I met up with Silverback today. I should have been writing 'Keith and I met up..' but Keith didn't make it, mainly because he had been working at Chirk and hadn't listened to me tell him that Ian was arriving at 12 o'clock, not 1 o'clock, but also because, as it happened, he couldn't get away on time anyway.
"Men just never listen," I commented as I ended my call to Keith, prior to ordering Ian's meal, having not listened to him asking for the 'Lighter Bite' option. (Well, I'm not denying that we women have the occasional lapse, you know.)
Anyway, I pulled up in the pub car park and spotted the real life version of 'Silverback' almost immediately. So far, I've only met up with one other blogger, Yorkshire Pudding last year and of course, it's quite different from other first time meetings. Because of following their blogs, it's more like meeting up with an old friend. I feel I know a lot about them already and we're just picking up the conversation where we left off and so it was with Ian.
I really enjoyed meeting up with him but unfortunately, Ian had miles to go before the end of his day, so all too soon, he had to leave.
However, he and Daphne are going to come back later this summer, so we should all get the chance to meet up then.
Here's wishing him a lovely, relaxing week in Tenby!
It's just good manners!
This week I have had three phone calls from potential new clients, for all of whom I have arranged appointments this week and of whom, one has actually kept the appointment.
This means that on Wednesday morning and this morning, I made sure I was up early, had taken Paddy for his usual long walk and got myself ready and settled in my counselling room ...
to wait..... and wait.... for inconsiderate people who didn't turn up.
Not that I mind them changing their minds. Maybe they got a better offer elsewhere or something cropped up that meant they had to be somewhere else at the time of the appointment.
What I do mind - and I accept that maybe I need counselling for this! - is that they consider my time of so little importance that they can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and tell me they are not coming, for whatever reason. To me it shows a lack of respect for me as a professional and a lamentable lack of good manners and thoughtfulness, which, sadly, is all too common these days.
Oh, and this afternoon, I raced back from my lunch with friends in Chester to wait in for a tradesman who - guess what? - didn't turn up!
This means that on Wednesday morning and this morning, I made sure I was up early, had taken Paddy for his usual long walk and got myself ready and settled in my counselling room ...
to wait..... and wait.... for inconsiderate people who didn't turn up.
Not that I mind them changing their minds. Maybe they got a better offer elsewhere or something cropped up that meant they had to be somewhere else at the time of the appointment.
What I do mind - and I accept that maybe I need counselling for this! - is that they consider my time of so little importance that they can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and tell me they are not coming, for whatever reason. To me it shows a lack of respect for me as a professional and a lamentable lack of good manners and thoughtfulness, which, sadly, is all too common these days.
Oh, and this afternoon, I raced back from my lunch with friends in Chester to wait in for a tradesman who - guess what? - didn't turn up!
Paddy again
Me again, folks! Just to give you an update on my progress according to 'She who must be obeyed'.
I am much calmer now when I see a cat strolling past the window. I don't splatter myself across the window and hang from the window catch any more. OK, I suppose that's a bit of an exaggeration, but only a bit. So that's good, Jenny says. And I am fairly good at coming when called, especially in the back garden, but you can't expect a fellow to come when he's just got the scent of a cat or a squirrel. Jenny calls it being obsessed and she says there is no way she could let me off the lead when we're out because she couldn't be sure I'd come back when called. I would, of course - eventually, possibly with a mouthful of fur. No, maybe that wouldn't go down too well. So, when we're out on the field or in the valley, I am on the extending lead so that I can do a bit of running about. Sometimes , though, I forget and go charging off, only to be pulled up short by a strangling sensation!
Unfortunately, I have recently got into the habit of barking at other dogs. Only some of them and I only want to play but I guess they find me a bit too boisterous, and their owners certainly do. I'll have to keep an eye on that, I suppose.
But last night was REALLY exciting. I spotted a little fieldmouse scuttling around the bins (well, that's what Jenny said it was) so of course, I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that. Yes, I know, Jenny told me afterwards that cats chase mice, not dogs, but there wasn't anything else around and I'm not proud. The trouble was, I made such a noise pushing the bins around trying to catch it that Jenny came out to see what the noise was, grabbed me by the collar and marched me indoors. The ignominy! In front of a mouse - to be treated with such a lack of respect!
