Hi all,
Should there be anyone still reading the drinkers blog,heres how my life went after the close
down, at the very last moment got linked into the system, and now staying short term in a
bed and breakfast hotel, its okay, bit noisy at times door slaming, but HEY! its better than
than the streets, got a room to myself ,its a bit lonley, plus no T.V, so i am out a lot,
Sunday, i slept most of the day,after seven days at the drinkers centre, you just need
to slow down, before you burn yourself out, by this i mean, and i am only talking about
myself, sleep ,sleep, peaceful sleep..Monday, got as many people who have been street-
homeless, itchy feet, and also the walls of room were coming closer towards me...
So made the choice to go for a walk. Amazing! new years day in Oxford Street, and its
packed with shoppers,walked through Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Old Compton Street,
Charing Cross Road, finally ending up at the bottom of the Strand, where i encountered
The Simon Community, Street Cafe, for Homeless people, stopped for fiffteen minutes
had a cup of tea, had a chat with some of the people i knew there, while it was pouring
down with rain,and then started to make my way, to see a friend who had been steet
homeless, but had now got his own place to see if i could use his IT to write up a new
blog, rang his bell a couple of times ,no answer, so slowly made my way back to b/b
not a very exciting day for me being it was Jan 1st 2007, but then perhaps all i
wanted was a quiet way into the new year
the ex phantom blogger
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
Friday, 29 December 2006
Steet Bound, here we go again,
We are on the final countdown, and nearing the final curtain,only 6 hours to go, before we are asked to leave,im most grateful to Crisis for all that was laid on for us guests, all the ongoing support, that was given from volunteers, and services that were provided to us, and given us a truly magical seven days, Reality has hit home, this maybe selfish thoughts, but find myself looking strait into the bottom level of homelessness, by this i mean the streets,there maybe before the end at 10 am saturday morning, a glimmer of hope, that i may find a place to stay, there are a few winter shelters open, but they do have a referal process, and i suspect that i will not fit the critera,
drink, drugs, mental health venerabilities , so things not looking good at this moment, and i have a strong belief, here we go again" street bound", i will do my best to keep this blog going, for a long as it takes, till i find/or a solution is found for me,
please if one thought remains after all the blogs i have written as the phantom blogger
i am not a statistic, i am a human being, only have a label HOMELESS,
and this label, i do not like to wear..
Seasons greetings, and Happy new year
homeless guest
tone dod
drink, drugs, mental health venerabilities , so things not looking good at this moment, and i have a strong belief, here we go again" street bound", i will do my best to keep this blog going, for a long as it takes, till i find/or a solution is found for me,
please if one thought remains after all the blogs i have written as the phantom blogger
i am not a statistic, i am a human being, only have a label HOMELESS,
and this label, i do not like to wear..
Seasons greetings, and Happy new year
homeless guest
tone dod
Count down to closer
Only a few hours to go and it's quieter than usual. Is this the calm before the storm or is it just that there are just guests left to their own devices? As all the volunteers disappeared one by one. Have they been slowly cooked and eaten over the last seven days? As there was a meat shortage just days before the shelter opened and it seems a bit strange meat was in abundance over the last seven days. Crissy a long term volunteer has disappeared. Samantha and Jasper and Lydia have disappeared in what some would call mysterious circumstances. We believe it was in the stew which was called posh stew by guests. A few of the green badges have also disappeared. it is believed this was just to add a touch of artificial flavoring. Mystery still surrounds the drinkers shelter as now more volunteers are now on the missing list. Will they turn up next year or have they cooked their goose?
Phantom blogger exposed by Maff Potts D.C.L.G
Hi all,Maff Potts has just started a shift a Crisis Open Christmas at the Drinkers Shelter.Maff was the head of the C.O.C for Crisis for three years, before moving to his new postion at the Gov,nt Department,of local goverment and communites, and his new-ongoing role is Head of the Hostels Capital Improvment Programme,in which his responsability is to oversee a government intutive that is a 90.000,000 fund to improve hostel accomdation. A good example of work that has already been completed is a hostel in Liecester called the Dawn center which i had the opportuity to visit
myself some months ago before I became homeless not for the first time and whilst overwhelmed by the changes that had taken place and all for the good of staff and residents.
