PLUMBS - how very disappointing, yet again... 31/07/09
We have two 'old' M&S 2 seater sofas which are ideal for our hall - we tend to live in there, just the two of us as it is tall, sky-lighted and large and there are just two of us. Daft, I know, but it suits us and is ideal for the family and games when they come over. The sofas'are about 10 years old but basically in good lick but need recovering. So we turn to Plumbs.
Not for the first time. Once in Cornwall and there they were very attentive but we did not take it up. The second time when we were renting in West Sussex before buying our current bungalow. This resulted in a totally blank silence having made all the contacts etc. 3/4 weeks ago, Sheila decided to have another go for the above sofas which are too good to throw out but are in need of some refurbishment. 
We receive a letter, quickly, saying that their local rep will be in touch. Two weeks in we call and the lack of attention is 'noted'. Three weeks in we call again and are told 'the local rep is very busy and will ring soonest - we will contact him today'. Four weeks in and we call and we are told 'he is covering for someone else who is ill or may be on holiday but will contact you'. Utter tosh! Nobody contacted us and, today, Sheila phoned and said that we were no longert interested and that we would now, probably, buy two new small sofas at, possibly, a lower cost than loose covers or recovering the old ones.
What a shambles for a Company who must be worried by the recession. The contact was poor and the lack of attention unbelievable. Sorry, but we just had to say something as it has truly 'plumbed the depths' and no apogies for that!!
VIRUSES V HUMANS............................24/07/09
Not so many months ago, I did not believe in viruses per se. I felt that they were almost a cop out for the idle or for the doctors who had not got a clue what was wrong with someone. In the latter’s case, what is easier than blaming the old virus and for the former most now believe in viruses in some form.
My thoughts changed slightly over this last Easter when something got hold of me which nobody seemed able to pin point. It was, of course, undoubtedly helped by my IPF problem. Thus, I began to accept that viruses may well exist and history probably records odd, and very severe, illnesses affecting thousands, the Plague for example. Then one can move into Asian Flu and other nasty occurrences over the years, nearly with Avian Flu and now we have Wine, sorry, Swine Flu. (hiccups and slurps quietly….)
What, then, can I deduce from this. We can fight wars and think we have won, we can win rugby, football, golf and cricket matches etc., and think we have won but, in the grand scheme of things the Viruses are beating Humans hands down. Of course we have brilliant people who do eventually find some sort of cure or defence for the future but these little bastards keep fighting back and seem capable of reappearing in different and more virulent forms.
Even my lawn has a b----y virus, apparently, a 'red thread virus'!
I wonder what others think? Currently, having pooh poohed Swine Flu a bit, but with my completely shot lungs and with what I read in today's Times, I am getting a little edgy - even me!
Cato (Nelson/ASBO), Napoleon and Wellington update 22/07/09...................
Over a year on and things have settled somewhat but Wellington and Nelson are still wary of one another and I have to talk to them regularly. Napoleon just looks down his nose at Nelson but does tolerate him. Whatever, Nelson loves it, us and them and tries so hard to not annoy. However, his youth and energy are quite frightening sometimes, to us aswell....
Wellington on table to left, Nelson to right and Napoleon underneath
New phone and answerphone system.........21/07/09
Old one has had it so invested in a new BT trio system. The answerphone message now reads/says:-
"Hello. We are retired and normally around and probably
stumbling or crawling towards the phone at this very minute.
In the interim, please leave a message after the tone. Thanks."
Wrecked he may be, but...............20/07/09
Full credit to Freddie today, made me cry..............................
A win at Lords against the old 'enemy' after 75 years!! Love it.
Summer was nice.....17/07/09
God save me from 'experts'. All my life I have been assailed by 'experts'. "This summer is going to be one of the best on record" was stated by so called experts. We had 10 very nice days after a very long winter/spring and now it is c--p again. I just cannot recall such unsettled weather during my youth and earlier years. Wind, rain, cloud and, last night, huge thunder storms. Global Warming is truly disappointing.
Coupled with idiots who announce in one breath that most of the 63 or so deaths from Swine Flu so far are those who were vulnerable and then announce that those most at risk are the very young and young adults. So are the very young that vulnerable? Frankly, I do not think they have a clue what they are talking about. I may even be able to understand the honesty of that but, for me, in my situation, it is a bit worrying with my lungs and reduced immune system - see Medical Obs Page - but I have been, and remain, a fatalist.
In the end, I believe the Government has handled the Swine Flu very badly. Any Health Minister announcing that 100,000 people a day will go down with it by end of August is either stupid or hiding something!
The famous Norwegian commentary for the football they won 2-1
And in my own words:-
Sir Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, Sir Len Hutton, Cyril Washbrook, Fred Trueman, Brian Statham, Tom Graveney, Godfrey Evans, Peter May, Sir Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Ken Barrington, Brian Close, Ray Illingworth, John Snow, Alan Knott, Bob Willis, David Gower, Sir Geoff Boycott, Sir Ian Botham, Graham Gooch, and so on.........................