Needless to say, the mouse made a run for it and when I was let out again before bedtime, try as I might, I couldn't find it again.
Gee, some people are such spoilsports!
I am much calmer now when I see a cat strolling past the window. I don't splatter myself across the window and hang from the window catch any more. OK, I suppose that's a bit of an exaggeration, but only a bit. So that's good, Jenny says. And I am fairly good at coming when called, especially in the back garden, but you can't expect a fellow to come when he's just got the scent of a cat or a squirrel. Jenny calls it being obsessed and she says there is no way she could let me off the lead when we're out because she couldn't be sure I'd come back when called. I would, of course - eventually, possibly with a mouthful of fur. No, maybe that wouldn't go down too well. So, when we're out on the field or in the valley, I am on the extending lead so that I can do a bit of running about. Sometimes , though, I forget and go charging off, only to be pulled up short by a strangling sensation!
Unfortunately, I have recently got into the habit of barking at other dogs. Only some of them and I only want to play but I guess they find me a bit too boisterous, and their owners certainly do. I'll have to keep an eye on that, I suppose.
But last night was REALLY exciting. I spotted a little fieldmouse scuttling around the bins (well, that's what Jenny said it was) so of course, I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that. Yes, I know, Jenny told me afterwards that cats chase mice, not dogs, but there wasn't anything else around and I'm not proud. The trouble was, I made such a noise pushing the bins around trying to catch it that Jenny came out to see what the noise was, grabbed me by the collar and marched me indoors. The ignominy! In front of a mouse - to be treated with such a lack of respect!
Needless to say, the mouse made a run for it and when I was let out again before bedtime, try as I might, I couldn't find it again.
Gee, some people are such spoilsports!
The oldest man in the world
Henry Allingham, veteran of the first World War has, at the age of 113, now become the world's oldest man. He attributes his longevity to 'whisky, cigarettes and wild, wild women.' Maybe those who work in our Nanny state and concern themselves incessantly with nagging us not to drink or smoke will take note.
Meanwhile, for those of us ladies who would also like a long and vigorous life, I assume that the recipe for us would be 'whisky, cigarettes and wild, wild men.'
So where are they then?
The men, I mean - of course...
Meanwhile, for those of us ladies who would also like a long and vigorous life, I assume that the recipe for us would be 'whisky, cigarettes and wild, wild men.'
So where are they then?
The men, I mean - of course...
Note to Paddy
Dear Paddy,
Yes, I have noticed that you have been attempting a bit of sly digging in the corner of my new pebbly bit of the garden. That's why there is an upside down empty clay plantpot strategically placed there - to stop you.
But you didn't stop, did you?
Listen carefully, mutt. I shall say zees only once!
It is physically impossible for you to dig a deep enough hole to get under the fence and through to next door's garden. Long before you have got anywhere near completing the task, I shall have tied your paws together - permanently!
Secondly, even if you did manage it, do you really think the cats would stick around long enough for you to catch them?
Do it again, laddie, and you're a dead dog!
Got it? Good.
Now when I throw the frisbee, if you could bring yourself to run after it, pick it up and bring it back, I would be very impressed. You will find it much more enjoyable than grabbing it in your mouth and then getting one paw stuck in the hole as well.
Love from Jenny xx
Yes, I have noticed that you have been attempting a bit of sly digging in the corner of my new pebbly bit of the garden. That's why there is an upside down empty clay plantpot strategically placed there - to stop you.
But you didn't stop, did you?
Listen carefully, mutt. I shall say zees only once!
It is physically impossible for you to dig a deep enough hole to get under the fence and through to next door's garden. Long before you have got anywhere near completing the task, I shall have tied your paws together - permanently!
Secondly, even if you did manage it, do you really think the cats would stick around long enough for you to catch them?
Do it again, laddie, and you're a dead dog!
Got it? Good.
Now when I throw the frisbee, if you could bring yourself to run after it, pick it up and bring it back, I would be very impressed. You will find it much more enjoyable than grabbing it in your mouth and then getting one paw stuck in the hole as well.
