Argh, the system!
I am tentatively up and running again (well at least my computer is back), but have spent most of a day like today on the phone, trying to reach The One Person in the public system of financial support who is apparently capable of helping me. So far without any luck. Doctor has consented to a official sick-leave going in back in time to when the flu started and taking into account my problems with back and arm, which is still troubling me. However, my union (Magistrenes A-kasse) denies me any help, disregarding my physical well-being, because I am still registered as a ph.d. student, even though I am officially unemployed, and in principle willing to take on any relevant work which comes my way... Rejected by them, I turned to "Kommunen" (the local authority in all welfare matters) which has sent me ping-ponging between several offices for several days now, until today I finally got the right phonenumber to the right office, but noone ever picked up the phone though I tried to get through for several hours. All I want is to get some financial support for the period during which I have been/am not able to work, but it seems like getting this support might turn out to be a day-job in itself. It feels like I am in the middle of a Kafka-story.

Hmmh, a friend kindly suggested that I should rename the blog and call it "Brokke-blog" (intranslatable Danish pun, to "brokke sig" is to complain or moan.) Perhaps I will. At least, I feel more like a "brokkehoved" (a talking moaning head) than an academic at the moment ;). Tomorrow, I will be smart!
# posted by Lisbeth at: 16:43