There are now no cars on Riverbank. Yes its true. Both cars were sold ten days ago. I now use a bicycle for transport. The advantages are obvious. Improved fitness and tremendous financial saving. The disadvantages are mostly to do with the weather. Cycling in a downpour is not fun.
My goal is to make it to the one Month mark without buying a car. And in this time my reduced carbon footprint will help redress the imbalance caused by the Chinese and their dreadful disregard for the environment.
Having no car has introduced us to the joys of home delivered online supermarket goods. And what a great discovery that has been.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Maroon 5 and Mel Gibson
Over the weekend we had two new experiences. One was the new Maroon 5 album, received with keen interest after the superb songs on the first album suggested the emergence of a great talent. This album is Pants. Big girls pants. All girth and no lace. More sweat than perfume. In fact I feel wasting the 30 minutes of my listening time that it took to see this body of work for what it is will take some getting back from. All the band qualities that made the songs on the first album come to life are absent.
Instead we have a sorry array of production techniques by a number of very different and unconnected producers stamping their ego's over what turns out sounding like what the son of Prince and Michael Jackson would do if he was 3 years old, and stumbled into the room marked 'Daddy's crap songs of 80's groove music that never made it past the demo phase because they have no groove and no lyric and are crap.'
The best thing I can say about this experience is that if and when Maroon 5 ever release another album, I will not be conned out of a half hour of my listening life again.
Then theres Mel Gibson. We sat down to watch his movie APOCALYPTO with some trepidation. Forewarned that we were in store for a blood fest featuring a cast of unknown Indians and Mexicans, and without a word of English being spoken. Some three hours later I stood up to applaud the masterwork by Mr Gibson, who has undoubtedly achieved a level of excellence quite rare in this throw away entertainment industry.
So - in conclusion. Avoid Maroon 5 (Unless you have issues with Bulimia that prohibit the use of fingers in the mouth) and make sure you get to see APOCALYPTO.
Instead we have a sorry array of production techniques by a number of very different and unconnected producers stamping their ego's over what turns out sounding like what the son of Prince and Michael Jackson would do if he was 3 years old, and stumbled into the room marked 'Daddy's crap songs of 80's groove music that never made it past the demo phase because they have no groove and no lyric and are crap.'
The best thing I can say about this experience is that if and when Maroon 5 ever release another album, I will not be conned out of a half hour of my listening life again.
Then theres Mel Gibson. We sat down to watch his movie APOCALYPTO with some trepidation. Forewarned that we were in store for a blood fest featuring a cast of unknown Indians and Mexicans, and without a word of English being spoken. Some three hours later I stood up to applaud the masterwork by Mr Gibson, who has undoubtedly achieved a level of excellence quite rare in this throw away entertainment industry.
So - in conclusion. Avoid Maroon 5 (Unless you have issues with Bulimia that prohibit the use of fingers in the mouth) and make sure you get to see APOCALYPTO.
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
The Olver Mothers
Zara Olver, 21, her 48-year-old mother Carole, and sisters Serenza Olver, 29, and Danielle Olver, 19 were all round Zaras place. Her two kids, a boy of 2 and a girl of 3 were in the room. Whereupon the 4 adults present encouraged the children to attack each other. Motivated I suspect by boredom.
Toddler fight.
The girl was made to smack the boy in the face. He cried. They shouted at him to smack her back. The adults were royally entertained. Better than raising fighting dogs, and cheaper. One threw a hair brush into the fight to encourage a participant to use it as a weapon.
The women video taped the amusing and entertaining spectacle. Laughing and shouting encouragement on the video as the fight progressed. 'Hit her in the face you wimp.' Both children appeared extremely traumatised in the video.
The childrens father - a soldier - serving in Iraq, returned home on leave. Saw the vidio and called in social services. Faced with the criminal nature of their behaviour, the women said they saw nothing wrong with 'toughening up' the kids.
The judge sentenced them to 12 Months each for child cruelty -suspended. The children were placed in the care of the Fathers Mother.
Zara, Serenza, Danielle and their mum Carol see nothing wrong with their behavior.
So truth is what you choose to believe. And ignorance is king in the house of Olver.
Did the Judge get that one right I wonder.
Toddler fight.
The girl was made to smack the boy in the face. He cried. They shouted at him to smack her back. The adults were royally entertained. Better than raising fighting dogs, and cheaper. One threw a hair brush into the fight to encourage a participant to use it as a weapon.
The women video taped the amusing and entertaining spectacle. Laughing and shouting encouragement on the video as the fight progressed. 'Hit her in the face you wimp.' Both children appeared extremely traumatised in the video.
The childrens father - a soldier - serving in Iraq, returned home on leave. Saw the vidio and called in social services. Faced with the criminal nature of their behaviour, the women said they saw nothing wrong with 'toughening up' the kids.
The judge sentenced them to 12 Months each for child cruelty -suspended. The children were placed in the care of the Fathers Mother.
Zara, Serenza, Danielle and their mum Carol see nothing wrong with their behavior.
