Hermes again. Delivery promised this afternoon. The email suggests that they would like details of my safe place, but only allow a set of options which do not include mine. I tired the chatbot to see if I could get a way of suggesting a none of the above option, but it insisted on trying to get me to choose a limited number of options I could ask about. My safe place is labelled with a plaque telling delivery people to use it and then lock it. A small cupboard by the front door, which has a matching plaque referring them to the cupboard. The first Hermes person who came here on many occasions worked it out for herself, but now I think they just go by their little computer and do not use their eyes. Lean it on the door step. Step back. No-one comes. Take it away. I'm stuck in all afternoon. No constitutional.
Hopefully, the delivery will take place satisfactorily, but, if it doesn't, might a visit to Hermes' FB page* be a good place in which to start complaining VERY LOUDLY?
IOW, like the former president of the US when ranting on Twitter...
Hermes (with parcels in their name) are on Twitter, and that's another way to complain that usually works. You wouldn't be the only person querying deliveries.
Just had a conversation with my boss re the company's new enthusiasm for working from home forever (eek!) and how my wifi ailments play into that. I told him I basically commute from the 19th century into the 21st, and am now going to be permanently stuck in the 19th (we live in a historical district which is underserved on everything). He came up with a variety of creative suggestions, all of which won't work in a 19th century house with my floorplan, and offered to throw money at any solution I could find, God bless him. But money isn't the issue. I asked whether I could put beer, pizza, a stick, rope and a large box on our expense report, so I could build a trap and catch myself a technician.
Delivery made, on the doorstep - courier not visible when I got there, but I called out "Thank you", and he thanked me with an accent from way east of here. It's like dealing with the fairies. (Except one shouldn't thank them.)
I think I am going to have to make a new sign and put it on the doorstep, with a large arrow pointing to my safe place.
@Lamb Chopped if you're not shielding why not ask him to come to your place for a socially distanced meeting and get him to try making the tech work?
Because my work is being extremely cautious and would never approve such a thing. Plus, given my history as a bad-luck-attractor, I would totally get COVID right now if I gave it a chance, because I'm getting the next shot in two weeks. So I'm being a hermit.
I think I am going to have to make a new sign and put it on the doorstep, with a large arrow pointing to my safe place.
Good luck with that. Most of our delivery persons (including the Hermes lady) come to the front door, through the field gate into the courtyard (Chateau S is end-on to the lane) but for some unknown reason Am*z*n drivers invariably come to the back door, through a gate clearly marked 'Please use other gate'. Sometimes - but not always -they bang on the glass as there's no doorbell, prompting either me or Mr S to leap up from our chairs and run round like lunatics trying to find a back-door key.
Apart from anything else, the gate to the back garden is at the top of six steep and slippery stone steps and I would hate one of them to fall...
If they don't bang on the glass, sometimes the only way we know there's been a delivery is the email from Am*z*n telling us it's been delivered *sigh*
I ordered checks with our new address from the bank by phone. It took several messages, press this and that number on your keypad, wait with music for 12 minutes for a human. All told used up a total of 22 minutes of my day. Went into a bank where we have a second account. Walked in and was out in 5 minutes. Mission accomplished.
Having spent well over half an hour waiting for a human at the water board to answer my live chat, and another fifteen or so for her to come back and request my details, I have now been waiting two weeks and counting for the team that deals with lead pipes to call me so I can find out what it will cost.
(We have the original lead supply pipe from the mains to our house, which runs down part of the drive. The section past the meter sprung a leak before Christmas, so it's starting to get dodgy at c.90 years old. The worst bit is that it actually runs a foot above the electrical cutout fuse for the house!)
It looks like the dining table I ordered from Am*z*n may never arrive: I had a message today suggesting that it might have got lost, and would I like to cancel it?
I'm more inclined to think it's a victim of Brexshit and if it does ever arrive it'll come with a nasty demand for ££££ to appease the Inland Revenue.
