How lucky I am

Not wrote on my blog for a while now, its kinda hard to publish anything to an electronically powered structure , i.e. 'the internet', when one does not have a supply of electric to power it by. Tis slightly hard to come by in the middle of the UK surrounded by nothing but fields, trees, air and the new comer, frost! Oh and a mysterious heavy footed darkness dwelling creature which is yet to be seen but is apparently the long forgotten about " can't reminder the actual name, something beast maybe? " the panther anyway, in the Yorkshire dales. Will return with full details and possible jaw diameter and fang measurements.

This post is to say just how lucky I am to be a homeless with such benefits compared to some other not so fortunate homeless people.  I had to forcefully make my body carry me into the town centre a few days ago to carry on the tortuous and grilling process of following the required steps in order of finding a home or temporary accommodation provided by the government. I understand that this is required to get a warm bed and off the streets, and that it is not going to happen overnight. Unfortunately for some, including myself, the 16 mile round trip every day for around a 5 day period when homeless, hungry, tired, weak from hunger and carrying your possessions on your back or in my case a bicycle, is not the easiest task to carry out successfully without causing serious illness, harm and I believe possible death in worst case extreme scenarios. Luckily for me the worse I experienced was just a few occasions of collapsing and blackouts. But powering through I did, or had too should I say. As informing the government or advisors dealing with the process got me nowhere other than being inadvertently called a liar, chuckled at, brushed off with sarcasm and a can't be arsed yawning reply telling me that it's my only option and if I didn't make it into town to see them, then nothing would be done, and they didn't say this bit, but would pretty much be forgotten about and left to rot. In a nut shell. So not actuality realising this until being placed in the front row and seeing it for myself, I never realised exactly what it was that homeless COULD be put through in what is more than likely the worst, humiliating, hardest, downer they would ever have to go through. And I emphasise the COULD as this will not be the case for every unfortunate sole out there in minus 5 oC conditions. So next time statements are made about a homeless by anyone you know, tell them to have some respect and think about what they are saying before assuming and judging. I doubt they would make it that far.

So full details will be included in a following post. A quick overview is I have been living in a tent which has protected me from the wind and rain and have had the amazing support of three gentlemen in particular who have helped feed me and protect me from the horrible weather conditions by providing me with clothes and a patch on a field where I could make fires to warm me in these killer winter nights. My friends will be blessed in their own post along with details of these three life saving soles in which o briefly mention. But with this brief overview in thought, as I passed this one particular ill looking homeless man while walking down a cold street. It made me feel and realise just how lucky I am to have the ability to warm myself with fire and cook a slice of bread or can of spaghetti to warm me up for the freezing night ahead. I know you may think well they could do that too, or they have that option if they tried hard enough to find it. Thing is, how do we know that, we have no idea about any aspect of anything to do with that person sitting in the corner where Friday night raver's piss on the following Saturday morning after spending a ton on booze and drugs. And maybe it's just my way of thinking, but I doubt I'm the only one with a heart. But I felt so sorry and bad for this person who now lives a life of scraping survival's bumpy surface, that with my last bit of money which I was going to treat myself to a greasy something warm bit of food. I instead felt this human being was in more of a need. So without asking I went into Greggs and bought a meaty pasty, a sugary drink and cookie deal and was made the happiest person when I handed it to him and saw the appreciation and grateful expressions on his face, and the desperation for a bit of life saving fuel to see him through that little bit longer. I didn't stand and chat or announce it to the world for recollection, and I'm not doing that now. I just want to express and point out that no matter what your going through or how down and alone you feel. There is always someone either going through the same thing or worse off. And as horrible as this may sound or cone across. That feeling or should I say realisation that there is someone worse off, and where I could be myself, made me feel so lucky and I guess happy in the knowing that for one I just helped a person in need, on my own influenced judgement call, and that I could myself be a lot worse off then what I am.  So a homeless person I may be, but a happy homeless person is me. Hope you see where I'm coming from and make the most of what you have, and the loved ones which have you.

Posted by Pat and his black and white Riverside Rat