I have spent some time trying to analyse why my friend gets, and has done throughout his life, the benefit of the attention of the bullies. I have looked at his bearing - we had one child at school with the invisible balloon carrying the words "bully me" floating above them in the playground - and I can't see the equivalent with him. But they can.
He explained to one meeting how the bullies need to trash the repution of their victims, so they are not believed, and subsequently people there set about doing exactly that. He has a collection of friends, some of whom have problems of their own and welcome his support, gets on well with a wide range of people, but somehow attracts the nasties.
I have wondered if they have absorbed the game theory of doves, hawks, bullies and retaliators, spotted that he is a retaliator and pile into him pre-emptively.
He treats people as friends until they aren't, and in doing so, gives them far too much information about himself.
They are advertising a half price offer. By splitting my journey to visit my daughter in England, I could get the Scottish section for half-price. I duly bought the return tickets to Edinburgh, but when I clicked to pay for the Edinburgh to Preston tickets I got a message Sorry, due to a technical issue we are currently unable to process your request. Please go back and try again....
I got back in five minutes later, only to find the tickets I had clicked on to buy were "No Longer Available" and I had to buy more expensive tickets to fit in with the tickets I had already bought to and from Edinburgh.
The trouble for schools is that their writ only runs within their boundaries. They are very limited in what they can do about anything on the other side of the school gates.
And often when it happens at school, it's "well, we didn't say anything, so there's not much we can do".
I don't know why so many kids are feral little shits, but they are. And they're everywhere. I agree with you, @KarlLB both that she shouldn't have to change school, and that it probably wouldn't help, because the new school would have its own evil little shits.
The only thing that I can suggest is to be the squeaky wheel. Every time your daughter says something happens, document it, contact the school, and ask what the school intends to do to fix this problem. Your daughter is entitled to an education free from fear and abuse.
Complicated computer systems to even try to talk to the GP. I want a non urgent talk about one of the Dragonlets re a hospital referral, preferably with them having seen a picture in advance. Our practice shuts theirs down as soon as they have filled the slots, so guess what, at 8:08, just as I had almost finished the form, it stopped working. Try again tomorrow...
Our local health centre.
My adult daughter has a nasty looking mole in her back. The earliest appointment with a GP is over two weeks away. The alternative is to try to get through at 8 am for a same day appointment. As if…..Meanwhile she has been asked to send photos.
I am hoping once the GP sees them that they will call her in straight away. It might be nothing but it looks serious to me.
Hit and run drivers. Same daughter’s former flatmate, now a mum of two, was killed whilst out running nearby.
Daughter’s daughter found out via F-b-k that her French exchange partner of 3 years ago has died. Further enquiries reveal she took her own life.
No words.
Myself plus the computer! I turned on and it did not behave in the usual way and seized up at a point where I could hear the voice but could not change the screen, so I pressed and held on/off .... an when I turned on again, I'd somehow messed up my SuperNova settings. Dolphin Tech Support corrected quite a lot so that I can use it, but more Tech help is going to be needed next week.
*deep sighs*!
Just back from the pain doc's office, where I have failed a urine test for the third time in a row. I'm testing negative for an opiate I am damn well taking, but they don't believe me. I have informed them that my family has genetic testing to prove that we metabolize the crap out of opioids (which is why there's very little effective I can take for pain, hey ho, why do you think i'm in your office?) but no, I must be diverting the drug to somebody else... Have offered to come down daily and take it in front of them, then do a supervised pee. PA taken aback, but still doesn't believe me. Is going to discuss my case with the doctor. Oh, and I had to provide yet a third sample, which is going to turn out negative just like all the others.
Really, if I were going to sell my drugs, don't you think I would have tried to maximize my dosage first? Instead of being on the very lowest amount available?
Not all that worthy of it, really, but TICTH the LOUD MUSIC being played by my otherwise very kind and friendly neighbours. I guess it's in honour of the Platty Jubes, or something.
As a counterpoint, one of the Arkland yard staff is busy strimming Triffids and Wild Grasses on the river bank, so I am getting aural overload. My trusty ear-defenders are in place...
Google. Last night I went to show someone pictures I had drawn of what I could see with my AMD, and found not only the pics had disappeared, but so had the art app/ I know how that happened. I went to delete something I didn't want. and Android decided to delete all the apps arrived at via duckduckgo, and I missed restoring this one.
