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.

Boilers And Parking: Again … !

Hmmm …

You know, it’s been a while since I’ve written about my home street, it really it.

To be frank … ?

That’s mostly where I’ve really not been paying attention.

SAYING that … ?

It’s also, in part, sheer laziness on my part …

I’m thinking that the lack of a job really is a BIG de-motivating, like that.

But lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

What’s triggered this post … ?

Is simply the fact that I — and my neighbours, here on Rollason Way — got a letter from our collective landlords, today, telling us about a couple of things.

»»·««

I suppose I better do a quick bit of summing up, first, though, hadn’t I … ?

Yes, I should …

Just so you know, I live on Rollason Way, one of Brentwood’s newer streets.

Most of the flats on Rollason Way are what’s termed Social Housing. Usually run by a local council, most of the flats, here, are run by the not-for-profit social landlord, South Anglia. But there’s also a few part-owned/part-rented properties in the mix, as well.

I was one of the first people to move into the rented flats.

One of the problems, over the years I’ve been here … ?

Is the amount of parking.

Or should I say, lack of parking.

Because, what with one thing and another, the miniature carparks associated with each of the small blocks of flats has ¾s of a parking space for each flat.

Over the years, that’s lead to a lot of on-street parking.

AND the introduction of Resident’s parking permits, for each flat: which are only valid for the carparks, I should add.

Actually, those have helped.

They and the associated clamping scheme, at least, reduced the amounts of commuters cars in the carparks.

But more cars on the actual street itself.

I personally believe a lot of those are ones owned by commuters, although I know a few are owned by my immediate neighbours: mostly ones who find it easier to park nearer their front doors, than in the actual carparks.

At any rate, all this is due to change.

You see, strictly speaking, Rollason Way is not a public road.

And therefore not subject to police or traffic warden enforcement of parking violations.

No.

It — and Wharf Road*, just around the corner form it — are still technically owned and administered by Crest Nicholson, the builders of the estate.

And therefore, any traffic control is their responsibility.

Which is why we’ve been sent a letter from South Anglia, our landlords.

Basically … ?

They’ve informed us that Crest Nicholson — from the 27th June of this year — to start implementing a clamping scheme for both Wharf Road and Rollason Way.

And to inform us that, firstly, that the permits will be exchanged for new ones, on the 27th August: a month after the scheme goes into action.

»»·««

The other bit of news in the letter … ?

Oh … Boy …

Is that, going by the minutes of the recent residents meeting … ?

Is the amount of complaints about the boilers …

Deary, deary me … !

Now, I don’t know if you remember me writing about this, but everyone I’ve talked to has had to have their flat’s boiler looked at.

A lot of my neighbours are concerned about the amount of noise the wretched things make.

I’m not surprised, somehow.

Actually, forget about somehow … !

I’m just flat out not surprised.

I think I’m going to be having a word or two.

On TOP of the ones I’ve already written … !

* The Wharf Road section of this part of town is part of the same development. However, where Rollason Way is the socially housed part of the development, Wharf Road is private: in other words, all of the flats and houses, there, are privately owned.

You know, I almost forgot …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I couldn’t resist putting that photo up, I really couldn’t.

Just so you know, that church is the local Anglican one, and is called Saint Thomas: named after Saint Thomas à Becket, so you know. Brentwood — historically — was on the pilgrimage route to Canterbury, so you know.

‹‹‹◊›››

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

And yes, I know having that photo up is possibly strange, but there you go.

One thing I know I forgot to mention, in the post about the last residents meeting, was the simple fact that Brentwood Council are to hold the Planning Committee meeting about the planned flats on Saint James Road.

Which looks like it’s going to get seriously refused, hopefully.

But, at any rate, it’s going to be held at 7PM, on the 7th of September, this year.

Monday after after next, in other words.

‹‹‹◊›››

Next off … ?

Is simply the fact that — as a result of quietly having a word with Sara Bartleman, who’s South Anglia’s housing officer for Rollason Way — this coming Wednesday sees TSG turning up to have a look at my boiler.

