Wasp? No!
4 months ago
Monday, 27 December 2010
New photo blog
Since my blog was reviewed by Clifford James, I have had time to look at some of the others that were reviewed with me. It seems the other bloggers are far more active than I, so I will have to resolve to try to blog more often. A couple of them are keen photographers so I have decided to become a follower of them. I may hopefully be able to add some photo blogs of my own at this site where I hope by learning from others I will be able to post better photographs.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
O2 and the new Blackberry phone.
Emily’s phone recently died so she went to 02 for a replacement, as she has a contract with them, she left the shop with a Blackberry which seems to do everything she wants.
Within two weeks it becomes obvious that it does not work properly in her flat, calls keep breaking up. Since she only has this phone (no landline) for use in her flat it is therefore not fit for purpose.
Taking it back to the 02 shop she is told it is a network issue and she has to call 02 from her flat but from a different phone so they can check the network. The shop said they were aware of network problems in the TQ1 area. The shop also said if you tell 02 your alternative number they will call you back on it so you don’t use up all your credit.
The only way to call 02 from her flat without using her phone is on my (Orange) mobile phone so I travelled over there tonight so she can do this.
Naturally this gets her though to a call centre :-( where the operator asks her name, number and security details before asking for details of the problem. When the operator is told the problem, he/she puts her through to the network department, who promptly asks her all the same questions again and then proceeds to try to diagnose the problem. Emily tells them she is on an Orange 'pay as you go' and can they call her back, giving them my number, they agree to do this immediately. I heard her give them the correct number.
30 minutes or more later after having no phone call from 02, Emily calls again, only to go through the same ritual again of telling 02 everything twice. She cannot get the same person again so she has to explain the problem again. They then try to diagnose the problem again while she is hanging on using my Orange phone. They call her on her 02 blackberry and sure enough the call breaks up. The total duration of these two calls is now so long that my credit expires and the call is cut off. (£10 last me two months usually!)
Emily rings 02 for a third time, (from her faulty phone) and gets annoyed with ‘Abby’ the 02 operator who will not give out her second name or put her through to Ryan who was the person trying to identify the problem unless she goes through the security process for the third time.
Fortunately Ryan then calls back on the 02 phone and through the call, which is breaking up, manages to get my Orange Number. He then calls on this line and advises that there is not a network fault in TQ1 (ie the 02 shop were telling lies). He advises Emily to go back to the shop and get the phone replaced and get a new sim as well.
As she is at work this will probably have to wait to next weekend, and in the meantime she will have to struggle with a breaking up line while at home in her flat. Personally I think 02 could do better, furthermore they owe me £7.20 credit for my Orange phone, which I will be asking for.
Update 16/12/10 Emily has finished work early so she can go back to O2 shop, the manager called 02 himself and explained the problem which he still says is a network fault in TQ1 (The 02 call centre denied this yesterday). Somebody is not telling the truth. I await a solution, perhaps she should move to Orange.
Within two weeks it becomes obvious that it does not work properly in her flat, calls keep breaking up. Since she only has this phone (no landline) for use in her flat it is therefore not fit for purpose.
Taking it back to the 02 shop she is told it is a network issue and she has to call 02 from her flat but from a different phone so they can check the network. The shop said they were aware of network problems in the TQ1 area. The shop also said if you tell 02 your alternative number they will call you back on it so you don’t use up all your credit.
The only way to call 02 from her flat without using her phone is on my (Orange) mobile phone so I travelled over there tonight so she can do this.
Naturally this gets her though to a call centre :-( where the operator asks her name, number and security details before asking for details of the problem. When the operator is told the problem, he/she puts her through to the network department, who promptly asks her all the same questions again and then proceeds to try to diagnose the problem. Emily tells them she is on an Orange 'pay as you go' and can they call her back, giving them my number, they agree to do this immediately. I heard her give them the correct number.