I now leave the next passage open to Maff and in his own words:
"I started as a volunteer at Crisis Open Christmas (COC) and I am back where I started. This is my family at Christmas although I have a family of my own; wife and one child (Fred, one year old). I am doing a couple of shifts to help this year and it's not really an option to stop helping out at COC because once you have been involved you are part of the family.
"There is something about COC... it's the best no bull shit , everyone is on the same level; guests, volunteers, service providers. We all know why we are here, it is to help homeless and excluded people.
Also because Paul Andrews has an attraction and I always had a thing for him and another thing I would like to say is it's good to see you again Doddy!"
AAahhhh!! I have been exposed!! The phantom blogger is none less than Tony Dodson, thank you Maff!
the ex-phantom's snapshot interview with Maff Potts
myself some months ago before I became homeless not for the first time and whilst overwhelmed by the changes that had taken place and all for the good of staff and residents.
I now leave the next passage open to Maff and in his own words:
"I started as a volunteer at Crisis Open Christmas (COC) and I am back where I started. This is my family at Christmas although I have a family of my own; wife and one child (Fred, one year old). I am doing a couple of shifts to help this year and it's not really an option to stop helping out at COC because once you have been involved you are part of the family.
"There is something about COC... it's the best no bull shit , everyone is on the same level; guests, volunteers, service providers. We all know why we are here, it is to help homeless and excluded people.
Also because Paul Andrews has an attraction and I always had a thing for him and another thing I would like to say is it's good to see you again Doddy!"
AAahhhh!! I have been exposed!! The phantom blogger is none less than Tony Dodson, thank you Maff!
the ex-phantom's snapshot interview with Maff Potts
Found views of Guest , by Phantom blogger
hi all, have just been talking to a gentleman who has taken part as a interviwee in the Crisis Open Christmas survey of guests survey, i will allow him to express his own views by letting him type the next passage......
Hi - this is my fifth year of using Crisis over Christmas and in general I think it has improved a bit. However, ironically one of the things I liked least was my experience of the guest survey in the main shelter. I had just come from the so-called quiet room, where I had been quite happily minding my own business and doing some reflecting when a gentleman from the Samaritans went out of his way to engage me in conversation. Because I know that (because they are the Samaritans) they find it difficult to get people to talk to them, I thought I'll be nice to him and talk to him - and I was more open with him about my thoughts and feelings than, in retrospect, I should have been - I made it clear that this was a casual not a "Samaritans" conversation, but he misinterpreted something I said and started laying a whole trip on me in an icredibly patronising way - I had to ask him to go away - they're as bad as Christian fundamentalists or Trotskyites. The whole thing actually really brought me down - it was a complete imposition. Anyway, having failed to get any peace I returned to my friends in the main shelter and agreed to the survey. Look, this was the last survey this guy did for the day, he was probably tired, bored and had a stinking headache, but still, it was a pain. I wish I could remember details, but fundamentally, while saying that I should take as much time as I liked and should say what I liked, it was obvious that the opposite was the case - he had an agenda, I didn't have the time to reflect on what to say that I wanted - consequently I didn't remember things - I wanted to look at the questions (because some things could be said in different places, and it wanted to look at where to put them, but all he wanted to do was fill in boxes with simple remarks, he kept filling stuff in or writing stuff and then saying is that OK - he wanted me to agree to certain things because then Crisis can get more money for those services etc etc. Particular comments of mine were truncated so that they didn't make sense. Look, I have previous experience of Crisis so called Research - and I know that the conclusions have been drawn before the survey is done - it wasn't much different from what I expected.
Theses are the views of a guest, i had a chat to and asked if him,if he liked to
express his views to the Phantom blogger and to the bigger audiance...The Phantom Blogger
Interviewee, verfied by Chris Clements C.O.C ..
