MR MUHAMMED ALI - MY TRIBUTE.

The spirit of the man who dubbed himself The Greatest has departed from this earth.

MAY HE REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.

It’s not just the world of boxing who is saddened by Mr Ali’s demise, WE ALL ARE.

One of his former opponents, Mr George Foreman, mentioned Mr Ali, in his book: Going The Extra Smile.

In chapter five, Mr Foreman says in this wonderful book: “I’ve won a lot of fights in my life…the fight many people seem to remember me most though is the one I lost – the “Rumble in the Jungle”  in 1973 against Muhammad Ali.”

Mr Foreman talks at how that event changed bothy himself, the people that listened to him preach and the late boxer himself, especially when, years later, asked by a reporter about the fight, Foreman, who before had many reasons why he lost, simply said, the better man won.

Mr Ali read that comment and it opened a friendly dialogue between him and Mr Ali that has lasted until Ali’s unwanted death.

I’m so pleased at reading the above book, which I still keep and read at times when I feel angry, as it’s still a wonderful example of the importance of letting go of past disappointments and enjoying what today holds.

So thank you, to both Mr Ali and Mr Foreman, for the wonderful Rumble in the Jungle, a powerful and important match.

It is still viewed today as a wonderful example of sportsmanship and entertainment, despite the exit of one of its performers.

Love Andria

The British Chancellor of the Exchequer recommendations?

Well like many in this wonderful country of the UK, I eagerly listened to what Mr George Osborne had to say, in giving his speech in the House of Commons, on Wednesday 16^th March.

I agreed with some but not all of what he had to say.

I do agree that something had to be done about the sugar content in certain drinks. Diabetes  is an illness no-one wants or needs.

A start is needed to deal with sugary drinks.

So I’m glad a new sugar tax, aimed at the soft drinks industry, to be introduced in two years' time, which will raise £520m a year for primary school sport in England.

Levy is to be calculated on levels of sugar in sweetened drinks produced and imported, based on two bands.

Pure fruit juice and milk-based drinks will be excluded and small supplies will be exempt.

But as a disabled person, I was unhappy that certain issues weren’t addressed or looked into.

For starters, social housing is needed for us.

Many of us will never forget the awful day when we were kicked me out off our private accommodation, as many of us are told by either the landlord/landlady/housing manager: “We don’t want no cripple living here.” Sad but true.

To get straight to the point, people with a disability find it next to impossible to get private housing, as we find it just as difficult to get a paying full-time job – that is what’s needed to get a mortgage.

Then there’s a problem with more units closing down that cater to our needs, from libraries to day centers.

These issues wasn’t addressed by the Chancellor.

I think it’s a well known fact that such facilities are being reduced in many borough councils, whether they be Conservative, Independent, Labour or Lib-dem run.

But an incentive is needed to get employers to give a job to someone who has a disability. I have to say this wasn’t mentioned in his budget.

That's why I do like some parts of the Chancellor’s speech but I can’t wholeheartedly agree with it it, as a carrot needs to be dangled to employers to employ someone who’s disabled on a full-time contract.

Again, this wasn’t addressed in The Budget.

There are many of us, people who are disabled, in the UK who want to contribute to society by being a full-time employee.

PRETENDING SOMETHING ISN'T THERE WILL ONLY LEAD TO A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT’S GOING TO EXPLODE AND LEAVE A MESS!

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On another note, may I say goodbye to the magician Mr Paul Daniels, who has died.

He passed away on Thursday aged 77 at his home, a month after being diagnosed with an un-operable brain tumour.

As a child growing up, I thoroughly enjoyed watching his shows, regardless as to what channel they were on.

As for his widow and assistant, Debbie McGee, my sincerest and deepest condolences.

Goodbye Mr Daniels, as with another entertainment great, Sir Terry Wogan, you're with the stars tonight.

Love Andria

X.

MANY THANKS TO THE PEERS IN THE HOUSEOF LORDS.

Like many members of the public, I’ve rarely taken interest in the upper chamber of British politics.

But I genuinely thank this house for voting by 283 to 198, a majority of 85, to strike out a clause of the Welfare Reform and Work Group Bill (WRAG) which would have cut the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) for people in the Work Related Activity Group by £30 a week for new claimants from next year.

As I’ve said before, I apply for jobs. At first, people are interested in having me working for them but when they realise I’ve got multiple sclerosis (MS) they don’t call, text or e-mail me back.

I fully agree with the opposition peers, who’ve said that the reduction would cause hardship for substantial numbers of disabled people.

I’m also glad that Tory former health secretary Lord Lansley stating that the cut would effectively act as a kind of economic law of gravity.

As peers debated the issue, crossbencher Lord Low of Dalston warned the proposed reduction from £103 to £73 a week would have a catastrophic impact on disabled people.

The bottom line is that we shouldn’t penalise people for being disabled but that’s what would have happened if clause 13 of this act had been introduced.

 

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of the Multiple Sclerosis society said it the best, when she said: “We’re delighted Peers have seen sense and defeated the Government’s plans to reduce Employment Support Allowance ESA for people in the WRAG.

“More than 100,000 people are living with multiple sclerosis in the UK and many of them would be hit hard if these changes go through. We urge the Government to now think again.”

As do I ask for the British Government to think again.

I’ve stated in an earlier blog that I’m on benefits but I’m no scrounger and stated what I do with the money I get, which includes having clothes modified for my needs.

Now my left leg is becoming more redundant, that also includes gathering more bruises on this leg and I don’t know how I got them.

I don’t realise when I got these marks to but now I’ve accepted this is what comes with the territory of having me having multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Either way, I now have to take mini-cabs on a regular basis in order to get out of my parent’s house, now that I have lost the place I used to call home.

£££££££

Which leads me onto another issue. The last time I drove was nearly ten years ago, as no one wanted to give me travel insurance to drive a car.

So the fact that nearly 14,000 disabled people who rely on a specialist motoring allowance have had their cars taken away from them following the British Government welfare changes is very disappointing.

Many cars had been adapted to meet their owners' needs and campaigners warn it could lead to a loss of independence.

Here’s a few words people should realise:  BEING DISABLED COSTS MONEY!

I’m not surprised at these cuts, as the British government hopes to save £2bn as a result of the switch from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).

The bottom line is that disabled people need help to have a life after being diagnosed disabled. As with above, we shouldn’t penalise people for being disabled.

Congratulations to both Ms Jerry Hall and Mr Rupert Murdoch.

I know I’m not the first, or last, to say this but I do wish both of them all the happiness in the world.

There will always be cynics who will mock the good news of their engagement.

May I say, that I wish them both good blessings at this joyful news.

I say this as, from the heart, you never stop wanting to be wanted by someone unique to you, regardless of your age or financial status.

So again, congratulations to both Ms Hall and Mr Murdoch and I really hope that your marriage is filled with success, happiness and continuous joy.

*****

Like many sufferers of multiple sclerosis (MS) I watched the BBC1 show regarding this illness on Tuesday 19 January.

A certain hospital will be getting a call from me soon!

You can see it yourself by clicking here. 

Light and peace

Andria