APPLE. I just bought a new phone, (long story), and low and behold it does not come with a charger! Really, I have to fork over $20.00 for a plug. A little plastic plug, that most likely costs them less than a dollar to make, so I can charge my phone.
TICTH my apartment management company which last year applied for a rent increase based on work they did in the building, which has just been approved by the relevant NY State office resulting in my rent going up $42.72 a month. Which isn't a lot, but they also, about a month later, applied for another increase based on other work they did, which hasn't been approved yet but which I suspect will be approved in about a month. And that will be a lot more.
APPLE. I just bought a new phone, (long story), and low and behold it does not come with a charger! Really, I have to fork over $20.00 for a plug. A little plastic plug, that most likely costs them less than a dollar to make, so I can charge my phone.
I suspect that most purchasers of new Apple phones already have half a dozen of those...
Telephone handsets.
The one most used in my house died. Somewhere between the batteries and running it, so fully charged batteries just don't keep it going.
Ordered a replacement refurbished one from a popular website for that sort of thing. And it wouldn't register to the base unit. Sitting on it and charging it claimed there was no power in the base.
Reset the entire system and deregistered the dead one, and still no joy. Read most of the Panasonic pages, none of which addressed the problem.
Return process initiated. Brand new one ordered, but I have a nasty feeling that I am going to have to buy a full set of three and base in order to keep running things the most useful way. Why can't things work? Grrr.
What's even better is a wireless charging pad - my DiL has one and it's a great success. Sadly my iPhone (a hand me down from Miss S) is too old to work on it.
BUT - here's a very useful tip if your elderly iPhone has trouble charging. Get a paper clip, uncurl a bit of it and use it to clean the dust and fluff from the charging port. After weeks of changing the cable/plug/socket to no avail - success!
I have permanently mislaid my library card, but after I discovered that here anyone can use a lost card without using a PIN and the card owner is responsible for things borrowed, I memorised the number and input it manually along with the PIN.
Our library cards are just the number (plus an 'A' before and after) as a Codabar barcode. You can get a free codabar font from somewhere like https://www.barcoderesource.com/codabar_barcodefont.html for example, and print a thing that will work as a library card (key tag, sticker on the back of your phone, ...)
Although these days, our library also has an app that will display a picture of your library card on your phone, that you can scan.
What's even better is a wireless charging pad - my DiL has one and it's a great success. Sadly my iPhone (a hand me down from Miss S) is too old to work on it.
That is what I have ended up doing, It arrives in two days. Off-brand at half the price.
Although these days, our library also has an app that will display a picture of your library card on your phone, that you can scan.
Our library has that gimmick. Their checkout machines only read the library card image about half the time, so I have to enter the number manually. Still worth it not to have to carry another chunk of plastic.
The unholy combination of South London councils closing of roads for low traffic use and my satnav company which have cost me £65. The satnav should know that a road cannot be used.
The satnav should know that a road cannot be used.
That brings back a horrible memory of the end of a holiday in Spain and the journey to the airport. We were following our son's car, as they were the ones with a SatNav. It took us several journeys through a busy tourist-filled town centre, always arriving at the same temporary roadworks.
Eventually Son extracted us from that particular circle of hell, and after a couple of panic-filled hours we all made it to the check-in on time, just.
TICTH "Influencers". Their mere existence bothers me mightily. Why would anyone want to be "influenced" by people with a hankering for unearned fame and free stuff? What brought me here was seeing that influencer Olivia Jade (entitled daughter of jailbird, university defrauder Lori Loughlin) is going to compete on Dancing with the Stars. I don't dislike Dancing with the Stars particularly. I do loathe Olivia Jade and her distain for education, even before the scandal "influencing" her followers to denigrate education, her participation in her parents' fraud (yeah, I believe she knew and participated or she is as dumb as a brick or both), and her dopey little three second attempt at salsa dancing on Good Morning America while the hosts were introducing the participants. If her salsa steps are any indication of the effort she is taking to actually compete, she is putting about the same amount of effort that she put into getting into USC. There is another influencer competing but I just feel my usual level of irritation with her.
TICTH ScotRail. Yesterday I renewed my season ticket, as I thought - I pressed all the buttons on the machine and assumed it had taken the money from my card (it's showing up in my bank account), but at the end it said "transaction cancelled" or something similar.
I went to the nice chap at the desk, who sorted it out, but said I was renewing it a day early and changed it to the next day.
When I tapped the machine this morning it made a sad little noise and said "not yet activated", so I had to buy a ticket to get in today (the desk was closed this morning, so I couldn't get it sorted there).
