I’ve Given In
I said in this post, that a Sky Satellite dish is so yesterday.
However, as I have received a letter from BT on the subject of broadband, I decided that the best solution would be to get a dish to get reasonable sports on my television.
The letter from BT is a classic, and it is only thanks to my MP that I got a reply.
Here’s one section.
I’ve been in touch with our supplier, Openreach to ask about Mr. Miller’s situation. Unfortunately, he’s currently unable to get fibre broadband as his phone line is routed directly from the exchange to his premises.
Openreach have confirmed that the Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology which they have deployed needs a fibre-enabled street cabinet to supply the service. But because Mr. Miller is located very close to the exchange and is fed directly from it, i.e. not via a street cabinet, this unfortunately means that he can’t have the fibre product at present.
So the solution to my fibre broadband problem, is to move further from the telephone exchange.
I am a qualified electrical engineer and do understand the technology, the problem and the solutions. So I can’t help but find their statement mildly amusing.
But I suppose to actually be honest about the problem, as BT has been in the end, after a kicking from my MP, would only chase customers away to other broadband suppliers, who of course because of my local loop problem, can’t actually deliver the product that everybody wants.
In my view, there should be an on-line database that everyone can access, that shows the phone and broadband standard and quality, that is available at every house or business premises in the country. After all, you might find the ideal building for your new offices and it would be prudent to confirm the status of the phones and broadband before you made an offer.
But why stop at phones and broadband, as it would be much better if all the other services were listed as well.
Dr. Who Episodes Found In Nigeria
This must be one of the strangest stories of recent weeks. I found it on the BBC web site here, when I was coming back from Palermo.
How many old programs from the goldern black-and-white age of British television are gathering dust in cupboards all over the world?
My Hotel In Palermo
I stayed in the four-star Palazzo Sitano.
The only problem was that I’d booked a single room and it wasn’t ready when I arrived, so I got an enormous and very comfortable suite for the same price.
I liked it and would stay there again.
It says on their web site, that it is close to the centre of everything, and I certainly didn’t have to go far to the station and important sites like the cathedral.
And the staff were excellent, as was the map I was given to find my way around.
the television system was also very good and remembered the last channel, when it was switched off.My Sony in this house does that, so why does the usual television in a hotel forget?
Up Front Solicitors
You can’t get more up front than this display.
Up Front Solicitors
Did they really have a television programme? I wouldn’t have seen it, as I don’t watch television with adverts unless it’s must-see sport.
So did they trouser a few bob out of it all?
A Sky Satellite Dish Is So Yesterday
I’ve just looked up what football matches, I can watch over the next few days, through my steam-driven broadband, BT Sport and Freeview.
Tonight, BT are showing Wigan, whilst ITV4 is showing Swansea and Tottenham. All in the Uefa Cup. As I’m seeing Wigan on Sunday, as I’m going to see Ipswich play there, it’s rather a no-brainer, which matches I’ll watch.
Tomorrow, I’m busy in Liverpool, but the only match is on BT and it’s a German one. I’m not that sad yet!
Saturday, BT are showing a Premier League match, but as it’s Norwich, I assume they are going to pay me to watch it! Later I might want to watch Fulham on Sky, but obviously I can’t!
Sunday has some good matches on Sky, but I’m on the train going to Wigan and back to watch Ipswich. At least Virgin’s trains are higher up the speed and reliability scale compared to their broadband.
So BT Sport’s deal of free football with broadband, is equivalent to a supermarket giving away burgers made of horsemeat. It may look good, but it’s not what you want.
I’m almost getting to the point where I put up a satellite dish for Sky.
But that is yesterday’s old technology and I would only rip it out again, when fibre optic broadband became available. I’ve no objections to Sky as a company, as they gave me good service, when I lived in Suffolk.
Fibre-optic broadband would give me everything I want. But when will someone deliver it to me? Or is Hackney too rural for it to be hooked up? On the other hand if Innerleithen, in the Scottish Borders can have fibre optic broadband, why can’t I?
BT are keeping the delivery date secret! Which of course means I can’t plan!
I have written to my MP, Meg Hillier, who is also the member for Silicon Roundabout and Shoreditch. She said this in a letter to me.
I am very aware of issues around broadband in Hackney, particularly in the Tech City area around Shoreditch. The growth of these cutting edge businesses in my constituency is an exciting addition but I am very concerned that the infrastructure to support their tech needs is not in place.
She obviously has more clout than any Hackney resident, so if you have a desperate need for fibre-optic broadband, I’d send her an e-mail. The best way is to use WriteToThem.
Goodbye And Farewell
Sadly, David Frost has passed away. I was surprised he was only eight years older than me, as I thought he was older than that.
I posted here my memories of That Was The Week That Was. Frost must have been in his early twenties, when he starred in that program.
How many comedians and performers are successful at that age now? And they say, it’s a young person’s world.
Incidentally, when I talk to my peers today, I find very few others, who at fourteen used to watch TW3. I think it shows the sort of attitude that my parents, and especially my father, had to life.
The End Of Television As I Knew It!
On the way to see Ipswich at QPR yesterday, I walked past the old BBC Television Centre at the White City.
The End Of Television As I Knew It!
It is all rather sad to see such an iconic building on the way down!
Does Elizabeth Rizzini Ever Wear The Same On-Screen Outfit Twice?
Elizabeth Rizzini is one of the ladies, who do the weather on BBC London.
She is always well-turned out, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wear the same on-screen outfit twice.
Unlike the obviously canny Scots lass, who usually does the weather on BBC Breakfast.
One Of The Hackney Eight Appears On Top Gear
The seventh New Bus for London,LT7 has appeared on Top Gear tonight, driven by James May.
This link points to a picture of the actual bus, waiting at Victoria.
This is probably the only time, I’ve ever sat in an actual vehicle featured on television.
Andy Murray Shows The BBC Were Wrong To Move To Manchester
Andy Murray’s win is the lead story on BBC Breakfast, but he can’t appear in the studio with the trophy, to give out a very strong feelgood factor that we all need, as the program comes from Manchester.
If ever that ill-thought out move was exposed as a mistake, it is today. The BBC will have to make-do with a video link from the All-England Club at Wimbledon.
I won’t give odds on one of the BBC’s rival getting Murray and the trophy on air.
The Anonymous Widower 