Month: August 2002

hmm. Just tried to organise British Gas into renewing my service agreement for my boiler, and then getting an engineer out to look at it. I have a quote that was sent to me for this three weeks ago for £57. Yet when I telephone, I’m told that they have no record of that quote, and that the charge will be £60 for an engineer to visit (i.e. not for a one-year service agreement). Say what?
I’m slightly peeved. I suppose it could be that the quote is only valid if I take up the accompanying quote for maintenance of my fridge and washer/dryer – and, to be honest, I’m quite tempted to do that, as my washer/dryer is in need of some repair work (the drying part is barely functioning) and it might actually be worthwhile. Or I might just phone someone else.

Today is National Slacker Day.

US rapper writes song to support campaigners for "rural liberty". I really have nothing more to say about this.

Another productive day at work so far. Hopefully this afternoon I’ll have a moment to sort out a gas engineer.
I know this doesn’t make for exciting reading, but I’m busy!
Who’s on for going to the pub tonight?

My boiler is definitely on the fritz. Looks like a call to British Gas (or whatever they are called now) will be needed tomorrow.

Two bits of local news:
South Central Trains are to begin running the new class 377 trains along the Sussex coast in the next week or two. Good news for the disabled and passengers on foot. Less good for passengers with bicycles.
Shippams have removed the famous “wishbone” clock from outside their factory in the centre of Chichester, as part of their relocation to the Terminus Road industrial estate. It is (was) a famous Chichester landmark, and I’ll certainly miss it. I’ll see if I can find a photo somewhere (I think I have one, but not sure where).

Vaughan has invited some people to play blogging Consequences. You can find my contribution here.

Blode 5, complete with Blode’s Toad Abode.

Meg talks about her neighbours.

My neighbours:

upstairs: Frannie, a very cool retired fitness instructor, who lives with her taciturn “boyfriend” Joseph (do you still call them boyfriend and girlfriend when they are in their 60s?) who seems to have a different aging BMW parked outside every week. Frannie loves Sir Cliff – I was woken up at the stupidly early time of 10am on New Year’s Day 2000 by Millennium Prayer at full volume ….repeated ….for TWO HOURS!

To my left: Jim and Wendy, fruit and veg wholesalers. Wendy’s 50th birthday was at the weekend. The balloons tied to the gatepost are slowly deflating, but have yet to be removed. They look quite sad and forlorn.

Behind me: Elaine, a rector’s widow. Neighbourhood enforcer, ensuring we all behave ourselves, or else she writes to the newspaper. Secretary of the Chapel Street and North-West Quadrant Residents Association (I kid you not).

To my right: unknown couple, with dozens of WWF and IFAW stickers in their window, and a dog that barks at anything that moves at all hours and is likely to be killed in some horrid and painful way if ever I get the chance.

Opposite, from left to right: the bizarre hair salon that has no sign and does not advertise, serving a very small and select clientele of blue-rinsed customers. Then Jo and her other half, with whom I never speak (we met in a pub once), who have just bought a very small and hairy dog that looks utterly ridiculous. And next to them is the famous girls’ house that is frequently documented on Grayblog.

Elsewhere in Orchard Street: the domestic row couple; the protestant fundamentalist; the Korean students; the drug dealer; the school; the Salvation Army building (now defunct); the man with the very very old dog; the builders; the county records office and the fire station.

It’s a good street to live in.

I’m not very cheery today. Not sure if that is a symptom of coming back to work after a relaxing day off, or if it is to do with impending results, or the lack of a holiday, or the not-so-good news that a friend has, or the malfunction of my boiler this morning (no hot water. great), or "stuff" that is troubling me at the moment or whatever I really can not be sure.