British Gas - are they ALL totally clueless?

A few weeks ago we were due to get a free Smart Meter upgrade and we waited in all morning for the appointment that never happened. Subsequent emails, despite a request that they ring me, resulted in them (or their not joined up computers) arranging 3 inconvenient new appointments.  Really they are a basket case!

Nearly a month later and I have still not been told why the very first appointment did not happen. They really really are useless. I am sick and tired of communicating by emails to, what would appear to be, computers or humans without brains.

I have heard similar stories from others too.  The trouble is I suspect the alternatives would be just as bad.

London Theatre

London has some excellent theatres, but they are expensive. Add the cost of train travel and parking and you need a mortgage!

Our village (60 miles from London) arranges theatre coach trips which are excellent value as they take you door-to-theatre door (just about) with plenty of time for a meal before the show and the price includes the coach and the theatre ticket (good seats too). We used to go on these trips regularly and went today to see "Beautiful" at the Aldwych Theatre. We ate just around the corner at Garfunkel's where a 3 course meal was £11.95.  Not bad either.  The theatre musical was first class with lots of songs from the 1960s.

Noctilucent clouds

This is the best time of year to see these wispy, high altitude, clouds. They are most commonly seen in the night sky from 20 days before to about 50 days after the summer solstice. They form in the mesosphere at high altitudes and are seen in the northern night sky in June.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent .

June snow

I am reminded that 40 years ago we actually had snow on this day! At the moment, it is still windy and wet although the temperatures are not too bad. Later this week we may get better, although there is now a threat of thunderstorms! You cannot win. British weather! I love it.

Lawns

Usually our lawns look pretty good and weed free. They ought to as we pay Green Thumb a decent amount each month to treat, scarify and tine.  The last time they treated the lawn they scarified and removed a fair bit of moss. I have removed the dead moss and reseeded in places, but there is a lot of course grass and there are brownish patches.

My wife is very cross and wants them back to fix the lawn, which looked far better last year. They are coming again on Friday and have promised to put things right. We shall see. If not, they will lose our business and I am pretty sure my wife will "go viral" with her displeasure.

Green Thumb ought to have done a better job as lots of people have looked over the front garden wall and asked, "what happened to your lovely lawn?". The front lawn is right next to the local windmill and museum and should be a showcase for Green Thumb.

Poor voice

Amateur radio has been one of my great interests for years but since my cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 I have had a very poor speaking voice and this has been a real handicap. Speaking at all takes real effort and I feel breathless.

Although I (just about) get onto the East Cambs 2m FM amateur radio net most Mondays  for about 20 minutes and I get on for about 1 hour in the 2m and 70cm legs of the RSGB's Tuesday evening contests, I find using my voice hard work, so I avoid talking on the radio too much currently.

East Anglian Churches - blog updated

We actually visited Wiveton Church in North Norfolk a couple of weeks ago,  but I have only today updated the blog to reflect our visit.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/.