Marc's Musings and Random Rants

Harrietsham circular walk

Marc — 2006-09-11T18:45:12+00:00

We went for a pleasant walk in Harrietsham, Kent yesterday. The County Council have put together some very good walking guides which you can send off for or download directly from their website. Each route includes a mini Ordnance Survey map with the route, as well as written and photographic descriptions of each junction so you really can't get lost!

All but one of the descriptions/photos were accurate (a stile had mysteriously disappeared) but fortunately someone's parents had recently done the same route so we had inside knowledge of where not to go! Even the three-hour estimated length of time to complete the route was accurate, but we did have a few breaks.

The weather was also pretty amazing for September, especially after the misery suffered the week before.

Deaf and Dumber

Marc — 2006-09-07T18:00:20+00:00

I got knocked off my bike today.

What is it with pedestrians and iPods? Do they lose all sense of their surroundings as soon as they spin that click-wheel? At least he was a fairly large lad, so it probably hurt him more than me when he looked but didn't see, and just stepped right out.

Idiot.

24 Bleaks

Marc — 2006-09-06T17:53:22+00:00

Last year I took part in and completed the Care International UK 24 Peaks Challenge 2005. I also said that I would never do it again, but last weekend off we went again to the Lake District to try and beat our time in the First Title Group 24 Peaks Challenge 2006.

Unfortunately, the weather had different ideas. When we started at just gone 6am (don't you just love 2:30am wake-up calls?) it was actually quite pleasant, and in the photo I managed to take I think the sun is out. Then at around 7:30, the sky darkened and the waterproofs went on, never to come off.

Courtesy Care International UK

Think gale force winds, horizontal rain, 20m visibility and you're a fraction of the way there. It was thoroughly miserable for everyone who took part, but there was always the target of completing the event of climbing 24 peaks, each over 2400 feet, within 24 hours. However, even this became an impossibility when the event was called off on the Saturday afternoon with our team, Urban, just two peaks of that day's ten to go. Fortunately we heard about the day being cancelled when bumping into the (very strong, and leading) India team who had managed to get lost on Great End after overtaking us earlier, as our radio had ceased to work by this time. We therefore descended with them and the mountain guides waiting for us with some other teams (but not a 'lone walker' who had apparently left his team as they were too slow!) further down the mountain.

This did mean that we got back to the hostel in Grasmere slightly earlier than we would have done otherwise, but still meant we wouldn't get much more than 4 hours sleep that night before getting to the starting point for 5am on Sunday. At least we had some "better" weather to look forward to...

Or so we thought. Although we started our ascent of Red Screes in the drizzle, the conditions gradually deteriorated with the summit of Fairfield being particularly hazardous, just before the event was called off completely after our descent from Seat Sandal. Even though it was only 10:30 by this stage, apparently the conditions at Helvellyn were absolutely treacherous and the organisers had no choice but to cancel, with us having just one major climb (Dollywagon Pike, which India managed to complete before having to backtrack to get to the escape route) and eight smaller ones left. Again, it was quite lucky that we bumped into another team to find out the event was cancelled as our radio had packed up by this stage.

Courtesy Care International UK

So that was it. We had managed to complete just 13 of the 24 peaks, but this was all we could have done in the circumstances, even though we all wanted to continue due to the effort we had put in both on the weekend and in training for the event. I think we would have finished in the top three teams, but ultimately everyone was given the same time of 24 Hours on their certificates, presented at the (unimproved, dubiously four-star) Low Wood hotel that evening.

To top things off there were only a couple of amusing moments worth mentioning, including two people attempting to tackle Scafell Pike wearing jeans, looking like they had got lost on their way back from the Leeds Festival. The other was when we passed some Asian youths also on their way to the same peak (after our day had been cancelled), without even a map. They did have a long pole and one had fluorescent orange trousers though!

I suppose there's always next year >:O

Buzzin'

Marc — 2006-01-18T18:17:40+00:00

Last night I went to Television Centre (for the first time) to be in the audience for the next series of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. It was the first of the new series to be aired in March, and the first without Mark Lamarr as the host in the show's ten year history. It sounds as though they will be doing a Have I Got News For You-style host-a-week, although no-one admitted why Mark is no longer the host. I heard a bit of his Radio 2 show at the weekend and was less than impressed, but then he did have Jo Brand as a guest.