So truth is what you choose to believe. And ignorance is king in the house of Olver.
Did the Judge get that one right I wonder.
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
Israeli/American attack on Iran.
I have received an extraordinary number of emails today - suggesting that a Nuclear attack on Iran is imminent. The prevailing thinking in these e-mails can be summarised in these points:
Andrew. 3 April,07.
- The 15 British sailors currently under arrest in Teheran. This prepares the British public for adjusting their thinking to an American/Israeli attack on Iran as being justified. Saving our own is a noble cause.
- The chain-smoking single mom sailor - LEADING SEAMAN FAYE TURNEY (26) was interviewed by the BBC hours before her arrest. Suggesting some advance knowledge of events.
- Huge resources, warships such as the USS John C. Stennis, a Carrier of such staggering might that the Gods themselves would tremble at her thundering Horn, are moving into convenient positioning for a strike on Iran.
- http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/operationIngulf_27Mar07.html
- Americans Christians would not accept another batch of body bags coming back from the Middle East. Ground offensive resources would not be sufficient without a draft. A draft would end Bush’s ongoing popularity with Middle America. So, the only way forward is a nuclear strike.
- Tony’s hopes of being remembered as a great leader – especially in this time of Thatcher praising for her fine warmongery in the 80’s, seem destined for dashing on the rocks of his broken Iraqi dreams. Its Tony’s last chance saloon for spectacular success in War.
- Varying intelligence reports, purportedly originating from Russia, suggesting that this Easter weekend is a target date for such an attack. http://www.rense.com/general76/hit.htm
- Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear advances demand a characteristic reaction.
Andrew. 3 April,07.
Thursday, 29 March 2007
Cooper Thames Ditton
Last week I took my car for a routine service to BMW to Cooper Thames Ditton. The service was disgusting. A 300 pound routine service bumped up to 800 pounds with sundries like - 125 pounds to change the coolant. Generally shocking experience, topped off by fact that the central locking was not working after the service.
I wrote to BMW. And they agreed to fix the damage they had done. I dropped the car off as agreed, and went to collect it when called. The car had been damaged. Hit by another car during the night on the BMW forecourt. The Coopers supervisor said they would 'sort it out'. The next day Bernie Smythe called from Coopers to say 'Yes it was hit on our forecourt, but as we had not checked the car in we are not liable, so sort it out yourself.'
If you are considering buying a BMW, or having your BMW services by Cooper Thames Ditton you may wish to watch developments in this matter. My letter to BMW is copied below.
29 March 2007.
Cooper Thames Ditton.
Dear Sir,
Further to my last letter of 21 March 2007, I write as follows:
1. The matters raised within the above letter were further discussed in a telephone call from your office on 22 March. Amongst other things, we agreed that I would return the car in order for the door lock to be looked at again as it had not been properly fixed on the first visit to your garage.
2. We agreed that I would leave the car (as had happened previously) on your forecourt the evening before and the keys left in the deposit box.
3. On Monday night at approximately 7.30pm, I parked the car on your forecourt as instructed. I deposited the keys through the security slot into the care of BMW Thames Ditton. The car was therefore within your custody and control from that point.
4. On Tuesday 27th March 2007, I came to collect the car. I noted that:
(i) The passenger door lock issue that I was previously charged £40 to inspect - was repaired - however I was charged a further £146.00, apparently representing 50% of the labour charge. This would mean that the normal labour charge would have been £300, which I find hard to believe.
(ii) The car was not cleaned despite you having advised me that it had been.
(iii) There was a substantial and noticeable dent on the driver side. I pointed this out to the attending mechanic. He told me that it was there when the car was checked in. I assured him it was not there when I left the vehicle. The supervisor was called and both he and the mechanic looked at the car and told me they would establish who damaged the vehicle by CCTV. The supervisor assured me, ‘not to worry, we will take care of it.’ On that basis I left with my car.
7. On Wednesday 28th March, I received a call from ‘Bernie Smythe.’ He advised me that you had established that the vehicle was indeed damaged whilst parked on your forecourt in advance of the service. He told me that you had identified the offending vehicle, however because you had not signed the vehicle in, the damage is not your responsibility.
8. I felt his tone throughout the conversation was supercilious, and aggressive. I pointed out to him that I had parked the car where instructed, and I had left the keys in the drop box as agreed with yourselves. I suggested that it appeared to me that Cooper Thames Ditton were simply fobbing off a problem with no regard for the customer. To this he said nothing. I then told him that I was deeply unsatisfied with this explanation, and unless he reviewed his position, my next call would be to my solicitor. To which he replied.
“Good, well off you go then.”
To recap:
I brought my car in for a service and it was damaged whilst in your care and control. I was told that you would take care of the damage however instead I was subjected to a telephone call from Mr Smythe, whose competence in customer relations must be considered grievously inadequate, telling me that your company are having nothing to do with the incident. I find this insulting, and a sorry reflection on the prevailing management policy at Coopers Thames Ditton.
I do not believe your cavalier disregard for BMWs reputation as demonstrated by your representative Mr Bernie Smythe should pass unchallenged.
