Moving Numbers
Posted: Thu 3 May, 2007 Filed under: Customer Services, Getting Organised, House Work, Thoughts 1 Comment »Yesterday I called BT about us moving house, and organising the (hopefully) seamless transfer of phone and broadband from where we are now to where we will be, and all on the day we move.
Which is going to be the 25th May, just in case anyone cared/wanted to know.
It shouldn’t be a problem, as we’re only moving roughly six miles, and will still be in the same area code – but no, we won’t be able to keep the current phone number. Apparently we’re going to be on a different exchange, and this throws a spanner in the works for keeping our existing phone number.
I don’t care, particularly, but it just seems strange that BT can’t manage the (on the surface) simple thing of keeping the phone number if you move within the same phone area code. Apparently it’s fine if you’re staying on the same exchange, but it’s a no-no if you’re moving exchange. Mind you, it’s not like there’s going to be someone using that number on the different exchange, is it?
Maybe I need some landline phone expert to educate me a bit on this one…
Skip #3
Posted: Mon 30 April, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, House Work Leave a comment »Over the weekend (and mainly on Sunday, to be fair) we filled another 4ft³ skip, this time just with garden rubbish – dead plants, rubbish, and general crap. There’s a little bit more to be done (that joy will be tonight) and then the skip can go off to wherever skips go when they’re full.
And yes, in theory we could’ve taken it all to the local(ish) tip to be added to their garden waste area, but well, it would’ve taken at least five journeys, and a fortune in green plastic bags. So a skip made more sense.
For now, the garden is currently pretty much sorted. Which means we move on to the house, and doing some of the stuff that needs doing before we move in at the end of May. That means fun stuff like doing the floor tiles for three rooms, and getting everything ready for the end of the month.
It’s all coming together quite nicely, thankfully.
Card Processing
Posted: Fri 27 April, 2007 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism, House Work, Thoughts 2 Comments »One of the jobs that needs doing on the new house is to get the electricity supply and meter moved. Because of the region we’re in, we have to use EDF Energy.
Yesterday we got the quote for the work – some £320 or so – and advice on how to pay it. Of course, we want this done ASAP, so I call up their call centre to use a credit card to pay for it. Ho hum.
Anyway, I (eventually) get through – after 25 minutes on hold – and go through the credit card malarkey with the person on the other end. All fine – I’m never overly happy about giving over credit card details on the phone, but yadda yadda, could be worse. Until the end of the call…
“OK, I’ll take these details over to my supervisor, she’ll key them in, and we’ll get this done for you.”
“Woah! You mean you’ve not been doing this directly into the system?”
“No, we write it all down, then pass it on to our supervisor who’s authorised to enter the details. It’s security, you see.”
“OK, put me through to your supervisor NOW, please”
So I get through to the supervisor, who goes through the process again. She can’t understand why I have a huge problem with giving all my credit card details – including the security number on the back –and address details, and having some divvy little git writing them down before processing them. Then I say “Well, how would you feel if you called somewhere, and they did this with your credit card?”.
“Ah, I see your point. Well, all the paperwork is destroyed afterwards.”
“OK, and what’s to stop – say – one of your call takers from bringing in a sheet of carbon paper (I know, low-tech) , so they write the details down, and at the same time the carbon paper means a duplicate copy has been taken. Do you check for things like that?”
“Um. No.”
It’s all been done now, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the card account over the next couple of weeks. And writing a snotty letter to EDF Energy about this method of payment processing…
Advance Warning
Posted: Wed 25 April, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, Green, House Work, Thoughts 4 Comments »Now here’s a thing that’ll strike fear in the hearts of any sane individuals who read D4D™ on a regular basis…
Because we’ve bought a wood burner, over time we’re going to need logs. It’s a logical thing, I know. Now, obviously it’s better if you can source your own supply of logs, or combine with other people in the area, in order to source that supply. Apparently, these groups are called ‘chainsaw groups’ who will go out, and deal with a tree between them.
You can see where this is going, can’t you?
Yes, at some point this year I’m going to be taking a course to learn how to properly use a chainsaw. And, probably, buying one.
And if that concept isn’t enough to engender fear in your heart, you probably need to go see someone.
Gardening
Posted: Sun 22 April, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, House Work 2 Comments »This weekend we’ve spent time in the garden, getting a lot of it sorted. Not just Herself and I, but also the in-laws, all helping out.
We’ve managed to:
- put in a base for a new shed
- built and installed the shed
- bought, set up and used a petrol mower for the garden
- in the greenhouse
- stripped it out
- covered the floor of it in anti-weed membrane,then in pea shingle
- reinstalled all the staging on one side at a decent height
- removed two (small) trees that weren’t doing well
- built two compost bins, and started using them
In additon, the rest of the poxy Anaglypta® wallpaper is now gone from the house.
Oh, and we’ve decided on the woodburner we want, (the Elegance 200) along with the hearth-stone and back plate (both slate), and generally just got stuff sorted out.
All very successful. If knackering.
House Stuff
Posted: Fri 20 April, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, House Work 1 Comment » I’m only doing a half-day at work today, then heading off to the new house. We’ve got people coming round to show us a couple of wood-burners for the living room, and to see what needs doing to the place in order to accommodate one. It’s something we both want to have in the place, so with a bit of luck it shouldn’t be a great problem. *crosses fingers*
Alongside that, we’ve also got the new garden shed being delivered at some point today (“Yes, Sir, it’ll be there some time between 7am and 7pm – if you’re not going to be there, can you leave a note on the front door, authorising us to leave it. No, we can’t just tell the delivery driver to leave it, you have to give your written authorisation.” So why not just advertise we’re not moved in yet? Fuckin’ twunts)
Over the last week, we’ve also taken delivery of:
- All the floor tiles for the house, as well as necessary tile adhesive, grout etc. – which came on two pallets
- A small toolstore
- A 400litre water butt
- Two wooden compost bins
- Oh, and had a visit from an electrician, checking out what we’re planning on doing with the place.
Because of the shit-for-brains way that the fusebox and main electrical supply is located (which has to be seen to be believed, but is basically boxed-in at the side of a kitchen unit, so that it’s pretty much inaccessible) it means that we’re also going to have to move the supply, and fusebox. Which means getting the electricity supplier involved, as it’s supply-side rather than domestic-side. Oh good, that’ll be fun. But the wheels have been set in motion this week on that one too.
All told, things are going pretty well. We’ve had the place two weeks, that’s all, and we seem to have managed to get a lot done.
Initially the plan was to be moving in next weekend, but from the way things are going – and the work that still needs doing all over the place – I think we’re now looking at the end of May to move in to the place. It means we can get the electrical stuff done, the flooring in living room and two bedrooms (which is pretty much all the rooms that won’t be having something done to them – the only other room that’s unaffected by our plans is the hallway!) and hopefully also get the wood-burner installed before we go in.
That’s the plan, anyway. We’ll just have to see how things pan out.