Talking of whom, they still haven't sorted my tax code.
Yikes re lead. You've probably thought of all this, but just in case not: Any way you can improvise (or buy) a filter in the meantime? Either for the faucets, or for filtering water after you've run it. (E.g., Britta pitchers.)
Because my work is being extremely cautious and would never approve such a thing. Plus, given my history as a bad-luck-attractor, I would totally get COVID right now if I gave it a chance, because I'm getting the next shot in two weeks. So I'm being a hermit.
I've been reading the processing grief thread, because of my friend whose processing was interrupted, but it is not the place to post why and how it was interrupted and replaced by something else, the week after his mother's funeral. Nor is this. I have just deleted a long screed about liars and bullies, and why the stages of grief have got stuck at anger and depression still after a year. (Covid has part of the guilt, preventing face to face discussion, but in an innocence that people cannot share.)
Yes, the vaccine. (Mr. Lamb just called to say that they've confirmed it--he did in fact get the Moderna vaccine, the real thing, back in September, so all they needed to give him today was the little paper for his wallet to say he was vaccinated.) My turn is Feb. 10 (second shot).
Maybe look at it this way: the vaccine will help you, so that you can continue to help *them*. (Just remember to keep doing the masking and social distancing routine, too!)
I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I'm irritated with my unstable internet signal which means the online gig I'm trying to listen to/watch keeps freezing...
TICTH Lothian Buses (again). Thinking that because their Travel Hub is closed, there may have been some online method of setting up a Direct Debit for their Ridacards, I went to their web site, but no - just a bald message saying that because the Hub is closed, they can't process new applications.
So I'll just have to continue paying through the nose to get to work.
TICTH whomever made the decision about who the new rector at my (and, before he died, Cubby's) church will be. Episcopalians are generally more progressive and less right-wing than many other churches in the US, and the previous rector was awesome, but he retired, we had an interim rector whom we didn't get to know too well as Covid promptly hit, and now they've chosen a new rector.
I looked the new rector up on Facebook. Looked at his "Likes" list. And oh dear God. His favorite people and groups include Franklin Graham, Ted Nugent, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ben Shapiro, Trey Gowdy, Allen West, Mark Levin, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Sarah Palin, The Blaze, other weird right-wing "news" sources, Fox News, the "NRA Institute for Legislative Action," etc.
I spoke with the interim rector on the phone about my concerns, and found that he was a Trump fan himself (oops), so politely moved away from the subject; the interim rector had been kind to me and Cubby, and had put us on the prayer list and such, so I didn't want to get into an argument with him.
Found a tentative new church (an overtly gay-friendly one), once Covid is over and I consider it safe to physically go to a church at all again. Just... yikes. And I'm a bit sad about this.
Who chose him? The congregation? A bishop? Are there going to be others who leave? I foresee more than you needing support.
How did he get through the selection process for ordination? Did his mates from the NRA turn up?
Are you sure it was his Facebook page and it wasn't hacked?
It seems an unbelievable collection of attachments.
Today I waited in church to speak to a woman about her father-in-law's funeral for 30 minutes. No apology when she eventually turned up. Then an hour of trying to explain that she can't have a choir for the service and that congregations aren't allowed to sing. Went through various organ possibilities and some recorded options: came away with a shortlist of 4 pieces of recorded choral music (extracts from requiems by Mozart and Fauré, some Stainer) and 3 bits of organ music.
Church was absolutely freezing and I could have done without it but you do the job.
Got home only to discover an email from her listing the three "songs" (hymns) that she wants... 😡
I'm with David's PE teacher! Mine used to reckon me going to my clarinet lesson during PE every week rather than miss 5 out of 6 Music O Level lessons if I stayed on the standard rota was better by far for both of us.
Mind you, the only flaw with my pedometer is the fact it does not count organ pedalling as steps, no matter how enthusiastically I do it.