Before I conclude my report to Jim O’Donell, I will await your comments for inclusion.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Brel.
I wrote to BMW. And they agreed to fix the damage they had done. I dropped the car off as agreed, and went to collect it when called. The car had been damaged. Hit by another car during the night on the BMW forecourt. The Coopers supervisor said they would 'sort it out'. The next day Bernie Smythe called from Coopers to say 'Yes it was hit on our forecourt, but as we had not checked the car in we are not liable, so sort it out yourself.'
If you are considering buying a BMW, or having your BMW services by Cooper Thames Ditton you may wish to watch developments in this matter. My letter to BMW is copied below.
29 March 2007.
Cooper Thames Ditton.
Dear Sir,
Further to my last letter of 21 March 2007, I write as follows:
1. The matters raised within the above letter were further discussed in a telephone call from your office on 22 March. Amongst other things, we agreed that I would return the car in order for the door lock to be looked at again as it had not been properly fixed on the first visit to your garage.
2. We agreed that I would leave the car (as had happened previously) on your forecourt the evening before and the keys left in the deposit box.
3. On Monday night at approximately 7.30pm, I parked the car on your forecourt as instructed. I deposited the keys through the security slot into the care of BMW Thames Ditton. The car was therefore within your custody and control from that point.
4. On Tuesday 27th March 2007, I came to collect the car. I noted that:
(i) The passenger door lock issue that I was previously charged £40 to inspect - was repaired - however I was charged a further £146.00, apparently representing 50% of the labour charge. This would mean that the normal labour charge would have been £300, which I find hard to believe.
(ii) The car was not cleaned despite you having advised me that it had been.
(iii) There was a substantial and noticeable dent on the driver side. I pointed this out to the attending mechanic. He told me that it was there when the car was checked in. I assured him it was not there when I left the vehicle. The supervisor was called and both he and the mechanic looked at the car and told me they would establish who damaged the vehicle by CCTV. The supervisor assured me, ‘not to worry, we will take care of it.’ On that basis I left with my car.
7. On Wednesday 28th March, I received a call from ‘Bernie Smythe.’ He advised me that you had established that the vehicle was indeed damaged whilst parked on your forecourt in advance of the service. He told me that you had identified the offending vehicle, however because you had not signed the vehicle in, the damage is not your responsibility.
8. I felt his tone throughout the conversation was supercilious, and aggressive. I pointed out to him that I had parked the car where instructed, and I had left the keys in the drop box as agreed with yourselves. I suggested that it appeared to me that Cooper Thames Ditton were simply fobbing off a problem with no regard for the customer. To this he said nothing. I then told him that I was deeply unsatisfied with this explanation, and unless he reviewed his position, my next call would be to my solicitor. To which he replied.
“Good, well off you go then.”
To recap:
I brought my car in for a service and it was damaged whilst in your care and control. I was told that you would take care of the damage however instead I was subjected to a telephone call from Mr Smythe, whose competence in customer relations must be considered grievously inadequate, telling me that your company are having nothing to do with the incident. I find this insulting, and a sorry reflection on the prevailing management policy at Coopers Thames Ditton.
I do not believe your cavalier disregard for BMWs reputation as demonstrated by your representative Mr Bernie Smythe should pass unchallenged.
Before I conclude my report to Jim O’Donell, I will await your comments for inclusion.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Brel.
English Footballers
After last nights debacle, a glaring truth becomes obvious.
English footballers are thick.
Not thick as in 'excuse me, how do I tie a shoe lace' but seriously thick.
Perhaps the massive earnings these lads are subject to at such an early age contributes towards a delusional sense of self importance whereby the need to develop a brain that works is lost to the need to buy a better baby Bentley than Blackburns Bentley.
When a team of amateurs like Andorra can play 11 men who match Englands 11, as was the case last night, certainly for the first half, an explanation is required.
The way forward for English football lies in the head. Players displaying the stupidity of an Ashley Cole for instance should be forcibly taught to read and write, no matter how determined their resistance.
One can only speculate on whether the total collective IQ of the England team would exceed triple figures.
Thank you Ronnie Johnson for pointing out the achilles heel of English football.
English footballers are thick.
Not thick as in 'excuse me, how do I tie a shoe lace' but seriously thick.
Perhaps the massive earnings these lads are subject to at such an early age contributes towards a delusional sense of self importance whereby the need to develop a brain that works is lost to the need to buy a better baby Bentley than Blackburns Bentley.
When a team of amateurs like Andorra can play 11 men who match Englands 11, as was the case last night, certainly for the first half, an explanation is required.
The way forward for English football lies in the head. Players displaying the stupidity of an Ashley Cole for instance should be forcibly taught to read and write, no matter how determined their resistance.
One can only speculate on whether the total collective IQ of the England team would exceed triple figures.
Thank you Ronnie Johnson for pointing out the achilles heel of English football.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Riverbank News
Yes its true. This is my blog, where I will be posting details of conditions here on the Riverbank.
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