hurts," she said,
“Ah yes! Right there, that’s fine.”
She stepped upon a pedal,
I could not believe my eyes,
A plastic plate came slamming down,
My boob in a vice!
My skin was stretched and mangled,
From underneath my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed,
To Swedish Pancake thin.
Excruciating pain I felt,
within it’s vice-like grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing,
My poor defenceless tit!
“Take a deep breath” she said to me,
Who does she think she’s kidding?!?
My chest is mashed in her machine,
And woozy I am getting.
“There, that’s good,” I heard her say,
(The room was slowly swaying.)
"Now, let’s just do the other one.
‘Have mercy,’ I was praying.
Next time that they make me do this,
I will request a blindfold.
I have no wish to see again,
My knockers getting steamrolled.
If I had no problem when I came in,
I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there,
It would have gone “ker-pow!”
This machine was created by a man,
Of this, I have no doubt.
I’d like to stick his balls in there,
And see how THEY come out.

Much love - and don’t be too dispondant. There is a backlash against the injustice met upon we disabled.

Annie x

Absolutely brilliant poem Annie.

I’ve got an ATOS medical coming up within the next couple of weeks. My MacMillan benefits advisor told me that it’s highly likely that they’ll find me “fit for work” as there is nothing in the examination which takes into account post-treatment fatigue etc., so I expect to have to appeal the decision. The ATOS handbook is very informative. Thank you.

Sue xx

Yeah pet, mine’s tomprrow. I have toothcombed the handbook and ther is no mention of pain, fatigue, future treatments. It’s a test of if you can walk up 2 steps (even if yo need a handrail to do so_ The assumption is if you can walk up 2, you can walk up 2002) If you have incontinence of the bowel, it has to be “full evacuation” ??? If you have a stoma, if you can change and empty it, you are fit for work. Likewise if you can wash your torso, move froma wheelchair to another chair without the assisance of another person, you can be deemed fit for work. So those disabled paople living alone and strugglin EVEN more than those living with family, are clearly fit for work. This is total madness. I am aghast that the charities so well funded and supported are not spearheading the campaign again this clear abuse. Yes BCC and MacMillan, I mean you!

ATOS/DWP also are instructing their “Health Care Professionals” - who dont seem to work in hospitals … definitly question their title, status and credentials. They work to DWP targets, and are paid bonuses for reaching them. Massive bonuses, out of OUR texpayers ever dwindleing resources. DWP say ATOS are independant of them, ATOS claim that they don’t make the decision on “claimants” ATOS’s ‘customer’ is DWP (Check ATOS’s site, also check ‘careers’ and question why any Doctor, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist woulod want to leave a noble organisation such as the NHS (or private practice) to work for a money driven, bonus based VERY MUCH FOR PROFIT shower like ATOS. WHo fail 80% of we suffers onthe most spurious of reasons.

Gotta face it folks, something is so rotten here that it needs to be faed, adressed, brought to it’s knees.

My GP yesterday was horrified that I was to attend one of these “tests”, as was mu oncologist last Friday. Neither had any idea of the nature of the assessment. Did you? I didn’t before I did the most cursory overview of what ATOS/DWP are doing, and what they plan to do.

It is largely overlooked as no one who is gravely ill, or recouperating from a life threatening and life limiting condition would ever have imagined that they might be considered to be feigning their illness. But everyone of us is in the crosshairs. THE HAndbook “if claimant can go to aa supermarket, he is likely to be able to walk 800 metres without difficulty” So a weekly shop will ean you have complete mobility. So you can’t shop, do laundry, put your rubbish out, walk up 2 stairs with a handrail, watch a film (90 mins seated) go to the cimema or a function, tidy the garden, stand at the school gates for your children, stand for more than 10 minutes, use public transport - or drive - or you are fighting fit.

I urge ALL of you to read this Handbook!!! It will make your blood run cold.

Be prepared, be angry - contact your MP. Badger DWP. Tell your REAL Health Care Professionals what the “MEdical Assessment” entails, print off the Handbook and give it to your GP, your Cnsultants and anyone involved in your care paln, be aware of the agenda firing it, get organised as we are an easy target for a viscous regime. Be safe, be happy, be angry. We do have the ability to stop this abuse, but we will have to do it ourselves in the absense of any noise from those who claim to represent us.

