All changed
Posted: Fri 25 July, 2008 Filed under: Domestic, Geeky Leave a comment »Well, it looks like the changeover went pretty well – BT disappeared overnight, and the Tiscali connection was all up and ready.
In fact, the only hindrance has been that the modem/wireless router that I had from BT was (I suppose unsurprisingly) locked in to BT, and wouldn’t take connections for anything else. So I’ve invested in a new modem/router (Tiscali would’ve just provided a wired router, not wireless) which also means that the home network has improved security now as well. Never a bad thing.
As it is, it also meant I got to use the money-saving vouchers I’d got from Staples back in January after the farce with the desk so the entire thing cost me £20 instead of the expected £40. (Plus, it can be listed as a business expense, which is always nice too)
So all told, the savings I’ve made by swapping broadband providers has dropped to £120 over the year from just under £140 (12 months of paying £10 less a month, plus three months of half-price rental, which’ll drop it to £6.50 for three months) but all the same, that still makes it very worthwhile.
Changing Broadband – Part Two
Posted: Thu 24 July, 2008 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism, Domestic, Geeky 1 Comment »According to an email I’ve just received, the broadband at home is now running on Tiscali rather than BT.
Of course, I’m working in Essex today, so won’t know if it’s actually worked until I get home tonight and get it all set up. All the same, fingers crossed that it’s all worked smoothly, so I don’t have to spend time tonight swearing at connections etc.
I’m vaguely optimistic – but at the same time, I’m fully expecting to get home and have no broadband at all. I’m cynical like that.
So we’ll just have to see what works, and whether everything’s set up or not. You may (or, of course, may not) hear more about this tonight, depending on ye olde connectivity.
GP Visit
Posted: Wed 23 July, 2008 Filed under: Domestic, Health Leave a comment »Over the last month, I’ve had a really irritating cough – not a chesty cough at all, but more of a persistent tickle at the back of my throat. It’s mainly kicked in when I’ve been talking, and has made me cough each time I spoke.
So last Friday I finally got round to making an appointment to see the doctor. They couldn’t see me until today, which was fine as I was working away from home for Monday and Tuesday.
And of course the cough, after a month of hanging around, completely cleared up between Monday and Tuesday. Typi-fucking-cal.
I still went to the docs, as there were a couple of other bits I needed to ask about, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. Just pretty much a waste of time. Hey Ho.
On the plus side, at least I now know who my doctor is…
Stopping Cycles
Posted: Tue 22 July, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism, Weirdness Leave a comment »What’s wrong with this picture?
Yep, a barrier to stop people cycling – right next to a wide-open space, with nothing to stop people just cycling onto that instead.
Genius.
F/O
Posted: Mon 21 July, 2008 Filed under: Driving, Thoughts 6 Comments »Over the last few weeks, while driving on the A127 I’ve kept seeing a sign with this mysterious message…
Gallows Corner F/O closed [date]
The date’s irrelevant, but that “F/O” has had me befuddled each time. What the fuck is an F/O ?
I found out today (they’d finally put in the full text on one warning sign) so I know what it is.
But can you work it out? I’d be interested to know whether it’s just me being a twat, or whether it really relied on local knowledge…
[Updated : OK, it looks like it was just me being a twat, as the first two commenters both got it right. F/O somehow equates to ‘Flyover’.]
Now that’s what I call old
Posted: Mon 21 July, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism 2 Comments »Ways to make me feel old:
I’ve just seen an advert for Now That’s What I Call Music 70. Yes, fucking seventy.
I actually had NTWICM 1 and 2. So seeing it come to #70, yeah, that’s pretty certain to make me feel old.
Away from the Web
Posted: Sun 20 July, 2008 Filed under: D4D™, Domestic Leave a comment »A quiet weekend online here, due to the fact that we had my parents here for the weekend. As a result, yes, no updates to D4D™. Them’s the breaks.
It’s actually been a really nice weekend, actually. The village had a flower festival in its two churches, which we visited as Mother is an avid flower-arranger – and which was really enjoyable. We also visited one of the other nearby villages, which has had it’s annual “Teddy Bear festival”, the insanity of which my parents loved.
Along with a couple of very good meals out, it’s been a very pleasant weekend all told. And yes, sometimes it’s just nice to be offline for a bit as well.