So I went to reinstall it, and now they do not offer a free version any more. So I started the process of buying at less than £5. But it needs a password. So I searched in my cryptic file and found it and entered it. Wrong. So I changed it - usual palaver, but Google seemed happy. Back to purchase process. Password incorrect. Back into profile, entering new password, accepted. Off to set no authentication needed for purchases. Password needed. Password incorrect. OH NO IT ISN'T! Through cycle several times. Yes it is, no it isn't.... Bah Humbug.
BT's service for relaying SMS messages to landlines not run by them. Announcement that that is what this is. Very fast reading of source phone number - if not recognised (it wasn't) the receiving person is unlikely to have paper and pencil ready. Deep voice of unrecognisable gender gives message. Once. "Mum has died in hospital. burble burble Am in Rumania and can't get back." Announcement gives options, Repeat (should have done), Save, Delete. (Saved it) Announcement gives options for proceeding, seeming to be through number which called. Called it back. Virgin menu, none of which seems to be about voice mails.
Why can't they make it clearer where it comes from?
No-one here has a mum. I am now having to check all my relations who might have people in Rumania. In case it isn't a send money scam.
Interesting that they said Rumania not Romania, Also my friends and relations would know the number they texted as a landline. No family activity, and all possibles would have access to money anyway.
So I'll add the scamsters.
But the method of passing on the message is stupid.
This requires the very deepest of deep abysses in Hell - words fail me. I have my phone along with my braodband through Virgin Media. - Earlier this year I had a missive to the effect that they would be switching the phone from wired to via my broadband as BT is also doing. The date given was at the end of June.
Last night, my friend tried calling another frind to be put staright through to Virgin. Same today. No outgoing calls. Incoming apparently OK.
So I called out and went through the menu. Result, they have started the conversion process. It will not be possible to provide an outgoing service until a technician slot on 26 July! Incoming apparently still available. How long foor I know not.
I don't like doing it, but I stressed my age, and the possibility of needing to make outgoing calls to emergency services before then. That is a priority date!
I cannot believe it.
Letters will be sent to CEOs about not getting the service I am paying for.
I may consult BT. Come Monday.
What sort of business model is this?
This requires the very deepest of deep abysses in Hell - words fail me. I have my phone along with my braodband through Virgin Media. - Earlier this year I had a missive to the effect that they would be switching the phone from wired to via my broadband as BT is also doing. The date given was at the end of June.
Last night, my friend tried calling another frind to be put staright through to Virgin. Same today. No outgoing calls. Incoming apparently OK.
So I called out and went through the menu. Result, they have started the conversion process. It will not be possible to provide an outgoing service until a technician slot on 26 July! Incoming apparently still available. How long foor I know not.
I don't like doing it, but I stressed my age, and the possibility of needing to make outgoing calls to emergency services before then. That is a priority date!
I cannot believe it.
Letters will be sent to CEOs about not getting the service I am paying for.
I may consult BT. Come Monday.
What sort of business model is this?
I know this doesn't solve the problem in that Virgin should be providing what you are paying for - reliably and continuously - but as a short term fix go to the high street (or get someone to go for you) and buy a cheap mobile phone. Google says that Argos will sell you one for £12.99 including £10 of airtime and I expect other shops will do similar. It won't be the same as having a landline, but it will let you make outgoing phone calls.
Thanks. I do have a mobile, though. But it doesn't answer their total failure to notify in advance, and worse, to work out their plan of action in such a way as to ensure the infrastructure is in place before discontinuing a vital part of it. The only notification I received back in February of somewhen implied that at some time at the end of July an engineer would turn up and move a couple of wires and I would go on as before. Pathetic. I have written to the CEO.
Update on the mysterious SMS. Not a scam, but a friend wanting to tell my houseguest that his mother had died while he was on holiday in Romania. She, 94, had fallen and broken her hips and then developed UTIs in hospital. She was not expected to go so soon, though. Her family will be needing support.
