BT = Bloody Terrible or "Why I have had no internet for a week"

Oh dear here I go again....Another regretful business deal with a "service provider" When myself and B Man moved into our flat he already had a contract for Sky broadband so to keep it going we had to have a BT line. Neither of us were very happy about this as we had both had previous bad experiences with the notorious BT, but it had to be done (Its the only way you can have sky broadband for those who are blissfully unaware) So we had the line fitted and from day one have had constant hassles and problems, including a fault that took about a month to fix and again ended with us having no net connection for a week.

This time however the problem was dire, BMan got a call from his sister who had tried to call the home line but couldn't connect to it. This lead to us testing the phone and finding out that whilst we had a dialling tone we couldn't call out. So on the mobile I hop to BT "Customer services" I am initially told by the first advisor that I had a type of account that she couldn't deal with so I was transferred. A nice man in the billing department looked at my account and informed me that my line has been terminated..."Oh? I haven't had a bill" "hmm well the system is showing that you did not pay your last bill and you have been cut off. " Oddly he asked me when I noticed and was surprised when I said "about a day ago" so it sounds like it was cut off a good while before.
He checked the account and agreed that there was no outstanding amount (I had just made a payment for the month after the apparent "fault" prompted BMan to check the account online)
The nice man in billing then says - "well I can put you through to services and they will be able to reconnect you, just explain our conversation to them." Ok cool...easy to sort.

No.

I was then transferred to another man who instantly said "I'm sorry but I can't help you right now, our system is down so I cannot see your account." ok...but the last guy could...why can't you? "Its a different system, I can't see your account please call back tomorrow."

ok.. I'm baffled but I'll do that.

They were unfortunate, I didn't call them back...BMan did.... the end result was that they had disconnected our line for non payment (even though the bill was paid before it was actually due) the problem arose from a credit that was put onto our account that the highly sophisticated computer system had listed as unpaid (even though that amount had been credited...) and in order to reconnect us they wanted to credit check BMan again and sign us into another 12 month contract. He told them in no short order where they could stick that plan. They then had the audacity to inform him that a final bill with a disconnection charge would be heading our way, they were also told where to stick that and exactly how far... We should now be expecting a credit for the bill paid.

But this left us with no BT line...oddly the broadband was still working however so neither of us were very fussed.

The next day BMan gets home to find out that the broadband has also ceased to exist. So as an act of desperation we are now Virginmedia customers...

Punky Pigeon

Why when I really really need it do I not have my phone on me for blog worthy photos??

I nipped out to the chemist during work today only to spot a pigeon with a mohawk on the way back to the office. I so nearly ran back in got my phone and went back out to get a photo but that would probably be pushing my need to go out in the first place.... So I have an artists impression....
I had to use a little artistic licence (mainly because the mohawk was white and because that really doesn't look much like a pigeon) but you get the idea...

Parents requests...

As mentioned in my last post I'm seeing the parents in a couple of weeks for the first time in about 2 years. I got an email yesterday from dad...

"an you please bring something down for us ??

IKEA... 2 x Round laundry bins / Plastic Made to look a bit like sacking / White / With Lid / Collapsible / Handles on two sides

Not dear (about a fiver each) - we'll pay you on arrival."

OK, so I have about an hour bus ride to IKEA from my flat, then an hour back again, not a big problem, but I could do with a better description of what they re after, so I replied asking if they had seen them on the IKEA website...the answer came today...

"No, Not on Website but we brought two whilst in Scotland."

Yeah because no shops in Scotland ever change their stock eh?

Another trip down south and yet more apprehension

The last trip I took down to Norwich in March went well, I didn't kill anyone, my friends loved BMan, and my family started asking leading questions about him by the time we got home (which means they approved). Soooo... its my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary in August so I'm expected to turn up to their party. I booked train tickets a while back and now the trip is looming in the near future like a train coming through a tunnel towards me...and its making me nervous already! I can't believe it! The only difference from the last trip is that my parents are going to be there too (as well as several other random family members who I hardly know). My parents are probably the scariest thing I ever have to deal with because I just don't seem to be able to stand up to them, they nag and criticise me and treat me like a child and I seem to be helpless to their power.

I'm on an assertiveness course a few days before we leave (for work really) but I'm hoping I can improve on my coping skills...either that or I'm just going to let BMan have at 'em!

Making something from nothing...

I have a bit of a "thing" for craft work. I love making things, and being practical, so when BMan and myself were discussing jackets on the bus this morning I was prompted to get crafty again...I went on a charity shop ramble during my lunch hour (Thankfully where I work is completely surrounded by tons of charity shops) and came home with two men's suit jackets - which set me back a whopping £1 each - and I intend to deconstruct them and end up with at least one cool jacket for myself. (One of them fits me perfectly and the other is a tad big)

I've already made a bit of a start on the one that fits, by taking apart a PVC dress I was given (that never fitted me and I wasn't keen on the style, but was free) and covering the collar and lapels (OK I haven't got any further than taking apart the dress and cutting pieces to fit the collar and lapels but you get my drift) I had a dog through the huge craft box hidden under my bed and have all manner of bits in there to tart the coat up with so I'll have to see what comes out. I might hate it, but meh if I do, I'm sure I'll have fun playing anyway and I could always sell it on eBay as a one off....

Mounted Police?

Its something I associate far more with places like California, but last Thursday I was more than amused by two police cycling past my work on mountain bikes...shorts and all...Probably not the best option for Edinburgh's "summer" (i.e. constant drizzle interjected with the odd patch of cold sunshine ;) )

Thrill of the camp...Part 3...

Day 3
I slept far better the second night and actually felt awake. We had spotted the Landmark Forest Adventure Park on our initial trek to find a campsite so decided to go and check it out. The place is primarily designed for kid but hey were not THAT old...Gurn made use of his student status to get a discount and I think the older lady manning the reception desk took a shine to BMan as we didn't seem to pay the full price either.

Some of the areas really didn't interest us (mainly the shows about cutting down trees and turning them into logs...) but there was a big water slide at one end which kept us amused for a while and there was plenty else to do too..

A big walk round feature about Microthings, mainly it involved looking at things through microscopes...including Gurn and BMan..

The Flumes...
Tractors!(They haunt me!!)...

A cool tree walk assault course thing which made me face my fear of heights
There was Lex, who pulled logs about all day, but seemed quite contented when I scratched his nose. BMan pointed out that only a bumpkin like me would wander straight up to a horse and rub its nose without hesitation..
I liked his sign though.

There was an odd area of some woodcutter huts..
Including the most important outhouse, complete with crapping man...

There was a Fire watch tower, which provided a better workout to climb it than a gym visit...

The boys declared themselves World Class Loggers...
BMan didn't want to go home...
We left in the afternoon when it decided to rain. Heavy. It was so bad that we knew there was no chance of getting a fire going so drove into Aviemore and had dinner in what seemed to be one of only two pubs there. The food was good and I ate too much but after the drenching it was nice to stop somewhere warm to dry out. We headed back to camp once the rain stopped and played cards for the rest of the night.

I realised that I am crap at remembering the rules to card games!