Friday, 18 December 2015

18th December 2015 - Santa?, Elf & Safety

Thought for the day :"Obesity Cures Wrinkles "

As we come into the Christmas period I thought it would be worthwhile reminding people of the safety requirements for the festive season - here is the official notice..


IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE

Please be advised that all employees planning to dash through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way are required to undergo a Risk Assessment addressing the safety of open sleighs.

The assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly where there are multiple passengers. Please note that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners before their fields may be entered. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for collection by any shepherds planning or required to watch their flocks at night. While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation hut, all facility users are reminded that an emergency response plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the flocks.

The angel of the Lord is additionally reminded that prior to shining his/her glory all around s/he must confirm that all shepherds are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory

Following last year’s well publicised case, everyone is advised that legislation prohibits any comment with regard to the redness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr. R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence.

While it is acknowledged that gift-bearing is commonly practised in various parts of the world, particularly the Orient, everyone is reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to Hospitality Guidelines and all gifts must be registered. This applies regardless of the individual, even royal personages. It is particularly noted that direct gifts of currency or gold are specifically precluded under provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Further, caution is advised regarding other common gifts, such as aromatic resins that may initiate allergic reactions.

Finally, for those involved in the recent case of the infant found tucked up in a manger without any crib for a bed, Social Services have been advised and will be arriving shortly.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas – be safe out there.......

And on a musical note ...
Cheers..

Thursday, 17 December 2015

17th December 2015 - All gas and Gaiters

Thought for the day: "Googling "lost medieval servant boy" will always end up as "Page not found" "

Update on the Gas Bills  - nothing heard !!!

But I found this listing in the Daily Telegraph:


"Commenting on a complaint from a Mr Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill,

a spokesman for North West Gas said, "We agree it was rather high for the

time of year. It's possible Mr Purdey has been charged for the gas used up

during the explosion that destroyed his house." (The Daily Telegraph)"


Seems about right for a gas company ..

With that - I wish you merry Thursday


Wednesday, 16 December 2015

16th December 2015 - Just a thought

Thought for the day: "I'm in shape, sadly that shape is a potato"

Somehow missed today ...
Not sure what happened ..

Oh well.. maybe tomorrow


Tuesday, 15 December 2015

15th December 2015 - Little Things and a few Hits

Thought for the day:"My career as an archaeologists lies in ruins."

Seems to be a hobbit day ...  For no real reason except I was watching Grand Designs yesterday and Susie commented that we would both prefer the pre-fab hobbit houses that featured a few days ago on this blog - Hobbit Homes

Which brought my mind back to a friend who is trying to build her own Round House and is getting further into her plans than we are with our own House Sale..
and the fact that I wrote her a song - which happens to be about Hobbits...

Too Tall to be a Hobbit

And of course before that there was the famous Simon & Garfunkel theft of a song written for JR Tolkien many years ago...

Let's all be Hobbits

And so today the YouTube hits for the Vollsanger Channel hit over 85,500 views which can't be all bad... even if it is spread over a large number of videos..





Weather is rubbish again today - and I need to get some straw out of the back of the car and into the garage - a good reason to procrastinate, though interestingly we still have not got the heating on - so much for the Daily Express headlines form a few months back saying we are about to have the coldest winter in history.. there are good reasons for not buying papers..

So, off to Carmarthen today for St Peter's Installation, guest of the lodge as Reigning Master, and I have a lift so will be abler to take advantage of the free wine - if there is any ..

I will lift a glass to you and the hobbits later... just don't listen to the dwarves...

Cheers...  



Monday, 14 December 2015

14th December 2015 - British Gas Tolls - and Trolls

Thought for the day :"A Fisherman was trying to learn the alphabet - he got lost at C"

Remember British Gas ???  I do .
6th-october-2015-british-gas-biggest.html

Or perhaps the follow up ???

9th-december-2015-of-gas-technology-and-technology - Thats a G & T to you

Well today I spoke with Joanne..  or it may be Jo, and I am hoping that she sends me the promised email links so I can send her my blog..

Apparently, they will be having a meeting later on with the "big Boss" or a local "Big Boss" who wants to discuss improving the issue of invoices and cancellations.... She may be able to take this in with her as a point in case...  or not .. Apparently all emails are logged and linked - so I can point out that there is nothing offensive or unsafe for work in any of my emails or blogs ...

Why am I mentioning this ?? Well you may recall that I was receiving a lot of bills - many of which were cancelling each other on the same day. You may recall that I spoke with Steven and he assured me that the invoice address had been changed to include the house number, so as to remove the difficulties for the Postie  in guessing which house it should go to - I think he is catching on now anyway!

Anyway, I was assured that the matter would be resolved and I requested a letter of confirmation ( and preferably of apology however unlikely) with details of what I actually owe....

And today...

Yes - all dated 9th and 10th of December - a couple of days after Steven had apparently sorted the whole matter out and fixed it.  And yes, they are sent to New Road New Road and no number !!

So I was delighted to find February to June 2015 a credit note for £1,526.98 (No Bill)
February to June 2015 - £33.19
June to September 2015 - £35.92
June to September 2015 - £41.26 Credit
September to October 2015 - 9.40
September to October 2015 - 9.40 Credit
October to December 2015 -£10.32
October to December 2015 -£10.32 Credit

I thought I would chance my luck and see if Steven was about - he wasn't. Spoke with Michelle who took my mobile phone details and my email and told me that the records show that it has all been sorted on the 12th December - but that might be because he could not contact me on the mobile number given - mine .. In fairness, I have had a couple of calls from an 0845 number - but no message left on answerphone and 0845 numbers can be expensive to call from a mobile - and were probably spam...

