Ref44

Have just wasted an hour on the phone to BT. I volunteer with Citizens Advice, who are planning for a lockdown. Face to Face consultations were stopped last week. The system can be set up so one can answer AdviceLine calls from home, but this requires Voicemail to be switched off. Hence the call to BT. After an hour, told yes we can do so; it will take 24 hours to take effect. As long as travel isn't banned from this afternoon, I will be in the office tomorrow.

A trip to the local Co-op in hope rather than expectation yielded a good result. Whilst there was no sugar, I did manage to get a jar of Canderel. SWMBO normally consumes large amount of sugar and the lack thereof was prompting complaints. Hopefully some Brownie points have been earnt. I also managed to get a 4 pack of toilet paper, which, if common sense returns, should see us through to the point when more regular supply is available. As it is a nice sunny day, another attack of the lawn is will be in order. Yesterday reduced the height, whats left will now be drier, so a presentable finish may be obtained.

The G word has been kicked into touch here; it rained overnight. By late yesterday afternoon the lawn (jungle) had almost dried enough to cut it. I was thinking that it could have a trim today. That has now been put back. The youngest will have another day of trying to work from home; the servers at Essex Council weren't able to cope yesterday, and even more staff have now been instructed not to go in. I suspect that there will be much cursing at the laptop during the day. I will have to venture out later to try and get some supplies; SWMBO falls into the vunerable category (medical) to add to the mix of trying to get bits without seeing too many people.

Have had three calls now from "Your Internet Provider" threatening to cut the service and inviting me to press 1 to speak with a senior manager. All have been terminated and the number reported to the ICO as we are on TPS.

Now feeling older; first granchild born in the early hours of this morning. Mother and child doing well. Have just been informed that the dog sitting will continue into next week. Now need to find something suitable to raise a glass.

A variety of planned projects are currently on hold while we "Dog Sit". The animal in question belongs to our daughter who if the virus outbreak hasn't impacted on her loacl hospital was due to be admitted today re the birth of the first grandchild. As is the way of such events, the period of animal care is uncertain, so I've no idea when normal service will be resumed. Having said that, it is currently too wet to try and give the lawn a desperately needed cut.

The three days quoted is the time between getting the ransom note and getting the parcel after paying. There can't have been too much of a holdup in the overall process; the bits were only ordered on the 18th of this month

I've just paid a ransom demand from the Post Office for a package from Right o Way in the States. Apart from the cost, it adds 3 days to the delivery time. Agree about the change in collection attitude; my best result was a Red Caboose GP9 kit plus P&D motorising kit with brass bogies that was delivered without being caught. Happy days!

I'm in the process of dusting down my American O scale stock. A certain "Chicago Fork" introduced me to the scale back in 2011. Over the years Ebay has supplied around 50 freight cars plus too many locos. Not being so interested in more modern times, 40ft boxcars could be picked up cheaply. Even allowing for replacement wheels and couplers, they came out at less than the cost of a UK wagon kit. The first turnout for a new layout is under way using Right o Way bits plus Karlgarin rail. Age and a disabled wife means that the project must be simple, which the larger scale helps to enforce.

A bright start to the day has deteriorated to some showers, although no heavy rain. A mystery of a missing Amazon delivery has been solved; the residents 3 doors down have just handed over the parcel. It would help if the tracking info showed which letterbox they had stuck the packet into!

Our only damage from the storm came from the power blips; they fried the circuits on the radio alarm clock (very old) which now can't be reset. A new one is on order. Given some of the other chaos being reported, we got away lightly.

Getting very breezy and wet in Shenfield. The power has blipped three times in the last hour, but resumed. Hopefully nothing else will happen.

Hopefully some Brownie points have been earned. The PIR security light at the back of the house had failed; it still detected movement but the unit only emitted a dull glow which was of little use. A new unit was obtained a few days ago but high wind and/or rain prevented it being fitted. SWMBO got home late yesterday afternoon and complained she couldn't see to use her key. A period of calm and bright weather has just seen the thing fitted. It powered up when the mains were restored and it's now a case of checking how it's set. The destructions show a switch for either 24 hr or night time operation, but don't show which position is which! Some testing will be required.

