I just thought - given the title of my blog - that I should apologise for the lack of grumpiness of late.
Most of my energies in this direction have been spent otherwise because I have been ill - I haven't really been able to get a good run up at anger for a while.
That said, the company who manage the block of flats I live in are about to come in for a large serving. Last year they agreed to change the damaged mailboxes out the front. At the start of this year they agreed to move them inside and wire up a "trade" buzzer on the door.
I'm still waiting. It's really not hard. Six mailboxes. Four screws each. Thats what - twenty-four holes in the wall with rawl plugs and ten minutes with an electric screwdriver?
Oh well. Once the maintenance payments stop, I'm sure they'll hurry up. In the mean-time, avoid "DMA Chartered Surveyors" like the plague. They're pants.
Saturday, 7 July 2007
Live Earth - Ironic?
Is it just me, or is there something ironic about watching a concert aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues / climate change, sat at home on your sofa, through your wide-screen, allegedly energy inefficient TV..?
I wonder how many people stayed at home tonight with the lights on, watching TV, when they would have gone out and done something different instead.
I wonder how many people stayed at home tonight with the lights on, watching TV, when they would have gone out and done something different instead.
Ricky Gervais
We went to see Ricky Gervais live last night, and had surprisingly good seats in the centre stalls - just a few rows back from the stage.
Fantastic. Look out for Fame on DVD - it's brill. Notably "It's not a disease!" (obesity), various comments on M.E. and a comparison of "Old Testament God" versus "New Testament God".
Fantastic. Look out for Fame on DVD - it's brill. Notably "It's not a disease!" (obesity), various comments on M.E. and a comparison of "Old Testament God" versus "New Testament God".
Monday, 2 July 2007
... and back again
I'm back from my holiday. Of course, I think I forgot to say that I was going, which makes this whole post fairly pointless.
My holiday book was "Frank Skinner" by none other than - Frank Skinner.
Phenomenal. Littered with nob jokes, and truly laugh-out-loud funny. Buy it. Even if you don't like Frank that much before, you might after.
My holiday book was "Frank Skinner" by none other than - Frank Skinner.
Phenomenal. Littered with nob jokes, and truly laugh-out-loud funny. Buy it. Even if you don't like Frank that much before, you might after.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Three: We love music!
They might love music, but Three certainly do not love customer service.
My other half cancelled her three mobile approximately two years ago. A week ago she got a later stating that she owes them some money (a small sum - probably half a months line rental). Upon trying to complain about the fact that it took two years to ask for this cash - she was put on hold for an hour, with no end in sight.
It wasn't until I phoned up and made some noise including the magic words "OFCom" and "Trading standards" (and incidentally getting the agent on the other end to admit that three had probably made silent calls to our landline during their alleged attempts to contact her), that she finally got some answers.
Bastards.
My other half cancelled her three mobile approximately two years ago. A week ago she got a later stating that she owes them some money (a small sum - probably half a months line rental). Upon trying to complain about the fact that it took two years to ask for this cash - she was put on hold for an hour, with no end in sight.
It wasn't until I phoned up and made some noise including the magic words "OFCom" and "Trading standards" (and incidentally getting the agent on the other end to admit that three had probably made silent calls to our landline during their alleged attempts to contact her), that she finally got some answers.
Bastards.
Saturday, 2 June 2007
TestDriven.NET vs Microsoft
Before I start, please let me say that I am a Microsoft Developer and quite often, evangelist. I enjoy working with C# .NET, and find that it is an efficient and economical choice for many projects - not all, obviously.
I also support and strongly recommend Test-Driven-Development and Continuous Integration.
By far and wide the best tool I have found for this is TestDriven.NET. However, Microsoft have some issues with the fact that this plugin can be used with VS2005 Express, and haven't been entirely fair with the developer - they have - rather than explaining what they want him to do - simply released the evil flying monkies. Err. I mean lawyers.
See here for more info (the authors blog). If you don't already use TestDriven.NET, you may want to.
I also support and strongly recommend Test-Driven-Development and Continuous Integration.
By far and wide the best tool I have found for this is TestDriven.NET. However, Microsoft have some issues with the fact that this plugin can be used with VS2005 Express, and haven't been entirely fair with the developer - they have - rather than explaining what they want him to do - simply released the evil flying monkies. Err. I mean lawyers.
See here for more info (the authors blog). If you don't already use TestDriven.NET, you may want to.
A mystery solved
Yesterday, I had an Upper GI Endoscopy (Gastroscopy).
Despite what you may read and imagine, this doesn't hurt. It isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was an extremely expedient and efficient way to get a diagnosis.
I spent approximately two hours in a nice and clean NHS treatment center (privately run, but available to NHS patients), with friendly helpful staff (stark contrast to the NHS run hospital next door). At the end, the consultant confirmed that I have a small hiatus hernia and non-elusive reflux disorder.
It's just a shame it took >6 weeks to get to see him! At least I can stop worrying now.
The whole experience does make you think that perhaps the hardest job in the world might be "Sword Swallower", though..
Despite what you may read and imagine, this doesn't hurt. It isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was an extremely expedient and efficient way to get a diagnosis.
I spent approximately two hours in a nice and clean NHS treatment center (privately run, but available to NHS patients), with friendly helpful staff (stark contrast to the NHS run hospital next door). At the end, the consultant confirmed that I have a small hiatus hernia and non-elusive reflux disorder.
It's just a shame it took >6 weeks to get to see him! At least I can stop worrying now.
The whole experience does make you think that perhaps the hardest job in the world might be "Sword Swallower", though..
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