Hell for 4 months trying to get my insurance to okay the medicine I must take to prevent blood clots that could kill me. They want me to take another cheaper form that I can not take because it is hard on your kidneys and I have kidney disease, so taking the cheaper stuff could also kill me. So for 4 months, I have been forking over $600.00 from my savings to cover the needed meds. Today I won. I won I won. They are going to cover the meds so instead of over $600.00 it will only be $300.00 a month. Not great but better.
ICTH the idiot estate agent tasked with selling our neighbouring house. Having failed to get the leaking pipework fixed properly he decided it would (and I quote) "look better if there was water in the loo and taps working" for the Open House planned for Saturday, so turned the water back on. How do we know this? An almighty crash just after 7 this evening as the cold water tank fell through from their loft through the upper floor and into the kitchen. It sounded like a bomb 😱
So, an enjoyable evening spent with no water while my plumber sorted out cutting off their water while restoring ours (the two houses share a main - don't ask) and waiting for the idiot to appear and see the damage. No, I had nothing better to do with a free evening 👹
Our previous Victorian house had a shared water supply. The owners did some work in the kitchen, turned off the water and went away for the weekend. Thames Water turned up with bottles of water for the kettle ad we went to the Leisure Centre for a shower.
It sounds a bit like the house next door is one it would be a good idea to get detached from!
@TheOrganist , Do tell did the agent return to the disaster? Guess the Open House was canceled? What about the poor owners? Inquiring minds want to know.
@TheOrganist , Do tell did the agent return to the disaster?
I am concerned about yesterday's meeting with the neighbours' son & the estate agent.
My experience about such meetings is that the instigator would try somehow to put blame for something on The Organist, and expect a financial contribution at the very least.
I do so hope I am wrong.
Somebody phoned me this morning and stopped before I could pick up the phone - right beside me. Since then it has not been possible to ring back. Busy, busy, busy. Not on the lists of troublesome numbers, though identified as London - which it was on the phone. My new mobile, which no-one outside my very small circle has the number of. Waste of time. grr.
Whoever it was has clearly not disconnected properly. One has to hope they'll soon make another call somewhere - frustrating. I'm the same with my mobile, BTW.
Phone is accepting incoming, so they are disconnected from me. The odd thing about the number is that after the London code, the next four numbers match my next four numbers. They left a brief voicemail which went, faintly, t t t t
We had three calls in a row on the landliune from the same mobile number. Did not get to the first - no message left. I got the second but could hear only what sounded like chatter in a call centre. Third one went to voicemail but they rang off. A few minutes later our Saunsbury's delivery arrived, an hour early. He said he had tried to ring - ???
At a very low point in my life I blew a whistle down the phone at such intrusions.
So I ll happily consign all such unthinking buffoons to an all saintly hell.
@TheOrganist , Do tell did the agent return to the disaster?
I am concerned about yesterday's meeting with the neighbours' son & the estate agent.
My experience about such meetings is that the instigator would try somehow to put blame for something on The Organist, and expect a financial contribution at the very least.
I do so hope I am wrong.
Rest easy. One of the first jobs we did when we moved here was creating a proper party wall: it meant we ended up with slightly smaller rooms but the upside was we have more than a thin layer of wattle and daub between Us and Them.
The meeting started out slightly tense but the Son of Elderly Owners was struck dumb by the devastation.
Just back from the pain doc's office, where I have failed a urine test for the third time in a row. I'm testing negative for an opiate I am damn well taking, but they don't believe me. I have informed them that my family has genetic testing to prove that we metabolize the crap out of opioids (which is why there's very little effective I can take for pain, hey ho, why do you think i'm in your office?) but no, I must be diverting the drug to somebody else... Have offered to come down daily and take it in front of them, then do a supervised pee. PA taken aback, but still doesn't believe me. Is going to discuss my case with the doctor. Oh, and I had to provide yet a third sample, which is going to turn out negative just like all the others.
Really, if I were going to sell my drugs, don't you think I would have tried to maximize my dosage first? Instead of being on the very lowest amount available?
Having been firmly assured that they would call me ASAP with the doctor's answer, waited a week for no answer (of course). Called and left polite reminder. No fucking answer again. Wrote fucking LETTER and hand-carried it to the office. No answer.
I'd fire the lot of them except it would look like shit on my medical record, given that I'm already suspected of being a drug abuser.
The meeting started out slightly tense but the Son of Elderly Owners was struck dumb by the devastation.
