I really understand where you at. Its finished up over here for me too I decided I'm going to continue applying for jobs but that I may just try to give the puppet thing ago and if it works out great and if not then hopefully one of the resumes will be to a job

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Hmm, not quite the same place. I've already tried the 'puppet thing', which is why I'm at where I'm at. But I get you.

I've basically decided to do the stupid thing and chuck in the whole government silliness all together. It's not official yet as I've not had the time to go in and do it, but I'm strongly leaning towards taking myself off the dole (stupid I know!) which gets me out of their regimen of cookie-cutter solutions; not bother with getting the disability reviewed - again - since it's just making my life more stressful...

I am fortunate I've spent the last year and a bit saving as much as possible, so I can take some 'time off' to try and re-stabilise, and then unfortunately must throw myself back into scraping together some savings again. At this stage that means 2 things: going back to freelance work, which at least is something I have somewhat success in obtaining; and re-starting my business as I had hoped. The idea being that at least I can structure the work around my health issues, rather than the other way around and make myself more sick.

Due to various personal issues, some of which are described above at the link, I think I'm far 'better' off simply doing things my way instead of hoping various officials notice I'm not their average job seeker. Of course it puts me precariously back into the position I was before, but at the very least I'll feel like I have more say in what happens next and/or ensure I have a job I can cope with and not one I will end up quitting/getting fired from due to my health.

It's a scary thought, which is why I haven't done it yet. On the one hand the social security net is there for a reason; on the other hand, the net tends to have a bounce if you're not exactly the person it was made for.

... Hope things are better for you on the other side of the world. It's really rather sad that our governments can be so useless at times.

Na I do hope things get better for you I hate to hear people having such difficultys now.

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Na I do hope things get better for you I hate to hear people having such difficultys now.

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Thanks. Am doing better emotionally, but mostly just dragging myself out of bed to complete some web designs and then collapsing back in it again. I'm hoping when these are -finally- done I can take the time to properly get better.

Posted an update:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-make-things-better/x/7091435

Got a large contribution, and a couple of smaller ones. My plans to buy a cutting machine or do much of anything else has been somewhat scrapped due to an unfortunate case of anti-Midas-touch: I broke my 2-seat couch that I use as a 'work chair'. It was a cheapie but I will be replacing it with the money raised so far... but this time I'll get a proper chair which leaves me space for a better work space in my room. I plan on rearranging my storage tubs into two desk spaces, one for laptop work, one for building work. This slightly cheers me up as there's currently nowhere for me to continue doing product making anymore and I have decided where the couch is I can make a nice corner desk/office area. Far more sensible than a 2-seat couch in a narrow small room anyway.

I'm liking having all my belongings in re-arrangeable tubs. Makes changing things a whole lot easier and can be done 'on the fly' as it were.

HI Na, I have been following your life story for a while. I echo a lot of your experience. I can say though, that you  have quite a straight head on your shoulders. You analyse things very well, you can spot pitfalls, and have quite an objective view, although to some, it may not seem like it due to your situation and the stress you are under. I think you have a good head on your shoulders and hope that you can bring it all together into something that will work for you. I'm sorry I am not much help...but as The Puppet Workshop said... chin up.

Hi Na,
I just happened to spot your post & read your story today. I remember you from when I was on P&S more frequently a while back. So sorry that your having trouble. I made a small donation, wish it could have been more. I'm struggling too, but still blessed and glad to share what I can with a fellow enthusiast in our small puppet community.

Hugs to you & best of luck
puppet-planet

Apologies for not replying sooner. I've been under immense pressure to force myself to complete some work and it has not only taken me ages (and I'm ignoring it as I write this) but also has inflicted much boredom and lack of motivation. I kept my head away from P&S for the time being just to focus on meeting my deadline.

HI Na, I have been following your life story for a while. I echo a lot of your experience. I can say though, that you  have quite a straight head on your shoulders. You analyse things very well, you can spot pitfalls, and have quite an objective view, although to some, it may not seem like it due to your situation and the stress you are under. I think you have a good head on your shoulders and hope that you can bring it all together into something that will work for you. I'm sorry I am not much help...but as The Puppet Workshop said... chin up.

Thank you for those kind words. Although to be honest, the description is both accurate *and* inaccurate. I've always suffered from depression, before my teens. Having a 'straight head' is not exactly a term I'd use to describe myself; in fact, muddle-headed and 'odd' is more like it. Analysing comes out of habit; having to deal with my illness on my own taught me that insight was usually the best way to finding solutions or techniques for handling problems. I doubt I'm objective, but I do try my best.

And funnily enough today this comment is at odds with something I've just done: a tough decision that most people would decry as idiotic and short-sighted, and even I think that to some extent. I am very much a person who will screw the long term just for the short term benefits.

But honestly... I'm very very happy to hear that I come off as all those things. It's hard to see from under this current cloud of stress, and it's heartening to hear that someone else thinks I'm capable of more than I think I am or perhaps see things in me that my illness blurs out.

Hi Na,
I just happened to spot your post & read your story today. I remember you from when I was on P&S more frequently a while back. So sorry that your having trouble. I made a small donation, wish it could have been more. I'm struggling too, but still blessed and glad to share what I can with a fellow enthusiast in our small puppet community.

Hugs to you & best of luck
puppet-planet

Michele, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you posting here, even if it's under 'bad' circumstances. I've often wondered how you were doing since we heard from you last, and I'm sorry that you're still having problems (boy, it's very true that getting out of extreme poverty and bad situations takes more than a year or two!) and I hope that you continue to go on an upswing. It was especially touching to receive your donation given how bad things were for you - if I could be there right now you'd get a very big hug, but this will have to do...

Thank you so much for your donation and for taking time to support me here.

I'm pleased to announce I've gotten off my ass enough that I have created my new website - or at least the blog page for it - and those who donated can now find their credits on there, as promised as part of their rewards.

See littleboxbiguniverse.com

Incidentally, let me know what you think of the site. It's not exactly how I want it yet, although all that's left is one piece of aesthetics that I can't figure out how to do. (Not compatible with tablets or phones yet...)

I have also started work on the digital poster, but got sidetracked with the website and other things. I'd like to say that my mood's improved: unfortunately it hasn't. I went on holiday over a month ago but have come back to more of the same so goodness knows what'll be happening next.

Thanks everyone for their donations anyway. I have put it aside and am growing interest on the money and I will keep it safe until I can do more on the new-brand front.

Campaign poster/reward now complete. See
http://littleboxbiguniverse.com/index.php/2014/11/campaign-poster-complete