The Daily Teaser — 13-5-2015

Well, that’s that done … !

Did I mention my letterbox?   A couple of days ago, I found that the lock on my letterbox had been forced open.

This, after letterbox thieves have been caught in the area.

I have to admit, my landlords, Circle South Anglia, moved rapidly on this.

But … ?   I’ve been worked in retail customer services for many years.

One thing I’ve learnt as a result?   Is that customers — we tenants and part-owners, in this case — usually like being told what’s happening.

Frankly?

I think I and the rest of of us affected by both the letterbox theft, identity theft, and cannabis use in our block, would appreciate regular updates on what’s happening.

~≈†≈~

About The Aerial: It’s WORKS … !

You’ll excuse my getting a little vernacular, won’t you?

I hope so.

At … 

F*cking … 

LAST … !

We now have a functioning — partially — aerial.

Thank GODS for that … !

~≈Ô≈~

I’d best try and sum things up, hadn’t I … ?

A few weeks ago, people in the building I live in who use Sky TV’s service, lost their TV signal: as result of damage, it was assumed, of the Saint Jude’s Day Storm on the 28th October, this year.

The Sky signal was lost.

But not the Freeview, free-to-air, signal.

Last Tuesday, we were visited by a contractor — from Rushbrooke Installations, as it turned out — whose’s job it was to check what, if anything, was wrong.

(I should add that I know it was Rushbrooke, as the van’s livery stuck in my mind: the acronym on it, and the van who visited, today, were both identical, and spelt out the name of a well known supermarket.)

Whatever the chap did, caused all the residents in the building to lose their TV signals: Freeview, as well as Sky.

I didn’t realise what had happened, at first: the fact a neighbour knocked on my door to tell me she’d lost her TV signal: and ask what had happened to mine.  

It didn’t take long for us to ask around the few other neighbours who were in, to see what had happened to their signal.

And to phone up our landlords, and housing officers, to start complaining.

I’m thankful we did.

Because the repair job was immediately arranged for Thursday 21st.

But couldn’t go ahead.

Because the repair team didn’t have enough scaffolding to reach the roof.

THAT got a collective scream of frustration from people.

However, after phoning our landlords, we were assured that the team would be back on the Monday: with the correct kit: a cherry picker, that the team could use to access the roof.

To be fair, the team got here, at roughly half past nine, yesterday morning.

However … ?

However, they STILL couldn’t get to the aerial: as the person who’s car was blocking access for the cherry picker couldn’t be found … !

What they eventually did was leave a note with for the cars owner, and a message with a neighbour, and the intention of coming back, today, to complete the work.

They did.

I NOW have a TV … with an incoming SIGNAL!

~≈Ó≈~

I’m one of the lucky ones.

I had a quick chat with the head workman who was here,

It seems the ‘normal’ Freeview signal had been lost, as the cable from the UHF (freeview) aerial to the junction box had been damaged by rainwater.

Then the Sky signal was lost, as the satellite dish shifted in the wind.

And meant that — since the storm and until last Tuesday — those of us who had been receiving Freeview had done so, as the Freeview signal had been picked up via the shifted. but otherwise undamaged, Sky dish.

It seems that — for some reason — three flats* had some sort of shorting problem: and they were three flats he and his team couldn’t trace, as the cables were unmarked.

Understandably, those who are still without a signal, won’t be happy.

~≈Ó≈~

Now … 

How am I feeling about this … ?

Frankly, mixed.

I’ll happily confess, I’m happy to find myself with a signal.

I always try and stay in touch with people: both friends and family.

But not working does lead to a certain amount of isolation: and I rely — as I think many do — on a TV set as a form of company.

Being able to hear another human voice is rather reassuring.

On top of that … ?

One or two of my neighbours feel some form of compensation would be a good thing.

I can’t say that I’d phrase it, quite that way,

And I’m very aware that a broken aerial isn’t a life-threatening issue.

I DO think, though, that some show of good will should be shown to us by Circle Anglia.

We do, after all, pay a service charge‡ for communal services like cleaning, repairs, and communal maintenance.

Additionally, I, and everybody else in the building, is paying a TV license.

For the past week, we’ve still had to pay that: because, of course, it’s the TV that the license is due on, not the aerial.

We’ve all wasted that money, owning a TV set we couldn’t use.

On top of that, some of my neighbours have bought portable aerials: so they can at least watch something.

Others, like me, have used catch-up services to watch TV: and I would ALSO assume, have used up quite a lot of broadband allowance.

All in … ?

All in, I don’t know if my neighbours and me are owed compensation.

I do think some form of good will gesture, to cover those costs, would be appreciated.

Cash for preference.

*        I now know that one of those flats is the one above me.

‡        I realise I get benefits: so don’t pay that, while I’m out of work.   Mine’s paid by the government: however, that means you, the taxpayer, can complain to Circle Anglia.

The Daily Teaser — 20-11-2013

Now, THAT’S annoying … !

As you may have noticed from a post I put up, yesterday, my TV signal’s gone down.

Mine.   And everyone else’s in the building … !

From what we can gather, the building’s had some sub-contractor’s in.

As part of what ever it was they were doing, managed to disconnect the aerial that fed the free-to-air signal across the building.