30 minutes or more later after having no phone call from 02, Emily calls again, only to go through the same ritual again of telling 02 everything twice. She cannot get the same person again so she has to explain the problem again. They then try to diagnose the problem again while she is hanging on using my Orange phone. They call her on her 02 blackberry and sure enough the call breaks up. The total duration of these two calls is now so long that my credit expires and the call is cut off. (£10 last me two months usually!)
Emily rings 02 for a third time, (from her faulty phone) and gets annoyed with ‘Abby’ the 02 operator who will not give out her second name or put her through to Ryan who was the person trying to identify the problem unless she goes through the security process for the third time.
Fortunately Ryan then calls back on the 02 phone and through the call, which is breaking up, manages to get my Orange Number. He then calls on this line and advises that there is not a network fault in TQ1 (ie the 02 shop were telling lies). He advises Emily to go back to the shop and get the phone replaced and get a new sim as well.
As she is at work this will probably have to wait to next weekend, and in the meantime she will have to struggle with a breaking up line while at home in her flat. Personally I think 02 could do better, furthermore they owe me £7.20 credit for my Orange phone, which I will be asking for.
Update 16/12/10 Emily has finished work early so she can go back to O2 shop, the manager called 02 himself and explained the problem which he still says is a network fault in TQ1 (The 02 call centre denied this yesterday). Somebody is not telling the truth. I await a solution, perhaps she should move to Orange.
Monday, 13 December 2010
Invincible Slippers
I hope no one has bought me slippers for Christmas or birthday this year as I recently obtained a pair from Clifford James. On their web site there was a choice of 27 different variety of slipper, so I had plenty of choice.
I decided that as I can be quite hard on slippers I’d try a pair of Clifford James's ‘Invincible’ slippers. We will see in time if they live up to their name. Being retired, I spend a reasonable amount of hours per week in slippers and, as I can be quite hard on them an ‘invincible’ pair sounds good. After a week and a bit I cannot see any signs of wear and they are still a good fit, which is a good sign. I noted one loose thread after a few days and cut it off but they haven’t fallen apart, and do not look as if they will.
They were delivered by courier in a brown cardboard box sealed with plastic, which was just as well as they were delivered in the rain.
I put them on and discovered they are quite a close fit, which is probably due to the newness of the wool lining and the fact I had thick socks on. I can wiggle my toes about and the width is just about right for my foot. As we have all wood floors in our house it can be quite chilly at floor level in winter and the wool lining is definitely keeping out the draughts nicely. They are also really good without socks and very warm due to the wool lining.
The top and the sole are made of “other materials” the top has a soft leathery finish and the sole appears to be rubber.
I have been outside in them and they appear to be water resistant, which is good as I often go outside in my slippers. I don’t like having to change into shoes several times a day before I venture into the garden to put out rubbish etc. (postscript- I unfortunately walked mud back in with me, however holding the slipper under the cold tap soon washed it off.)
I like slippers with a back, otherwise they fall off at inappropriate moments, usually when I’m half way up the ladder into the loft. The back on these slippers seems quite solid and at the moment is holding the slipper on well. I've been up and down to the loft several times, getting down the Christmas decorations.
They are keeping my feet warm as well, despite the extreme cold weather we’ve been having, I shall be interested to see how I do in warmer weather.
I decided that as I can be quite hard on slippers I’d try a pair of Clifford James's ‘Invincible’ slippers. We will see in time if they live up to their name. Being retired, I spend a reasonable amount of hours per week in slippers and, as I can be quite hard on them an ‘invincible’ pair sounds good. After a week and a bit I cannot see any signs of wear and they are still a good fit, which is a good sign. I noted one loose thread after a few days and cut it off but they haven’t fallen apart, and do not look as if they will.
They were delivered by courier in a brown cardboard box sealed with plastic, which was just as well as they were delivered in the rain.
I put them on and discovered they are quite a close fit, which is probably due to the newness of the wool lining and the fact I had thick socks on. I can wiggle my toes about and the width is just about right for my foot. As we have all wood floors in our house it can be quite chilly at floor level in winter and the wool lining is definitely keeping out the draughts nicely. They are also really good without socks and very warm due to the wool lining.