Godbless and wish me luck for tomorrow. I am fired up, angry and exhaused all in equal measure

Hope you all have a good and peaceful evening,

Annie xx

Yeah pet, mine’s tomprrow. I have toothcombed the handbook and ther is no mention of pain, fatigue, future treatments. It’s a test of if you can walk up 2 steps (even if yo need a handrail to do so_ The assumption is if you can walk up 2, you can walk up 2002) If you have incontinence of the bowel, it has to be “full evacuation” ??? If you have a stoma, if you can change and empty it, you are fit for work. Likewise if you can wash your torso, move froma wheelchair to another chair without the assisance of another person, you can be deemed fit for work. So those disabled paople living alone and strugglin EVEN more than those living with family, are clearly fit for work. This is total madness. I am aghast that the charities so well funded and supported are not spearheading the campaign again this clear abuse. Yes BCC and MacMillan, I mean you!

ATOS/DWP also are instructing their “Health Care Professionals” - who dont seem to work in hospitals … definitly question their title, status and credentials. They work to DWP targets, and are paid bonuses for reaching them. Massive bonuses, out of OUR texpayers ever dwindleing resources. DWP say ATOS are independant of them, ATOS claim that they don’t make the decision on “claimants” ATOS’s ‘customer’ is DWP (Check ATOS’s site, also check ‘careers’ and question why any Doctor, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist woulod want to leave a noble organisation such as the NHS (or private practice) to work for a money driven, bonus based VERY MUCH FOR PROFIT shower like ATOS. WHo fail 80% of we suffers onthe most spurious of reasons.

Gotta face it folks, something is so rotten here that it needs to be faed, adressed, brought to it’s knees.

My GP yesterday was horrified that I was to attend one of these “tests”, as was mu oncologist last Friday. Neither had any idea of the nature of the assessment. Did you? I didn’t before I did the most cursory overview of what ATOS/DWP are doing, and what they plan to do.

It is largely overlooked as no one who is gravely ill, or recouperating from a life threatening and life limiting condition would ever have imagined that they might be considered to be feigning their illness. But everyone of us is in the crosshairs. THE HAndbook “if claimant can go to aa supermarket, he is likely to be able to walk 800 metres without difficulty” So a weekly shop will ean you have complete mobility. So you can’t shop, do laundry, put your rubbish out, walk up 2 stairs with a handrail, watch a film (90 mins seated) go to the cimema or a function, tidy the garden, stand at the school gates for your children, stand for more than 10 minutes, use public transport - or drive - or you are fighting fit.

I urge ALL of you to read this Handbook!!! It will make your blood run cold.

Be prepared, be angry - contact your MP. Badger DWP. Tell your REAL Health Care Professionals what the “MEdical Assessment” entails, print off the Handbook and give it to your GP, your Cnsultants and anyone involved in your care paln, be aware of the agenda firing it, get organised as we are an easy target for a viscous regime. Be safe, be happy, be angry. We do have the ability to stop this abuse, but we will have to do it ourselves in the absense of any noise from those who claim to represent us.

Godbless and wish me luck for tomorrow. I am fired up, angry and exhaused all in equal measure

Hope you all have a good and peaceful evening,

Annie xx

Good luck tomorrow Annie. Please let me know how you get on.

Sue xx

Annie good luck tomorrow. Have read through the ATOS hand book and can say I am truly appalled but unfortunately not in the least surprised. I only got ESA for 3 weeks as went back to work. Am still getting letters approx 1 a week demanding that I fill in a med form for them or my ESA will be stopped. Meanwhile ATOS are my work place OCC Health advisors.This consultation was a phone call and I quickly realised that all the questions were based on the DLA form eg can I lift a kettle 1/2 full of water, full of water. Can I do my own gardening ( excuse me had main surgeries over May-July last year so couldn’t) and in any case could have lived in a high rise flat with no garden. NONE of the questions related to my ability to do my job, indeed my treatments were not even mentioned.
I told my director that I hoped they had not paid a lot for this as they had been robbed but not to worry I can make everyone in the office a cup of tea as I can lift a kettle. Then Occ Health wrote my prognosis on the letter back to HR as they had done back in March last year after a 10 min phone call. This most recent time they had been told specifically not to comment on my prognosis.At no point was I told that they would do this and none of the questions addressed anything remotely like this so how could she reach this conclusion? Go get a spade quick was about the level of her prognosis for me.( all of which goes against the advice in their hand book) Sorry I could rant for the UK about this but am so infuriated by them. A lovely friend of mine, who is a Dr started the training to be an ATOS advisor and when she found out what it involved felt it was impossible to properly advise on some one’s health given the constaints placed on her.Good Luck to you all dealing with ATOS. Jackie