Charities. You check with shop staff - are they able to do bulk uplifts? Yes! Just phone this number. So you assemble a van-load of books and clothes and bric-a-brac, and phone number. No, they're not.
OKaaay. Phone next charity, speak to nice lady who sounds enthusiastic, discuss Gift Aid, she'll get back to me this afternoon. That was three days ago.
Anyone know a Deserving Cause in Edinburgh/the Lothians needing donations?
The two commentators in London on the Raducanu match. Russell Fuller and the female commentator in New York were superb, so I didn't miss a thing, but then they went to Dave and Naomi in London(apparently in the Come Dancing studios but I don't know what difference that was supposed to make) who were talking statistics and other information instead of saying what the players were doing. This has happened before and I can only assume that they think that those who are listening to FiveLive are also watching on a screen of some sort. No, I'm not!! The reason I'm listening is because I can't see the match ... ... Grrrr!
Anyone know a Deserving Cause in Edinburgh/the Lothians needing donations?
Do the Salvation Army not function up there?
I think we had two or three visits from a man with a big estate car to fill during the weeks we spent clearing out our old house.
Of course, Covid is affecting charity shops in it's own particular way. Volunteers are less readily available, some from having, or having been in contact with, the virus - and many volunteers are elderly/vulnerable, so have stopped volunteering to avoid the risk.
Mr RoS, being over 70 and having had a heart attack was 'laid off' by the charity shop he volunteered in.
Also, donated goods have to be quarantined before sorting for sale and storage space may be limited.
I appreciate the difficulties. But having been misinformed/ghosted has depleted my personal stock of charity.
When we get back from Ireland, I shall work my way along the nearest big street, and the first lot to offer to help shift it - Sally Army, Cats Protection, Distressed Gentlefolk whatever - wins.
TICTH the anonymous "benefactor" who deposited with a churchwarden a vast pile of music* they felt sure the organist and/or choir members would be interested in. No, we're not "interested" in 4 bulging boxes of dog-eared, stained, torn dross fit only for re-cycling - use your own bin 👹
* Victorian ballads, tonic sol-fa hymns, etc. The most "recent" thing an Ivor Novello Songbook, missing a vital page from We'll gather lilacs.
TICTH the anonymous "benefactor" who deposited with a churchwarden a vast pile of music* they felt sure the organist and/or choir members would be interested in. No, we're not "interested" in 4 bulging boxes of dog-eared, stained, torn dross fit only for re-cycling - use your own bin 👹
* Victorian ballads, tonic sol-fa hymns, etc. The most "recent" thing an Ivor Novello Songbook, missing a vital page from We'll gather lilacs.
Anyone in the parish with a real fire need kindling?
TCITH my doc6t5or's inability to get the paperwork right. He's a very good doctor; he listens to me and explains everything.
However, he filled out my application for a handicapped parking placard incorrectly; the latest is that he wrote a prescription for a glucometer, lancets, and test strips. It turns out you can't get a glucometer with just a prescription: it has to go through a special approval process.
These mistakes would not be bad if it were easy to correct them. However, straightening things out is an involved and tedious process.
I'll add a CTH on behalf of the adult mentally disabled son of a family we work with, whose school has just sent home a packet of what, 30-some pages of small print permission slips, legal releases, questionnaires about family income, medical history, abilities and disabilities, plans for the future, and so forth, much of which is completely impossible for the family to fill out (being intended for either medical personnel or for government types, who might actually understand what is wanted and have the info). Did I mention the family speaks no English?
And at least half of the "school should fill this part out" bits are left blank. Such as the dates for field trips for which they wish to be released from liability, left apparently for the family to guess and fill in; and also the kinds of data the school might eventually want to get from physician, government, and etc. and therefore require family permission to do so now. Just blank. The family is apparently supposed to read their minds about what they might eventually want to know when. (No, there is no blanket form provided; you have to freaking specify)
I'm handing over the problem to the CW who accepted it, having since discovered they consulted my deputy about it and he said something along the lines of Don't touch it with a bargepole 😈
Surgery. Went over all hyped up to query the registration, absence of, to find a group outside who had turned up, in some cases expecting an appointment, to find the place closed for whatever they call an INSET day, (Teaching version - in service training.) With a very small notice on the door.
Apparently this is the 3rd worst practice in Kent.
And there is no alternative.
