And another winner

The rest of the shopping bags have gone off in the post today so look for the postman if you are a winner. I had a couple of old bubble wrap bags left over from when someone sent me something. I always save any packaging, you never know when it will come in handy. Anyway, I had a look around to see what else I could use. I don't believe in buying new bags, or envelopes, I always try to reuse and recycle where I can.

I've got some old dry dog food bags, been saving them, they are so strong, a shame to throw them away. This is what I did. I flattened one out, and cut the bottom off about an inch from the end.

Then I turned it inside out.

This tape is useful for all kinds of jobs, I got it from the Scrapstore.

Pull a piece out and lay it sticky side up on the table. Put one of the open ends half way over it, and cut it to the right length. Then fold the other half over to enclose the end. 

Both ends are sealed now.

Next to put the address label on it. I found that sellotape doesn't stick to it, so it really needs something super sticky. I used a slightly narrower blue tape, a very strong and very sticky tape. The labels are cut up old Christmas cards. I put a blank label on as well, so the lady in the Post Office could stick her stickers on it, although she did say that they would stick on the bag itself.

 I finished off by putting a smaller label on the back for the senders name and address.

There you are, a good way to use up what you already have. A strong parcel that will stand up to any amount of throwing about by Parcel Force, and should still be intact when it lands on the other side of the pond.  

Ooooh look, I've made another shopping bag, the colour is not quite right on the pic, it's more of a dusky pink. Another giveaway, so I have drawn another name out.

This time the winner is.........Claire. So, if you are reading this, please send me your name and address, and I'll get it off to you pronto. You can email, or put it in a comment, which I won't publish and will delete as soon as I have made a note of it. Well done Claire, hope you like your posh shopping bag.
Toodle pip.

A decision, a cheap fix, a disaster, and two more winners

Thanks for all your comments on yesterdays post about BG and Smart Meters. I think most are in agreement that the best course of action would be to do nothing. After reading the bumph they sent me, and perusing the Smart Meter frequently asked questions and answers web page, I hereby declare that I will do nothing. My decision is based on these points.

From their web site.

Do I have to have a smart meter?

No. Smart meters are progressively replacing traditional analogue meters, which means that from 2014 to 2019 they will be rolled out as standard across the country. There is no legal obligation on individuals to have one, but anyone refusing would miss out on the benefits. Suppliers are required to install smart meters, and in fact at British Gas we are committed to upgrading all our customers by taking steps to reach everyone. (miss out on what benefits exactly? I can't see any for me at all)

Will the upgrade to smart metering make meter readers redundant?
Smart technology transforms the way we take meter reads and will mean an end to pedestrian meter reading. However, our dedicated Smart Team are hiring around 2,100 people to install our customers meters and we will continue to conduct periodic safety inspections of all meters. (of course they will be made redundant, eventually, when all houses have the meters. Also, meter readers retiring or leaving to go to another job, will not be replaced, so jobs will be lost)

A bit taken from their leaflet.
Once you've got a Smart Meter you can still change supplier, your rights haven't changed. Not all suppliers use Smart Meters yet so your new supplier may not be able to support some aspects of it. You won't need a new meter, it would automatically change back to a 'standard' meter and work in the same way they do today. (I think this is going to create a great deal of confusion if all suppliers are not moving forward with new technology at the same time. I can see this making it even more difficult to change suppliers, and creating more problems)

We're committed to giving you more choice and control.
If you don't want to have a Smart Meter installed yet, just tell us. (thanks I will, when you ring and ask me)

Right, moving swiftly on, I have no more time for this topic. Noodles, what do you think of them? I used to like Super Noodles, I think they were a well known brand, but they went up in price so I stopped buying them. Also, they are not a particularly healthy type of food, so consumption should be limited. I popped into Aldi the other day for some fresh veg, and picked up a packet of their super cheap Instant Noodles, 18p I believe, thrown the till receipt away.