Last night's guest host was T4 and Popworld's Simon Amstell, probably best known for being a guest on the show twice previously and being one to have a dig at celebrity á là Monsieur Lamarr. He was quite nervous and I don't think was as quite in control as what I can imagine his predecessor as being - in fact the first half of the opening round went on for over 90 minutes and will probably be edited down to five at the most! Simon also got a bit confused a couple of times during the show, but overall handled the pressure well.

Being the first show I've seen I think it was a good choice (Mock the Week was taking place in the next studio) and it's interesting to see how it all goes on behind the scenes. Unfortunately most of the material will be simply unbroadcastable - I'm not sure if the 'C' or the 'F' word was the most frequently used - including the on-going joke at Kenzie's (oh come on, you know the one. He's ex-Blazin' Squad!) expense which I can't possibly mention here.

There was no mention of the other guest hosts lined up probably for tonight and into next week, but the guests themselves were pretty poor compared to previous shows but I think they have been on the decline for a while. This used to be one of my favourite BBC2 shows, but could this be the start of the end of another institution, as happened with They Think It's All Over? I hope not. After Angus Deayton left HIGNFY I think it in some ways improved, with the team captains being able to have regular digs back at the host, which is quite rare for that type of programme.

Parcel Farce

Marc — 2005-10-14T21:34:10+00:00

I am aware that Parcel Force have had a number of problems over the last fews years but I thought they would have sorted themselves out by now, but oh no. Take a look at this Bulldog delivery. My new (and, eventually, free) wireless router was dispatched on 14 September and delivery was apparently attempted over the next couple of days. Did they leave a card announcing mis-delivery? Did they 'eck. I don't reckon they even found my letterbox.

Following the tracking system through, you can now see that the item was returned and held at the depot. I tried calling Parcel Force to find out what I should do and they were "surprised" that no card was left but told me I had to speak to the Charlton depot. That's easier than it sounds. I spent a good couple of weeks or so trying to get through but I was constantly on hold waiting to speak to someone (and trust me, the pseudo Coldplay Clocks track is not what you want to be forced to listen to when you're getting rather impatient). Nothing was happening on the online tracking system during this time.

Eventually I got through to a human (in the remotest sense of the word) last Saturday 8 October and, after "popping out" to find the parcel, they called me back at work to say that the item was in front of her but she "cannot read the courier's writing" to tell me why it had not been delivered. Neither could the other muppet working alongside her (and, incidentally not answering the constantly ringing phones in the background).

She agreed to arrange a redelivery for yesterday, 13 October but I wasn't entirely surprised when nothing turned up. What did surprise me was that the parcel had been delivered... to Birmingham! I have absolutely no idea what had happened, but the online tracking system showed that it had been sent to the West Midlands and R. Gilbert had signed for it.

I bypassed Charlton and went straight to the main Parcel Force office to find out what had happened. This was more difficult as the tracking system no longer showed the parcel reference number. Aaaaah! Fortunately, I found out by accident that right-clicking on the signature reveals the parcel reference in the image URL. So, it turns out that somehow the delivery postcode had been changed from BR1 (Bromley) to B46 (guess where) and the parcel had been diverted and delivered 129 miles away in Coleshill, even though the remainder of the address had my full address and borough! Unfortunately I would have to speak to the West Midlands depot to sort it out.

I made a decision at this stage to give up with Parcel Force and get Bulldog to sort it out. After putting me on hold for over ten minutes (with some more relaxing hold music, now you ask), the adviser advised me that they will send out another router for me. I couldn't believe they were giving in so easily... finally do I have something positive to say about Bulldog?

I don't know about that, it disturbed me that I don't think they are going to take it up with Parcel Force. If not I may try it myself, or even write off to the misdelivery address and ask for the router back!

What a farce. The router should be with me in "5-7 working days"... I'll report back either way!

Another decade, another disaster

Marc — 2005-10-10T19:50:00+00:00

Last night a major fire devastated Southend's world famous pier. It is one of the landmarks of my home town that helps to hold the place together and certainly keeps the tourists flooding in, blue rinse in tow. It doesn't have (can't get?) insurance, yet this is the fourth time since its construction that fire has broken out on the supposed non-smoking structure. It is estimated that it will cost millions of pounds to repair.

Most recently it was the bowling alley that was detroyed in 1995 where I enjoyed many birthday parties with schoolmates (it was never rebuilt) and nine years earlier, a boat trying to take the shortcut straight through the middle caused major damage. In 1976 another major fire destroyed most of the Victorian pier head, with repairs to the damage only being completed in 2002. The first fire of 1959 lead to the construction of the bowling alley to replace the original gutted Pavilion.

