Losing it...

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Wed, 2005-05-04 13:16

Losing it...

Sorry but I need a rant (and yes it does cover the usual things like the election and the NHS). But first I need to tell you that I am very happy because I have been consigned to bed for the rest of the day by my doctor for reasons which will become apparent and that means I can sit here full of baby and tunnocks tea cakes (6 in a packet? I ask you..) and catch up with you old muckers which makes everything else worthwhile.

A few months ago I received a letter (on paper so expensive a single sheet of it could probably be used to fund a BA programme at a presitgious uk institution but that is another rant) from my MP in London saying that if I didn't register for a postal vote then the tories would win out in Battersea and that would be a truly terrible thing. So I duly registered my postal vote, thanked my MP for sorting it out, and told him that there was no way I would be voting his warmongering backside back in to office (Martin Linton). Of course I have not received my postal vote.

I have spent a week non stop trying to call Wandsworth electoral office to be told that I am in a queue and that my call is important to them by a robotic lady (who I am sure is Ruth Kelly) to then be told that the queue is full and try later by a robotic man (who could also be Ruth Kelly). Finally I got through this morning to be told that my voting papers must have got lost in the post. Sorry. Nothing we can do.

So slightly peeved, because I love elections and I love the whole bitchy childish one upmanship and showing off thing (I swear this baby will come out knowing Andrew Marr's voice better than her own daddy), I had to then go to the doctors for a routine appointment.

Except they tried to take eight samples of blood from me. "No" I said "You took blood last week"
"Yes," they said "but we've lost it"
"Well" I said, "What about the blood you took a couple of weeks ago
"Oh we've lost that too".
So I let them take more, with my teeth clenched (from pain and anger - the nurse collapsed three veins and looked at me like I was a drug addict, when it's their fault for treating me like a pin cushion) and then told me that I might be a bit anaemic. No shit sherlock, that's probably because all my blood, that should be pumping around my body keeping me alive, is sitting in various plastic containers lonely and forgotten about and bloody well LOST.

Anyway, the point of this is, how can people lose things that are so important? Of course I know that we all lose things, I frequently lose keys, purse, glasses etc. Last night I even lost a cat for a good 6 hours (long story short, big cat has been bought one of those ugly cat bed things to stop her sleeping draped around the toilet like a novelty pedestal mat. Little cat decided to have a go in bed while big cat wasn't looking, big cat had a goldilocks moment and there was a big fur fight and big cat packed bags and ran away. But then came back.) But these are not major things to lose. I think if I lost some of my client's work (which is essentially what this is) I would have a damn sight more to say than sorry. Don't you?
Anyway, rant over.
It's nice to be back
Anyone fancy having a rant about something?

Wed, 2005-05-04 17:35

Tony Cook

My house is a mere 157 years old - but my first house in Devon was built in 990 - now that was old! Bear up Rachey - won't be long now - your nesting instinct should be kicking in!

Thu, 2005-05-05 00:13

fatalky

I moved back to my flat in London last week, and my TV that is tuned for the Oxford area DIDN'T WORK AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! And their was a big footy match on double AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I went and got drunk. And I have a bad liver. And I've only just stopped drinking and I feel very ill. My central nervous system is shot. Oh and I couldn't tune the TV because my TV has no remote control and there is no tuning system on the TV itself. How annoying is that? Grump and whinge and rant!

Thu, 2005-05-05 01:26

bingo the man said

fatalky. if you have a video recorder you could always tune that in and use the video remote to change channels, by using the video channel on your tv all the time. just a thought.

Thu, 2005-05-05 08:29

fatalky

Thanks Bingo, that's already been suggested-but that will mean I can't watch anything on the TV while recording another channel. Bummer! I've enquired about a remote for the TV but that's 28 quid, and when your on benefits, and you have a drink problem. I know I know! Stop drinking. Do you know what the failure rate is for people in recovery? Between 90-95%. I went to an AA meeting last week after a year, and I recognised 3 people of about 60, so it seems about right. Ho hum. [%sig%]

Thu, 2005-05-05 12:28

Rachel

I have polling station envy and daisy has discovered the god channel. It's all too much. Alky - Oxford TVs are always buggered because they are tuned to that stupid channel 6 thing. I found that when I moved from there too.

