Professer 
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was the meal enjoyable Lesley ?
Reply #3242. Aug 31 11, 6:03 AM
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| lesley153
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It probably was a bit odd but I imagining that losing a spouse of 50+ years is surreal, so anything goes really.
We went to a Chinese restaurant and we scoffed. We went for the five-course all-you-can-eat menu, and we did justice to it. (It was table service, which was good - all-you-can-eat buffets are hideous.)
After the best part of four hours, a dozen people had scoffed and quaffed. The son put some of his CDs on the restaurant system, sang some songs his mother liked, and played his violin to a few of them. One of the women got up and danced, and he joined her. Just as well the other customers had gone home by then. The staff were very nice about staying open half an hour beyond their normal closing time.
It was a most unusual evening, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. |
Reply #3243. Aug 31 11, 7:07 AM
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| lesley153
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Over the weekend, I ordered something online from a company in Cambridge - (A) on the map, 30 miles away - and was told that it would get to me (C) in a couple of days. Fedex had other ideas. They've sent it off to something called a "hub" in Stoke-on-Trent (B).
 http://tinyurl.com/Fedex-triumph
I rang the company as soon as I saw that it had been tracked to Stoke. Why? Apparently it's been mis-directed: it should have gone via London. I should get it Monday or Tuesday. I may even get it on Friday. Argh - I could have WALKED to Cambridge and back by now. Grrr! |
Reply #3244. Aug 31 11, 7:45 AM
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Professer
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Thats amazing how do these companies stay in business. Think i will have to take a close look at things when ordering stuff.
Reply #3245. Aug 31 11, 8:16 AM
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daymare
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Whenever we order something to be delivered, I watch the progress of the shipment.
I will say some of the routes they take are very...well...roundabout...
Reply #3246. Aug 31 11, 8:18 AM
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| lesley153
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This is the first time I can remember seeing a stop on the way. Perhaps I've seen them before, and forgotten about them because they appeared logical: I only noticed this because it's simply ridiculous.
The sad thing is that rubbish courier services like this drag the companies they work for down with them. I'm replacing something that lasted an admirable ten-odd years, and I was very happy with and the company. This has spoilt it.
The man on the phone said they have very little trouble with Fedex. That's not what a load of people are saying online, between banging their heads on brick walls. But I suppose he's got to say that, hasn't he? If I ever want to order from this company again, one of the things I shall need to find out is how it'll get to me. What's wrong with the Post Office? |
Reply #3247. Aug 31 11, 8:34 AM
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satguru
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Maybe they send them by train- can you imagine going from Bedford to Cambridge by train? You could once solely because of the importance of Oxford and Cambridge the line was built between them, but only a couple of stretches remain. I've heard of various farms who sell to local shops and the food often goes 200 miles away to depots before returning to almost exactly the same place. As it's the customers who pay for this wastage it will always continue.
Reply #3248. Aug 31 11, 8:36 AM
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| lesley153
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Just realised - it's going via Stoke, which means a 240-mile detour, but I think it's now got to be "correctly" routed through London.
**wanders off in search of brick wall** |
Reply #3249. Aug 31 11, 8:38 AM
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| lesley153
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| Bedford to Cambridge by train used to be easy and is now impossible - unless you go into London and out again? - but I think there is talk of having the Oxford-Cambridge "Varsity line" reopened. We can hope. |
Reply #3250. Aug 31 11, 8:40 AM
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| lesley153
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| Today Jonathan nipped off to London to pick up the keys to his new flat. He'll have to go back on Friday to wait for a couple of furniture deliveries, and I'll be filling the car with his belongings and driving him there over the weekend. That should be fun. I've seen estate agent pictures online, and the pics on his phone, but there's nothing like being there. |
Reply #3251. Aug 31 11, 5:26 PM
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| lesley153
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Europe is chipping away at us again. They're back to dictating what light bulbs we may use. We can no longer get 100W light bulbs and now the 60W is on its way out, to be replaced by nasty little things that are promoted as energy-saving. Doesn't matter that they're no more than nasty little folded fluorescent lights full of mercury, and have to be Disposed Of Safely: they fit some green criterion for something-or-other so we are forced to buy them - unless we just give up and go back to candles.
Better stock up on candles while we still can!
New Zealand's got the right idea. Are you listening, Cameron/Clegg?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14715301 |
Reply #3252. Aug 31 11, 6:29 PM
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satguru
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Did you see the report yesterday from Germany that not only do the new bulbs contain poisons they emit them as well (phenol, one on the gas chamber list as well)? Technically they are only transitional as LEDs are half way to replacing them and actually expected to work once they can improve the wattage enough. Test examples have been made which appear to work but currently cost about £25 each (although they may last for a decade or more) so not being marketed as still in the development stage.
That was what I meant about the train, you go to London to do the trip by train, maybe they have a deal with Red Star (remember them?)- if you have regular runs you can bung them all on a train and another van pick them up at the other end. But should only be done when they are actually going to that end, not the opposite direction. I spend a number of months as one of their agents so tend to know rather more than I should about logistics, and then did it in the planning stage in one of my following jobs having already had the grounding. It was good to be able to put my knowledge of geography and the road and rail system into practice and get paid for it- I was actually moved offices (ie into the adjoining room) when they found I could do it as well as the two experts.
Reply #3253. Aug 31 11, 7:49 PM
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MarchHare007
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Use small halogen globes here - won't touch the CFLs. We test them so we Know how bad they are.
They look like an incandescent but have small holgen inserts - and no electronic ballast.
