Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

36 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

WOT DID YOU SAY IT WAS Bob?

 

  0405D NEERG ENOT OWT NI 42 SSALC DETTIF DNUOS WLS NA S'TI      

 

 

There, that should fool her!        

[TheQ]

Evening awl. 

Now getting warm,  the fire had gone out for some reason,  the house is kept at 17 C but the fire brings the living room up to 20C.

 

As usual the TV is full of red, blue and orange people lying through their teeth.. I'm sure people of other colours are doing the same elsewhere. 

 

Our insurance policy is invalid if you leave the premises empty for more than a month.  There are also dire warnings in a guidance pamphlet,  that they won't pay out if you "advertise " you are away. The old one was thieves reading funeral notices. 

This is why I've never identified exactly  where I live,  Just a 5 Mile radius from the house  not actually centred on the house, several permanent red herrings are used in my text .. 

 

Ben just got very excited and wanted to the back door,...he looked and... No SWMBO's car, a very disappointed Ben wandered back in,  I guess the car that went past sounded like our car... 

 

The TV just turned itself off.. During a party political... Good timing... 

 

Saying the above, at some point tomorrow we are both out delivering the Land Rover for MOT, service,  and some other work including brakes . Ben the disappointed Collie will be left on guard... 

 

Ben the not disappointed Collie is running round like mad as SWMBO returns..

Bye for now.. 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

3 minutes ago, TheQ said:

... they won't pay out if you "advertise " you are away. The old one was thieves reading funeral notices. 

I recall people being advised not to visibly include their address on luggage tags when taking overseas holidays - the idea being that thieves had mates employed as baggage handlers who would capture the addresses on promising luggage.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Ben just got very excited and wanted to the back door,...he looked and... No SWMBO's car, a very disappointed Ben wandered back in,  I guess the car that went past sounded like our car... 

My mum's best friend had a smallish dog that would madly circle the yard when it heard our car turn into the street (more than 150m away and out of sight). This was in a busy area with light industry nearby.

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.

 

Bit of a difficult day, I'm in the doghouse because I have lost my wedding ring, my full time assistant is off sick, phone going mad etc etc, but one call was from Baz so that one at least was OK!  One of those days when many callers wanted to chat about, well very little indeed, but not buy anything, and we were rushed off our feet and really didn't have the time.....but you have to make the time of course, as they may well become good customers, if only they could decide what they actually wanted.....   Baz by the way, did know what he wanted!  

[Dave Hunt]

7 hours ago, Kingzance said:

So the track plan is now firmly cast in concrete I take it Baz? 

 

Probably not - I think he's sticking it onto plywood and then ballasting it with grit instead.  

[Simon G]

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Is this mentioned on your policy? The only thing on ours is a limit to how long you can be away for, so if someone I suppose posted they were on a round the world cruise that could invalidate the insurance.

 

I don’t think it is specifically mentioned on the policy, but like yours there is a limit of about 4 weeks away consecutively.  Not putting our absences on social media just eliminates the risk of insurance not paying out in the event of problems or theft while we are away.

[Ian Abel]

Afternoon (here at least!)

Late check in as I was off early to retrieve a package for Jemma. She'd ordered something and was given a delivery date that would place delivery when she got back from her current trip (she would usually use our address if the delivery would fall while she's away!!).

Unlike MOST of the current delivery schedules, this one ended up being WAY early and they delivered it today, a couple of days before she has a chance of being home - off I went to be sure she got it rather than some light-fingered-larry

 

After that, to the local computer store to obtain a new hard drive to replace an ailing one.

 

Client STILL fannying about attempting to get me access to the new database/server, so I figured I'd run errands on their dime

 

Last evening our concert was excellent, preceded by a nice meal and drinks at a new (for us) watering hole. Good result all round.

 

-6 and sunny here first thing, managing a balmy +2 for the high - woo hoo

 

Onward...

 

Edited December 3, 2019 by Ian Abel

[JohnDMJ]

15 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Evening.

 

Bit of a difficult day, I'm in the doghouse because I have lost my wedding ring, my full time assistant is off sick, phone going mad etc etc, but one call was from Baz so that one at least was OK!  One of those days when many callers wanted to chat about, well very little indeed, but not buy anything, and we were rushed off our feet and really didn't have the time.....but you have to make the time of course, as they may well become good customers, if only they could decide what they actually wanted.....   Baz by the way, did know what he wanted!  

 

My Sympathies! Phone went mad. Despatch went mad and nicked several office colleagues to pack. One guy off sick. Several 20+ minute 'Product Support' calls. Manic was an understatement.

 

In your favour, though Neil, it's much easier for us with you lot ordering on line!!

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

By command of the Awl
 

Kerry's pork chops and Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/sounds-of-the-season-3/

[New Haven Neil]

35 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

 

Snip<

 

In your favour, though Neil, it's much easier for us with you lot ordering on line!!

 

 

 

Ah, you noticed I persuaded John to do it too!  I use it when I order, since you (or was it Craig?) guided me to the right bit!  John has taken a bit longer to get the hang of it   

[polybear]

57 minutes ago, Simon G said:

 

I don’t think it is specifically mentioned on the policy, but like yours there is a limit of about 4 weeks away consecutively.  Not putting our absences on social media just eliminates the risk of insurance not paying out in the event of problems or theft while we are away.

 

There could be a small "wriggle out of anything we possible can" clause, such as "taking all reasonable precautions" etc. type of statement.  Not that I'm saying that the Insurance Industry is run by a devious, conniving bunch of snakes you understand.... 

(naturally anyone on RMWeb involved in such matters is innocent of course   )

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, Coombe Barton said:

By command of the Awl
 

Kerry's pork chops and Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/sounds-of-the-season-3/

I was a bit confused by yesterdays German lyrics as I wasn't sure how a rose had sprung from a Wurzel. I had clearly never come across the German word for "root" before only wurzel for something fed to cattle and carved for lanterns. I suppose Adge Cutlers band were the originators of roots music.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[bbishop]

Evening all.  I haven't posted for a while due to overload.  Anyway, I've just launched an e-mail about breaking down the Stevenage show so now's my chance.

 

A couple of bits of bad news.  My brother-in-law has had a series of TIAs; not good news, especially for my sister as he is a grumpy at the best of times.  Then one of the priests at my church died on Sunday; sad news but he was a great age and was active to the end, I served at his final Eucharist last month.

 

It would seem I shall have a busy Christmas.  Two services on the Sunday, then Midnight Mass, then a sleep over in the sacristy before two services on Christmas morning.  I offered to collect my sister's aged friend on the way down to her house, but Sally will have to do that herself if I'm aiming for a two o'clock meal.

 

German classes have finished until the New Year, but I need to keep at it, as I'm in Germany in March and September next year.

 

Keep well all.  Bill

[Barry O]

Feeling a bit better but a night's sleep should help.

 

Goodnight all!

Baz

[roundhouse]

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

Ah, you noticed I persuaded John to do it too!  I use it when I order, since you (or was it Craig?) guided me to the right bit!  John has taken a bit longer to get the hang of it   

I didnt use the phone but prompt email back that you dont stock what I am after. However dont worry as I will be ordering something that you do have when the time comes.

 

Another good evening drinking Harveys Old with fellow rmwebber / modeller and much later than we intended.

 

Tomorrow more 4mm scale model buildings to carry on with.

 

Hopefully my other half will have a better day on the GW Worms especially after this mornings cancellation and tonights much longer trip home via Gatwick due ot mis-signalling meaning her train avoided Redhill, the driver being very apolagetic.

Edited December 3, 2019 by roundhouse

[Gwiwer]

35 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I was a bit confused by yesterdays German lyrics as I wasn't sure how a rose had sprung from a Wurzel. I had clearly never come across the German word for "root" before only wurzel for something fed to cattle and carved for lanterns. I suppose Adge Cutlers band were the originators of roots music.

I'm sure Trisonic Pete, were he still among us, would stand us all corrected on the origin of "roots" music even if the Wurzels associated themselves with turnips and cider in the context of Tony's humour.  To my mind it can readily be traced back via Jamaican blue-beat of the early 20th Century and re-emerged as "Roots Rockers" in the 70s with the advent of the MC (mic' chanter) and the rise of the likes of Yellowman, Clint Eastwood and Charlie Chaplin.  The latter two being among many reggae artistes to have adopted stage names and the former so christened by his family and fans owing to a medical condition affecting his skin tone.

 

Insurance

Some here might recall that I worked for ten years managing insurance claims whilst in Australia.  Our portfolio covered motor, home, caravan, farm, boat (which was always "marine hull" insurance and never "boat") and business policies of all kinds and values.  Risks were the relatively humble family car through to fleets of thousands of vehicles many of which changed on a weekly or monthly basis and included some of Australia's largest commercial clients trusting us with their business needs.  We audited our claim-to-payout performance which for domestic home claims was typically around 70% paid.

 

Of the 30% not paid and based on ten years experience my estimate would be 25% clearly excluded from policy such as lost items (when loss cover was not taken out), loss below excess (very common) or wear and tear (never covered).  Of the remaining 5% most were found to be fraudulent and refused on those grounds.  Perhaps fewer than 1 in 1000 claims was not paid, in whole or in part, for any other reason. 

 

If water descends from above it is a storm event.  If water rises from below it is a flood event.  If water runs through your home from an event elsewhere it is a stormwater runoff event.  If water damages your home because a pipe has burst within the home it is an escape of water event.  Policies vary.  Many did not include flood (though included all the rest) until Australia suffered a series of very bad floods affecting thousands of homes across many towns.  After which time and after a huge row about denied claims because floods were excluded the Insurance Council of Australia in conjunction with the Federal Parliament required that flood be included on all relevant policies but with an option to exclude it.  Policies still exclude "flood" if a tap is left on and something overflows causing damage - this is not a flood but an "avoidable act or omission by the policyholder or other person"  In other words insurance does not cover self-inflicted damage.  And never has except when the policy specifically includes it.