The top and the sole are made of “other materials” the top has a soft leathery finish and the sole appears to be rubber.
I have been outside in them and they appear to be water resistant, which is good as I often go outside in my slippers. I don’t like having to change into shoes several times a day before I venture into the garden to put out rubbish etc. (postscript- I unfortunately walked mud back in with me, however holding the slipper under the cold tap soon washed it off.)
I like slippers with a back, otherwise they fall off at inappropriate moments, usually when I’m half way up the ladder into the loft. The back on these slippers seems quite solid and at the moment is holding the slipper on well. I've been up and down to the loft several times, getting down the Christmas decorations.
They are keeping my feet warm as well, despite the extreme cold weather we’ve been having, I shall be interested to see how I do in warmer weather.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Bargain of the day
Good news for a change. Yesterday in my local newspaper was a half price voucher for The Mail on Sunday. Since I buy this paper anyway I thought the half price offer was a nice bonus. On top of which the free CD in the paper today was the Album "Parallel Lines" by Blondie, plus two bonus tracks fron her new CD "Panic of Girls". And there is a chance to download a third track from the new CD for nothing. That's 15 tracks of Blondie and a Sunday Newspaper for 75p. It must be Christmas!
Click here for video of one of the songs
Click here for video of one of the songs
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
The 10 11 worst things about Christmas
Bah humbug! It’s nearly that time of year again. A time when the shops fill with useless items that nobody actually needs (otherwise known as stocking fillers), TV adverts suddenly feature snow-covered landscapes (even though I can’t remember the last time it actually snowed in December) and an annoying old bearded man in a red coat suddenly starts appearing everywhere (wasn’t he just a part of some Coca Cola advertising campaign?).
No, there is nothing very merry about Christmas, I would prefer to be wrapped up at home with my pipe and slippers than participating in seemingly endless Christmas shopping. And just to prove how bad things really are, I’ve listed the eleven worst features of the Christmas season:
1. You’re forced to eat turkey. Turkey has undesirable side effects on my digestive system and the fact that the rest of the world only seems to eat it once a year says a lot about its edible qualities. But I suppose turkey farmers have to make their money somewhere...
2. There’s far too much singing going on. And not good singing. This is all cheery, goodwill stuff with the occasional religious reference. It’s also persistent - it doesn’t seem to matter where you go, the carol singers will find you.
3. The television starts showing naff films. I mean, how many times do we really want to see Mary Poppins? It was bad enough the first time around.
4. You have to wear party hats. Enough said.
5. The shops are full of frantic people. Run out of milk? Forget going to the shops in the run up to Christmas. Those last few days are full of stressed last-minute shoppers and old ladies arguing over the remaining turkeys. Milking the cow yourself would probably be a quicker alternative.
6. Life becomes one endless fire-hazard. Fairy lights? Candles? Burning Christmas puddings? It’s enough to give any fire-conscious person a nervous breakdown.
7. You are required to plant a tree in your living room. You go to the Christmas tree farm, select a tree that has had its roots cut off, pay vast amounts of money for it, (even though you know it’s as good as dead!) and bring it home (filling the car with dirt, leaves and pine needles) to place in the totally unsuitable environment of your living room, where you cover it in tinsel and baubles. Each day from when it arrives sees new piles of pine needles on the floor, and by twelfth night (apparently it is unlucky to take it down any earlier), there are piles of needles all over the living room floor, in the carpet and under the furniture. As you remove the tree from the house it catches on the door and the last few needles fly off and wedge themselves in every nook and cranny where you will continue to find them for the rest of the year.
8. Expected goodwill. It may be the season of goodwill, but that’s no reason to turn up on my doorstep reciting carols or praising the power of God. There is a limit to my goodwill, even at Christmas. (PS. "We wish you a Merry Christmas" is not a carol, especially when sung by small boys holding out their hands for money on my doorstep when I'm in the middle of watching a good film!)