Now, granted, it’s in working condition.

But, as I pointed out to Sara, given that many of my neighbours have had problems with the air-pressure valve on the Potterton boilers we’ve all got … ?

I asked if they could come out and do a little preventative maintenance.

Here’s hoping it goes well.

‹‹‹◊›››

Potterton Boiler: Seemingly Can’t Take the Pressure …

Whoah, now hang on …

Woodward and Bernstein, here we come … !

Well, maybe not …

I don’t actually think they had to deal with boilers, did they … ?

Well …

Not unless they had a very funny definition of ‘boiler’, ‘Deep Throat’, ‘US President’ or ‘Richard Nixon’.

At any rate, do you remember me telling you — Friday just gone — that I was flat-sitting for one of my neighbours … ?

Lynne, bless her, had to go into hospital to have her knee operated on, and asked me to flat-sit her place, as she was expecting a chap from TSG — the company that South Anglia, our landlords, use whenever something needs fixing or servicing — so asked me to sit in, when the chap turned up.

Which he duly did, when I was in the shower.

Always the way, isn’t it … ?

At any rate, once I’d got quickly dressed, I grabbed a copy of a good read — a compilation of Michæl Moorcock’s Elric stories, so you know — and headed over to Lynne’s to let the engineer in, to do his job.

Which Lynne had already told me was a simply case of replacing the relevant circuit board: something I’m told is called a PCB.

And something that a previous visiting TSG engineer had told her that was all that was needed.

I think — from what the engineer, and subsequently, Lynne told me — we can safely say that was a mis-diagnosis …

The first thing he told me was that the circuit board in her boiler looked ok. And that the company had given him the wrong replacement part!

And that he very much doubted that was all of the problem!

He literally went all out, in dismantling the thing to see if he could see what was going on.

Oh boy!

From what he told me … ?

It seems that there was a problem …

Not necessarily with the circuit board …

But with an air-pressure valve that connects to the flue at the top of the boiler.

And that, while the valve in question is fairly easy to replace, it wasn’t a part he’d been supplied with.

What he asked me to do was to let Lynne know about this, he’d try an get some hot water out of the boiler — whilst stressing this wouldn’t last, and wasn’t guaranteed — and let the office know what was happening, and that they’d have to get the parts in, whilst Lynne herself would need to contact them, as well …

Lynne was, understandably, not a happy bunny.

I don’t think I’d be, either.

After all, from what she’s said, she’s been without hot water for a couple of weeks now.

And, as I know from personal experience, filling up a bath with a kettle, in order to get hot water, isn’t exactly easy.

You need about nine standard sized kettles to do it properly. And, even then, it’s not certain to be as warm as you want.

Actually, it’s not just Lynne who’s had problem’s with the boilers, either: I’ve been asking around.

I had a word with Hailey*, who — along with her partner, James — own one of the part-buy properties on our estate.

Now, because they part-own their flat, they’re in the position of having to look after their own property, and its maintenance.

But as a logical result of this … ?

They also have a freer hand in maintaining their own property.

To the extent that they pay £13•99 to British Gas, to maintain their boiler: the pictured Potterton 24i HE.

A model that’s in the majority of flats, here in Rollason Way.

From what Hailey and her partner were told by the British Gas engineer that serviced their boiler, the model concerned is fairly reliable.

But if it goes, completely … ? Is pricey to replace, to say the least.

That’s one thing.

The other thing she told me … ?

Was that the British Gas engineer also had to re-inflate — rather than replace — the same air-pressure valve that had seems to have been at the root of the problem Lynne was having with her Potterton 24i HE.

Lynne and Hailey aren’t the only ones … !!

As you’ve probably realised, I ran the pub quiz at the Sir Charles Napier for many years: the irony is that Nan, the landlady of the Napier, now lives at the other end of Rollason Way. And, in chatting to people about this, I got talking to both her, and her daughter, Caitlin.