And are friendly to dim, don't need to warm up to shine and last much longer by comparison.
Apart from the fact CFLs can take ages to warm up in cold weather they Do Not last longer. They are only as good as their electronic ballast - which being Chinese in most cases is manufactured to fail.
They don't dim - but they look spectacular as they die if you use them in a lamp with the touch dimming switch base. Lovely green flash and rather spectacular smoke plume.
They are not recommended for use closer than half a metre from your head - so as a desk or table lamp are out.
And, apart from the mercury they contain as a fluro they have electronics in the base.
Now, can someone explain why replacing any globe with mercury filled electronic based globe should be considered more energy conscious than even an incandescent?
Especially when there will be trillions of them disposed of?
The effect on the environment for disposal simply obliterates this.
We don't have any guidleines for specific disposal here either, another reason why I 'won't conform'.
And the LEDs aren't so far away David - using several downlights at present but a little pricey and they are still playing with the colour.
Have the wattage okay for inserts with transformers but not mains.
Reply #3254. Aug 31 11, 10:16 PM
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MarchHare007
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Hope your item enjoys it's trip Lesley.
Sounds like sending items around Australia.
Two days to Melbourne or Adelaide but 3 days return.
Must be because it's up-hill.....
Reply #3255. Aug 31 11, 10:17 PM
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| C30
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This will come as no surprise to our Lesley............another "run in" with the local "friendly" Tesco!
I spotted on the shelves, two pots of "Tesco Tropical Fruit" salad......ok the nearest to the tropics the contents have been is probably a considerable distance..however that is not my gripe.
Normally this delicacy comes in two sizes........large or small. One is too much and the other not enough.......so these two half-size ones were ideal. I put them in trolly.
Upon reaching checkout, all went well until we reached above fruit.......they wouldn't scan. Checkout operator contacted Checkout Supervisor who waltzed them away.
Upon her return:-
"We can't sell you those they are not on line", says she.
"They were on the shelf on display with everything else", I pointed out.
"They are not for sale and we can't sell them, they are not on line".
This was repeated like some mystic chant, to be repeated parrot fashion!
No explanation, no apologies,no offer of a substitute.......just above incantation. I was getting cross!
"You mean that your company now expects customers to guess whether items on display are for sale or not"?, I asked.
You can guess the reply.........."Not on line"!
"Right then", I said. "As a customer and obviously a major inconvenience to you, I'll tell you what I will do.......
I will leave this lot here (indicating my proposed purchases), you can do what you like with them.......I shall take my custom to one of your competitors who DO sell the items on display...........Good Morning", and walked out!
It inconvenienced me having to go elsewhere, but the look on the faces of the Checkout Operator and Miss "It's not on line", were priceless and well worth it!
When I got home I sent of a little missive to "Tesco Comments on Line"............I don't suppose it will surprise you to learn I have had no reply.
Friday we commence shopping permanently at Sainsburys but I don't suppose anyone at Tesco from MD down to Janitor, is likely to give one jot about losing a customer...........nobody does these days.
Reply #3256. Sep 01 11, 1:40 AM
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Professer
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C30, also in news is Tescos shutting there stores in China the worm is turning Tescos do not give a jot about us the consumer, if everyone boycotted Tescos for a month theyd soon change.
Enjoy your trip Lesley hope it goes well
Reply #3257. Sep 01 11, 7:53 AM
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Cymruambyth
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Keskey, nothing like the tug to the heart when one's youngsters set up housekeping on their own, is their. Wish Jonathan all the best for me.
Reply #3258. Sep 01 11, 1:21 PM
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| lesley153
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David, I haven’t seen yesterday’s report but I do know that these lights are toxic, and that people have reported all sorts of bizarre side-effects, like fluctuating blood sugar, from sitting in rooms where these lights are used. Worth being poisoned for to er um ... remind me again why we’re being forced to use things that will poison us?
I’m not sure it would be possible to know less about logistics than this company. My parcel has been retrieved from Stoke, and was booked in at Park Royal three times this morning - 2am, 8.39am and 8.42am. In the process of retrieving and rerouting, they have also managed to change the consignee’s name from mine to Jonathan’s. Jonathan bought something from them recently, but not since their email to ME acknowledging MY purchase.
Here’s its latest route:
http://tinyurl.com/Cambridge-Bedford-scenic-route
starting at Cambridge (A) and ending at Bedford (D) via Stoke (B) and London (C).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MH, J is very keen on new technology - he’s very young! - but I bought him a table lamp with a halogen bulb. Think I may move to Oz.
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Ray, that is such a good story! I’ve heard a lot of nonsense in shops but I have never heard that one before. The only time I walked out on a shopping trip, the goods I picked up were on the conveyor belt but none of them had been scanned. It sounds like some of yours were scanned, which makes it perfect. Have you rung 0800 505 555, the Tesco helpline? It would be interesting to compare the reactions you get (or not) from a post with whatever reaction you get from a human voice.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gary, here's a nice quote from the Corporate Watch website:
“Our market share of UK retailing is 12.5% - that leaves 87.5% to go after.”
(Terry Leahy, Tesco Chief Executive, quoted in Management Today)
Help!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thanks, Cym, I am happy to pass on your good wishes, but tug at heartstrings? I think not! As soon as he’s out of sight, I shall be able to start having wild parties again, and entertaining wild men. Yoohoo Merv, where are you! |
Reply #3259. Sep 01 11, 4:03 PM
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bloodandsand
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Good on yer, Lesley. Show Bedford how to live! :))
Reply #3260. Sep 01 11, 4:26 PM
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