Can you hear me? Our boys are taking a hell of a beating! They are like rabbits in the headlights! Help.............................
I know the game has changed and 50 overs and 20/20's have changed the true game but none of the above would have given in so abjectly to the true 'enemy' in such a pathetic way. I despair..............................
I cannot see one player in our team of the aboves' ilk! Petersen is great in one day matches, Strauss tries, Collingwood is honest, Freddie is wrecked at 31, but not one of them can hold a candle to real Test players. Hurrumph.
A later PS:-
Phew!.......................Credit due though - to Collingwood, Jimmy and Monty - not good enough though.
Fred and Brian..............11/07/09
Would Fred Trueman or Brian Statham, who bowled over after over at class batsmen, have limped off with a tweaked ankle, or whatever. Some will say the cricketers of today play more than of old but I doubt this. They used to play two 
County matches a week of 3 days along with some competitions and the 1st Class Internationals.
I'm showing my age again, aren't I!? It does make me wonder though. Very disappointed at England's attitude at Cardiff this morning. Looks as if they are playing for the rain to come. Freddy and Brian would have cringed at that!!
Torchwood
Sheila and I enjoyed most of the first episode and we have not watched previous series. Enjoyed up to the time when gratuitous gayness, totally unnecessary in the context of a Sci Fi thriller, had to rear its head and Barrowman, an eminently versatile individual, ruined it for us with the old, now quite regular, male kiss. Sheila and I just exchanged glances. I doubt we will watch the rest of the new series out of pinciple, certainly not bias. It just took away the meaning of it all in our view.
After my Sarah Brown comments, I know I will be accused of homophobia but that is just not true. What I do object to is that the people who run the media, and the writers and, undoubtably Barrowman, seem to feel they must have 30/50% of gay stuff in soaps, plays, documentaries and so on. That seems hardly true and unnecessary.
In the end, by evolution, I wonder when we will see the first male birth. Extraordinary and I wonder if it is a cop out by men with rise in power of women. There's a muse for you. Do women of today rather frighten us 'strong' ones?
Those calls.........07/07/09
It seems the old days of getting to the phone and it clicks off have gone. Is that good? No, they have been replaced by chronic recorded messages from money lenders, loan breakers and claim chasers. We have had two calls this morning and two calls already this afternoon and three yesterday.
I do not discuss my finances with just anyone and certainly not this lot. Neither do I intend to claim for when I fell off my bicycle in Clifton Hampden when I was eight - a pothole and, God, didn't it hurt. I hit the crossbar too and my voice broke later than some.
How our lives are being interrupted by these leaches. Hopefully, it will soon be stopped too.
Sarah Brown.........04/07/09
I am certainly not anti gay, per se, but is there no end to what New Labour will do to try to gain back the populace? Or, put another way, what would Lady Churchill or Lady McMillan, or even Mrs Wilson, have felt about joining in a Gay Pride March!? Several times, lately, Sarah, who I felt was 'behaving' exactly as a PM's wife should, seems to have been forced into 'You Tube' type situations to rescue her husband.
I know this comment will not please some but so be it.
Andy Murray...........03/07/09
I have criticised him in the past but I feel sorry for him today. He lost by very little and the pressure placed upon him was extreme. In that context, who can knock Henman either for his endeavours over the years.
Trooper Joshua Hammond and Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe (and all the others)...................03/07/09
Not to dwell on this but, yet again, I feel a pang of guilt when I see our young men killed endeavouring to change a dreadful and vicious tyranny into a normal decent life. Two smashing men lost in the attempt.
My eldest brother, now gone sadly, fought hard in many wars and scenarios - Korea, Kenya, N. Ireland, Cyprus, and so on and he gave us many frights too, mostly in the battle of the Hook in Korea when, as a very junior 2nd Lieutenant, his outpost was overrun. I am far too old to do anything. I was also so, so, lucky to miss the smaller wars after the 2nd World War and just missed National Service. That does not stop me fuming when I see the chaos of Friday and Saturday nights here while our boys and girls fight for us, and what is right or decreed, in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere when needed. It is so easy to put it in the background. We seem to take our servicemen and servicewomen for granted and allow the most crass behaviour back home with little or no puniishment.
I wish I was younger, knew then what I know now and was a bit more adventuresome and brave to wave an "Atilla the Hun" flag somewhere but, I guess, I'm doing that thing into the wind again.................
The Hot Weather - I love it but.........28/06/09
I almost put this on the Medical Obs. page - an excerpt from a post to the IPF Group:-
Now, I have lost a little weight which is good but, this morning, Sheila finally got me to wear some shorts. I have lovely slim ankles but the colour of my legs does recall Swan Vestas matches! I shall not leave the garden as no one must see. When we went to Lanzarote in 2007, the family sat 30 yards away for the first week to avoid the dazzle and people staring.
The main point, however, is the shorts. Sheila could only find a size 38. Fortunately they are slightly elasticated but very tight indeed. So tight that I now have a nipple on each shoulder and have assumed a somewhat odd shape. Quasimodo springs to mind.