I was relieved to see that the situation was resolved without much nastiness and resorting to lawyers. Let's hope the actual dilapidations can also be satisfactorily resolved, and soon.
@TheOrganist , Do tell did the agent return to the disaster?
I am concerned about yesterday's meeting with the neighbours' son & the estate agent.
My experience about such meetings is that the instigator would try somehow to put blame for something on The Organist, and expect a financial contribution at the very least.
I do so hope I am wrong.
Rest easy. One of the first jobs we did when we moved here was creating a proper party wall: it meant we ended up with slightly smaller rooms but the upside was we have more than a thin layer of wattle and daub between Us and Them.
The meeting started out slightly tense but the Son of Elderly Owners was struck dumb by the devastation.
I wondered about the party wall, but presumably that's holding up OK. My next worry would be the roof, and whether Next Door's dilapidations might affect yours...
As The Bard so nearly said: How sharper than a serpent's tooth to have a gormless numpty for a child. Whether he's squandering a sum going towards his parents' care, or his prospective inheritance.
As a regular viewer of Homes Under The Hammer I fully expect this property to make an appearance.
If it goes under a hammer, it will disintegrate entirely...
Seriously, though, sale by auction *as seen* would be the Numpty's best option IMHO, although poor @TheOrganist might then have to put up with Builders coming-and-going for the next lustrum or two.
Still, having a semi-ruin attached to one's house (a) is not Nice, and (b) reduces the value of said house.
I hope the situation is resolved satisfactorily a.s.a.p.
@Lamb Chopped, So sorry you have to put up with this stuff, Life is hard enough with medical issues without having to deal with that on top of it. I admire strong women like you who fight on.
TICTH road works and the Royal Highland Show*, which have combined to make me extremely late for work. I didn't get to Queensferry Street until 7:50, to find the next bus isn't for another 20 minutes.
* Why is it in Edinburgh, which isn't even in the Highlands?
* Why is it in Edinburgh, which isn't even in the Highlands?
Because nowhere actually in the Highlands has the infrastructure to cope. Plus, yes, the toffs in tartan don't know how to go beyond the Forth without a gun.
Comments
He explained to one meeting how the bullies need to trash the repution of their victims, so they are not believed, and subsequently people there set about doing exactly that. He has a collection of friends, some of whom have problems of their own and welcome his support, gets on well with a wide range of people, but somehow attracts the nasties.
I have wondered if they have absorbed the game theory of doves, hawks, bullies and retaliators, spotted that he is a retaliator and pile into him pre-emptively.
He treats people as friends until they aren't, and in doing so, gives them far too much information about himself.
They are advertising a half price offer. By splitting my journey to visit my daughter in England, I could get the Scottish section for half-price. I duly bought the return tickets to Edinburgh, but when I clicked to pay for the Edinburgh to Preston tickets I got a message Sorry, due to a technical issue we are currently unable to process your request. Please go back and try again....
I got back in five minutes later, only to find the tickets I had clicked on to buy were "No Longer Available" and I had to buy more expensive tickets to fit in with the tickets I had already bought to and from Edinburgh.
And often when it happens at school, it's "well, we didn't say anything, so there's not much we can do".
I don't know why so many kids are feral little shits, but they are. And they're everywhere. I agree with you, @KarlLB both that she shouldn't have to change school, and that it probably wouldn't help, because the new school would have its own evil little shits.
The only thing that I can suggest is to be the squeaky wheel. Every time your daughter says something happens, document it, contact the school, and ask what the school intends to do to fix this problem. Your daughter is entitled to an education free from fear and abuse.
My adult daughter has a nasty looking mole in her back. The earliest appointment with a GP is over two weeks away. The alternative is to try to get through at 8 am for a same day appointment. As if…..Meanwhile she has been asked to send photos.
I am hoping once the GP sees them that they will call her in straight away. It might be nothing but it looks serious to me.
Daughter’s daughter found out via F-b-k that her French exchange partner of 3 years ago has died. Further enquiries reveal she took her own life.
No words.
*deep sighs*!
Really, if I were going to sell my drugs, don't you think I would have tried to maximize my dosage first? Instead of being on the very lowest amount available?
As a counterpoint, one of the Arkland yard staff is busy strimming Triffids and Wild Grasses on the river bank, so I am getting aural overload. My trusty ear-defenders are in place...