Hi - this is my fifth year of using Crisis over Christmas and in general I think it has improved a bit. However, ironically one of the things I liked least was my experience of the guest survey in the main shelter. I had just come from the so-called quiet room, where I had been quite happily minding my own business and doing some reflecting when a gentleman from the Samaritans went out of his way to engage me in conversation. Because I know that (because they are the Samaritans) they find it difficult to get people to talk to them, I thought I'll be nice to him and talk to him - and I was more open with him about my thoughts and feelings than, in retrospect, I should have been - I made it clear that this was a casual not a "Samaritans" conversation, but he misinterpreted something I said and started laying a whole trip on me in an icredibly patronising way - I had to ask him to go away - they're as bad as Christian fundamentalists or Trotskyites. The whole thing actually really brought me down - it was a complete imposition. Anyway, having failed to get any peace I returned to my friends in the main shelter and agreed to the survey. Look, this was the last survey this guy did for the day, he was probably tired, bored and had a stinking headache, but still, it was a pain. I wish I could remember details, but fundamentally, while saying that I should take as much time as I liked and should say what I liked, it was obvious that the opposite was the case - he had an agenda, I didn't have the time to reflect on what to say that I wanted - consequently I didn't remember things - I wanted to look at the questions (because some things could be said in different places, and it wanted to look at where to put them, but all he wanted to do was fill in boxes with simple remarks, he kept filling stuff in or writing stuff and then saying is that OK - he wanted me to agree to certain things because then Crisis can get more money for those services etc etc. Particular comments of mine were truncated so that they didn't make sense. Look, I have previous experience of Crisis so called Research - and I know that the conclusions have been drawn before the survey is done - it wasn't much different from what I expected.
Theses are the views of a guest, i had a chat to and asked if him,if he liked to
express his views to the Phantom blogger and to the bigger audiance...The Phantom Blogger
Interviewee, verfied by Chris Clements C.O.C ..
Thursday, 28 December 2006
the phantom blogger looks around South London
Text from swirlydreamer's blog (voulenteer @ crisis) http://swirlydreamer.livejournal.com/6458.html
First of all hope everyone had a very merry xmas and that Santa was good to you! I did, although unfortunately my Dad's out of the country at the moment, so it was just me and my Mum, which was nice, then we went over to Gemma's in the evening which was lovely!
Anyway instead of listing presents and telling you how many times I got beaten playing Scrabble and stuff, I thought I'd tell you all about Crisis' Homeless Shelters around London, which I helped out at on Boxing Day and yesterday. There are 7 centres this year, accommodating about 1,500 homeless people in London over the festive period. I helped out at the South London centre, and I had a truly amazing time!
I met so many people from all walks of live, who for one reason or another had ended up homeless. I have to admit that before I went, I had preconceived ideas, e.g, all the guests would be alcoholics/druggies/gamblers/stupid/nohopers. How wrong I was. It's amazing how 2 days can completely change your outlook on life, and working for Crisis certainly did for me! I met so many wonderful people, including Kevin the poet (who wrote me a special poem...so cute it almost made me cry!) and Riley, a recent graduate from Canada who's work permit application was turned down...I also enjoyed being taught lots of card games from David, who assured me he could teach me many more but they weren't kosher! Charlie the 85 year old was also lovely, and certainly a hit with all the female volunteers! Of course there were some characters who were slightly annoying, as in all walks of life, but generally I really enjoyed just having a good old fashioned chat with people I probably wouldn't have had the chance to talk to otherwise...it was heartwarming to see all the volunteers who had given up their time over Christmas, so many fantastic people from all walks of life, including students, lawyers, journalists, shop workers, animators and so many more. All the medics and therapists who gave up their time were also incredible, and I was fortunate enough to see one gentleman get a massage, which was just so sad. He's been on the streets for many years now, and his face when he had the head massage will never leave me. He fell asleep within a couple of minutes, but he was smiling throughout. It suddenly hit me how hard life is for many of these people, relying on charities like Crisis to give them a place to stay and a hot meal when so many of us are overindulging without a thought for others.