Thia is advice from a survivor of the ESA farce.

Cannot express enough that ACTION must be taken against this organisation. OUR lives and income are in their hands when we are at our most vulnerable. I URGE you to log onto the link to their ‘bible’ Read it carefully, verbatim, cross reference it. This would not be allowed in any European counrty. Previous to this handbook, we had one of the strictest criteria in Europe, on the basis of this Handbook, we seem to have slipped into 1930’s Germany. You might have to be in an iron lung to qualify for Support Group ESA, read it carefully. Paraplegics are not qualified.

I am clearly horrified because I have become seriously ill. But this is not personal. My mother lived for 17 years in a wheelchair, having spent 3 months in ICU. Unknown virus, they would have named it after my mum if it wasn’t so rare as to never have happened again. I took care of my dad till his death and nursed my brother through the last weeks of his life. Cancer of the gullet. I have no time for malingerers or spongers - less than anybody. Oh, and worked all the way through the above. I aslo ran Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme, a charity providing Care for Carers. SO BUHLIEVE me, I despise leeches and spongers.

Oh, and organisations who are happy to take donations but are non-contentious. Easy enough to arrange a fashion show. A wee bit glam and a good chuckle. Cynical? Moi???

Follows lassies is a post from a survivor of Christmas Past/Present/Future ESA experience. Since few survivors of cancer on this site seem to have been affected, or are too shy to discuss the torture of OUR benefits system I will stick my neck out. It has bankrupt me, drained me of all savings, and now, as I have been soo ill that I have £220 a week on which to live, has decided that I must be punished. 5% on those going to ATOS are passed on my benifit. Comments BCC?? I would love for you to accompany our girls to these assessments.

This is an account from a claimant.

It is a well established fact that the DWP Personal Capability Assessment is difficult to pass. This is because the DWP and ATOS Origin have conspired against the sick and disabled and have deliberately designed to assessment to benefit the DWP and not, as it is reported to to help the claimant back to work. This biased assessment is little more than an official method of denying you benefits you may be legally entitled to. There is an appeals procedure, however it is a very long and drawn out process which can take up to a year to resolve so be prepared for a siege. Based upon evidence and case studies provided by P.C.A. veterans I have put together a check list you may wish to run through before you go to your appointment.

On receiving communication to attend from ATOS contact your local authority welfare rights officer or CAB IMMEDIATELY for assistance in completing the ESA 85 or IB50 form.

It is imperative you read these three Manuals to understand the ESA WCA with a view to gaining enough points to pass.
You must be aware ATOS HEALTHCARE will use any excuse to deny you benefit.

Google ESA WCA Descriptors click on ESA work capability descriptors.

Google LiMA V3 technical manual med IBPW001e

Google ESA Handbook 1 Finalmed-esahb-01
Use the wording in the descriptors to explain your condition

Be prepared to make extensive notes including name of caller etc of any calls to or from the DWP or ATOS after receiving the form. Record these if possible

When completing the form make sure you stick to facts you can prove, do not embellish your symptoms, be precise in your use of medical terms.

Make a full copy of the ESA85 or IB50 form BEFORE YOU POST IT.

Do not include any copies medical reports or additional information as this will be ignored by the ATOS HCP, this information should be handed in by appointment to the Decision Maker when you start the appeals process.

Make arrangements to be accompanied on the day of the examination, make arrangements for a stand in, in case your first choice can not go on the day.

Make a list of any medication you are taking.

Make an accurate list (times and dates) of any Doctors appointments, specialists appointments Hospital visits, doctors visits, hospitalisation in relation to your claim etc

Always attend accompanied

Record your arrival time

Record waiting time

Record time examination starts

Do not be afraid to decline physical movements if they would cause you pain.