I had them for lunch yesterday, took a photo of the meal, but I seem to have deleted it  :o( Anyway, I had them with watercress and raw mushrooms. I must say, they weren't too bad, as a cheap and quick to prepare filler. The seasoning wasn't very tasty though, a bit wishywashy, so I added some of my own to perk it up a bit. I will get them again, just as a standby in case I come in late and want something to eat quickly without too much messing about in the kitchen.

Here's what happens when I multi task, ha ha. I zip around the house like something demented sometime, six jobs going at the same time. Half a tin of rice pudding in a mug, zapped in the microwave. I never set the timer, always just guess how long it needs. Got distracted, oooops, scrape half of it off the glass plate, ha ha.

Now what have we got here? Yep, two more shopping bags made. So if you thought you missed out on the first lot, you were in with a chance for these. No need to comment again to win them, I used the names still in the basket and pulled out two more.

I will not put you through the same agonies as before, so drum roll please, here are the winners.

 

Congratulations. Please send me your postal address and I will get them off to you. You can email me, or put it in a comment which I will not publish.

I sent two bags off yesterday to Jess and Markdebby, but I have not been able to send the third, because I don't have an address. So, Elaine near Philly, you requested yours to go to your friend in Lincolnshire. I have sent you two emails, but not had a reply. Perhaps you could put the address in a comment for me. Thank you so much. A note about postage. If I say I will post anywhere in the world, I mean it, at my expense, I budget for it. It's very kind that people offer to pay for postage, but, don't send me anything, not a bean. Too much hassle, I don't do Paypal, and I don't need it. I just enjoy giving.
Toodle pip.

I can't be bothered with all this.

If I can't moan here, where can I moan? What's got my back up, what's bugging me, and what's stopped me from going about my daily business until I get this off my chest? There's steam coming out of my fingers as I give the keyboard a bashing.

Chuffin British Gas, what a chuffin pain! I've been plodding along with them for years now, everything running tickety boo. Meters are read, bills are accurate and get paid when they arrive, no need to upset the applecart by changing suppliers, if it aint broke then don't fix it.

Now they want to change my electricity meter for a new all bells and whistles, smart meter, apparently they can read it remotely. They try and make out that it will benefit me because I will have more control over how I use my electricity, it will help me monitor how much I use. They don't know that I am not thick. I know that when you flick more switches the little wheel whizzes round faster and faster, and before you know it you can wrack up hundreds of pounds on the next bill. I know all that, that's why I am careful not to leave things switched on. I don't really need a new meter, the old one works perfectly fine.

They sent me a letter asking me to ring and make an appointment for the exchange. I did, and was put in a queue by an automated voice. I got fed up of waiting and hung up. I tried again a couple of days later, another queue. I have got better things to do than to hang around here, another aborted call. Then another letter arrived reminding me I needed to contact them. Another try and another 'give it up as a bad job'.

At the fourth attempt I got through to a human voice, albeit a foreign chappie who I could not fully understand. Not his fault he is in another continent, he needs a job as much as anyone, I just wish they could bring all these call centres back to Britain. I struggled on with him, gave my details to confirm who I am, and managed to pick a few words out and get the gist of what he was saying.

Then it transpired that he was not the one who could make the appointment so I was put on hold, while he contacted the department dealing with meter exchanges. He got back to me in a couple of minutes and gave me another number which I should call, and said that department would be ready to take calls in a couple of hours because they were not ready yet. So I washed the pots while I was waiting.

Then I had a phone call from British Gas Customer Service, an automated call, asking if I would give my opinions on the previous interaction with them. Wanting to give them a piece of my mind, my chance to say what I think, I agreed to take part in their survey. What a waste of time that was. Another machine asking the questions, I am supposed to press the buttons on my keypad on a scale of 1 to 10, the first question I pressed 5, and then the robot asked why I had chosen that response. From then on I was flumoxed, I hesitated and it spewed forth a load of letters, I didn't know what to press after that. I gave up. Are there any humans working for British Gas???