I’m not happy: if I miss the fiftieth anniversary Dr Who show — which a friend tells me will also feature Tom Baker — I’ll be very annoyed.

I’m not the only one: that feed feeds the whole building.   That’s twelve unhappy sets of occupants.

At least four of whom have reported it to Circle Anglia, our landlords.

Hopefully, that amount of noise should get some quick results.

I’ll let you know!

~≈Œ≈~

Moving on, Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging five out of five!

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 20th November, 1908, saw the birth of broadcaster and journalist, Alistair Cooke: famed, in part, for broadcasting his Letters From … where … ?

Q2) 20th November also saw the birth — in 1889 — of astronomer, Edwin Hubble.   Which agency launched the Hubble Space Telescope, that’s named after him … ?

Q3) 20th November, 1979, saw the seizing of the Grand Mosque, by religious dissidents.   The Mosque contains the Kaaba, the holiest place on Earth to Muslims, and is in which country … ?

Q4) 20th November, 284AD, saw who chosen as Roman Emperor: Carinus, Diocletian or Maximian … ?

Q5) Finally … 20th November, 1942, saw the birth of the 47th Vice President of the USA.   Who is he … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 19th November, 1992, saw a UK court rule that coma patient, Tony Bland, be allowed to die.   He’d been put into coma as a result of injuries he’d received during which sporting disaster … ?

A1) The Hillsborough Disaster.

Q2) 19th November, 1985, saw the initial meeting between President Reagan of the USA and General Secretary Gorbachev of the USSR: at summit talks held in which European country … ?

A2) Switzerland.

Q3) 19th November, 1990, saw which band stripped of a Grammy award … ?

A3) Milli Vanilli.

Q4) 19th November, 1969, saw Pelé score his 1000th goal.   Whilst playing for which Brazilian club … ?

A4) Santos FC.

Q5) Finally … 19th November, 1950, saw Dwight Eisenhower become the Supreme Commander of NATO’s European forces.   What does NATO stand for … ?

A5) North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Bo Derek …

“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.”

Bo Derek, born November 20, 1956.

And this song from Freya Lim … 

Have a good day.

*        Looks like you’re on form, there, Debbi … !   (Oh, did I tell you about the TV signal?   It couldn’t happen at a WORSE time, given what’s due to be broadcast, on Saturday … ! I’m Not A Happy Bunny … !)

No TV … !

Amazingly what you can do with a sandbag, isn’t it … ?

It is.

For starters, you can make your own nuclear fallout shelter out of a door and bags full of them.

At least, according to the programme I’m watching — via iPod — on my TV.

Through my iPod, yes.

Because the communal aerial that serves the building is — putting not to fine a point on it — has been knackered.

As far as me and my neighbours can gather, we’ve had a visit from some form of contractor, who’s found the main aerial amplifier box for the building: and done something.

And, as part of that, forgotten to reconnect SOMETHING in a junction box on the top floor of the building.

It’s … 

Inconvenient … !

And many of us have complained to our landlord about it.

HOPEFULLY, it should be fixed soon.

From where I’m sitting, WELL before Saturday’s Dr Who anniversary … !

About A Door …

You know, back at the start of March, I put up a post about the front door to my building.

Oh, not to my flat — I do try to be care about the place  — but about the front door of the building that my flat’s in.

Just to reiterate, one of the neighbours seems to like a drink or three, and seemingly gets heavy handed as a result.

With the net result — as you can see — that they managed to smash the lower pane in Damon House’s main entrance.

Now, I managed to get in touch with Corinne: who’s our landlord, Circle Anglia’s*, new Housing officer for the area.

Now, the last time I got in touch with her, she told me the repair had been ‘marked for completion by the 27th of March’.

Wednesday, in other words.

As you can see from today’s photos, that’s not been done.

Now, I’m the first to admit I’ve not been a stunning tenant, having had my share of rent difficulties in the past.

Burt I’m ALSO of the opinion that — just as a tenant has a responsibility to his landlord — a landlord ALSO has a duty to his tenants.

One of those … ?

Is to get repairs done: what’s more, done when they have told someone they’ll get done.

Anything else … ?

Is just not on.

*        Also known as South Anglia, I should add: the group has different divisions, with different names, in different parts of the country.   I always manage to get the two mixed up.

The Front Door And the Office Block …

You know, it’s surprising what you can find out, sometimes.

No, really.

Like, sometimes, places have freely advertised free wifi access.

Yes, I know: most coffee shops and pubs do, these days: so does Brentwood library, in point of fact.

As does the office block, around the corner from mine. As it turns out … !

Just so you know, there’s a small office block around the corner from my place: I’m in Rollason Way, the office block is in Saint James Road.

View Larger Map

Just there, so you know.

Now, that office block has been empty since it was built, three or four years ago.

I think, now, though, the lease has been taken up: by — I believe — a charity called LTF.

No, I have no idea, either.

But at any rate … ?

Thy had posters up, advertising the fact they had a free wifi access point: how comprehensive a wifi point, I don’t know: but I managed to briefly managed to access the net, through my iPod, whilst standing outside the building.

The signal even seems to stretch to the junction with Rollason Way/WharfRoad/Saint James Road.

How long THAT will last, I don’t know.

But it seems a useful bit of information to mention.

≈≈~~≈≈