This week, the Deckhand and I were subject to a one-man invasion. A man knocked at the door and flourished an insignia which I recognised as the logo of the Tyrannical Vultures arm of the Bombastic Bullying Cartel – otherwise known as the TV licensing arm of the BBC. He asked me a number of questions regarding my lack of TV licence. We’ve been without a licence for about a year now, and I thought this was all settled. Anyway, having nothing to hide except cutlasses, a skull and crossbones flag, a treasure chest, pistols and a loaded Ship’s Dog, I invited him in to check. It really doesn’t pay to antagonise this lot.

I secreted my cutlass behind my back, shut the Ship’s Dog in the kitchen and in he came. Netflix was on pause, and he went back to the menu and had a quick look at what I’d been viewing. Thank goodness no ‘dodgy’ movies LOL. He also checked the back of the TV and lo and behold, no aerial. I suggested he look at the roof once he’d left, and he would see we don’t have an aerial at all – it fell off in the wind about a year ago. Satisfied, he checked a few more details, and stated we wouldn’t be bothered again for 2 years. Yeah…

Honestly, do the BBC really think their programs are that good that I would risk a massive fine and watch them covertly? I haven’t watched terrestrial TV in ages, except whilst waiting in a hospital for my sister to have a procedure, and really, I don’t miss it one little bit. I miss Sky sometimes, and I did watch a number of programs, however I started to feel it was too expensive for what you get which is an interminable number of repeats.

I love Netflix and do think it’s good value for money (but don’t tell them that!) I also like that I can pay monthly for it which helps spread the cost. Prime is not so good in my opinion, and I get fed up of the sex – I’m British after all LMAO. They start a series, then the next series will be released, and you have to pay extra to watch it! No fair. It’s not such good value at all and they don’t change the line-up nearly often enough. I’ve made my money back in free postage on goods from Amazon, and great offers on dog food specifically for Prime members. Without those, I would have cancelled it by now.

Some good news: I’ve had an email from the pensions people detailing my tax refund which will be very well-received, and they confirm that I won’t be paying any tax because I’m below the tax threshold. So, no TV tax (I mean licence), no tax on my pension, and no payment of student loans WooHoo! My household bills will all go down once the Deckhand jumps Ship, and I’m hoping that next year I may get some help with my docking fees (rent). I’m looking for a part time job, however with my memory issues, and balance problems, and lack of grip, I’m not sure what kind of job I could do. My GP is going to consider if I could be eligible for any financial assistance, though this could depend on what my CT scan shows, if anything. Maybe it’s empty in there…

We have some welcome light rain; it was getting damn hot here again, and all being well, I’m going out today on a raiding party with my kid sister. I have to watch the pennies, as always, though we always have a good time and laugh lots. Enjoy the rest of the week.