Anyway, I wandered here originally to CTH those who do not understand I don't want (unmasked)"family/bubble" groups of runners all yelling good morning at me as they refuse to run in single file on narrow pavements and accuse me of being anti-social for turning my (masked) face away and keeping silent whilst condemning them to the fiery furnaces.
So sorry Lamb Chopped. I think there should be a choice that says, none of the above, that would automatically hook you to a human being, but of course, they do not think that way.
There is a system here where, if you really want a real person and have a
I managed to avoid quite a lot of PE lessons in the sixth form by doing music O level as an “extra subject “. It was purely by coincidence that the music lessons were at the same time as 6th form games, a compulsory subject, and pure coincidence that I loathed games, honest.😇
It took my games teacher a whole year to realise that she hadn’t seen me...
Crikey - I wish my flute lessons had taken me out of PE! As I recall, it was RE that I was most likely to miss, which also suited me fine, as I had very little interest in it in those days (and I don’t think the teachers really did either - it wwas just something that had to be taught).
I got out of PE in 6th form by taking GCSE Russian. Everyone else had double PE while my timetable only enabled single PE on the second half. Obviously all the equipment had been taken by then, which meant we could just sit around on the floor of the gym and do the odd sit-up. Suited me fine.
The milkman. When I started having deliveries again, I bought from the supplying company a polystyrene box with a handle to hold four pints. On the evening before delivery - he comes at night - we take down the box with the rinsed bottles, take them out to enable putting the full bottles in easily, and leave them by the front door.
Recently, he has taken to a combination of the following, a) not taking the empties; b) leaving the full bottles beside the box. Occasionally he does put the bottles in the box, but increasingly seldom.
I tried to email the company but they are not taking emails at the moment. So Monday, it's the phone.
How very strange Penny S. How lucky you are to have milk delivery. I remember it as a child but no longer available here. Do keep us posted on the outcome.
I managed to avoid quite a lot of PE lessons in the sixth form by doing music O level as an “extra subject “. It was purely by coincidence that the music lessons were at the same time as 6th form games, a compulsory subject, and pure coincidence that I loathed games, honest.😇
It took my games teacher a whole year to realise that she hadn’t seen me...
Nothing got you out of games at my school unless you had reached at least Grade V on the instrument. You could miss breakfast, lunch or tea but never games.
The milkman. When I started having deliveries again, I bought from the supplying company a polystyrene box with a handle to hold four pints. On the evening before delivery - he comes at night - we take down the box with the rinsed bottles, take them out to enable putting the full bottles in easily, and leave them by the front door.
Recently, he has taken to a combination of the following, a) not taking the empties; b) leaving the full bottles beside the box. Occasionally he does put the bottles in the box, but increasingly seldom.
I tried to email the company but they are not taking emails at the moment. So Monday, it's the phone.
I managed to avoid PE first lesson on a Monday by being Deputy Head Girl and needing to wait a long time outside the Head’s study to arrange various duties etc.
Games was a double lesson on Friday afternoon, but I think extra German conversation took care of that. The German teach was ill from March in the year I did my A level, so we had help from a student, a former teacher breastfeeding her new baby, and the Music teacher who was a native speaker.
Re milk doorstep deliveries, there are various firms now doing this locally and nationally. We had one for a while last year, but they kept leaving milk in the sun and it went off, so we cancelled.
Comments
IOW, like the former president of the US when ranting on Twitter...
*(Assuming they're on FB, of course)
I think I am going to have to make a new sign and put it on the doorstep, with a large arrow pointing to my safe place.
Because my work is being extremely cautious and would never approve such a thing. Plus, given my history as a bad-luck-attractor, I would totally get COVID right now if I gave it a chance, because I'm getting the next shot in two weeks. So I'm being a hermit.
Good luck with that. Most of our delivery persons (including the Hermes lady) come to the front door, through the field gate into the courtyard (Chateau S is end-on to the lane) but for some unknown reason Am*z*n drivers invariably come to the back door, through a gate clearly marked 'Please use other gate'. Sometimes - but not always -they bang on the glass as there's no doorbell, prompting either me or Mr S to leap up from our chairs and run round like lunatics trying to find a back-door key.