I have just been onto the Brit Gas web site to register a complaint there, and guess what,

Oh, chuffin heck, what a palarver. Will my meter be changed, or not. At this point in time, I don't give a stuff. I might try ringing the new number that the foreign chappie gave me, or then again, I might not. Depends if I've got time. Toodle pip.

Walking the first 13 miles of the Viking Way

Hello, I hope you are having a good Sunday. My trip to visit family yesterday was a nice change. Uncle Stan was in fine fettle, he is doing well for saying he is just approaching his 90th birthday. Auntie Pat made a lovely lunch for us, and we enjoyed catching up with all the family news. A visit to sister and her hubby was next, another chat, and a cup of coffee with them before they went off out for their dinner. I got back home about 9pm, after calling in at Tesco on the way past, and was lucky enough to get some cheap wholemeal bread for the freezer.

It's been a warm day here, very nice. It was a bit misty this morning when I met up with Tony to walk the first 13 miles of the Viking Way. He posted about his forthcoming epic 147 mile walk, on www.walkingforum.co.uk and I thought, aha, my walk was the same distance as this, and I could meet up with him at the start. So, at 8.30am we set off from the misty Humber Bridge.  

The path goes along the waters edge for while.

There is a short diversion around a farm, where it is impossible to walk next to the river. The phrase, 'happy as a pig in muck', comes to mind here.

Aren't they just fab.

It's still a bit misty across the river, as we reached South Ferriby.

At this point we crossed over the top of the main A15 trunk road, near Bonby Lodge.

I love the fragrance and colour of the oil seed rape fields, of which there were many.

My walk ended at Barnetby le Wold where I had left my car. I said farewell to my companion and wished him luck for the rest of his journey. His walk will end at Oakham in Rutland in about seven days time. I need to start planning another long walk.
Toodle pip

Think I missed the point

I often fail to make sense of art. I can look at something for a while and still not understand what it's all about, as was the case last night when I visited our 20 21 Visual Arts Centre. There was a free entry night, the word 'free' made me sit up and take notice. It was explained to me the previous day when I called in, the details being a bit confusing, but hey ho, there was a bar, and chips to be had,  so I thought it was worth a look.

Upon arrival I was greeted by this scene outside the entrance, two crashed cars, a recovery truck, and blue flashing lights. I had to check with the girl on reception whether it was real or staged. It was staged of course, all part of the event. Phew, I got all excited for a minute, thought I would be witnessing some dramatic scenes of big burly coppers carting away the law breakers.

A few folks had turned out for the event, some looking the artyfarty type, and me in my bog standard sensible, dressed for the chilly weather, in warm jacket, thick trousers, and boots. 

I proceeded past the bar, and into the main gallery in the church. Well well, there was some boxing going on. A young girl was punching hell out of a guy with massive pads on his hands. Apparently the Boxing Club is quite popular in our town. I wouldn't mind having a go at that. There was a man sized rubber boxing dummy close by, so I punched that in the face. Ha ha, such fun. The young girl was good, it looked pretty skillful actually.  

In the other room was a big screen showing exotic dancers a wiggling and a shaking their bits. Exotic or should I say erotic, music was playing, and this young lady was doing it for real on a small stage. Shaking her wobbly bits made the tassels on her bikini twirl and dance about. The tables were set out in night club style and folks were relaxed and chattering amongst themselves. I must say, I found watching this for a few minutes was a bit boring.

Back in the main gallery there was a break in the boxing, and a young lady took to the ring, dressed in a black rubber, body suit. She gave a 20 minute talk about the history of erotic and rude films, while posters were flashed up on the screen behind her. Her presentation was not very professional. She started a lot of sentences with 'erm', as she kept looking at her notes. She didn't engage with the audience by looking directly at our faces. And she had the irritating habit of taking two steps forward and two back, the whole time she was speaking. All of which distracted me from the point of her talk.

I tried to make sense of it all, but left feeling baffled and confused. Some artworks are going to be made of the night, in what form I do not know, but there was a lot of people taking photographs, so I suppose something will come of it. Will be interesting to see the end result.

I'm off down south to visit family now, catch you tomorrow. Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip.