Hi,
Thank you TalismanRich for your story I'm sorry to learn your dad is no longer with you. Bron's been put on tablets which should stop her hand shaking if she has Parkinson's; one tablet per day first week two tablets per day second week and no more than three tablets per day third week at the moment she's half way through her second week with zero change in her hand shaking; if the tablets don't work then it's something else so we need to wait and see. Amazingly I managed 30 minutes this morning playing my violin; I'd got Bron settled with glass of water; mug of tea and hot water bottle she was comfortable stretched out on the sofa watching a movie. I think violin playing must be similar to riding a bike once learned never forgotten; I played my usual pieces without much difficulty once I got going.
Thanks rob; wow you're really going hard at it playing your cello; I agree music is excellent to get away from stresses of life; I just can't get away; today was the first time I touched my violin for quite a while. Two weeks ago a skip was delivered directly across the street from us resulting in a smashed cast iron manhole cover on the pavement in front of our garden wall; the driver owned up and did the right thing; a new cover was quickly fitted. On Monday morning this week the full skip was collected to be replaced by an empty skip. At 1pm our former neighbour visited us and said have you seen the highly dangerous manhole in front of your bungalow?
This time the damage was severe; the new cover was smashed but also the brickwork badly compromised the wagon had destroyed the manhole but the driver had scarpered not saying a word or reporting it. I took digital images of the manhole and also copied a few slides from our CCTV showing the wagon on top of the manhole. I sent a friendly email to the skip company together with four pictures; another skip wagon was quickly here the driver a different one to the previous two and he said surely whomever did this would be fully aware of the damage but he hasn't reported it; the debris was cleared and a large cover placed over the hole with a traffic cone at each corner now at least it's safe. I didn't have a coat on so it poured with rain and I enjoyed a soaking. Myers were excellent.
In the evening it was dark when Yorkshire Water arrived to assess the damage and put in a report for repairs; I went down in my "Site" coat but received a very nice soaking as the rain bucketed down.
All last week I was on the keyboard in total frustration with unethical Virgin Media. Our bundle was to increase from £61 per month to £78 per month and if we didn't accept we had to cancel before a certain date. We only have a landline phone supplied by VM so I phoned VM to cancel the contract when it expires; I selected option 1 accounts and was then told to add my mobile phone number? I don't use a mobile phone so how could I do this. I tried their 150 & 0345 numbers but received the same request so I couldn't contact VM from our landline. I then spent an hour and an half waiting to be connected to their chat line their timed estimate being 63 minutes.
I offered to pay the £61 to extend our current deal but this was rejected the new price firm at £78; I requested our account be closed but was then transferred to another chat line in order to discuss this with a supervisor; in disgust I closed the chatline I'm 76 and was rapidly growing older. I thought I've had enough of this Bron and I having been NTL/VM customers for over 30 years; I decided to try BT who have an 0800 number where I can use our landline to speak with a human being not a robot. I decided to try BT chatline for comparison; amazingly an immediate connection; 45 minutes later Bron and I are now agreed to a very similar bundle with BT but this new bundle doesn't include evenings or weekend free calls which doesn't bother us at all but BT do include basic Netflix and as a bonus one month free sped boost. Cost £47 per month on two year contract. The guy at BT was top class.
For £5 per month extra we could have powerful WiFi with guarantee no loss of signal so we accepted it making the bundle now £51.99 per month. This was exceptional customer service; the day after I received an email from Netflix requesting I open an account with them the cost charged to BT; our new BT installation starts on the 12th so now we already have Netflix even though no bank details had been supplied. Brilliant. I supplied the bank details today having received a letter from BT.
Having sorted this out then we received a phone call on our landline from VM an actual living lady wanting to discuss VM best bundle deals; I explained we'd agreed a new two year contract with BT then she asked how much our new BT deal was I stated £51.99; after a pause VM could now offer our current bundle for £54 per month; my reply was Bron and I are old fashioned our word is our bond and we never ever go back on a deal saying it was highly unethical of VM to even suggest such a thing; once again I requested VM account be closed she said she would close it.
The account wasn't closed so now I went onto Virgin Media Community Forum stating exactly what had occurred; an 81 year old member was having exactly the same difficulty closing his VM account but offered me sound advice; do not cancel your direct debit payments to VM it could compromise your 100% credit rating instead write and post a letter special delivery stating your contract be terminated which I did the letter costing £6.85. Next I received an email from VM letting us know our new bundle was arranged and we didn't need to sign for it? Just how low can this VM company sink treating customers like dirt in this manner; all this story is posted on their community forum; this is just some of it the problem which tied me up for a week when I already have more than enough stress in my life.
This afternoon I received a phone call to say my younger brother had died; we weren't at all close not seeing each other for over ten years; he had a bank account with money in it and he hadn't married his long term partner so she wasn't entitled to claim anything; I thanked the lady saying please give the money to his partner I don't want any contact with my family of vultures at all; I was asked to put this in writing which I declined saying absolutely no contact and I won't be attending the funeral; my family totally ruined Bron's wedding day then for years tried to come between us; those who stole my share of my late mothers detached bungalow can now pay for the funeral; I've got only one person in my life I fully trust; my wonderful Bron the rest can get lost I'm not interested.
Yes rob Bron comes first and I'll do my utmost to look after her; regarding all the heavy work I still carry out it keeps me fit and active just what Bron needs allowing me to look after her; I'm not the normal type of guy who retires and gives up I'm super active and hope to remain so for years to come but I understand what you mean.
Many thanks Raymond; yes Bron is number one priority in my life and always will be; you well understand the problems associated with someone ill; thanks for your kindness as you say good and bad days but even bad days are good I still have Bron and until one of us passes away this is the way it will be.
I just wish we'd be left well alone to enjoy our lives together without constant problems day in day out without any let up; I'm not complaining because I've got Bron to make it worthwhile getting out of bed each morning.
Thanks again everyone for your kindness and support I truly appreciate it; I'll now settle down to a movie before bedtime with Bron; we've now got Netflix to play around with. I'll pop back on time permitting.
Kind regards, Colin.
