Mundane facts about your day: Part Deux.

[Mudgie]

Arrh. Navigable river & canal in Worcester, navigable river in Peterborough & nothing navigable in Rayleigh.

I've been to and drunk in Worcester and Peterborough several several times each but not Rayleigh, though by railway not navigable waterway.

 

[proactive]

I've been drunk in Worcester and Peterborough several several times each but not Rayleigh, though by railway not navigable waterway.

 

[Mudgie]

Without "to and" I would "start getting confused".

 

[Noah]

by railway not navigable waterway.

Usual transport in the past - Worcester canal, Peterborough railway, Rayleigh bus.

 

[staffordjas]

Loving this new chapter of our life here in Worcester. Getting used to it being so quiet that only sound is the birds chattering away and animals going through the trees . Nice array of birds and squirrels visiting the feeding/watering stations during the day and foxes suddenly coming alive at night . Got used to their squealing in the woods now (hopefully them...) and actually getting a bit of sleep !
Did nearly fall out of the window last night though whilst leaning out to see if I could see any activity . Sleeping hubby suddenly coughed loudly and I nearly joined whatever was making the scuttering noises in the bushes .

Don't see the friendly and quiet neighbours much as we are so secluded , but they have welcomed us in with plonk and cards and are awaiting their invite round for drinks once we are sorted. Conservatory furniture bought yesterday being delivered tomorrow, and other furniture bought from local family businesses also already installed. Never known hubby agree to spending dosh so quickly before !

Just waved him off into a bedroom , to his first day working from home . He might suffer in this heat , but I can go off to get my hair done in my new hairdressers this morning , safe in the knowledge he won't have moved himself back downstairs to the dining room table! Took us a whole day moving all the computer stuff upstairs, and joining all the colour dotted 19 wires to get it set up and working again. And best of all I've now got the car to use during the day .

Can't believe we've actually got such a massive (well to us) and nice house in such nice surroundings . Thought we'd miss our old house after 40+ years there , but nope..... feel more at home here already.

Life is good

(And hopefully this new hairdressers , at 50 quid cheaper than my Stafford one, does a decent job ......)

 

[proactive]

Jr and I are going to the French GP on Saturday and Sunday. Normally we be staying over in the RV but as that's being used by some of my staff back in blighty for their holidays we'll be travelling in each day. Ideally we'd go in an air conditioned car as the temp is forecast to be 40 over the weekend. In addition it's probably a 5 hour journey by car due to the queuing to get in and the world famous incompetence of the cops on duty who direct people to the wrong car parks etc. (for anyone who's been to Silverstone on GP weekend, multiply how bad that is by 3. Yes really!!) So we'll be going on the bike, which if various discussion groups are to be believed, will reduce the queuing to about 15-30 minutes.

So we had a dry run this morning to scope the route. At 5am when we left, it was 23 degrees and the journey down was quite pleasant and took 45 minutes. We went into Paul Ricard and had a coffee and then popped over to the ticket office on the off chance and amazingly got a pass for the VIP car park for both days, meaning that with luck we won't have any queuing and a bit less filtering to do.

The journey back was no fun at all. Temps had gone up to 33 degrees and climbing and despite wearing lightweight biking gear and the journey still only taking 45 minutes, we arrived home knowing how it feels to be a baked potato in a hot oven.

As well as spare t-shirts and shorts in the panniers we will now be packing as many bottles of water as we can...

Looking forward to it but not looking forward to it.

 

[staffordjas]

Must have just scared all the neighbourhood with my screams. Pulled the kitchen blinds up to close the open window, and something massive and black came fluttering out from behind them and back out of the open front door as I was running the other way

 

[staffordjas]

Just proved my point of what telly said...open the windows whilst it's cool first thing . Then close them to keep the warm air out.
Sons house has been closed up all day & it was cool tonight. Hubby opened all our doors & windows tonight and ours is like an oven at 36C still at after 11pm.
Sons girlfriend is from Portugal. That's what they do over there. Keep the shutters down & doors & windows shut to keep inside cool.
Hubby has got that face on..he's going to open everything again, no matter what I say!

