Thursday, November 27, 2008

Job Work in Process - Email to Support Person

I decided to sent an email off to my Support Person S, to thank her for her help so far and to also let her know I won't need anymore help at the moment. I just need to discuss the desk concerns with my employer's and then coordinate the delivery of the desk. Below is my email.


I would like to thank you very much for your help in finding a job and supporting me through the interview part in late July. As you know it has been a bit of a nightmare since then and you have been involved with some of the early contacts with WINZ and others.

I have spent hours in the last 12 weeks phoning and e-mailing WINZ and Workbridge about funding, getting quotes, contacting DRC, NMA, MDN and CCS to find an OT and organising OT appointments, contacting OfficeMax, DRC, Telecom re equipment, and keeping the two Co-Managers up to date. It's ridiculous that all these government bodies can't provide one person to solve someone's problems in a few weeks. At this rate it will take nearly eight months from finding the job to actually starting!

It would be easier for me now to finish the purchase and delivery of the desk and set the starting date on my own and I will deal directly with the employer's until that is all done.

I hope you would be happy to leave me to it now and I will contact you again after I have actually started in the job and I can tell you how it is getting on.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Job Work in Process - Frustrating Day

Yesterday I was down at the mall so I went into the Telecom shop to ask about the headset to find they don't supply those headsets. I contacted T at Workbridge and informed her that I tried the Telecom Shop and nothing happened, she also had done some phoning around and also contacted the Telecom shop I visited and found out the same thing, they don't supply those headsets. T said that she will arrange to get them from another store like DickSmith or Noel Leemings and to wait for another letter to come in the mail.

TODAY has been quite stressfull thanks to S my Support Worker. S rang this morning to say she has heard that Workbridge have approved the equipment I need to work and I said yes they have, how did you find out? and that I was going to email you an update by the end of the week. S said she went to the workplace this morning to catch up and found out that way (I had told S that I would keep her up to date yet she still goes ahead and trys to get info via another way). S then said that the employer's wanted the information about the desk length to see how it will fit and some other stuff. S also said I need to keep them up to date, well that kinda offened me as I have right through this whole process.

I then rang one of the employer's and talked to them about how the equipment is being delivered and payed etc and gave her the desk measurements. She checked the measurements while I was on the phone and said that the desk will be shorter in length than there current desk, so I suggested that they put in one of there smaller desks there to make the length longer. She said she will sort something out with the other employer. Basically all this was discussed months ago at the time of the OT assessment and even before that. I asked about my start date and we all agree that it be best to start in the new year. So things were all sorted and everyone happy.

S rang me up this afternoon again to say that the other employer wasn't happy about the desk as it was too short and I told S that the desk won't be the same length excatly as there current desk as it was purpose made for them, the desk I'm getting has certian length. S then wanted to arrange a meeting with employers and me and I said no, its not needed and anything can be solved or discussed over the phone. I told S I will contact the other employer and sicuss his concerns re desk. I was really frustrated at this time as S was basically getting in the way!! and creating the process to be longer. I had everything all planned and orgainsed and everyone was happy, we just had to wait for things to arrive. I was communicating directly with the employer's too.

Job Work in Process - Reacher Arrived, Desk Ordered

This morning I heard a knock at my door at around 7.45am and I was in bed still sleeping. After I'd got ready for the day I went and opened the door to find a package, I opened it to find the Reacher/pick up stick DRC has provided me. The courier was meant to drop this off after 10am which was clearly written on the package in black, and I also had to give my signature so DRC could be payed via Workbridge.

I ray up the Courier company and told them the situation who were not impressed with the driver, and got him to return so I could sign the deliver slip.

I tested out the Reacher and it was pretty good and I was able to pick up paper etc from the floor. One item down, two to go.

Desk - I also got the three colour samples from OfficeMax and decided what colour I wanted for my desk, I choose NZ Tawa which is a light brown. The desk has been ordered and will be ready in 10 working days. Then I can arrange dates for delivery with my employer's and OfficeMax XD

Monday, November 24, 2008

Job Work in Process - Organising Equipment to be Delivered

HAHA my next steps... I wasn't going to contact the three company's where my equipment is coming from as they all would of just got their letter today. I have got a copy of each letter stating what equipment they are providing me and the detailed cost info and that I have to sign the delivery slip for each item.

Disability Resource Centre (DRC) - They rang me this morning telling me that they had to ring T at Workbridge to get my contact details and between the two of us we can arrange for delivery of the Reacher. We talked about the reacher and the one I currently use as they are different, so I'm sticking to the one that has been picked for me at extra cost LOL. DRC will ring me once they have arranged a Courier so I can be home for them.