 

Most home and many commercial policies have clauses relating to the leaving of premises unattended for four weeks or more.  It is considered that this is a reasonable time for most holidays and that the risk of burglary or other loss significantly increases above this time.  Homes fitted with a hard-wired back-to-base alarm (as ours was and still is) are often exempt provided the alarm is activated because they are statistically at very  much lower risk and in any case a break in would, or should, trigger the alarm and a response.  

 

Insurance differs slightly between countries but I have found policies in the UK are very similarly worded.  There is a difference in that the UK insurers are seen to be "harder" and seek to avoid paying out but this may be because those who criticise have been denied settlement for reasons which their insurer must give in writing.  Most often, I suspect, because the claim is for a loss which is not covered by their policy.  It is surprising how many motorists with Third Party only insurance claim when their car is maliciously damaged or stolen.  Not covered.  Or when they are at fault but want their own car repaired.  Not covered.  Some genuinely don't understand.  Some hear the price and opt for the cheapest.  Some claim anyway.  And a few try it on.  

 

Caveat Emptor.  Read the policy.  Understand what is - and what is not - covered.  Ask questions.  And remember than in the UK at least you have a statutory cooling-off period after any financial services transaction during which you may cancel without incurring any penalty.  It is your responsibility to make certain your insurance is right for you.  

 

And on that cheery and lengthy note it is tome for bed.  G'night all.  Sleep sound in the knowledge that almost all of us will NOT need to make an insurance claim.  Tonight, tomorrow and quite often never at all.  

[pH]

40 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

And on that cheery and lengthy note it is tome for bed.  

 

Quite appropriate mis-type!

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

The temperature is hovering around zero, and it is foggy - but there doesn't appear to be much in the way of frost.

 

22 hours ago, grandadbob said:

Sort of still going Robert and by the look of it thriving.

 

Yes Bob - I read up on the history of the Ace Cafe after posting yesterday.  I lived in London in the 90s and so this cannot be the incarnation of the Ace Cafe that I remember.  I may be wrong, but I think the one I remember used to be on the A13, and given the route that I used to take, somewhere between Purfleet and the North Circular.

 

Of course, much has changed in that area since the 90s!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A cool 3° here but dry and some sunny periods forecast.

An early start for us as The Boss wants to visit Sainsbury's and as I'm hoping a parcel will be delivered today I decreed we would be there when they open at 7.00am so we're back before the postie comes...hopefully.  That went down well. I've just taken her up a muggatea.

 I will return later.

Have a good one,
E. ArlyBird.

Edited December 4, 2019 by grandadbob

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

This morning I have my flu jab.   Rather than let me stroll the five minutes to the main surgery, Checkpoint Charlene gave me an appointment at the branch surgery across the town at Church Lane.  This, I believe, is because most of the nurses drive to work and need somewhere to park.  Fair enough.  I need either to catch the bus, nominally every 12 minutes, or get the car out.  I will use the bus today because I have occasion to visit the bank afterwards.  As well as getting a statement I need to order some Swiss francs.  For some reason all the banks open an hour later on Wednesdays.  I am among the unwary that this has confused.   It is market day today so after I have done what needs to be done I will stroll down to the market square to see whether the WI stall is there.  I need some more marmalade!

 

Yesterday I did the first bit of packing for the Swiss trip, a whole fortnight before departure.  All the medication that I must take with me is now rounded up and safely encased in a tupperware box.  Assembling the clothing will take a little longer and must be preceded by a dose of ironing.  What an exciting life I lead.

 

As I type this there is news on the radio of a hotel fire in Brentwood.  Cue Brenda from Bristol: what, another one?  In my increasingly desperate search for petrol on Saturday night I passed the remains of the Premier Inn at Cribbs Causeway, which burned down in July three days after I had stayed there.  That reminds me: I need to find somewhere out of town to stay for Bristol Pride this year.  City centre hotels are all very well but car parking is very limited and extremely expensive.   I'll worry about that if I have any money left after Switzerland.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Still not feeling a 100% must be a bug!

 

Pah!

 

A mugatea sans milk has arrived. Lets see how that goes.

 

Grab the day, enjoy what you do and positive thoughts to all who ail!

Baz

[Ozexpatriate]

22 minutes ago, chrisf said:

I passed the remains of the Premier Inn at Cribbs Causeway, which burned down in July three days after I had stayed there.

It is a strange feeling to know that a place where you have slept has burned down - more so if the interregnum was brief.

 

I watched news photographs of a hotel in Santa Rosa being consumed by the Tubbs wildfire in October 2017. I had stayed there to visit a client many times, but not close in time to the fire. Being in Sonoma County, it had billed itself as a "wine country resort" and had an excellent restaurant where I shared many meals with colleagues.

 

I have similar feelings with retired flight numbers, where I had flown on a particular route that later experienced a fatal 'plane crash. (There are at least three that I can think of.)