Guess what they’d recently had fixed … ?

Yep.

The air pressure valve in their Potterton 24i HE …

I’ve also had a word with another neighbour, Dave, who’s told me that he, and others in his block have had the same sort of problems with their boilers.

And — if I’ve understood him correctly — that the various repair contractors have had to make sure that the various bits of piping that connect the flue to the exterior of the building are correctly hooked up.

‹‹‹~›››

Now, I’ve got to admit, that doesn’t sound good, does it … ?

Or is that just me … ?

The one thing I do know is that South Anglia are usually — usually — fairly good about dealing with this sort of problem, especially Sara Bartleman, South Anglia’s hard working Housing officer for our area.

But they have been left with a large problem by Crest Nicholson, the company that developed the flats in Rollason Way.

These boilers are reliable, but seen to have a flaw that South Anglia — and their maintenance contractors — have been caught on the hop by.

‹‹‹•›››

* I should add, at this stage, that I told the engineer who was in to fix Lynne’s boiler, that we all had the same type of boiler in our block. His response … ? Was pretty vernacular …

Meetings, and Trouble with iPhones …

Hmmm …

Well, that was an interesting evening.

But, first off, I’ve just been watching the BBC’s consumer affair’s programme, Watchdog. Who’ve just posted up a story about apparent water damage to the iPhone.

Now, if you hadn’t worked out, by now, that I’m a bit of a fan of Apple products, then you’ve obviously not been paying attention!!

But going by the Watchdog story … … … ?

Apple could have a problem or two, heading their way …

•••••

•••••

At any rate, that’s not the what I was intending to initially write about … !

Especially if you were one of my neighbours who was with me, ’round the corner, tonight …

Well …

Not literally ‘’round the corner … ’

Noe you remember that, over the years I’ve been living here in Rollason Way, the one recurring gripe that’s alway’s been raised has been the parking.

Dear me, the parking … !

It’s been a point of confusion: basically due to bad planning, really. Effectively, residents here have — as came up in tonights meeting — roughly ¾’s of a parking space, each.

Planning departments, eh … ?

Something that’s helped, over the past few months, has been the Clamping scheme that was introduced, a little while back.

Basically, everyone that lives in our street get’s two parking permits for the car parks, here on Rollason Way: one for residents, and one extra for our visitors. Anyone parked — in the car-parks — without get’s clamped, and has to pay a rather large release fee.

Which — from where I’m sitting — does seem to have helped.

Although I’ve also got to admit, there still seems to be commuters about, but mostly in St James and Wharf Road, rather than in our car-parks.

Which is also something that got a mention, actually …

Seemingly, Crest Nicholson , the developers of the estate and owners of the road, will be extending their parking restrictions on what’s called Rollason Road, but leads into Rollason Way, itself.

Run by a different company to the one that administer’s our parking scheme.

Can’t see trouble, there … !

•••••

Hmmm …

One thing I know that I asked about was when — if ever — control of Rollason Way would be adopted by the local council: Essex County Council, or Brent Council, I’m still not sure who exactly’s responsible, there.

I happen to think that’ll certainly help if there’s an official parking restriction: administered by the relevant authorities, of course.

The problem there, as Sara Bartleman, Southern Anglia’s rep, and our Housing officer, pointed, is that that is going to take anywhere up to two years … !

•••••

Hmmm …

Which lead to the other thing to mention about tonight’s meeting.

The clamping scheme … ?

The one we’ve got in operation, here … ?

Yeah, that clamping scheme … !

For STARTER’S, it’s up for review. And the majority opinion seemed to be that we should be consulted about it.

Which is where the discussion got … well … if not heated, then certainly intent … !

Ranging from whether to email people, bang on door’s with the letter, or leave it in people’s letter boxes.

I’m hoping for the first, personally, but that’s me.

As for the options … ?

Well, when I know more, I’ll try and put them up.

But I do know that that one of the options — going from two permits to one — will be heftily discussed …

•••••