9. The bottomless pit of spending. Every year we budget. Every year it goes out of the window. Wouldn’t it be so much better if we just spent money on ourselves at Christmas, rather than buying naff presents for others? That way we’d all get exactly what we wanted, with no overspends.
10. Foul weather. As if thing’s weren’t bad enough, it’s bloomin’ freezing, it’s dark at 5 o’clock and it rains a lot. None of that aforementioned snow that advertisers keep producing - Christmas is just cold and rainy. Bah humbug!
11. Everyone is so over-excited about Christmas that my birthday (and my sister's Birthday) on 26th(Boxing Day) is completely overlooked (except by a small select group of friends and family).
No, there is nothing very merry about Christmas, I would prefer to be wrapped up at home with my pipe and slippers than participating in seemingly endless Christmas shopping. And just to prove how bad things really are, I’ve listed the eleven worst features of the Christmas season:
1. You’re forced to eat turkey. Turkey has undesirable side effects on my digestive system and the fact that the rest of the world only seems to eat it once a year says a lot about its edible qualities. But I suppose turkey farmers have to make their money somewhere...
2. There’s far too much singing going on. And not good singing. This is all cheery, goodwill stuff with the occasional religious reference. It’s also persistent - it doesn’t seem to matter where you go, the carol singers will find you.
3. The television starts showing naff films. I mean, how many times do we really want to see Mary Poppins? It was bad enough the first time around.
4. You have to wear party hats. Enough said.
5. The shops are full of frantic people. Run out of milk? Forget going to the shops in the run up to Christmas. Those last few days are full of stressed last-minute shoppers and old ladies arguing over the remaining turkeys. Milking the cow yourself would probably be a quicker alternative.
6. Life becomes one endless fire-hazard. Fairy lights? Candles? Burning Christmas puddings? It’s enough to give any fire-conscious person a nervous breakdown.
7. You are required to plant a tree in your living room. You go to the Christmas tree farm, select a tree that has had its roots cut off, pay vast amounts of money for it, (even though you know it’s as good as dead!) and bring it home (filling the car with dirt, leaves and pine needles) to place in the totally unsuitable environment of your living room, where you cover it in tinsel and baubles. Each day from when it arrives sees new piles of pine needles on the floor, and by twelfth night (apparently it is unlucky to take it down any earlier), there are piles of needles all over the living room floor, in the carpet and under the furniture. As you remove the tree from the house it catches on the door and the last few needles fly off and wedge themselves in every nook and cranny where you will continue to find them for the rest of the year.
8. Expected goodwill. It may be the season of goodwill, but that’s no reason to turn up on my doorstep reciting carols or praising the power of God. There is a limit to my goodwill, even at Christmas. (PS. "We wish you a Merry Christmas" is not a carol, especially when sung by small boys holding out their hands for money on my doorstep when I'm in the middle of watching a good film!)
9. The bottomless pit of spending. Every year we budget. Every year it goes out of the window. Wouldn’t it be so much better if we just spent money on ourselves at Christmas, rather than buying naff presents for others? That way we’d all get exactly what we wanted, with no overspends.
10. Foul weather. As if thing’s weren’t bad enough, it’s bloomin’ freezing, it’s dark at 5 o’clock and it rains a lot. None of that aforementioned snow that advertisers keep producing - Christmas is just cold and rainy. Bah humbug!
11. Everyone is so over-excited about Christmas that my birthday (and my sister's Birthday) on 26th(Boxing Day) is completely overlooked (except by a small select group of friends and family).
Monday, 22 November 2010
Rip off Britain, (Part 3)
I’d like to add the the “Hopping Hare” pub in Northampton for charging £5.45 for a glass of house wine. I know the pub burnt down a few years ago, but I didn’t expect to have to pay for the rebuilding. I don’t think I’lll be eating and drinking in there, at least not while the Hungry Horse on Sixfields is open! Not only are the meals there much cheaper but you get a good plateful, not a gourmet taster size portion.