Telecom Retail Holdings Ltd - I looked them up and couldn't find their contact details and again I only had their postal address on the letter. I rang T for the contact details and she gave me a number which didn't go far. T said to try getting the headset from any Telecom Shop and show them the letter and see if they can do it that way. I also said to T that I will wait till Friday to hear from them, as Telecom will have to contact T to get my details.

OfficeMax - I looked them up and couldn't find the right OfficeMax that went with the postal address on the letter I had so I ended up ringing there 0800# and the lady told me to contact Workbridge as they needed an account#. Rang T at Workbridge and told her the situation and she said to ring the number again and give them the REF#, did that and they still didn't know about the order from Workbridge but will pass the info onto their Manager who might know. Later I got a call from OfficeMax saying they will order the desk and get back to me about delivery. I did tell them that it can't be delivered till Dec 8th onwards and they were good with that. I then got another call about what color I want the desk to be.

I did contact my Employer who said they are too busy at the moment to have a desk delievered till December 8th onwards and that he is on his own as the other Co-Manager is away, they also are going on a course. He was happy to hear things are coming along.

Basically Workbridge sent me a letter saying this is what I'm getting with cost details and from where, with no company contact details. They send the same letter to the company and again without my contact details, meaning the company has to call Workbridge to get my details and I have to contact Workbridge to get there details. That is dumb if you ask me.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Job Work in Process - Workbridge Approved Equipment FINALLY!!

I just got a call from T at Workbridge letting me know that everything is approved!! and I should receive a letter in the weekend from her about it all. The desk is coming from OfficeMax who have been paid to deliver and setup the desk for me at my work place, the Reacher is coming from DRC a more expensive one for some reason but hey that's all good and the Headset is coming from Telecom. The letter will give me a lot more information.
Actiforce Mechanical Height Adjustable Desk

Long Handled Reacher

M214c Plantronics Headset

Once I get the letter I can contact OfficeMax about delievery time etc as I need to let my Work know so they can re-arrange there office. Will update on this more later next week.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My New Shoes Arrived.. Whaoooo

Yep my awesome new shoes arrived today and they look nice and warm, can't wait to get my feet into them tomorrow. The inside is lambs wool, the warmest wool they had and should help with my circulation. I choose the sole and how I wanted the shoes designed too.

I need to see if I can get them off without too much trouble, getting them on is ok. I don't think I will have any problems though.

Early next year I will go back to order some more shoes I can wear during the warmer seasons, but this time I'll have no seams on the shoes, just all leather and black.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Job Work in Process - Workbridge Update

I contacted T at Workbridge this afternoon asking her for any updates about the equipment application and she said that she is awaiting to get another quote for the adjustable desk with lever as they need two quotes. T said I should get a letter at the end of next week letting me know what they have approved and declined and what to do next. If desk is approved then I will be given contact details about where it's coming from and the desk people will also get my details, so we can arrange delivery time and I'd need to contact the Co-Managers so they can remove the desk from there office and get ready for the arrival of a new one.

I just looked at R (OT) email and she said she had sent Workbridge two quotes on a desk so humm wonder why T has to get more.

So maybe I'll start work at the beginning of December but it be up to the employer

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Been busy in iTunes

Over the last two day's I've been busy in iTunes, adding album images to all my songs and adding some song information too. I view my songs in Coverflow and it looks good having album pictures now. I finally finished this project around 4pm today.

My coverflow looks like this

From now on when I add new songs, I will add the album image and song info as I go.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

New Zealand Election '08 - Update

Well Phil Goff is now the Labour Party leader, taking Helen Clark's place. Phil has more experience than John Key too.

I met
Phil Goff years ago when I opened up a Kitchen at Grammar School which was used by disabled students, I still have the paper cutting.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Job Work in Process - Rang Workbridge

I contacted T from Workbridge asking her if she got the report from R (OT) and she said she has and she will talk to her Manager over the next couple of days about whether Workbridge will fund it all or WINZ will need to fund some if it!! This annoyed me a bit as Workbridge should fund it all, knowing that this is now an urgent case and asking WINZ to fund some of it will make the process even longer. T will contact me near the end of the week.

I asked T once it's been funded, what would the time frame there abouts.. would it be to get the equipment I need?? and she didn't know, she couldn't even give me a timeframe.