A new experience of PC gone mad. A certain all embracing online emporium has just delivered a brace of 3/16 inch reamers. The driver required proof that I am over 18 (only 45 years beyond that stage); if you know what a reamer is, it suggests you know how to use one! I despair.

Brings back memories of working at Plaistow nick. Silvertown area with the brewery, Knight's glue factory, Tate and Lyle's refinery and a mile up the road Beckton Sewage works. If the wind was in wrong direction, the resulting aroma was distinctive!

Many thanks for the info; part of the problem was that the society magazine that mentioned the matter suffered an unwanted dose of a hot drink which rendered it unreadable! I will have to start sorting out a request.

Is the Society Wheel Turning Service still operating? I'm sure I read somewhere that the long standing provider has had to retire, but I can't find where I read it. My problem is that I have several Dapol diesels that need modifying so I cant use the repalcement wheel sets I've checked on the VAG and the Society Web page but there doesn't seem to be any info (or I can't see for looking!) Many thanks

SWMBO christened her Blue badge with a trp to the Brentwood centre to visit the Breast Screening van. No real problems but the staff have said they will ensure that she is sent to a hospital/clinic for the next visit as her lack of mobility climbing the stairs into the van worried them.

My late father spent over 20 years teaching at Hoveton Secondary School retiring as Head of Humanities. Is the phrase "Wroxham of Roys" still heard; it's 40 plus years since I paid a visit.

Now wedded to the mobile phone. Dropped daughter off at Basildon hospital at 8 for day surgery. She has been told she could be seen between 9 and 5.30pm and hasn't been allowed anything to drink since 7am. Given how hot and humid it is, it isn't going to be a pleasant wait. Hopefully the call to pick her up won't be too long in coming.

Email from council advising that Blue Badge application has been approved. Online payment made; just need to wait for delivery which may take up to three weeks. Progress is being made.

It is over 40 years since I last set foot in a Council Finance Department as part of an external audit team. Some things haven't changed; my daughter now works in such an establishment. Yesterday a manager sent her a batch of invoices to process. A short while later a second manager told her not to process them because as they were addressed to schools who are now breaking up, they would show as outstanding till the schools go back in September. Being a newbie in the office my daughter spoke to her her immediate boss who hadn't been included in the debate. Half a day of apparently at times heated email exchanges between the various managers resulted in the decision not to process said documents. In a similar vein, having applied to said council for the wifes Blue Badge a second application is being sent to a different department for a Disabled Bus Pass. The Blue Badge people will accept the DWP decision letter as both proof of entitement and proof of address. The Bus Pass section want a separate proof of address. Good job I'm retired so have time to spare to deal with these wonderful people. To add to the farce the wife is a member of the Councils Pension Scheme! You coudn't make it up.

Cooling down after very warm walk to the Post Office. Darling Daughter convinced (nagged) SWMBO to apply for a Blue Badge. Main appliaction done online; supporting documentation scanned and posted to the County Council. Shouldn't be a long process as she has entitlement via PIP, but the Council aren't renowned for the quality of their Admin. Time will tell.

Had a result this morning. SWMBO got her decision letter re her PIP claim. The Case Worker marked her down on one category compared to the Health Worker, but she still got the Basic Award for both Living and Mobility. This saves having to write War and Peace by way of an appeal If the letter is correct re time scales the first backdated payment should have reached her bank account. The next task is to convince her to apply for a Blue Badge as she is now entitled to one. We need the extra space to facilitate the transfer from car to scooter.

The hot weather took a toll on the Blood Doner Session. I suffered my first rebleed whilst waiting to get a coffee after donating. Whilst that was being cleaned up and redressed, other staff were attending to three other doners who were feeling faint. All three ended up with legs elevated above their heads with an extended wait before they were allowed to get up. The session was running late when I arrived and obviously got more delayed. No ill effects from the rebleed and after been seen by the Senior Nurse I was allowed to go on my way. Car was showing 33C as I left. Shirt has been soaked and washed and I just need to wait till 10 to remove the plaster.