Motorways
Driving home last night down the M5 from Wolverhampton to Devon, I thought wouldn’t it be useful if I had a big sponge (about 12 foot by 5 foot) attached to the nearside of my car, so I could gently ease people back into the inside lane when it was free. I get very annoyed when I come up behind people doing 65 mph or less in the middle lane when there is nothing in sight in the inside lane, forcing me to use lane three for overtaking. The highway code says you should keep to the left lane except when overtaking. They effectively convert a three lane road into a two lane road.
If I was a police driver I’d be inclined to pull them over and caution them for driving without due care and attention. After all, if they were paying attention they would have moved back to the nearside lane.
If I was a police driver I’d be inclined to pull them over and caution them for driving without due care and attention. After all, if they were paying attention they would have moved back to the nearside lane.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Rip off Britain, (part 2)
I’d like to add Exeter airport to my candidates for “Rip-off Britain”. A while ago you could use the short term car park for 15 minutes for free, and after that the next 30 minutes was a reasonable price, say 50p, before high prices started for anyone using it wrongly for a longer stay. However they have now shortened the free time to ten minutes, barely time to unload, use the toilets and leave again, certainly not time to wait for an incoming passenger a few minutes late, or with delayed baggage, as the charge for 11 minutes or more is £2.00 minimum. What happens if there is a queue at the ticket machine if you get back there after 8 minutes? It will cost you £2. I think that is a bit unfair.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Food Shopping
Well it should be easy, Glynis gives me a list and I go and get all the items from it.
Lets see, Item 1 - SALAD.
I'm in Morrisons now looking at the salad counter. I have the choice between:- Seasonal Babyleaf, Farmers Select, French Style, Italian Style, 4 Leaf (is that Clover?), Caesar, Watercress Spinach and Wild Rocket, Herb Garden, Sweet and Crunchy, Bistro Style, American Style, Simple Side Salad, Tomato and Cucumber, Classic Garden, Mediterranean, Salad Tray, Crispy, or Mixed Salad.
I wonder which one she wanted?
Item 2 - Mushrooms
Closed Cup, Button, Sliced, Chestnut, Oyster, Breakfast, Organic, Shiitake, Portabella or Value??? I don't know!
Item 3 - Ham
Well these are three packs for £4 so we'll have Cooked Ham, Breaded Ham and Honey Roast Ham, as I know she doesn't like Smoked Ham.
Item 4 - Apples
!!!
At least everything on the list finished up in the basket and knowing we have visitors this weekend I added a few beers, just to be on the safe side. Oh and a doughnut jumped out at me! All done now, I'm off home for coffee.
Lets see, Item 1 - SALAD.
I'm in Morrisons now looking at the salad counter. I have the choice between:- Seasonal Babyleaf, Farmers Select, French Style, Italian Style, 4 Leaf (is that Clover?), Caesar, Watercress Spinach and Wild Rocket, Herb Garden, Sweet and Crunchy, Bistro Style, American Style, Simple Side Salad, Tomato and Cucumber, Classic Garden, Mediterranean, Salad Tray, Crispy, or Mixed Salad.
I wonder which one she wanted?
Item 2 - Mushrooms
Closed Cup, Button, Sliced, Chestnut, Oyster, Breakfast, Organic, Shiitake, Portabella or Value??? I don't know!
Item 3 - Ham
Well these are three packs for £4 so we'll have Cooked Ham, Breaded Ham and Honey Roast Ham, as I know she doesn't like Smoked Ham.
Item 4 - Apples
!!!
At least everything on the list finished up in the basket and knowing we have visitors this weekend I added a few beers, just to be on the safe side. Oh and a doughnut jumped out at me! All done now, I'm off home for coffee.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Food Recycling
Torquay Council have recently introduced a new food recycling system. We have two waste food caddies, one for in the house and one for outside. However our previous system still seems to work just as well. Waste food is put out in the back garden and a number of visitors eat it within minutes. A stray cat arrived and ate everything, this cat has now been adopted by our neighbours and is called Tom, while a seagull which Glynis has named "Sammy" eats anything the cat leaves. Sammy now seems to have a youngster which Glyn calles "Squeeky" because it sits outside squeeking for food. Due to my impaired hearing and tinnitus I can't hear this seagull if the door is closed. I knew there was a good side to the slight hearing loss. (Click on the picture to see a bigger version.)
