The Retirement Thread

[Deleted member 1258]

I've been experiencing intermittent problems with my Broadband, Random disconnects and the speed is not what it should be. I've spoken with my ISP ( Zen) who wanted me to try various things so as to narrow down the possible cause. I'm sure that the line is noisy, I did the BT " Quiet Line" test several times, and can hear that the line is crackly ( sometimes it is OK, sometimes noisy, so an intermittent fault ) I've ordered a new Master Socket just to eliminate faulty internal components. It is coming from Amazon, and I was checking the suitability of the item when I saw this in the description:

• Includes quality backbox and M3.5 machine screws.
• Especially Designed To Support Cup Sizes From C To F
• Heat Moulded Inner-Cups Encapsulate The Bust To Limit Movement And Prevent Chaffing

I've advised them of an inaccurate item description, but it did make me smile.

I'm sure you're not the first to Bust out laughing at that one.





OK I'll get my coat.

 

[numbnuts]

I just had fish pie with brussels sprouts, bit like Christmas without the fowl

 

[oldwheels]

I've been experiencing intermittent problems with my Broadband, Random disconnects and the speed is not what it should be. I've spoken with my ISP ( Zen) who wanted me to try various things so as to narrow down the possible cause. I'm sure that the line is noisy, I did the BT " Quiet Line" test several times, and can hear that the line is crackly ( sometimes it is OK, sometimes noisy, so an intermittent fault ) I've ordered a new Master Socket just to eliminate faulty internal components. It is coming from Amazon, and I was checking the suitability of the item when I saw this in the description:

• Includes quality backbox and M3.5 machine screws.
• Especially Designed To Support Cup Sizes From C To F
• Heat Moulded Inner-Cups Encapsulate The Bust To Limit Movement And Prevent Chaffing

I've advised them of an inaccurate item description, but it did make me smile.

According to my neighbour who works for Openreach the most common cause of problems is a bad connection between you and the exchange.

 

[Tenkaykev]

According to my neighbour who works for Openreach the most common cause of problems is a bad connection between you and the exchange.

I'm sure it is. Several years ago the phone stopped working so I reported it to BT. They said that they could arrange an Engineers visit, but if the fault was internal to the house then there would be a £100+ call out charge. I'm pretty good at fault finding and was sure that the fault was external. I went back to the Master Socket, disconnected everything internally and put my volt meter on the incoming BT drop wire which was open circuit. When the Engineer arrived I took him to the incomer and showed him, Made him a cup of coffee and gave him a plate of Chocolate Digestives. He disappeared after a while and next thing I know there's a guy with a harness shimmying up the telegraph pole outside the house. It turned out that that was where the issue was.
As I've been communicating with the tech people at Zen, they've understandably been taking me through all the steps that I've already taken, before they will report a fault to BT ( connect to Test Socket, try a different filter, try a different Phone etc ) I've told them that I've gone the extra step and will be fitting a replacement Master Socket and reporting back. My next step will be to tell them that as the Telephone Pole is only about 20 metres from the house, and my neighbour has a ladder that would go far enough up the pole to reach the metal rungs, if they'd like me to check the connection there. 😄

 

[Paulus]

According to my neighbour who works for Openreach the most common cause of problems is a bad connection between you and the exchange.

My mate, a BT engineer says the main problem is how far away you are from the exchange. Plus, are you on full fibre from the exchange or, and copper, sometimes aluminium cables to the cabinet which will also slow down the speed.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Short run out this afternoon.
On the way home there were some road works with temporary traffic lights - and a long queue

So I carefully rode up on the left of the queue as normal.
Anyway - I got to the lights and went through at the same speed as the cars (just over 20 I think) and all was well
on the road after the cars were passing me - no problems as the road is wide enough

Anyway - finally the point in this - after a bit a white van passed me. Standard white van
A bloke was in the passeneger seat and as he passed me he shouted something

Now - it is possible that this was a well thought out, erudite comment - possibly in rhyming couplets

Maybe complimenting me on wearing a helpmet and hi-vis jacket

But as
a) he was passing me at over 30 mph to my 15 ish mph
b) hence I had a 15 mph wind in my ears
c) the doplar effect affacts the words by changing the tones

I have no clue what he said - just that he said/shouted SOMETHING and he had a Scouse accent
other than that - not a clue

Why do these people so that??
DO they think we can hear whet they say - and hence their comment will result in us seeing the error of our ways???

are they morons??