 

[staffordjas]

Got a question....is anyone on British Gas Evolve and got a contact number for them ?
Apparently they were/are supplying gas/electric here.
My British Gas fixed contract is being transferred to this new house from 27th July.
But in the mean time British Gas has told me they don't supply here at the moment and to get in touch with the present supplier to let them know we have moved in and to pay them between 8th july-27th.
Previous occupant has said he was only able to get in touch with 'British Gas Evolve' through the online chat, but as his account is now closed he can't get into it.
British Gas saying not their company, but one operator was supposed to be putting me through to their department last week.
Sat waiting for 2 hours and gave up in the end.
Tried British Gas again this morning, recorded message their systems 'too busy', to ring back later in week, and cut me off.

Googling brings up British Gas Evolve no longer exists , and suggests using normal British Gas number. ( which I have several times. Only way I've got to speak to anyone at my ' normal' British Gas is by choosing the option ' Can't pay my bill')

What do we do?????

Don't want to suddenly get a whacking big bill through the post , with both divisions of the company billing us for the same usage for ever.

 

[tek-monkey]

Got a question....is anyone on British Gas Evolve and got a contact number for them ?
Apparently they were/are supplying gas/electric here.
My British Gas fixed contract is being transferred to this new house from 27th July.
But in the mean time British Gas has told me they don't supply here at the moment and to get in touch with the present supplier to let them know we have moved in and to pay them between 8th july-27th.
Previous occupant has said he was only able to get in touch with 'British Gas Evolve' through the online chat, but as his account is now closed he can't get into it.
British Gas saying not their company, but one operator was supposed to be putting me through to their department last week.
Sat waiting for 2 hours and gave up in the end.
Tried British Gas again this morning, recorded message their systems 'too busy', to ring back later in week, and cut me off.

Googling brings up British Gas Evolve no longer exists , and suggests using normal British Gas number. ( which I have several times. Only way I've got to speak to anyone at my ' normal' British Gas is by choosing the option ' Can't pay my bill')

What do we do?????

Don't want to suddenly get a whacking big bill through the post , with both divisions of the company billing us for the same usage for ever.

Is it a smart meter?
I'd just wait for the new supplier to take over, the old one will then contact you for payment of what is outstanding.

EDIT: There is currently no bill in your name as you don't have an account with them, you are simply 'the occupier'. As such why waste your time chasing them when they will most certainly try to collect the debt themselves and it can't have a negative impact on your credit rating because you aren't their customer. Once they have been in touch and offered you a way to pay you can settle it, but when taking over your account meter readings are given to your new supplier and you can't be charged by both. I assume you got meter readings on posession?

EDIT 2: If it is a smart meter install either Bright or Loop, this will allow you to see exactly what the meter was reading when you moved in.

Bright: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.hildebrand.brightionic
Loop: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=loop&c=apps

 

[staffordjas]

Is it a smart meter?
I'd just wait for the new supplier to take over, the old one will then contact you for payment of what is outstanding.

EDIT: There is currently no bill in your name as you don't have an account with them, you are simply 'the occupier'. As such why waste your time chasing them when they will most certainly try to collect the debt themselves and it can't have a negative impact on your credit rating because you aren't their customer. Once they have been in touch and offered you a way to pay you can settle it, but when taking over your account meter readings are given to your new supplier and you can't be charged by both. I assume you got meter readings on posession?

EDIT 2: If it is a smart meter install either Bright or Loop, this will allow you to see exactly what the meter was reading when you moved in.

Bright: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.hildebrand.brightionic
Loop: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=loop&c=apps

I know the gas meter isn't a smart meter (well, by the look of it anyway ). The previous owner sent in his final meter readings via a chat line before his account got closed down. He had a right game getting to send them as well. He just assumed he was with British Gas until he came to tell them he was moving and found out that although he was with British Gas he wasn't. (according to the online searches , British Gas have taken Evolve over now, but they don't seem to have told their staff! )He sent the same readings as I took on moving in , he sent me his photos of both meters . So at least who ever is dealing with these Evolve things should have final /start readings....