At which point I get put on hold as I was obviously a "Corporate" Account!!  Does this mean I am important ? Does this mean I get special treatment. No! Apparently it means that I get a lot of bills. Well that was what I was phoning up to complain about... but I am on hold so no point in arguing..

And then I get to Joanne or Jo...   Who tells me that she has no idea why the call has come to her - but she wants to help - so would I mind if I explained it all again.. So I did ..
Interestingly she asks if I maybe knew the surname of Steven who was dealing before. I pointed out that none of the staff at British Gas offer their surname - it is only Steven, and Claire, and Michelle and now in fact Joanne....  Fair point it seems as she did not dwell on this..

But she is very pleasant and we go back through the records seeing that there have been a few trees disposed of during the course of a year - and she asks me what I think the bill should be!! Well - that one stumped me but when she said it was showing about £80 I thought that was probably about right as the monthly charge of about £10 would mount up to that much in the course of a year...

So, I gave her the details and she will go through the account and tell me what I owe. Still do not think I will get the apology or the reduction based upon the hours spent on the phone... But maybe they will not be cutting me off before Christmas...

Apparently, with the email I will have all the details I need and a "500" reference number which will include all the communication regarding the account....  That is a relief..

I think I can safely raise a glass of Chateau 41 tonight, safe in the knowledge that I will not need to blog about British Gas any more ...   or will I??

 Of course if I were a different person then I may have some witty riposts, or reposts
I saw this little section of gems entitled "What happens when you make a Troll your worst enemy"
I must say - it made me giggle and think a little about the intelligence of some of the population.. 
I give it a strait 5/7 - see if you agree - just click on the link..

Trolls

Cheers!!
 

Sunday, 13 December 2015

13th December 2015 - Sunday Musings

Thought for the day; "Archeologists in Egypt have investigated a mummy that was apparently covered in chocolate and hazelnuts  - They think it may be Pharaoh Rocher"

So, another Sunday...  and twelve months ago I discovered for sure that the sale of my business was not going to go through after all, and the final mortgage payment on the house could not be made after all..   An interesting year, with a complete startup in the business from scratch, new partners, a year of litigation and struggle. And looking back we seem to have managed to rebuild, and set the standard again.

This was meant to be the quiet year. Instead I am back in the Chair of St Teilo Craft Lodge, and in four other chairs in other degrees, secretary of two, and treasurer of two. Achieved Grand Rank in another degree. Broke my arm in four places and had to be rescued from Germany by a longsuffering wife.

Still no sale of the house but at least the mortgage is paid now, and with other things being "untidy" as my sister would put it, it is probably for the best - moving as well might have been a straw to break a camel's back...

A happy birthday to my eldest daughter, and thoughts about doing some Christmas cards later - but why prevaricate now when you can prevaricate later...

May just sit and watch some TV and open a bottle of wine later.. Sounds like a plan..

Have a lazy Sunday
Cheers





Saturday, 12 December 2015

12th December 2015 - Grabbing the Gavel

Thought for the day : "I now restrict myself to two pints a day, sadly I am up to April 2019... "

There is a gavel that was presented to the Province of West Wales by a member who saw a similar item in another area. This is called the Travelling Gavel, and its purpose is to increase the visiting between lodges of Freemasons - something that we all do, but on occasion it is nicer to do so with a larger party - rather than just a couple of visitors...

The idea of the Travelling Gavel is that it is held by a Lodge and others will visit and claim the gavel and take it away to their own lodge and await someone coming and claiming it form them... There are of course rules, which make life a little easier... It cannot be on an installation night - they are well subscribed anyway. It must be four or more brothers, and they must stay for the festive board, the meal afterwards, and claim the gavel during the Visitor's Toast or response....

I was aware of a national gavel in times gone by, where it would be claimed on the "third Rising" in the temple, but the purpose of our Provincial gavel is to promote the festive side as well, so I understand why it is done at the after proceedings.

Now, in fact, I did not want the gavel yet!! I have no meeting in December and the next meeting is our Burn's Night at the end of January...
This proves pretty popular in its own right, not least because of the threat to the Chef and those on the front tables from the large sword I tend to wield.... So there is no need for extra guests then. Nor in February as we have an official visit from Peterwell Lodge in Lampeter on that occasion, and they would outnumber any other group wanting to try for he gavel...

No, I want to have the gavel after the February meeting to promote a mass visit in March or April - otherwise quiet evenings..   But I could not guarantee who would have it by then..

So I supported another Llanelli Lodge - Prince of Wales - the oldest Lodge in Llanelli - founded 1856 to take the trip to Cardigan last Thursday, and with nine other members they claimed the Gavel at the Festive Board...

Master of Prince of Wales Lodge claims the Gavel from Master of Teifi Lodge
Now, if we get it right, they should lose it their next meeting in January, and if Carmarthen take it their next meeting is the beginning of March...  But you know what they say - best laid plans....

But we will see ..

In the meantime, today was the District Meeting of the Royal & Select Masters of England, Wales and its Districts and Councils overseas, and  a new District Grand Master was installed, together with his Deputy and the Principal Conductor of the Work...  The Grand Master popped down form London to do the business and a fine day was had by all in Swansea.

As a Past District Deputy Grand Master I was privileged to open the District Meeting as Deputy District Grand Master and a Presiding Officer - which sounds really important - but really was only 5 minutes of glory - but it gave me a free drink at the bar - so it was not all bad...

And so, back home for a quiet evening for a change.
But decisions.. Chateau 41 Of course - but red ?? or white ??  hmmm

Cheers!