Love from Jenny xx
Sky!!
Some months ago, we closed our Sky TV package and opted for BT Vision instead, which we are quite happy with. The suspicious ease with which we were able to close the Sky package has proved itself to be just that, suspicious. Since then we have had quite a few calls from Sky, usually asking to speak to the account holder (Keith) about 'your Sky account' which immediately makes me think we still owe them money, which is not the case, of course.
Recently the calls have become more frequent and usually during the day, which means that I answer the phone, if I am around. The problem here is that, although I tell the callers repeatedly that we don't want to subscribe to Sky again, they won't listen to me as I am not the 'account holder'. The fact that, as we have closed the account, there is no account holder as far as they are concerned seems to have passed them by.
Fast forward to Monday when I received a call from a female who insisted on talking over me, reading from her script as I gave my usual answer and asked her not to bother calling again.
"We'll ring again when Mr A is in," she assured me and cut the call.
Tuesday brought another call, this time from a male.
"Ah, I'm glad you've called," I said, "I would like to speak to your supervisor."
He assured me that there was no supervisor present. I decided to ignore his blatant lie and launched into my attack anyway, telling him about Monday's call.
"I object most strongly to someone talking over me when I am trying to explain something," I said, talking over him as he tried to explain to me that it was a question of 'data protection' which dictated that they had to speak to the account holder.
"Well, if it happens again, I shall put in a formal complaint," I said.
"We'll ring this evening when Mr A is in," he said and rang off.
So last night, true to their word, Sky rang again and this time spoke to Keith who told them in no uncertain terms that we do not wish to subscribe to Sky again and not to ring us any more.
We sat back, confident in the certainty that that was the last we would hear from Sky....
This morning, the phone rang, after Keith had gone out of course, which meant that I answered it. Someone wanted to speak to Keith. Who? Sky, of course.
"What? Sky again??" I exploded and launched into a resume of all the recent calls.
"I can only apologise," said the voice at the other end when I finally drew breath. "It has been put down as a 'return call'," and he rang off before I could say another word.
Well, you have to give them marks for not giving up.
Recently the calls have become more frequent and usually during the day, which means that I answer the phone, if I am around. The problem here is that, although I tell the callers repeatedly that we don't want to subscribe to Sky again, they won't listen to me as I am not the 'account holder'. The fact that, as we have closed the account, there is no account holder as far as they are concerned seems to have passed them by.
Fast forward to Monday when I received a call from a female who insisted on talking over me, reading from her script as I gave my usual answer and asked her not to bother calling again.
"We'll ring again when Mr A is in," she assured me and cut the call.
Tuesday brought another call, this time from a male.
"Ah, I'm glad you've called," I said, "I would like to speak to your supervisor."
He assured me that there was no supervisor present. I decided to ignore his blatant lie and launched into my attack anyway, telling him about Monday's call.
"I object most strongly to someone talking over me when I am trying to explain something," I said, talking over him as he tried to explain to me that it was a question of 'data protection' which dictated that they had to speak to the account holder.
"Well, if it happens again, I shall put in a formal complaint," I said.
"We'll ring this evening when Mr A is in," he said and rang off.
So last night, true to their word, Sky rang again and this time spoke to Keith who told them in no uncertain terms that we do not wish to subscribe to Sky again and not to ring us any more.
We sat back, confident in the certainty that that was the last we would hear from Sky....
This morning, the phone rang, after Keith had gone out of course, which meant that I answered it. Someone wanted to speak to Keith. Who? Sky, of course.
"What? Sky again??" I exploded and launched into a resume of all the recent calls.
"I can only apologise," said the voice at the other end when I finally drew breath. "It has been put down as a 'return call'," and he rang off before I could say another word.
Well, you have to give them marks for not giving up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Plaster board and dust
So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...
-
So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them... -
This is the beach at Burbo Bank, Crosby, home of Antony Gormley's cast iron statues, collectively known as 'Another Place'. We... -
Well, we came to an amicable arrangement, quite unplanned as it happened, because Keith got to navigate the car through people's back y...