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Fast Response, I think not!
I was really impressed (not) by Devon and Cornwall Police last week. Glynis (5'1") observed a thief (5'8") open the back gate of the house over the road and go behind the house to steal the motorbike, which was being renovated after being stolen and trashed 2 months ago. She shouted across the road to the thief, who ran off towards the fields with the stolen motorbike. She was unable to follow due to passing traffic. Glynis ran back into our house and dialled 999, advising the police that she was observing a robbery in progress. An Hour and Twenty Minutes later the Police (one officer in a car) arrived. By then the bike was torched and dumped at the bottom of the hill with no sign of the thief. What would have happened if he had come back to confront Glynis, the witness to his theft? Who would she have called on?
Monday, 29 March 2010
Rip Off Britain
Recent experiences have led me to believe that companies like giving preference to new customers rather than to existing customers.
My Daughter’s car insurance is with Admiral who quoted her £740 to renew, if she takes no action they will take that from her card.
I have just rung them up and they have given me an alternative quote for her for £600 with all the same benefits as the £740 policy.
As they dealt very well with a claim last year and are now competitive with the new price we will accept the new quote rather than go elsewhere.
Cheltenham and Gloucester had the nerve to ask if I wanted to top up my ISA on which they are currently paying 0.05%, neglecting to tell me that they are currently selling ISAs to new Customers at a rate of 2.7 or 3.5%. I have written to them telling them what I think of this and await their reply.
My own car insurers have also quoted a higher price than necessary but only by £10 and have now found me a better policy after I rang to complain.
Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to check the companies we deal with to confirm they aren't ripping us off.
My Daughter’s car insurance is with Admiral who quoted her £740 to renew, if she takes no action they will take that from her card.
I have just rung them up and they have given me an alternative quote for her for £600 with all the same benefits as the £740 policy.
As they dealt very well with a claim last year and are now competitive with the new price we will accept the new quote rather than go elsewhere.
Cheltenham and Gloucester had the nerve to ask if I wanted to top up my ISA on which they are currently paying 0.05%, neglecting to tell me that they are currently selling ISAs to new Customers at a rate of 2.7 or 3.5%. I have written to them telling them what I think of this and await their reply.
My own car insurers have also quoted a higher price than necessary but only by £10 and have now found me a better policy after I rang to complain.
Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to check the companies we deal with to confirm they aren't ripping us off.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Since I had a gift voucher for my birthday I have been trying to put a book together to publish.
The following link should take you to my first book of photographs, available from the blurb bookstore. From there you should be able to preview and buy a copy of this book. Should you feel so inclined you can also make and publish your own books from there. I am just about to publish a second book, which will be of Steam locomotives and trains.
The following link should take you to my first book of photographs, available from the blurb bookstore. From there you should be able to preview and buy a copy of this book. Should you feel so inclined you can also make and publish your own books from there. I am just about to publish a second book, which will be of Steam locomotives and trains.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
New Blog
I have now started a second blog area, specifically for railway modelling. So if you are not interested in railway modelling don't go there. If you are, then select 'my profile' and you can get to the new blog from there.
Or click on this link
Or click on this link
Friday, 8 January 2010
Happy New Year
Well it will be, when this snow disappears. We've been trapped on our estate by extremely icy roads for a few days now.
I was tidying papers away when I noticed that the deputy Mayor of Torbay lives in our street and is responsible for transport, so I emailed him complaining about the lack of gritting (we are on a bus route, but haven't seen a bus for three days).
Lo and behold, tonight a gritting lorry came down the road. I hope it will make a difference but it may be too late as the ice has really set in now. Everything depends on what the weather does tomorrow. I suppose he's going to want me to vote for him now.
I have to admit the fields across the road look nice in the snow, but I'll still be glad to see the back of it. (I think if you click on the picture you see a larger version)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