Record HCP name

Record HCP Title & or qualifications

Get your companion to make notes during the examination.

Record time examination ends

Record the time you leave

Check the credentials of your HCP with the BMA

Call your local JC+ within 24 Hours requesting a copy of the HCP report.

Do not take any further action until you have the Decision Makers report.

If you have been passed fit for work you must act immediately to appeal, you have one month from the date of the letter to do so.

The appeals process requires you to appeal directly to the Decision Maker first, be prepared to wait this can take a while.

Whilst waiting:-

Make a F.O.I. request for any information ATOS Origin hold on you

Make a FOI request for a copy of the video footage of you entering and leaving the building.

Make a FOI request for any audio recordings ATOS may have made during the time of your visit (even if they are for training purposes).

Yes, this is why 75% of claimants are ‘Fit to Work’

Citizen’s Advice Bureau haad slammed ATOS “Not Fit For Purpose” - a BBC Scotland also slammed ATOS, google ATOS+BBC Scotland.

BCC - is there anybody out there …

Annie x

Breast Cancer Care fully shares your anger and concern about the changes being implemented in the benefits system to the detriment of breast cancer patients. It has been a challenging time what with all the changes happening in Government policy around budget cuts and NHS reform, and we are working hard in this area to ensure breast cancer patients are not penalised in a system that makes no bones about the fact that its aims are to reduce the number of people claiming disability and other benefits.

Your forum posts make it clear that the cuts to benefits are affecting you greatly and we understand how stressful and frustrating the process is. You are perfectly right to ask us what Breast Cancer Care is doing about this. Unfortunately in the last year we have not had the capacity within the team or the resources for high profile materials to make this into a big, public-facing campaign. But many of our Voices and forum members feel as strongly as you do about this, and we have been doing work on this issue behind the scenes. We have reported on some work we started last year about the very issues you are so rightly angry about here on the forums. To recap on our activity in this area so far:

• Breast Cancer Care is a member of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC). This a group made up of a number of charities working across the disability and patient group voluntary sector, with a specific focus on campaigning and trying to influence policy on the cuts to benefits that are affecting the patients we represent. For more information about us click here: disabilityalliance.org/dbc.htm

• The DBC have had various meetings with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and policy-makers working in this area with a very firm position on the proposed changes to the Disability Living Allowance (DLA): these changes are not fair and are having a disproportionately negative impact on disabled people, and people with long-term conditions compared to other groups. DBC is also meeting with the Government DLA Reform Team in February to discuss our concerns face-to-face.

• DBC (with RNIB leading this work) is pulling together evidence on the impact of time-limiting contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

• Breast Cancer Care will be responding to the DLA Reform consultation

• We have recently sent a letter to Chris Grayling MP on the changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) that is the medical assessment that determines whether people are eligible for ESA or Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). We express our grave concerns on the Internal Review into the WCA. We urge him to implement Professor Harrington’s recommendations instead (which is a much fairer assessment of how the system needs to change) as a matter of urgency, and not divert resources and risk further problems for vulnerable people by implementing the internal review.

• Citizens Advice Bureaux (also a member of the DBC) is producing a report in March 2011. It has been agreed the DBC will use this to try to get the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Atos Healthcare.

• We are analysing the results of a big survey we did on the ESA and DLA with the DBC late last year. We incorporated a specific section of the survey for those people with breast cancer. This was publicised on the online forums last year. Once we have analysed the results we are planning to use the results in more media-focused work. If you would like to support this area of work, please do let me know.

I would just like to reiterate again that this is on our radar and we are planning to dedicate even more time to this issue this year, as the cutbacks really start to bite. I realise we haven’t been very ‘public’ with this work. As I said, this has been because of resource and capacity issues and so we have had to do most of our work as members of the DBC. We will keep you posted more on our work on this area when the new website is up and running and we have a more regularly updated policy and campaigns section on the website.

kiran.dhami@breastcancercare.org.uk

Hi Annie,
Many many thanks for taking so much time & trouble to forewarn us of all the sneaky" tricks" to get us back to work and all your helpful info. There`s just one thing I need explaining, what is F.O.I. short for? Best wishes, Mags x

Hi guys

Attended Atos today. Will give you a full account over the weekend, but I completely exhaused at the moment (fell asleep during Eastenders, just stirred. Got letter from my MP today, and a call from one of his staff as i was waiting to go in for the interview. I will tell you of it’s contents later. Most interestin. Very promising. I urge you all to contact your MPs. If yo like, I will dig out the e-mail I sent him and you could cut and paste and use it as a kind of template?