Anyway - just sayin'

 

[oldwheels]

I'm sure it is. Several years ago the phone stopped working so I reported it to BT. They said that they could arrange an Engineers visit, but if the fault was internal to the house then there would be a £100+ call out charge. I'm pretty good at fault finding and was sure that the fault was external. I went back to the Master Socket, disconnected everything internally and put my volt meter on the incoming BT drop wire which was open circuit. When the Engineer arrived I took him to the incomer and showed him, Made him a cup of coffee and gave him a plate of Chocolate Digestives. He disappeared after a while and next thing I know there's a guy with a harness shimmying up the telegraph pole outside the house. It turned out that that was where the issue was.
As I've been communicating with the tech people at Zen, they've understandably been taking me through all the steps that I've already taken, before they will report a fault to BT ( connect to Test Socket, try a different filter, try a different Phone etc ) I've told them that I've gone the extra step and will be fitting a replacement Master Socket and reporting back. My next step will be to tell them that as the Telephone Pole is only about 20 metres from the house, and my neighbour has a ladder that would go far enough up the pole to reach the metal rungs, if they'd like me to check the connection there. 😄

When I had a problem my Openreach neighbour had a meter of some kind he plugged into my house socket and could check all the junctions between me and the exchange. Nothing of significance so he said it was probably an exchange problem. Following day it was fixed somewhere.

 

[PaulSB]

This mornings ear worm, its been running round my head since I woke up.

Oh BIG Thank you. The wonderful, wonderful Jefferson Airplane and Grace Slick's amazing voice........she really is a very beautiful woman in every respect.

 

[ColinJ]

Why do these people so that??

Probably, because they are morons?

DO they think we can hear whet they say - and hence their comment will result in us seeing the error of our ways???

Probably, because they are morons!

are they morons??

They probably are!!

I had one lad lean out of the passenger window of a passing car and do that. He obviously didn't feel that he had made enough of an impression so he got his mate to drive round the block and had another go. The second time he screamed into my right ear from a very short distance, which not only almost made me crash, it left me with a ringing ear for a day or two. I was NOT impressed...

As for annoying white van passengers... I had a van pull alongside me once, going very slowly. The passenger wound his window down and smiled at me. I thought he was going to ask me directions. Instead...

Spoiler: Not for the squeamish!

he gobbed a mouthful of thick green phlegm right into my face!

They drove off laughing at me. Er, yes - morons!!!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Short run out this afternoon.
On the way home there were some road works with temporary traffic lights - and a long queue

So I carefully rode up on the left of the queue as normal.
Anyway - I got to the lights and went through at the same speed as the cars (just over 20 I think) and all was well
on the road after the cars were passing me - no problems as the road is wide enough

Anyway - finally the point in this - after a bit a white van passed me. Standard white van
A bloke was in the passeneger seat and as he passed me he shouted something

Now - it is possible that this was a well thought out, erudite comment - possibly in rhyming couplets

Maybe complimenting me on wearing a helpmet and hi-vis jacket

But as
a) he was passing me at over 30 mph to my 15 ish mph
b) hence I had a 15 mph wind in my ears
c) the doplar effect affacts the words by changing the tones

I have no clue what he said - just that he said/shouted SOMETHING and he had a Scouse accent
other than that - not a clue

Why do these people so that??
DO they think we can hear whet they say - and hence their comment will result in us seeing the error of our ways???

are they morons??


Anyway - just sayin'

A few years ago I had a driver shout something as he passed me, like you I couldn't understand a word, catching him up at the next set of lights I noticed that the drivers window was open, pulling up at the open window I asked what he'd said, the driver glanced at me, muttered something and shut the window, he then sat there staring straight ahead looking uncomfortable ignoring me,

 

[oldwheels]

What on earth is a Patient Facilitator.
Apparently we are getting one if anyone applies for the job at the hospital at Craignure.
Job descriptions are getting out of hand.
I have no idea what my younger son's job is called but I had a problem getting anything an insurance company could understand when adding him to my car policy. He was self employed for a while and the job description kept changing with every new contract.

 

[PaulSB]

Bore da pawb. Breezy here today with coastal fog now rolling in.

I’ve two tasks today, one to get the slow puncture in the car tyre fixed and the other is to prepare a stone wall for repair.

We have cleared an area of gorse and grass and have an idea to plant meadow flowers. Being so close to the sea I’m unsure what to plant. Flowers, shrubs? Not grass, fed up of mowing grass.

Any ideas from the gardeners amongst us?

View attachment 593290

View attachment 593291

The road is between you and the sea? If so I feel your best option is to grow native species which enjoy this sort of location. It is possible to select trees and shrubs which will perform well in such an area but I feel growth and establishment would be very slow.

This is outside my plant knowledge but in your position I would investigate what grows well locally and naturally as wildflowers and use these to establish a meadow. There will be other maritime wildflowers which are common in other areas and you will be able to add those.

I think a meadow will be great in this location.

 

[classic33]

@PaulSB, Chinese Knotweed.
Good or bad in a garden?

 

[Mo1959]

Just back from another meal out. Lovely lasagne and chips followed by warm chocolate fudge cake with chocolate sauce and ice cream. Absolutely stuffed. Glad they are away home tomorrow and I can get back to sensible eating!

 

[PaulSB]

@PaulSB, Chinese Knotweed.
Good or bad in a garden?

My first reaction was you're confused and meant Japanese Knotweed. A quick Google corrected me. I've never heard of this plant before. From what I've briefly read I would say bad in the garden. It doesn't seem to be a particularly invasive species but once established is difficult to get rid of.

I wouldn't plant it in my garden.