Thu, 2005-05-05 14:59

Liana

I lost it with BT the other day... surprise surprise. After filling in the forms for broadband on the net, I clicked the go for it button, to be told that BT have no record of my number. Amazing. I rang them instead (which, cunningly, negates the free modem and set up offer) and was told that there is no broadband in my area anyway. There is. There isnt. YES, there is. No, sorry madam there isnt. What can a girl do? I'll stick with AOL now they have wireless networking. At least they can recognise my number. BT can bugger off. Cant find my number indeed, I pay them enough for the bloody line for chrissakes.... Next day, I picked up the phone to pay my bill (due that day). No connection at all. So, I call them from my mobile. Not free, of course. I get through to a woman who can barely speak english. Now, I have no real problems with these call centres being half way across the world, really I dont - but when I am paying mobile rates to find out why I have no line on my phone, I want to be able to speak to someone who can understand me, and vice versa. "I have no connection on my phone line" "Can I have your BT number?" This took at least three minutes of me speaking very slowly and her repeating (and interrupting) "You havent paid your bill." "But it's only due today, why have I been cut off?" I said. She transferred me to somewhere in the UK i presume, because an english bloke came on the line. "Can I help you?" "Yes, (my number is blah blah blah) why have I no connection?" (tappety tap) "You haven't paid your bill." "It's not due til today!" (tappety tap) "ah. I will put a request through for line reinstatement. It can take up to 24 hours and you will be charged £20 reconnection fee". "what? why?" "You havent paid your bill" "its not DUE til today" *through gritted teeth* "can i have your card number please" (card transaction occurs) "I wont be charged reconnection, right?" "To authorise a reconnection I must charge a £20 reconnection fee" "But i shouldnt have been cut off!!! For the millionth TIME, the BILL ISNT OVERDUE! SURELY you have a COPY of the details?" (tappety tap) "To authorise a reconnection, I must charge £20" I put the phone down before i really really lost it. Why are these people SO robotic ? They now OWE me £20... It makes me sooooo mad.

Thu, 2005-05-05 15:10

Rachel

BT are USELESS. We have had no end of trouble with them since we've moved. And they lie, lie, lie to protect themselves. Threaten to take it up with Ofcom and Watchdog. I did and lo, the problem was solved the very next day.

Thu, 2005-05-05 15:31

Liana

Yep... and the bill incidentally, was the princely sum of £17.52... if i didnt need the line for the net connection, i wouldnt have one at all.

Thu, 2005-05-05 15:33

#10

Rachel

ffs!

Thu, 2005-05-05 15:41

#11

Liana

I was thinking of switching to Homecall - do you know anything about them?

Thu, 2005-05-05 16:11

#12

justyn_thyme

Can you get broadband from someone else? If so, then switch to VOIP. Maybe vonage offers service in the UK? Or get a head set and use skype. You don't make enough landline calls for it to matter, probably.

Thu, 2005-05-05 16:31

#13

Liana

I just tried NTL, because they do free phone call and broadband package. Unfort, they also say that it isnt available in my area. This is sending me into a bloody rage I can tell you. It IS available. I do need a landline phone though, because mobile reception is so dodgy here. Yes, all that raging at the BT idiots took place with me balancing on the kitchen table. Furiouser and furiouser.

Thu, 2005-05-05 16:54

#14

Dan

It drives me nuts that I have to pay for a landline I NEVER use purely in order to have the broadband connection. It is a clear abuse of a monopoly.

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:23

#15

mississippi

Well as it happens...

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:27

#16

Rachel

rant away my friend... (Unless it involves Springsteen tickets which my bro has gone curiously quiet on...)

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:32

#17

Jasper

Sludge knows lots about toliet's, Rachel, as he happens all the time!

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:33

#18

WD40

Wonderful rant Rachel, I bet your baby will have a great sense of humour.

Thu, 2005-05-05 17:50

#19

mississippi

Those bastards that own/run BT? All tories ya know.

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:45

#20

Enzo

I live above a shop, which is very close to an overground train station. Below my flat, where the shops are, there are about 15 parking spaces. Easily enough for the few people that live in the flats around me. However, other than these spaces, there's nothing within a (minimum) ten minute walk. In order to stop COMMUTERS parking there, Enfield council have put up a parking ban in that area from 8:00-9:30am. So my neighbours and I have nowhere to park. I leave for work at 7:30, and use the train, and so have to find somewhere else to leave my car. Anyway, the other day, I was feeling unwell and so when I got home in the evening I parked outside my flat. The next morning I woke up feeling even worse, it turned out to be the 'flu (and that isn't a 'bit of a cold', it's the can't-get-out-of-bed-for-a-week FLU...but that's another rant) Despite how I was feeling, I dragged myself down to the car at 8:07. And guess what? A ticket. I appealed on the grounds of 'spirit of the law' and the assistant director of parking (who I got to speak to after 3 hours of non-stop fury-ridden calling) said he agreed with me, and that he would arrange for the fne to be revoked, on the condition I put it in writing. I wrote the letter, only to receive one back 3 days later, saying that 'I knew not to park there' and giving me PHOTOS OF MY OFFENCE; an offence which I never denied. I had to pay £40 for parking outside my flat when I was genuinely ill and didn't want to walk 15 mins in the p*ssing rain. Postscript: All London parking attendents work for NCP, who are taking over England. Some of you live in Brighton, I gather. NCP EVERYWHERE, down there. I hate them with a passion. I don't know why they haven't been exposed for...well, I'll stop short of libel. Rant over. NB Obviously not as bad as the whole hospital thing, but it really wound me up.