Going to watch TV in bed, and hoping for a good night’s sleep. So glad I got it over, waiting game now.

Remember there are protests planned throughout the country against the attack on the ill/disabled.

Lots of love.

Annie xx

Thanks BCC for your response. The scale of this problem is staggering and most people appear not to want to talk about it. Embaressment (I totally buy into that!) I am all for weeding out abuse and have no concerns about medicals in the slightest. But this system is nothing short of a disgrace. You will know the Handbook better than I - I only stumbled into this whole swamp because I did a casual check to get an idea what the “medical” entailed, so am still trying to absorb the details. Just be aware that 80% of claimants are suffering deeply, and I might be counted in that number. I would be most willing to assist in any way. I beg everyone affected by Atos to come forward and share their experience.

FOI stands for Freedom Of Information.

Godbless everyone - strengh in numbers and knowledge

Annie xxxx

Hi Annie

I would definitely like a copy of your email. Perhaps you could PM me a copy?

Sue xx

Hi Floss

i think the most important thing is to study closely the Atos/DWP manual, as that is their bible. It is riddled with contradictions and will give you an insight into the way they are instructed to operate. Assessors who don’t meet targets (ie bonuses) are soon pulled up. A BBC Scotland documentary had a testimony from a female assessor who left, and her statement was anon. I can’t understand the shroud of secrecy surround the French IT company!!! I am very much in favour of principle and the lack of wheasle words.

Like i said, I would welcome a medical. My life long conditions determined by Consultants after scans etc are indisputable. And incurable. All caused by my cancer treatment. BUT THESE AREN’T MEDICALS -THEY ARE EXAMS.There have been several questions raised in parliament this week re Atos. My MP is on the case. I got a letter from him just as I was leaving to go to the assessment, and is assitant actually called me as I was having my expenses form filled out for me!!

I’ve been too exhausted to do anything today. My sis and nephew took me out to lunch today, and I am ready to hit the sack.

PM me if you want to get me mobile number to discuss the nature of my assessment and all that I have found out about the unholy alliance between the DWP and Atos.

Nighy night - I just yawned so hardmy jaw cracked. Need, need, need to sleep …

Annie xxx

disabilityalliance.org/eashandbook.pdf

Hi Girls

Got my report from Atos, got 18 points. Which means I will get ESA - am “severly disabled” But can go back to work within 6 months! I will holiday in Lourdes!

Ok for anyone trepiderious about their exam -“medical”. Perpare to fail. If you can take cereal. fruit, make a cup of tea - you are classed as ‘able to make snacks’

If you live alone - you can self care. (you would be dead otherwise)

If you can wash your torso, that ticks a box in their assessment. Ergo if you can travel by public transport or drive (their are no parking facilities, so you will have to walk to the centre) Expect to be questioned about this.

There were steps leading up to the floor - 2 and 4. This could disallow you as the Handbook stated that 2 steps - even with a handrail - means that one can walk upstairs. The entrance access button is low, Meaning that you can bend to activate it. AlL OF THIS IS RECORDED. I complained to the security about this and they said “talk to them upstairs”

My HCP was a physiotherapist, always ask for your report.

There were 22 mistakes in my report, some minor, some glaring. I asked at the beginning of the interview (at least Louisa, the physio, had the good grace to call it an interview and not a ‘medical’) if I could record the interview. She consulted with a team leader and I was advised that the interview could only be recorded if THEY set up the audio equipment, at my expense.

Check how much these HCP’s are being paid, out of our public purse.

My anger, sadness and disbelief at where we have come to are in equal measure. But anger pervails.

BCC are working behind the scenes. I am sure MacMillan are stating the same. Progress seems to be slow, if not sluggish …

Anyhow, a very tired auld wummin is past her bedtime

Cheers m’dears

Annie xxx