British gas only want my readings from when they take over on approx 27th July.

Thanks for your advice @tek-monkey .

 

[tek-monkey]

I know the gas meter isn't a smart meter (well, by the look of it anyway ). The previous owner sent in his final meter readings via a chat line before his account got closed down. He had a right game getting to send them as well. He just assumed he was with British Gas until he came to tell them he was moving and found out that although he was with British Gas he wasn't. (according to the online searches , British Gas have taken Evolve over now, but they don't seem to have told their staff! )He sent the same readings as I took on moving in , he sent me his photos of both meters . So at least who ever is dealing with these Evolve things should have final /start readings....

British gas only want my readings from when they take over on approx 27th July.

Thanks for your advice @tek-monkey .

I'd still not worry, companies are much more proactive when they are owed money so they'll contact you soon enough. You have proof of meter readings so all good

 

[Glam]

Quite earliesh this morning I took a drive to the youngest sisters farmhouse, there I donned a swimsuit (no sniggering at the back please) and I have spent the majority of the day just lounging in a very large paddling pool. I had a very generous amount of factor 50 sunblock on, and have still managed to get burnt in places no-one ever sees. (Back, legs and shoulders)
I've told her, next place she moves to best have an olympic sized swimming pool, or I'm not visiting her.

 

[Gadget]

This is some of the random stuff that goes through my head..... On hearing about roads melting, I start thinking about huge trucks carrying glitter shedding their load on them..... Yep, I'm a bit warm, brain is obviously frying.

 

[Gramaisc]

This is some of the random stuff that goes through my head..... On hearing about roads melting, I start thinking about huge trucks carrying glitter shedding their load on them..... Yep, I'm a bit warm, brain is obviously frying.

It is not unknown for gritters to be run along melting roads, to 'thicken it up a bit'.

 

[staffordjas]

Panic stations and much screaming ! Was just hanging my washing out and 2 squirrels suddenly appeared on the lawn , chasing each other around my legs. Then the one being chased spotted an escape route .... with me shouting "GET OUT! GET OUT! " they headed towards the house, disappeared through the open conservatory doors , through the house and I'm assuming (hoping) out of the side utility room door which was open. Hubby was just hanging out the (his office) bedroom window in hysterics watching me running screeching around the garden.

Not leaving the doors open later when the foxes are out ! So far they haven't come a visiting inside (and the cat flap is now looking rather unsightly with my DIY attempts to add an extra layer to block furry things out, but hopefully my efforts have worked .... )

 

[BobClay]

There was a time when I would have given a week's wages to see that ......

 

[staffordjas]

There was a time when I would have given a week's wages to see that ......

Well, it's finally got hubby to stop insisting on all the windows & doors to be left open to get a breeze through!

He soon shut himself in his new little office when he realised they had got in and could easily make their way upstairs

 

[littleme]

Well, it's finally got hubby to stop insisting on all the windows & doors to be left open to get a breeze through!

He soon shut himself in his new little office when he realised they had got in and could easily make their way upstairs

I just thought! I haven't wished you a happy new home/sorry you are moving..... So, happy new home & sorry you are moving. I hope there's no forum where you live, and make sure you keep posting here for us.... You're probably the only one that these things happen to.... Apart from me!

 

[staffordjas]

I just thought! I haven't wished you a happy new home/sorry you are moving..... So, happy new home & sorry you are moving. I hope there's no forum where you live, and make sure you keep posting here for us.... You're probably the only one that these things happen to.... Apart from me!

Thanks @littleme I've joined the Nextdoor forum around here to see what's going on. . Keep looking to see if someone's asking " Can anyone hear screaming?"
Not got used to this countryside life yet. Was thinking to myself earlier that I'm getting very brave gardening by the fence next to the woods....... Jumped out of my skin tonight when the slightly open conservatory door swung in the wind making a sound like an elephant

' You're probably the only one that these things happen to.... Apart from me!' One of the staff in our local Co-op said that as well. She tells everyone about the time I got stuck to the freezer doors in there