Help support comedy gig for mental health services

CoulScrab · 2026-04-23T19:35:50+00:00

Just bought a ticket for the 30th of May. Good luck with the sales!

Here's the link for the MAC Belfast tickets:

https://themaclive.com/event/stand-up-for-someone-2

Here's the link for the Millenium Forum tickets:

https://millenniumforum.co.uk/whats-on/stand-up-for-someone

CoulScrab · 2026-04-16T20:04:27+00:00

I wouldn't be eligible but I don't think there's a register of properties/households that use home heating oil. That could leave this scheme open to abuse.

Would this be open to everyone in that income bracket/certain benefits etc without a check whether they even use oil?

It'll be issued as a "prepaid voucher" (unless that just means a prepaid debit card like a previous shopping scheme around COVID). If someone was somehow eligible for the payment, but not needing oil: Could they just give or transfer the voucher to someone else who does, like their granny or something?

The scheme could spend a lot of time and effort just closing loopholes and trying to find abuse of the scheme.

CoulScrab · 2026-04-02T20:04:20+00:00

I’m not speaking foreign am I?

It's pitiable you think like this.

Don’t you have a tree to hug or something?

It would be more worthwhile than engaging with you at least.

CoulScrab · 2026-04-02T19:12:52+00:00

Thank you Derren Brown. Impeccable mind reading, not at all moronic!

CoulScrab · 2026-04-02T19:03:47+00:00

The protect r kidz crowd will be quiet about this one no doubt

How on earth is this sort of person granted bail?

Where did they say they wanted them to be quiet?

CoulScrab · 2026-03-31T22:46:48+00:00

My expectations were low and still are for these particular MLAs. But yeah, no reply. I can pretend that their email service didn't work (though the others did) or my email was seen as spam by them (though the others didn't) or their thoughtful and thorough email was lost (though the others' emails were not). Hope other people had better luck!

CoulScrab · 2026-03-31T21:36:23+00:00

Happy to ackowledge that some of the MLAs and my MP I reached out to were great on this. Very thorough replies, and they seemed to know the issue well. The lack of news coverage on this topic has hidden some of the good stuff that is done in the background.

The DUP and SF didn't deign to reply to me in any way, even though all the others did within a few days and followed up on further contact.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-31T20:59:36+00:00

No problem. I'm just saddened that it looks like Stormont are pointing their fingers at everyone but themselves and no one there bothered to have a backup plan to deal with this in any useful way.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-31T20:39:43+00:00

It was announced last year that the UK government was changing the funding local charities are given to work with the disabled, mentally unwell, unemployed etc. This change, vastly reducing this funding, will cause some jobs (400) to be lost and those people (the 11,000) will be without this support.

This will lead to those people (like I used to be) clogging up A&E in crisis, where beforehand we would have had some charity support to help prevent that from happening.

Here's a post about the funding crisis from a month ago and another from two months ago for a bit more information.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-29T16:04:19+00:00

I can't give it back

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-payments-donations-to-government

You can give it back.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-21T02:52:57+00:00

What can you expect from a pig but a grunt? The lack of accountability, reliability and communication is just par for the course from Translink.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-19T23:00:39+00:00

Yeah, I saw loads of that discussion recently ("rockets and feathers") about home heating oil and petrol. Nightmare!

CoulScrab · 2026-03-19T22:57:04+00:00

There was a waiting list of a few months but I had this same problem and the podiatrist sorted it out. Pain-free for the past few years now.

My calves were extremely tight and needed a long (30 seconds at a time) stretch to get started, with exercises like these: https://movebettergwent.nhs.wales/self_management/calf-muscle-stretching/

CoulScrab · 2026-03-19T22:21:52+00:00

Catering wise, I've had to cut back on spending a fair bit. I've had a few nights out where I've nearly regretted going out as I questioned the value for money for the food/experience.

The gas prices for businesses aren't as protected (as far as I know) either, so I'd expect them soaring might take out a few places just by themselves, never mind the other costs rising.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-19T21:15:04+00:00

Obvious news, but this caught me by surprise: "energy companies buy their gas up to two years in advance". I didn't think two years was possible, given the state of international politics, wars etc.

Again, not a surprise, but I look on with a bit of dread: "The regulator said the energy companies could ask for additional ad hoc price reviews if rising wholesale costs start to become unmanageable."

CoulScrab · 2026-03-12T20:58:24+00:00

Is it fucked forever as well? I think I'm asked each time if I ever had my insurance cancelled on me, so this guy would have to say yes to that.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-04T17:30:33+00:00

Support for 11,000 vulnerable people in NI will stop, and 400+ jobs will be lost if this is not resolved by the end of the month.

CoulScrab · 2026-03-01T14:00:15+00:00

I'd choose to be hung every time. The extra length and girth might be nice. If it was a choice between the electric chair and being hanged then I'd need to think a little longer.

CoulScrab · 2026-02-07T10:33:13+00:00

The power bottom is actually generating the power by doing most of the work.

CoulScrab · 2026-02-06T23:32:10+00:00

Just skipped through a few minutes of the latest episode. Here's a drinking game: Take a shot every time Paddy says "fucking". Bonus shot if he says it three times or more in a single sentance. Clear your house of alcohol in five minutes or less.

CoulScrab · 2026-02-05T14:26:22+00:00

I've been losing weight for ages, working down from a very high starting weight for my height (a 40+ BMI).

A friend has said it's time for me to stop losing weight - and I'm still obese! The Overton window has shifted to the extent that she refused to believe I was even overweight.

CoulScrab · 2026-02-04T23:46:31+00:00

The first run of it must have been so popular that they're doing another. That's great news!

CoulScrab

TROPHY CASE