The
Ministry of Common Sense | | From
the Hollywood Hills to Leicester's street life |
Most of us
have dreamt about winning a million. But what's it like to lose that much
money? Amazingly Inside Out found two women from Leicestershire who claim
losing a fortune was the best thing that ever happened to them. Holly and
Shirley Yanez share more than a surname. Their friendship started more
than 20 years ago. Shirley became very rich recruiting bankers in the city
and Holly worked for her on a huge salary. Both enjoyed a life of fast
cars, designer labels and exotic holidays Holly jetted off to California
and met the man of her dreams. Shirley was matron of honour and ended up
falling for the best man - his brother. So now the two friends were sisters-in-law
and lived a fairytale life rubbing shoulders with the stars in Hollywood. Crash
course in downsizing It all came to an abrupt end in 2000 when the stock
market crashed wiping out all their assets in a few days. Not long afterwards
both marriages ended. Today the friends are living on benefits and baked
beans from the Countesthorpe Co-op in Leicestershire. It's been a crash
course in downsizing but they're far from downhearted. They're on a mission
to share their "money doesn't buy you happiness" philosophy. Most
days they'll go out onto the streets of Leicester approach complete strangers
and offer to help sort out their lives. It's a free life coaching service
for alcoholics, drug addicts, the homeless, or anyone who's lost their way and
they call it, "The Ministry of Common Sense". Common sense As we filmed
they hooked up with Paul and William - two self-confessed alcoholics who were
naturally sceptical. "Two gorgeous women approach you on the street
with a TV crew - who wouldn't be sceptical?" explained Paul. "We
thought there was bound to be a scam there somewhere." But after
several counselling sessions exploring how he ended up on the booze, Paul had
a change of heart. He gave up drinking and found a job working as a labourer
for a local building firm. The key to the Ministry's success for him is
that Holly and Shirley have both experienced what it's like to hit rock bottom.
"Even the most fully trained alcohol counsellor doesn't know what it's really
like. "They've been through it so you trust what they say." Links
relating to this story:The 大象传媒 is not
responsible for the content of external websites | 听 | Readers'
Comments - Worst Jobs | Packing drinks on a
production line was my most mind-numbing job ever!
Gillian, Melton Mowbray My
worst ever job was mucking out pig sheds - it was truly grim! I can safely say
that it was the smelliest job ever!
Rob, Nottingham. Working
in a tannery gets my vote - I'd never want to do that again!
William, Leicester I
have blanked out my worst job - working in an abattoir after I left school. Never
again!
Billy, Leicester 听 |
| 
听听Inside
Out - East Midlands: Monday September 11, 2006
