02030265001
I used to get about three calls a day from this number on my old landline in Suffolk. It say’s I’ve won a cruise in the Caribbean or Florida or some other place I’m not keen on visiting. As it was an American voice, I usually just cut them off, if I didn’t spot the number before I picked up the phone.
I’m transferring the Suffolk number to my London house, so that I don’t have to change how people phone me. But in the meantime, I’ve got it diverted to my mobile and you guessed it, I got one on that today, after being diverted.
What is going to be fun, is when Virgin complete the transfer of the number, will they be able to stop these nuisance calls?
By the way don’t ever do anything with this number except cut it off immediately. Remember if they do it three times it’s harrassment! It would be rather good if someone actually tried to use the Harrassment Act against these idiots. But there are much better things to do, like slag off these people down the pub to warn everybody not to fall a victim. It might get you a free drink!
One interesting result of this scam might be, that it actually puts people off taking a cruise with one of the reputable American cruise companies. I hope one of them or their trade organisation has put the Feds on the case!
Why I Love John Lewis!
This may be a personal view, but then John Lewis is one of Britain’s most respected brands.
I went to Oxford Street today for two reasons; to have lunch in Carluccio’s and buy some storage and other goods for my house.
I arrived about two thirty and made for the television department, as I wanted a double swivel wall bracket for my lrge-screen television. Some have said that I should have a bigger one, but then I think 32 inches is big enough for me, especially as my eyesight isn’t perfect. But I do want to be able to view it either from my kitchen and both ends of my living space at various times. So I was sold a bracket, that would do all the swivelling, but would also take a larger screen if I decided to upgrade. So that probably saved me the cost of a second bracket, which is about £100.
I then bought some underbed storage boxes, a dual-compartment waste bin and a vegetable rack on wheels in the basement. Three people offered to carry them for me to the till and eventually after I’d paid for them, one even took the storage boxes to the customer collection department, where after a few minutes I was united with the rubbish bin.
But that wasn’t the end of it, as not even a Chinese pole juggler could have carried all of my parcels, even taking account of the fact that the TV bracket was in my backpack. So the guy behind the desk in Customer Collection came out and carried one parcel to the taxi rank at the back of the shop.
The taxi home did cost me £25, but it was the rush hour and the driver got out of the cab and helped me get the parcels into the house.
Isn’t John Lewis and London wonderful?
New Power for an Old Friend
One thing that got temporarily lost in the move was the charger for my Nokia 6310i. It will probably be found, but I thought that it would be prudent to have a spare, as I do have a spare phone and a spare battery.
I found a new one for just £5 at a stall in Chapel Market.
A New Charger for My 6310i
So now I have a fully-charged phone again.
Am I Bothered?
Look at this picture of a Congestion Charge sign.
Congestion Charge Sign
And this parking ticket machine.
Parking Ticket Machine
But then look at this picture of the traffic as I approached the West End on one of the few means of transport still available to me, my feet.
Traffic in the West End
So am I bothered? Not in the least, as I can still walk, use buses, the Underground and other trains and where it is more convenient or a cost saving, I can even use a black cab!
Sorting the Smoke Detector
There was of course no manual for it, but I did find one on the Internet by juidicious use of Google. it told me to switch the power off to the detectors, but I needed a step ladder to get to the consumer unit. And guess what thestep ladder had been left behind, as had several other things. So in frustration, I tried to take the tiop off, but the previous owner had just sealed the whole unit with paint and it came out of the ceiling, still squealing like a demented piglet. So I decided that the only way to put it out of its misery was to cut it from the mains. I should say that I am a qualified electrical engineer and no how to work safely on live wires. But the movers had managed to mix them up, so that my several boxes of tools were all in different cardboard boxes. Eventually, I found my insulated wire cutters and was able to snip the wires so that they can be reconnected easily. But at least I now have silence, although the smoke detector is still squealing in the wheelie bin.
But I’ll get a good night’s sleep!
This is probably what happened to the detector in the kitchen!
The Broken Smoke Dectector
At least though I’ve found someone to fix all the problems.
Sleeping on the Floor
No problems last night except that the central heating is designed for Eskimos and a broken smoke detector keeps beeping.
But interestingly, I’m breathing much better in the clear London air.
I’m Moving Today
Or should I say, that the removers are picking up everything today. Tonight, I’ll be in a sleeping bag in my new house, ready for them to turn up on Wednesday. This may seem a bit silly, but last time we moved here, we were in a hotel and it was a disaster. So perhaps to prove to myself, I’m not a wreck, I’ll sleep on the floor. But it is a heated floor!
The other point is that I’d sooner spent the £100 or so for the hotel room on something nice for the house or a good meal. At least breakfast tomorrow is sorted, as there’s a Carluccio’s in Upper Street.
It’s All So Bare Now!
I’ve packed up a lot of stuff and the house is now looking so bare. I’ve found a few more gems, including a lovely postcard from Barbara Cassani, who started Go. You don’t hear much of her today, I hope she is OK. I’m just probably getting paranoid.
But look at this.
An Almost Bare Office
London Calling
Today, I’m up to london to check out a few things with the house, but mainly to switch on the gas, as otherwise I won’t have any heating or cooking. I’ve not used a gas cooker since 1970, so that will be a learning process.
I’m now starting to plan a few places that I will visit.
- The Wood Green Cultural Quarter. Just up the road from my father’s print works.
- The Wood Green Empire.
- The Royal Iris at Woolwich. She was in Liverpool, when I was at University.
- Fulham Football Ground.
- The New River.
I shall also explore a few walks.
- The Old Railways of North London and especially Seven Sisters to Palace Gates.
- The canals from Dalston to the River Lee and on to Walthamstowe.
It’s going to be fun!
Up With the Morning Star
Venus has very bright these last few days, as I hope this picture shows.
Venus, The Morning Star
The planet is just above the tree in the middle.
I’ve pointed Venus out to several people lately and they haven’t realised what they are seeing. Knowledge of the stars and planets is something that should be properly taught. At my school, Minchenden, there was an observatory that contained a beautiful telescope in both artistic and scientific terms, that had once belonged to Prince Albert. One night, someone broke in, smashed it all and stole the lens. It was no act of wanton vandalism, but a cold calculated crime. I at least hope that the thief dropped the lens, so got no pleasure from his act.
I always look up when I’m in unfamiliar lattitudes. I remember when C and myself were in a hotel in Alice Springs, a kid of about sixteen had set up his telescope and was showing the guests the night sky from an Australian perspective. We had perhaps an hour of his charming and informed company. I hope that somewhere in the world, he is still following his hobby. Perhaps as a career!
Sadly, we were the only people, who that night took advantage of his company. But how many read their horoscopes every day and act on them?
No wonder the world is in the state it is today, if that is the general view of science.
So what am I doing up at this hour?
I slept well as I usually do, but last night, I spent several hours clearing my loffice loft of my past life. So most of it was old magazines, books and software I no longer need, but the only way to clear it, was to drop everything into a wheelie bin and then transfer it to boxes, which I then threw in the skip.
Clearing the Office Loft
It may have been a long-wnded process, but my shoulders aren’t strong enough to carry the boxes down the rather rickety loft ladder.
So perhaps the adrenaline is flowing through my body. I certainly feel pretty well today, although my left arm is tired.
The Anonymous Widower 