Likeable bloke but a trifle feckless.
His missus was even better, her theory was that if you're on the dole then you need life's essentials such as loo roll, tooth paste, tampons, etc. So accordingly they shouldn't have to come out of your dole money because they're essentials, you should be given them automatically when you sign on and still receive a Giro in the post. That conversation took place many years ago, do they still do Giros in the post?