Gross inefficiancy

For nearly three months, I have been paying off a digital camera and printer dock , which is a 30th birthday gift for out daughter, at a big variety store in Adelaide. I have abided by all the layby rules, and had the cheques sent well in advance of the next due date. After I sent the final payment, with instruction as to who I wanted to deliver it, I recieved a phone call from one of the staff, two weeks ago, when the cheque arrived. She asked if I wanted to use the carrier I had specified, or one they use. I said mine, so she rang them, only to discover that they don't do pick ups from Adelaide. She then said she would organise one of their own to deliver it. She also said that I would have to send a further cheque to cover the cost of freight. This was duly done that day. I have been expecting it to be delivered this week. I got another phone call from them today, with some guff about a privay act that every customer had to read and sign before they could dispatch any goods. He read it to me and said he had the last two cheques and would deal with the transaction himself. Later, I received a letter from this store, telling me that the last payment was overdue, but they had extended my layby period for another two weeks. I rang them this afternoon, only to discover that the reason for the delay and the strong possibility that I could lose the goods, was because the girl didn't know how to cash the cheque, and had thought someone else would do it! I said to the young lady I hoped that the girl in question had been told a few home truths, and that I could not afford to lose something that cost $300.00 through no fault of mine. It would be entirely unjust and unfair. I said that as a pensioner, I could not have paid outright, and by the time I had, the goods would not have been at such a bargain price. It would be just too much of a disappointment as they are for my daughter's birthday. She checked the computer, and said it was no longer an active layby, so must have been dispatched. I can assure them, if it is not here by Monday, there will be ructions in the camp!! Why don't these young people use their brains and consider how they would feel in the same circunstances?
Poor Queen Elizabeth, she can't win! The papers are going to make a meal of her not attending 'the wedding' I fully understand why she won't attend. Besides, she has beeen there, done that, got the T shirt. And why the hell should she have to pay for the reception? Charlie's got enough ready cash to cover it!

Sport!

In the imortal words of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bah, Humbug! I am NOT a sports fan. I am not all that interested in the Olympics either, apart from the swimming & diving. The reason is simple. I have been nearly blind all my life, though only legally blind for the last 21years. I was a natural at sport, but not quick enough for competition sport like Netball, or Basketball as it was known in my youth I could not focus on the ball and react quickly enough.. It is therefore, irksome in the extreme that there is so much sport on telly. It is even more so, when any decent programme gets 'hijacked', because the TV channels want to broadcast a sporting event that has not been advertised in the guide. Not being in the business, I neither know or care about the ratings. When our son, the Frugal Bastard, was younger, he played cricket & football. He was a natural & very good. I could not enjoy watching him, as I could not see him properly. I can only watch so many videos & DVDs, as they get boring if repeated too often, no matter how much I love them. Now it seems, we are to get even more of the bloody cricket, if the twenty20 matches catch on!

How to get a wet behind without even trying!

17.02.05
Twice, in a week, I have had the indignity of a wet behind when I have been going somewhere in a car. The first time, it had been raining, and as we have nowhere to put our little car, it was out in the rain. The window was up, so I do not know how the seat covers got wet. If they were a dark colour, I would have noticed before I sat down. Today, my daughter & third grandson were driving home from our forthnightly grocery shopping trip. Riley was in his car seat in the back. He had wanted another drink, as it is quite a warm day. I handed him a bottle with a small amount of water in it. He drank some, then started to mess about, pretending to give it to me. Next thing, he lobbed it over the seat, & unbeknownst to me, it did not have the top on. I thought it was empty, but rapidly discovered my error!! I cracked up laughing, as it was too funny that it happened again. It was a bit embarassing, as I had to go to the butcher & our local supermarket. Luckily, my T shirt is long enough to cover the wet patch.

I'm baack!

Is it just me, or do other Baby Boomers feel affronted, & caught on the back foot, when total strangers from businesses ring you and address you by your first name. By the time I have realised the lack of courtesy & good etiquette, it is too late to do anything about it. Most people don't mean anything by it, but I was brought up in a very different era , and find it mildly disconcerting, to bloody rude. Another thing that gets my dander up, is when people ring and totally ignore my status as a wife, and ask for my husband . The fact that he is the person they wish to speak to not withstanding, ackowledgement of my existance at least, would be nice.
Why can't tele marketers ring you during the day? I guess the answer is , because they know they are more likely to get somebody to answer the phone in the evening. But why is it always just as you sit down to tea? !