So I went to reinstall it, and now they do not offer a free version any more. So I started the process of buying at less than £5. But it needs a password. So I searched in my cryptic file and found it and entered it. Wrong. So I changed it - usual palaver, but Google seemed happy. Back to purchase process. Password incorrect. Back into profile, entering new password, accepted. Off to set no authentication needed for purchases. Password needed. Password incorrect. OH NO IT ISN'T! Through cycle several times. Yes it is, no it isn't.... Bah Humbug.
Why can't they make it clearer where it comes from?
No-one here has a mum. I am now having to check all my relations who might have people in Rumania. In case it isn't a send money scam.
What a pain in the b**t, though.
So I'll add the scamsters.
But the method of passing on the message is stupid.
Last night, my friend tried calling another frind to be put staright through to Virgin. Same today. No outgoing calls. Incoming apparently OK.
So I called out and went through the menu. Result, they have started the conversion process. It will not be possible to provide an outgoing service until a technician slot on 26 July! Incoming apparently still available. How long foor I know not.
I don't like doing it, but I stressed my age, and the possibility of needing to make outgoing calls to emergency services before then. That is a priority date!
I cannot believe it.
Letters will be sent to CEOs about not getting the service I am paying for.
I may consult BT. Come Monday.
What sort of business model is this?
I know this doesn't solve the problem in that Virgin should be providing what you are paying for - reliably and continuously - but as a short term fix go to the high street (or get someone to go for you) and buy a cheap mobile phone. Google says that Argos will sell you one for £12.99 including £10 of airtime and I expect other shops will do similar. It won't be the same as having a landline, but it will let you make outgoing phone calls.
So, an enjoyable evening spent with no water while my plumber sorted out cutting off their water while restoring ours (the two houses share a main - don't ask) and waiting for the idiot to appear and see the damage. No, I had nothing better to do with a free evening 👹
It sounds a bit like the house next door is one it would be a good idea to get detached from!
My experience about such meetings is that the instigator would try somehow to put blame for something on The Organist, and expect a financial contribution at the very least.
I do so hope I am wrong.
So I ll happily consign all such unthinking buffoons to an all saintly hell.
They seem to be legion.
I have even got someone trying to get me into an 'invitation-only' writers' collective.
Even when they mean well - I just want to be alone! (Greta Garbo.)
Rest easy. One of the first jobs we did when we moved here was creating a proper party wall: it meant we ended up with slightly smaller rooms but the upside was we have more than a thin layer of wattle and daub between Us and Them.
The meeting started out slightly tense but the Son of Elderly Owners was struck dumb by the devastation.
Having been firmly assured that they would call me ASAP with the doctor's answer, waited a week for no answer (of course). Called and left polite reminder. No fucking answer again. Wrote fucking LETTER and hand-carried it to the office. No answer.
I'd fire the lot of them except it would look like shit on my medical record, given that I'm already suspected of being a drug abuser.
I wondered about the party wall, but presumably that's holding up OK. My next worry would be the roof, and whether Next Door's dilapidations might affect yours...
As a regular viewer of Homes Under The Hammer I fully expect this property to make an appearance.
Seriously, though, sale by auction *as seen* would be the Numpty's best option IMHO, although poor @TheOrganist might then have to put up with Builders coming-and-going for the next lustrum or two.
Still, having a semi-ruin attached to one's house (a) is not Nice, and (b) reduces the value of said house.
I hope the situation is resolved satisfactorily a.s.a.p.
TICTH road works and the Royal Highland Show*, which have combined to make me extremely late for work. I didn't get to Queensferry Street until 7:50, to find the next bus isn't for another 20 minutes.
* Why is it in Edinburgh, which isn't even in the Highlands?
But what an Inconvenience and Annoyance - mind you, others will probably be late, too.
Because nowhere actually in the Highlands has the infrastructure to cope. Plus, yes, the toffs in tartan don't know how to go beyond the Forth without a gun.
disgruntled piglet
But, apart from the Tor, it's hardly highland; and suffers the disadvantage of not actually being in Scotland (or anywhere near it.)
It took a moment or two for me to realise that the station at Castle Cary was meant (still open, of course, but some 15 miles from Glastonbury town).