This is more of a "HELP" post, but I do hope it fits in here. About an hour-and-a-half ago, I put about 8 frozen cylinders of frozen mashed potato in one of my Tupperwave (microwaveable) round dishes.(These have been in constant use for about 40 years and even more so in the last ten years). I added a little milk for the first time. The lids have air vents.
Set for 4 minutes, removed dish and set aside for a minute. Went to remove the lid, but somehow the air vents must have got clogged because I can't get the lid off!! The air pressure has presumably fixed it like suoper glue! What brute force I can manage doesn't work at all, so I suppose the ony thing would be to get someone to drill a hoe in the lid!!
Anyone got any solutions, or shall I just consign the dish and its contents to the rubbish bin? (smiley)
It may work to reheat the food in the microwave, and (with suitable protection) to remove the lid while still hot. Alternatively, it might be sufficient to stand the containers in hot water to warm them up and ease the pressure difference and enable you to remove the lid.
Success!!! First, I tried a toothpick to find the hole - I think I found the place but toothpick wouldn't go in". Second, I left it to soak in hot water. Last but definitly not least, I put it in the microwave for nearly two minutes, carefully took it out with a teacloth, and carefully pulled at the lid with the teacloth ... ... and off it came!
Brilliant - the triumph of science! So a Tupperwave surviving possibly for enough years for it to outlive me!
Thank you.
P.S. I have now been making successful porridge for some time thanks to posts up thread somewhere.
Well done! I glad you’ve succeeded. After bitter experience, I try to remember to remove the lids of such containers, and, for heating, rest them on the container in such a way that they cover adequately, but can’t accidentally re-seal themselves.
TICTH FedEx. They are spectacularly unhelpful. ('Hear hear!')
They left a 'We tried to deliver but you were out' card. Which I was indeed. But only because you never ask me BEFORE when I want something delivered. Works perfectly with DHL Or the regular postal service - where I can pick up the parcel at my convenience from the local post office.
So I follow the FedEx instructions, ask for delivery the next day - today - on their website, get an e-mail confirmation. So now I sit at home and wait. Then I check their website again, and instead of 'New scheduled delivery for [date indicated by me]', as when I had requested the new date, it now says 'Pending - No scheduled delivery date available'. Their own tracking website get things muddled up! So I ring them up, ask what's going on, they act surprised when I say I have a FedEx e-mail confirmation for scheduled delivery for today. They say, oh, it's still in the depot. Yes, that's what I can see as well, and that's why I'm calling you.
They now say they are delivering in the afternoon, before 6pm. Fair enough. I'll believe it when I see it.
FedEx are the only big courier who act like that. DHL send me an e-mail before, asking if the delivery date is fine. FedEx of course can't be bothered. They shouldn't be in the business if they can only act up, and not act reasonably and plan ahead. FedUp!
Comments
I suspect that most purchasers of new Apple phones already have half a dozen of those...
The one most used in my house died. Somewhere between the batteries and running it, so fully charged batteries just don't keep it going.
Ordered a replacement refurbished one from a popular website for that sort of thing. And it wouldn't register to the base unit. Sitting on it and charging it claimed there was no power in the base.
Reset the entire system and deregistered the dead one, and still no joy. Read most of the Panasonic pages, none of which addressed the problem.
Return process initiated. Brand new one ordered, but I have a nasty feeling that I am going to have to buy a full set of three and base in order to keep running things the most useful way. Why can't things work? Grrr.
[snark]
Ooh ... I wonder why they do that?
[/snark]
It’s getting embarrassing now, phone callers that give up before we can locate a handset That Works for receiving calls .
Folk who we call now repeating themselves for ever….
Our fault tho
We need to buy new phones.
We know we need to buy new phones.
Has it stopped being Usb plug and a lightning cable then- cos those are pretty cheap if you buy generic.
BUT - here's a very useful tip if your elderly iPhone has trouble charging. Get a paper clip, uncurl a bit of it and use it to clean the dust and fluff from the charging port. After weeks of changing the cable/plug/socket to no avail - success!
And self amalgamating tape.
Our library cards are just the number (plus an 'A' before and after) as a Codabar barcode. You can get a free codabar font from somewhere like https://www.barcoderesource.com/codabar_barcodefont.html for example, and print a thing that will work as a library card (key tag, sticker on the back of your phone, ...)
Although these days, our library also has an app that will display a picture of your library card on your phone, that you can scan.
That is what I have ended up doing, It arrives in two days. Off-brand at half the price.
Edited to fix code - Piglet, AS host
Eventually Son extracted us from that particular circle of hell, and after a couple of panic-filled hours we all made it to the check-in on time, just.