Apart from anything else, the gate to the back garden is at the top of six steep and slippery stone steps and I would hate one of them to fall...
If they don't bang on the glass, sometimes the only way we know there's been a delivery is the email from Am*z*n telling us it's been delivered *sigh*
(We have the original lead supply pipe from the mains to our house, which runs down part of the drive. The section past the meter sprung a leak before Christmas, so it's starting to get dodgy at c.90 years old. The worst bit is that it actually runs a foot above the electrical cutout fuse for the house!)
I'm more inclined to think it's a victim of Brexshit and if it does ever arrive it'll come with a nasty demand for ££££ to appease the Inland Revenue.
Talking of whom, they still haven't sorted my tax code.
Yikes re lead. You've probably thought of all this, but just in case not: Any way you can improvise (or buy) a filter in the meantime? Either for the faucets, or for filtering water after you've run it. (E.g., Britta pitchers.)
Best of luck!
The vaccine?
Maybe look at it this way: the vaccine will help you, so that you can continue to help *them*. (Just remember to keep doing the masking and social distancing routine, too!)
So I'll just have to continue paying through the nose to get to work.
Grrrr!
I looked the new rector up on Facebook. Looked at his "Likes" list. And oh dear God. His favorite people and groups include Franklin Graham, Ted Nugent, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ben Shapiro, Trey Gowdy, Allen West, Mark Levin, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Sarah Palin, The Blaze, other weird right-wing "news" sources, Fox News, the "NRA Institute for Legislative Action," etc.
I spoke with the interim rector on the phone about my concerns, and found that he was a Trump fan himself (oops), so politely moved away from the subject; the interim rector had been kind to me and Cubby, and had put us on the prayer list and such, so I didn't want to get into an argument with him.
Found a tentative new church (an overtly gay-friendly one), once Covid is over and I consider it safe to physically go to a church at all again. Just... yikes. And I'm a bit sad about this.
@ChastMastr Oh dear! I hope the new church turns out to be the right place for you.
How did he get through the selection process for ordination? Did his mates from the NRA turn up?
Are you sure it was his Facebook page and it wasn't hacked?
It seems an unbelievable collection of attachments.
Church was absolutely freezing and I could have done without it but you do the job.
Got home only to discover an email from her listing the three "songs" (hymns) that she wants... 😡
The games teacher at David's old school used to reckon that an hour's organ practice would do him more good than circuit training. David agreed.
Mind you, the only flaw with my pedometer is the fact it does not count organ pedalling as steps, no matter how enthusiastically I do it.
Anyway, I wandered here originally to CTH those who do not understand I don't want (unmasked)"family/bubble" groups of runners all yelling good morning at me as they refuse to run in single file on narrow pavements and accuse me of being anti-social for turning my (masked) face away and keeping silent whilst condemning them to the fiery furnaces.
It took my games teacher a whole year to realise that she hadn’t seen me...
Recently, he has taken to a combination of the following, a) not taking the empties; b) leaving the full bottles beside the box. Occasionally he does put the bottles in the box, but increasingly seldom.
I tried to email the company but they are not taking emails at the moment. So Monday, it's the phone.
Nothing got you out of games at my school unless you had reached at least Grade V on the instrument. You could miss breakfast, lunch or tea but never games.
Sounds like a drinking problem.
I wonder if maybe there's a new person on the route who just doesn't get it yet?
Games was a double lesson on Friday afternoon, but I think extra German conversation took care of that. The German teach was ill from March in the year I did my A level, so we had help from a student, a former teacher breastfeeding her new baby, and the Music teacher who was a native speaker.
Re milk doorstep deliveries, there are various firms now doing this locally and nationally. We had one for a while last year, but they kept leaving milk in the sun and it went off, so we cancelled.