Mumbling 'Esmeralda' he shambles off left...........
PS - I love this bbq weather but it don't half get to me!! braces - how the mighty are fallen
"MJ"
I am just going to say nothing more than brilliant music but ..................................
'Strada' - I think they are good, but...............22/06/09
I wasn't going to do this as I like their style, but emails today.........
Quote
To Strada Hi
Not a complaint, per se, but a matter of principle really, if those exist today.
Daughter and Son in Law, plus Granddaughter took us (me) to your Horsham Restaurant yesterday for Father's Day. Lovely staff, very nice and helpful. Good Manager. Nice meal which we all enjoyed and we have used it regularly .
Now the crunch. Desserts. I had ice cream to accompany our Granddaughter. Two very small scoops and the cost - £3.95! This is half the price of the nice butterflyed chicken I had for the main course!!
I know it was my choice and I said that to the Manager when I queried the price but, seriously, is it fair to charge such a price for desserts. Is it to trap kids or silly Granddads? I just make the point that it spoilt, very slightly, a very nice meal in a very nice restaurant and I thought you ought to know what I felt and your Manager said I was not alone in similar comments.
Thanks and regards
Their reply
Hi Richard
Thank you for your comments on you recent visit to our Horsham restaurant. I am pleased that on the whole you had an enjoyable visit. The pricing of the ice cream is a reflection of the quality of ice cream we use, we source our ice cream from Marine Ices, an artisan manufacturer in North London, who produce it for us. We do try to keep our prices competitive without sacrificing the quality of ingredients we use.
regards
Tom Lannery
Brand Manager
My final reply
Tom
To quote McEnroe, "you cannot be serious" and that is an unacceptable reply. No ice cream, of two minuscule scoop size, is worth that amount compared to a very nice main meal. It is obvious that you get about 40 helpings from a carton, probably, so Marine Ices must be remarkable! When were in Cornwall for 9 years, we used Rick Steins, on occasion, and their sweets were something else and much, much, cheaper in relative terms.
All I seek is some acceptance that it is iniquitous and, in the end, you will lose money not gain it. I suppose, however, that in the end it does not matter if idiots like me order it and pay it.
With kind regards, anyway
No reply to that, so today 23rd June:-
Game. set and match then Tom, to be topical.
We are but a speck of dust Tom in reality and, I suppose, we have to defend our corner, but...
Very best regards
Richard
'Redacted' - I'd never heard of this word before 2009 and I'm 67....
What an odd and strange word to use. Ooops, what I was about to say has been......
For Heaven's Sake..........19/06/09
Why don't "experts, in the widest sense, concentrate on researching and trying to solve, e.g., IPF instead of banning 
children making things from egg boxes because of a .0000567% chance of catching salmonella. I heard this on BBC Breakfast this morning and despair of where we are heading. It was coupled with a ban on the use of toilet roll cardboard centres, critical for model making, for some other daft reason and the old plaster for cuts etc and even running in playgrounds.
Bah humbug!
Or is that damned Media again? I found this later.......
Sorry, but "life" means "life".......12/06/09
Old git that I am, admitted, I have moved, very slightly, from supporting hanging, per se, but if you stab a 16 year old 11 times and he dies and you are then sentenced to life imprisonment, then you serve life imprisonment without a rider from the judge of 19 years minimum. It is a very violent World, for whatever reason, but there are no excuses for taking somebody else's life deliberately. If you do, that's it, you are out of it for good. No arguments, you are out of it!!
Before we lose the World and its values for good, could the "do gooders" and "human rights" people get a grip?! This is just one example of crass sentencing and, by no means, the worst.
If only my old Dad was alive.......................11/06/09
The Lions Rugby -
rugby was his favourite and his mother's brother captained South Africa at both rugby and cricket in the 1890's see ** below - 20/20 Cricket - Ascot next week - Wimbledon - the US Open and Aussie test series soon - and so on. It is a sporting feast and, bless him, he would have just been so, so, happy. I guess all he saw, as he died at 58, was the odd test match in black and white as we never had a colour telly in those days, more likely a 9 inch b&w with one of those magnifying screens in front. ** http://www.lionsrugby.com/news/6996.php
One can criticise Sky but for me, a huge lover of sport, it is so worth its while!
Even Sheila is heavily into it all now.
"As for the opposition, Herbert Hayton Castens was chosen as the first man to captain South Africa in an international. English born and educated, Castens emigrated to the Western Province area of South Africa and enjoyed a fine sporting record.
An Oxford Blue in 1886 and ’87, Castens represented Middlesex and the South of England before leaving for South Africa shortly after graduating from Oxford. Castens returned to England with his new country in 1894 when he became South Africa’s first touring cricket captain."
I wonder if..............................06/06/09............
Winston Churchill phoned Bing Crosby or Vera Lynn during the war to see if he or she was ok...vis Brown and SuBo. Utterly ridiculous at this dreadful time for Parliament and, indeed, New Labour. Says it all really.
A topical Birthday Card for two great friends in Cornwall - the two on each end!