The pier's feature - being the longest pleasure pier in the world - was also its downfall when attempting to deal with the blaze. Its 1.3 mile length was required in order to reach commercial and leisure vessels coming up/down the Thames Estuary at all tides. Anyone who has been on seafront will know how far out the mud stretches at low tide, and this was exactly the situation late last night when fire crews attempted to get their equipment to the pier head. Hovercrafts and other specialist equipment had to be called in.

A good BBC video clip can be found in this article, along with a great quote from a witness to the 1995 fire:

I also saw the fire back in 1995, and remember seeing bowling balls falling into the sea in clouds of steam.

Maybe those great balls of fire are still down there, buried in that pesky mud?

Red Rubber Bands

Marc — 2005-10-09T16:52:34+00:00

Everywhere I walk around Bromley at the moment I seem to see red rubber bands on the pavement.

What are they for? Where have they come from?

Are they following me?

Only in America

Marc — 2005-10-08T21:10:59+00:00

I have just seen the most rediculous advert in a newspaper for a long time:

Thinking about a Florida Vacation?
Please Ensure Your Family is Safe
A new law in the Sunshine State may encourage Floridians to "shoot first" when they feel threatened.
In Florida, avoid disputes that could escalate into violence. Use special caution in arguing with motorists on Florida roads.
Police and prosecuters are concerned about the potential for uneccessary violence.

The advert is supported by the Brady Campaign "To Prevent Gun Violence" and has a link to www.shootfirstlaw.org.

There are three things that strike me about this ad: firstly, that residents are being encouraged to "shoot first" rather than sit down and discuss whatever is on their tits; secondly, that roads are the most dangerous place to argue with a "Floridian" (and accordingly to the website, eventually all Americans); and finally, that the whole campaign seems to be supported by an anti-gun group!

I can see the idea behind the campaign but I feel that this particular advert is going about it the wrong way. The details outlines in this PDF download make much more sense and are much more subtle. It does however, make you wonder why is this particular law being changed anyway, allowing the "threat to be eliminated" without (m)any repercussions.

Where our TV Licences go

Marc — 2005-09-22T20:43:39+00:00

I haven't watched The Bill in over six years, long before the ex-cast of EastEnders decided to drop in, but after the death of Tosh and the subsequent departure of most of the remaining feasible characters. I gave in tonight however, to watch the ITV (pronounced Shite-TV) 50 Year Special and the so called 'stunt filled' episode (courtesy, the Guardian Guide) was about as realistic as the cast contained therein and about as tense as test match cricket (thank heavens the Ashes is over at last). That an armed psychopath can walk into a cop shop doesn't show much for the security of today's police force, never mind the weedy attempt a PC had at an attempted apprehension of said psycho.

After seeing a boom in shot, I now realise that this is one of those special 'live' episodes. Not that that's any excuse.

I couldn't bear the tension any longer and unfortunately went flicking through the channels, only to find a program whose title wins all the points. Just what is the point of Five's Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver Live!? And is that supposed to be an ironic title? I don't think I can even come to waste any space talking about this poor excuse of a programme, nor any other reality 'TV', come to think of it. Although today's news of Dutch TV's sex & drugs 'experiment' may get a mention when it comes to Five...

My final TV mention of the night must go to the conclusion of EastEnders and an irate Peggy pushing two-expression Chrissie into Den's open grave. Oh, how I laughed! Try and catch it again on Sunday if you can.

PoorerGen vs. SeeBored

Marc — 2005-09-17T11:29:46+00:00

And the saga continues. Today I received yet another letter from Powergen asking me to stay as a customer, even though I had been assured that I was still a customer the last time we spoke three weeks ago. 25 minutes, three offices and two locations later I manage to find out what has happened: for the fourth time this year, an E/T has gone through on my gas. How on Earth could this have happened?

A quick call to Transco to find out who is supplying my gas and a 15 minute phone call with a rude Seeboard operator, I can confirm... da dadda daaa... that the EDF muppets have E/T-ed me once again. And taken £20 out of my bank account. And they want to bill me for gas usage that Powergen have already billed me for (and owe me over £100 for over-payment).

This is getting rediculous and far from funny now. At least Powergen "can confirm" my electricity is back with them, but for how long? The notice I asked them to put on the account to prevent further E/Ts has obviously, once again, been ignored. And are they ever going to send me a bill? Nine months with free electricity is bound to add up... I have a feeling regulator Ofgem will be hearing from me in the not too distant future.

I have a feeling once (if?) everything settles down, I'll be looking for a better deal elsewhere anyway.