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:48

#21

Rachel

Thank you WD40 (May I call you Lube?). Not too much of a sense of humour I hope, not until she lands anyway. Would really prefer not to be the butt of some mistimed April fool in the next few weeks. Jasper - sort your grammar out or I will ignore you (which should give me time to find another excuse)

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:52

#22

WD40

I'll answer to nothing else.

Wed, 2005-05-04 13:56

#23

jude

I got my quarterly bonus a few days ago. I'm afraid the joy of the extra pay just doesn't make up for the anger I feel at having to pay the extra tax. I would rather be poor (as I plan to be) and earn nothing than have my wages sucked out by this institutionalised theft. Vow of poverty roll on!

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:15

#24

Rachel

Enzo, Jude I am sorry for you both (you see if the system worked properly I would say "live in London, no need for a car" or "that institutionalised theft will pay you through your old age, even in a convent" but it doesn't). I now have another rant, and this doesn't involve the government or the NHS. I have a confession. And it's really terrible. And now I am paying the price. We have just moved in to a new house and there was no TV reception (or sofas but that's another rant) because it's not a very new house infact it's about 800 years old and in the middle of a forest. After four weeks of sitting on the floor trying to entertain each other (there is only so much massaging of one's nuptuals you can do when 8 and 1/2 months pregnant - although we have been making up amusing alternative lyrics to Twinkle Twinkle little star. The best one goes "twinkle twinkle little Lily, please don't come out with a willy". Anyway, I digress...) We finally, after much wrangling and soul searching decided to sell out and get Sky. But only the most basic package with really just black and white and practically no commercials. It has just been delivered. So have the sofas. I am so stressed out. There are more channels than I ever thought possible. How am I ever going to watch them all? How will I know if I'm missing something really good on a channel I didn't know I had? This is very very bad and I am thinking about sending it back.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:18

#25

Enzo

I don't have sky, but I used to. You get used to flicking rapidly through channels. My attention span still hasn't um...

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:31

#26

jude

I suggest you get rid of the TV altogether and move on to making up alternative lyrics for "Mary had a little lamb"

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:34

#27

Radiodenver

Wow...800 year old home? The only 800 year old homes we have over here are holes in the sides of mountains and they are full of bear poop.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:35

#28

Rachel

There are three Living TV channels. Oh the irony.... (wonder if there is a prozac channel - I could do with the help) Mary Had a little lamb She thought him rather silly...

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:40

#29

mississippi

All you really need Rachy, is the History, Perfomance and biography channels to keep you entertained. Well there ARE a few others but these ones are indispensable. (I wasn't going to mention Broose, I know you'll do your best to deliver. lol)

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:40

#30

jude

Mary had a little lamb Its skin was dry and flaky And when the lamb began to smell she drowned it in the lakey

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:42

#31

Rachel

RD - The living room dates from 13th century. It's old and beamy and smells a bit like it's full of bear poop. It's very very pretty though. The rest is newer (but not much - c17th Century) and has been built on over the years, which means the microwave isn't up to much and explains the TV problems. There is also a woodpecker in the garden which is quite charming.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:45

#32

jude

Mary had a little lamb Its wool was full of $**t That's why her cardies smelled so bad - The poo was in the knit.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:46

#33

Archergirl

My PX just arrived from the States, and with him came a telly, a DVD player, and an ntl box allowing six billion channels. The kids and I had lived for four months with no tv present in the house (the tv licensing people found it hard to believe) and we actually didn't miss it. The kids played, drew pictures, made 'contraptions' out of boxes, etc., and since I have broadband I allowed them to play relatively harmless online games (Dora the Explorer and the like). Now all the kids want to do is watch telly. And I live in a house that's only 132 years old. Ditch the telly, Rachel, if you can. It's an expensive and rather useless folly (apart from Time Team!). Plus, when baby gets older you may be tempted to go the old 'electronic babysitter route', which is lethal to children's attention spans. I know. I've lived it.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:46

#34

Radiodenver

So Rach, I am guessing you don't have a termite problem then?

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:50

#35

Archergirl

I must add, in my defence, that tv viewing is now strictly curtailed, to the point that, well, there's no point having a telly. But try telling that to a hyperstimulated quintuple Gemini man, obsessed with 'information'.

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:52

#36

Radiodenver

Have you tried writing his horoscope on your butt each day with a sharpie marker?

Wed, 2005-05-04 14:57

#37

Archergirl

No, but I did suggest legal separation...

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