The totally off-topic thread

[blackcat20]

One thing I learnt very quickly in London is that it doesn't matter what time of year it is, always carry an umbrella..... especially in summer!

Same in Melbourne...

Back to work today.... where is everyone?

On leave till the 2nd; we aren't even allowed in the office this week.

 

[Pushka]

Aged mother is in a tizz. Her phone company (Tellnet) went into liquidation late last week leaving her without phone or more importantly her Safety Link connection. She thought it was simply her phone out of order and tried at the Post Office to report it. In the end she went to the electrician next door who checked for her and gave her the news. Luckily for her they hold the Safety Link contract so arranged for a new one that doesn't need a fixed line. So that was the major thing she was worried about. My brother who lives an hour away came over and bought a simple mobile that the family can use to ring her on. When I was there I made a list of the requirements for her new phone and then yesterday she went to the reseller to see about getting a new phone company. That didn't go well. She needs 100 points of ID - fair enough, but she has to have photo ID. Drivers licence? Passport? Proof of Age card? She's 95 and has none of these. So then there were forms from the PO and Vic Roads which needed her full birth certificate and marriage certificate to be certified. She had these the other week for another transaction (which was its own drama) but now can't find them and was in a bit of a state. Also seems that she can't keep her original number which makes it very hard as she will need to contact lots of people/businesses. Also told she must have the new phone through the NBN. She decided she was not going to even think about it now till next week which is good.

Talking with my brother and we've decided he will get the account on in his name but just have the bill sent to her place. He will go over on Tuesday and sort it out. The easiest and least stressful solution by far I think. It just seems that the process has been made deliberately difficult for a situation out of the consumer's control.

It’s all too much ID stuff for aged people these days. My mum never changed her telephone account as it was in (newly departed) husbands name and they made a mess of it with her when she called to change. So she left it and just paid the bill each month. When she left that place of course getting them to redirect was just not going to happen so in the end she just left and we got her a new number from my account. Wonder who paid those bills - not us anymore but it would have been just the line rental anyway.

Same in Melbourne...


On leave till the 2nd; we aren't even allowed in the office this week.

Damn wet down on the Great Ocean Road. Summer?

 

[get me outta here]

The reason that you wash fruit from the shops : saw a guy in his 20/30s pick up a bag of cherries, eat a few and then throw the pips and stalks back in the bag and return it for someone else to buy.

 

[JohnK]

The reason that you wash fruit from the shops

Always wash fruit you buy from the shops. Even if people just handle the fruit to check is enough.

 

[Buzzard]

Back to work today.... where is everyone?

VA Lounge MEL, on way home from SFO

 

[Denali]

Once saw a kid about 7yrs and her brother at Coles, standing at the watermelon, sticking their fingers into them. Leaving lots of holes in the fruit. Ruined every piece of cut watermelon.

Mum was off somewhere, paying zero attention.

 

[Milboo]

Not for NYE, but we’ll be in NYC a few days later

Couple of friends there at the moment (and one lives there) - weather is out of the ordinary. Freezing cold (-9 in the last day or so) but brilliant bright blue skies, however no snow to be seen.

Saw a picture of Times Square and looks like the middle of summer light wise! Vastly different to my visits in Nov - Feb!

 

[Milboo]

Back to work today.... where is everyone?

Off until the 2nd - then the obligatory 4 day week where you are there on body but not spirit!

Had brunch with a friend and now inside hiding from the heat, and contemplating a nap after a restless night.

 

[TomVexille]

Back to work today.... where is everyone?

Slack, been working way since Wednesday

 

[rogerkambah]

Not many at the cricket today. Bit sad really as Australia is batting. Its a real tussle as the pitch doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I thought these matches were all sold out weeks ahead, even before Australia had won the series.

 

[cove]

We have a fleet of cars and have never had a power steering fault. What do you think caused the problem BB? Was the car crashed at some stage? $2,000 fix then dump it??

 

[Hvr]

When I was there I made a list of the requirements for her new phone and then yesterday she went to the reseller to see about getting a new phone company. That didn't go well. She needs 100 points of ID - fair enough, but she has to have photo ID. Drivers licence? Passport? Proof of Age card? She's 95 and has none of these.

I had this issue recently with a neighbour in my apartment block. She's near 80 and had to have picture identification to send to the UK to prove her entitlement to her (ongoing) UK pension. Her family is useless. A proof of age card is all she could get and that was very hard.

Fortunately I could vouch for her having known her for more than 20 years and we both use the same pharmacist. It took awhile but we eventually got it and the UK officials were satisfied.


With a SIM only mobile phone I found Aldi only requires a Medicare card and can be done online. It was easy to port the number across. As mentioned previously I got my 70+ mother on to one of their plans and she loves it. Her monitoring system works with it so all is well. Her Internet competency is good with all major functions covered.

When NBN comes through here and landlines are ceased 18 months later it will be interesting because >60% of apartments here do not have internet connected.

 

[serfty]

Not many at the cricket today. Bit sad really as Australia is batting. Its a real tussle as the pitch doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I thought these matches were all sold out weeks ahead, even before Australia had won the series.

How can you tell a company rep is on the outer?
.
.
.
.


When they are allocated day 4 tickets to a test match ...

 

[JohnK]

Not many at the cricket today. Bit sad really as Australia is batting. Its a real tussle as the pitch doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I thought these matches were all sold out weeks ahead, even before Australia had won the series.

The first 3 days are usually sold out. Many must think a match could be over before day 4 & 5?

 

[JohnK]

Made a BPay to Amex account on 27th. Checked today and payment not there. Checked CBA and I made payment to a closed account. Think closed more than 5 years. Even Amex can't bring up details.

How is that even possible? Money now frozen in limbo.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Made a BPay to Amex account on 27th. Checked today and payment not there. Checked CBA and I made payment to a closed account. Think closed more than 5 years. Even Amex can't bring up details.

How is that even possible? Money now frozen in limbo.

Email bank and BPay, the funds will bounce back in a week or so.

 

[JohnK]

Email bank and BPay, the funds will bounce back in a week or so.

Called Amex. They'll investigate and transfer funds to correct account. Allow 5-7 business days.

 

[RooFlyer]

Made a BPay to Amex account on 27th. Checked today and payment not there. Checked CBA and I made payment to a closed account. Think closed more than 5 years. Even Amex can't bring up details.

How is that even possible? Money now frozen in limbo.

I find financial accounts very difficult to kill off completely. For CC the banks etc will always say that although you have 'cancelled' them, they remain trans-actable in case there is a direct debit still there - you are still obliged to pay.

After I cancelled all my Westpac accounts and insisted that everything be scrubbed (and they confirmed this, subject to the CC caveat), I went back to Westpac abt 7 yeas later (CC sign-on bonus ). They re-issued me the same Internet banking log-on (I realised later) and when I went in, everything was more-or-less as I left it. There were even unread messages in my 'in box' there. My old accounts were still under 'closed accounts'.

 

[Pushka]

This is Trev.


Trev got a new boat for Christmas. It is very heavy. Today he and wife Jules decided to take it out. Very nice. Then they had to bring it in again. Jules is a bit nervous but Trev is in control.

Well, almost.



Yep. Bogged.

This is Bob. He has a bigger off road. He will fix it. He is a Good Samaritan.



Buggar. Poor Bob. And Trev.





Buggar Kev, it’s not powerful enough. Bob and Trev. Still stuck.. And a boat. Tides coming in.

TBC.

 

[Denali]

OMG!