Why do I care? Lord knows.😕
I went to the nice chap at the desk, who sorted it out, but said I was renewing it a day early and changed it to the next day.
When I tapped the machine this morning it made a sad little noise and said "not yet activated", so I had to buy a ticket to get in today (the desk was closed this morning, so I couldn't get it sorted there).
Harrumph.
OKaaay. Phone next charity, speak to nice lady who sounds enthusiastic, discuss Gift Aid, she'll get back to me this afternoon. That was three days ago.
Anyone know a Deserving Cause in Edinburgh/the Lothians needing donations?
No, I'm not!! The reason I'm listening is because I can't see the match ... ... Grrrr!
Do the Salvation Army not function up there?
I think we had two or three visits from a man with a big estate car to fill during the weeks we spent clearing out our old house.
Of course, Covid is affecting charity shops in it's own particular way. Volunteers are less readily available, some from having, or having been in contact with, the virus - and many volunteers are elderly/vulnerable, so have stopped volunteering to avoid the risk.
Mr RoS, being over 70 and having had a heart attack was 'laid off' by the charity shop he volunteered in.
Also, donated goods have to be quarantined before sorting for sale and storage space may be limited.
When we get back from Ireland, I shall work my way along the nearest big street, and the first lot to offer to help shift it - Sally Army, Cats Protection, Distressed Gentlefolk whatever - wins.
They advertise a willingness to collect furniture. Dunno if they'd turn out for books and clothes. However, they'd be on my list to ask.
Well, Halloween is on its way, I suppose...so its advent is imminent...
That is hilarious! 🤣👻👹🧛
* Victorian ballads, tonic sol-fa hymns, etc. The most "recent" thing an Ivor Novello Songbook, missing a vital page from We'll gather lilacs.
Anyone in the parish with a real fire need kindling?
However, he filled out my application for a handicapped parking placard incorrectly; the latest is that he wrote a prescription for a glucometer, lancets, and test strips. It turns out you can't get a glucometer with just a prescription: it has to go through a special approval process.
These mistakes would not be bad if it were easy to correct them. However, straightening things out is an involved and tedious process.
And at least half of the "school should fill this part out" bits are left blank. Such as the dates for field trips for which they wish to be released from liability, left apparently for the family to guess and fill in; and also the kinds of data the school might eventually want to get from physician, government, and etc. and therefore require family permission to do so now. Just blank. The family is apparently supposed to read their minds about what they might eventually want to know when. (No, there is no blanket form provided; you have to freaking specify)
Didn't you just get an Aga installed chez Organist?
Apparently this is the 3rd worst practice in Kent.
And there is no alternative.
Set for 4 minutes, removed dish and set aside for a minute. Went to remove the lid, but somehow the air vents must have got clogged because I can't get the lid off!! The air pressure has presumably fixed it like suoper glue! What brute force I can manage doesn't work at all, so I suppose the ony thing would be to get someone to drill a hoe in the lid!!
Anyone got any solutions, or shall I just consign the dish and its contents to the rubbish bin? (smiley)
Many thanks for your suggestions. I will try yours first, Penny S, and then Bro James's. Will report back later.
Brilliant - the triumph of science! So a Tupperwave surviving possibly for enough years for it to outlive me!
Thank you.
P.S. I have now been making successful porridge for some time thanks to posts up thread somewhere.
They left a 'We tried to deliver but you were out' card. Which I was indeed. But only because you never ask me BEFORE when I want something delivered. Works perfectly with DHL Or the regular postal service - where I can pick up the parcel at my convenience from the local post office.
So I follow the FedEx instructions, ask for delivery the next day - today - on their website, get an e-mail confirmation. So now I sit at home and wait. Then I check their website again, and instead of 'New scheduled delivery for [date indicated by me]', as when I had requested the new date, it now says 'Pending - No scheduled delivery date available'. Their own tracking website get things muddled up! So I ring them up, ask what's going on, they act surprised when I say I have a FedEx e-mail confirmation for scheduled delivery for today. They say, oh, it's still in the depot. Yes, that's what I can see as well, and that's why I'm calling you.
They now say they are delivering in the afternoon, before 6pm. Fair enough. I'll believe it when I see it.
FedEx are the only big courier who act like that. DHL send me an e-mail before, asking if the delivery date is fine. FedEx of course can't be bothered. They shouldn't be in the business if they can only act up, and not act reasonably and plan ahead. FedUp!
Bastids!
ETA: The passil arrived, and my tribulations were muchly commiserated by the friendly FedEx driver lady, who has heard other stories!