Although the problem is relatively minor in Britain compared to other poverty stricken nations around the world, please spare a thought for the homeless on our streets. Yes many of them may be alcholics or drug addicts, but they deserve to be treated as human beings, and so many of us fail miserably to give them that basic right which all human beings deserve; respect and compassion. Crisis was fantastic, offering lots of support ranging from legal advice to housing and benefits advice to how to write CVs and fill out application forms. It is skills and advice like these which many of these people desperately need, and I believe if it is more freely available the amount of homeless people would dramatically decline.
So next time you pass a homeless person in the street, please spare a thought for them. They may have committed crimes or have horrible personal problems, but they are still people and deserve a smile or a nod from you. The people I met were just so grateful to have someone to talk to, and I know I'll be back next year. Maybe some of you will consider doing the same :) www.crisis.org.uk
If I don't write before New Year, hope 2007 is a healthy, happy and prosperous year for everyone! Much love xxx
First of all hope everyone had a very merry xmas and that Santa was good to you! I did, although unfortunately my Dad's out of the country at the moment, so it was just me and my Mum, which was nice, then we went over to Gemma's in the evening which was lovely!
Anyway instead of listing presents and telling you how many times I got beaten playing Scrabble and stuff, I thought I'd tell you all about Crisis' Homeless Shelters around London, which I helped out at on Boxing Day and yesterday. There are 7 centres this year, accommodating about 1,500 homeless people in London over the festive period. I helped out at the South London centre, and I had a truly amazing time!
I met so many people from all walks of live, who for one reason or another had ended up homeless. I have to admit that before I went, I had preconceived ideas, e.g, all the guests would be alcoholics/druggies/gamblers/stupid/nohopers. How wrong I was. It's amazing how 2 days can completely change your outlook on life, and working for Crisis certainly did for me! I met so many wonderful people, including Kevin the poet (who wrote me a special poem...so cute it almost made me cry!) and Riley, a recent graduate from Canada who's work permit application was turned down...I also enjoyed being taught lots of card games from David, who assured me he could teach me many more but they weren't kosher! Charlie the 85 year old was also lovely, and certainly a hit with all the female volunteers! Of course there were some characters who were slightly annoying, as in all walks of life, but generally I really enjoyed just having a good old fashioned chat with people I probably wouldn't have had the chance to talk to otherwise...it was heartwarming to see all the volunteers who had given up their time over Christmas, so many fantastic people from all walks of life, including students, lawyers, journalists, shop workers, animators and so many more. All the medics and therapists who gave up their time were also incredible, and I was fortunate enough to see one gentleman get a massage, which was just so sad. He's been on the streets for many years now, and his face when he had the head massage will never leave me. He fell asleep within a couple of minutes, but he was smiling throughout. It suddenly hit me how hard life is for many of these people, relying on charities like Crisis to give them a place to stay and a hot meal when so many of us are overindulging without a thought for others.
Although the problem is relatively minor in Britain compared to other poverty stricken nations around the world, please spare a thought for the homeless on our streets. Yes many of them may be alcholics or drug addicts, but they deserve to be treated as human beings, and so many of us fail miserably to give them that basic right which all human beings deserve; respect and compassion. Crisis was fantastic, offering lots of support ranging from legal advice to housing and benefits advice to how to write CVs and fill out application forms. It is skills and advice like these which many of these people desperately need, and I believe if it is more freely available the amount of homeless people would dramatically decline.
So next time you pass a homeless person in the street, please spare a thought for them. They may have committed crimes or have horrible personal problems, but they are still people and deserve a smile or a nod from you. The people I met were just so grateful to have someone to talk to, and I know I'll be back next year. Maybe some of you will consider doing the same :) www.crisis.org.uk
If I don't write before New Year, hope 2007 is a healthy, happy and prosperous year for everyone! Much love xxx
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