Autumn is here

 The Year of Hell

A Suprise ending to 2026

Meeting Svitlana

September has always been my favourite month, the last of the Summer rays mix the slight chill of the fall, leavs turning golden, and the peace returns after the school holidays. 

I know it is a romantic idea, but I am a romantic at heart.

A year ago, I came out of a self-imposed exile after the loss of my wife, and entered a year of hell, caused by scammer Pamela Olsted. I ended the connection two months ago, but the residual effects are ongoing, as I am trying to get my loan refunded by her sister.

From the ashes of a scam, I emerged into a real relationship with my friend, Svitlana, in Didcot, Oxfordshire

2026 was a bust

 The Year of Hell

Cash Shortage

Pamela Olsted

As the final quarter of 2026 approaches, I can say this year has been another year of hell for me. I suffered a cash shortage caused by knowing a scammer called Pamela Olsted, who "claimed" to live not far from me in Bristol. We began an online chat in November 2025, and I ended it in June 2026, I think she hoped for it to end in August, as her birthday is in July.

The only good thing that came out of knowing her is I found ladies do find me attractive, as I added my profile to two dating apps.

Mission Impossible

The Year of Hell

The wait is off

Welcome to my Hell

Ten months ago, I was contacted by Pamela Olsted, She "claimed" to live in Bristol, however, it was plain to see she didn't as she gave me three addresses.

I sent her some money, in the hope she would prove me wrong, and meet me, which she never did. Though she promised to repay the loan, the repayment has fallen to her family.

It has taken two months, and a £120 more, but hopefully next week I will have my £3,000 back. 

I would have gone out today, but I injured my leg this week, trying to get some more money for the loan repayment to be sent. I have to go out on Monday, to take some information to the hospital, for my operatio to have a large Limpoma removed, so I will get the final installment of cash then.

Farewell my lovely

 A kingdom with no king

The Year of Hell

I knew this day was approaching, that makes it no easier to face.

I knew our cat, Ninja, was coming to the end of his days, he is late middle-aged for a cat at 15.

He will be missed greatly when he passes away, we had so much fun in our time together, I still recall the tiny kitten who was so small, he could have sat between the ears of his majesty. He would zoom around the ground floor, exploring his home; he got his nickname, Ninja, for his ability to do backflips over our other cats, and dogs.

The Year of Hell

2024  - The year of the Scam

                                                           Better safe than Sorry

Looking back on 2024, I can say it has been one of the worst years, if not the worst year, of my life, both for the family, and myself.

I spent most of the Summer ill from three medical conditions, one was a slight bout of Covid.

From June, when I was scammed into thinking the book on here would be publihsed by a group of promoters on Fiverr, until yesterday, I have not had a week when a lady has tried to scam me in some way.

In July, I was told my book was getting a lot of interest, where I have no idea, the only interest I got was from "promoters" in Nigeria. I realise I could have missed a genuine opportunity for the book to sell, but any contct with Nigeria I consider a scam. Besides, from the small contacts I had with the "promoters. I know more about the world of publishing than they did; I am not surprised, they may have a degree from some University in the far outreaches of the jungle, I have had 15 years trying to be recognised as a writer, I was giving them ideas how to promote. 

Since July, I adopted the mindset "Better safe than Sorry."

My hope for 2025

The year is better than 2024, if it isn't, I may not be here to welcome 2026.

The year of HELL

A Year to forget 

R.I.P. Linda

For several years, I have challenged the New Year, to be worse than this year; and each year has got worse. If 2025 is worse than 2024, I think I won't see the end of the year.

2024 started with bad news from the DWP, which cut our income by 1/3 for three months, that was followed by another cut from the Department of Works and Pensions, affecting only me.

 A month later is was taken ill by a virus, not Covid, which affected me for several weeks, then I visited hospital for a check-up, and caught a virus, this could have been Covid as I was already weak. I was in the same hospital, and at the same time, which Princess Anne was taken to after her injury.

We found out that we had been systemically robbed over a period of time, as we're disabled pensioners, by our neighbours. This lead to a bout of depression which we are still going through.

My ankle has been getting worse as I am unable to walk; a month ag, w had another family crisis which affected us gravely.

I think, if next year is worse than this year, I won't be able to cope.

I was so down, after my 15 year struggle to be recognised as a writer, I allowed myself to be a scam victim.

2025 began with the death of my wife in January, I am still suffering, though it is now September.

My misery is not over, as I think our eldest cat won't be with us for much longer, he is not eating, and spends a lot of his time sleeping. My only consolation, if you can call it that, is he is late middle-aged for a cat, as he is 15 years old, but his loss will hit me hard.

The Year of Hell

 Will it end?

The year began bad with the Pension Department, DWP, telling us we'd been overpaid last year, and had to repay the money, that took three months.

I'd just got that paid off when another letter arrived repeating the previous demand.

No sooner had I recovered than there was an election, which Labour won, only to be informed pensioners will not be getting a winter fuel allowance. This means our meagre pension will be stretched beyond breaking point to meet a heating bill, or will it become eat or heat?