T at Workbridge doesn't seem to know anything and acts like a brick wall towards me, well that's how I feel about her after talking to her. She just doesn't seem to give a shit! let alone check on me on how I'm getting on.

I then rang the main number at Workbridge and said I'm ringing up for some info for a friend and asked her the same question I asked T, what's the time frame that it takes to get equipment once funding is approved and she couldn't or wouldn't give me an answer, so I asked her again with an example and she said it depends on where the equipment is coming from and if there is any in stock or they have to order the equipment, so I said 1-2 weeks then and she said I can't tell you that. I asked her to put me through to the Manager so I can ask him but he wasn't there. I don't understand why Workbridge can't give a client a simple time frame on getting equipment so they can go ahead and make other arrangements re job.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

New Zealand Election '08


It was voting day on Saturday for the Election of the two party's National - John Key and Labour - Helen Clark, we also had to vote for someone in our electorate. The voting ended at 7pm and counting started and the result came in around midnight Sunday morning. TV One and TV 3 both had a special program called Decision 08 on all night talking about it and keeping us all updated with the party vote counts % and the Electorate votes.

National - John Key took the win by quite a bit which shows that some New Zealander's wanted a change in leadership of the government for the next three years. It be interesting to see how John Key does over time as he's just started in this area. Helen Clark congratulated John and then later in her speach said she is now resigning from the Labour Party which none of her staff knew till the point she said it. Maybe Phil Goff will take her place, we shall see.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

At Friends Place, BBQ and Fireworks

I went to my friend's place last night for a BBQ, some drinks and to watch some fireworks. It was a fun and awesome nite and a late one at that too. We sat outside and talked while some cooked the meat on the BBQ. The kids that were there played on my friend's xbox and outside.

One of the guys had a really small remote controlled helicopter (length of a coke cola can) and flew it around and it was funny watching that. It flew past our heads and hitting into things. The kids ended up having a turn later and the helicopter got tangled up in one of the lady's hair haha that was so frreakin funny. I said get some scissors but that was not going to happen, they untangled the blades in the end.

Click HERE TO VIEW INFO
We ate around 8.30pm and I was pretty hungry by then. I had a little chicken, some steak and a chop, potato salad and a salad and it was all yummy. I love food that's cooked on a BBQ. I had some bubbles wine too.

Around 9pm we let off some fireworks and the kids loved it. They ran around with sparklers as well as watching the fireworks. One spinner went spinning near me and I took off in a hurry hehe. We ended up letting off four boxes of fireworks in one night. I gave some of the younger kids a ride on the back of my chair too, they stood on the back and I wheeled up and down the driveway, they loved it as it was nice and fast. I didn't get home till midnight after getting a taxi.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Job Work in Process - Workplace Assessment Report Sent

I got an email this afternoon from R the OT letting me know that she has completed and sent the workplace assessment report off to Workbridge who should get it next week. It took R two weeks to complete it due to getting the appropriate information she needed.

R suggested I contact Workbridge on Monday to see how long it take for the funding to get approved.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Orthotic's - Shoe Fitting

This afternoon I went to Orthotics for my shoe fitting appt with my Dad. The lady I see is really nice and she knows what she is doing. She put the new shoes on my feet to see how they fitted and they felt good on.

She adjusted the left shoe a little which took about 5 minutes and then put it on my foot again. I decided on what laces I wanted, what sole I wanted added to the shoes.

I should get my completed new shoes in two weeks time. Then I can see how well I can get them off in the evening, getting them on isn't a big problem.

Another Cold

I have another cold, more of a head cold I think. Last night my throat felt funny and I didn't sleep too well as I was hot and abit stuffed up. Today I have been sneezing, have a runny nose and a funny throat still.

I don't usually get a lot of colds but it maybe the change of weather at the moment. Today the weather has been windy, on and off rain all day with the sun shining between the rain falls.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

2008 End of Year Tour

It's now time for the end of year tour for the New Zealand rugby team, go NZ. New Zealand have a game tonight that I'll be watching on Prime tonight and hope to see us win!! Will update this after each game.

01 Nov | New Zealand vs Australia | Hong Kong | Result: 19-14
09 Nov | New Zealand v Scotland |Edinburgh | Result: 32-6
16 Nov | New Zealand v Ireland | Dublin | Result: 22-3
19 Nov | New Zealand v Munster | Limerick | Result: 18-16
23 Nov | New Zealand v Wales | Cardiff | Result: 29-9
30 Nov | New Zealand v England | London | Result: 32-6

NZ WON all those games!!!