It's on again

Well, I can't believe how much space the world's Press have devoted to 'The Engagement'. One day of all the hype would have been enough. I wonder how long they will be given front page treatment? Surely, there are much more edifying & interesting things to read & write about. I agree with the Brits, when they say they are happy they are finally getting hitched, but don't want Charles as king. I would have thought they would have made a more discreet announcement, like Prinsess Anne did. Ho hum.
Yesterday, I entertained my other eldest grandson, & played games on the computer. Lachlan is exactly the same age as Yu-Jin, but does not have access to a computer. He did very well for his first time, but, I wonder how long it will be before I need a new mouse! He was pretty hard on it, but I guess he will get the hang of it with practice. I wish we could see them more often, & for longer. He stayed with us while his mum, our daughter, Debra & her younger son,Riley & Deb's friend did some grocery shopping. I must start writing the funny things the children say, down again so I have something to write on this Blog.

What happened to Summer?

Not that I am complaining mind you, as I have said in a past blog, I hate the hot weather, but this is supposed to be our hottest month. We have had rain forcast for days, but that has not realy eventuated either. With all the techno aids they have for forcasting weather, they seldom get it right. It seems that we are going into Autumn early. Having said that, we will probably get a heatwave next week.
In an editorial yesterday, one journalist was lambasting Prince Charles for not putting Adelaide on his itinery. As one who used to have great admiration for him, I am glad he is not coming here. I cannot for the life of me, understand why anybody would want to meet him. What useful purpose does he serve? His 'skills' as a parent are nonexistent. He needs to pull Harry into line before he self destructs. He seems to leave the 'heavy' stuff to his aides, and is more interested in huntin' , shootin' & fishin' & some charitable work. I don't think the monarchy will last much after the present sovereign has shuffled off this mortal coil. I think they should all work for their bread and butter, except, when they become monarch.

Makes me tired thinking about it!

I have just read today's addition on the Frugal Bastard, & it reminded me of a time , which seems very long ago indeed, when I rode a bicycle. I don't know how I managed it, but one day my friend Mary, who is about 10 years my senior, & I rode to the hamlet six miles from here, called Mundulla. We hadn't planned to go that far, when we got there, we decided to ride down a back road to see what we could see. We finished up riding over twenty miles before we got home. I couldn't sit down let alone ride, for days afterwards! I think Yu-Jin is very game for a nearly five year old. He will certainly be fit and no wuss. I miss the freedom bike riding gave me, as I have never had a driver's licence, either. Eyesight no good.
#1 son must get the tendancy to make anagrams out of number plate letters etc, from me. I do that , but nothing as interesting as his efforts.
Another thing I love is beautiful old buildings, especially if they have some history. My Great-Great Grandfather Gray was a mason, and built, or oversaw the building of, many of the buildings in Gawler in the 1800s. A lot of his handiwork is still in use today. I have seen some of them.

More about what I enjoy.

I love doing crosswords, especially the clueless ones where you only have two or three letters to get you started. I like two speed ones, with ordinary and cryptic clues. The Hard One, in the Adelaide Advertiser, is a real test of your word and history knowledge. Even my very widely read and highly educated mother gets stumped on that one at times. She hates it when I know the answer! I also love old cars. We sometimes have car clubs come here for a couple of days. They had a rally in Adelaide this weekend. As it is a three hour drive from here, & I don't drive, it wasn't likely that we would have gone. Saw some of them on the news.
I love some, not all, classical music, some opera excerpts, country music, & Elvis. I enjoy Pop music, providing it has a melody & is not one phrase repeated adnausium

Hope I get it right this time!

February 4th, 2005.
Hullo out there fellow Bloggers. I tried to do a blog yesterday, but once again, I clicked the wrong spot and it was lost in cyber space! As my Mum would say, all that for nothing, how much for sixpence. Now, that is dating me, is it not? I am very new to this blogging, & my son, the Frugal Bastard, is getting a bit exasperated with me. But I will get the hang of it eventually! Let me tell you something about myself. I have been married to Neville for nearly 35 & a half years. We have two wonderful children,& 3 fantastic grandsons. I love God, my family, my friends, steam trains, cats, dogs, horses, photography, mucking about on my computer, big rigs, & flowers. I love my Anglo Saxon heritage, particularly the Welsh bit. My paternal great grandparents came from the Rhondda Valley. I have a bit of Danish Viking in that mix as well.
I love ancient & modern history. I used to be very keen on the British & European Royals, but that has palled somewhat of late. I love murder mysteries, especially Inspector Morse, & Agatha Christie. I am a great fan of I Love Lucy. Catch you later folks.