It's now more than 30 years that British Telecom strung some wires from the pole on the corner to our house. Over the years, we have rubbed along through the various changes that my telephone supplier have made, including adding an 8 prefix and making the Berkhamsted exchange turn into 01 442.

The latest decision of making a charge to receive a bill and yet another charge to enable a customer to pay for the service provided using 'coins of the realm' really was the last straw, so I 'downgraded'  - by changing from business to residential.

Little did I know that BT, as the GPO/British Telecom is now known, actually is divided into separate organisations which don't actually talk to each other, although you contact all by the same means.
I ended up with 'BT business' owing me money and 'BT residential' being owed money. Remember, same bit of wire, with same number to same customer. BT business didn't indicate how the refund was to be made (this was March), so,  being a simple kind of person, I checked with BT, who suggested there might be a problem, but made a note on the computer file that I would be paying 'BT residential less the credit owed by BT business and if there was a problem, they would get in contact.
They did get in contact - apparently by disconnecting the telephone line on Friday 13th June!
Naturally, I reported the fault via the web site on the evening of June 16th and then via the local pay phone on the 17th. It transpires that residential thought I had been disconnected for non-payment, but business disconnect automatically after 6 months. No matter how I tried to point out that being owed the very same amount by BT business cut no ice, but they managed to transfer me to BT business (different outfit remember, who don't talk to each other), where they confirmed that the money was still just sitting in their bank.

'Can you send it to BT residential, please?', I asked. 'No, but we can send you a cheque, so you can pay them', came the reply. I agreed to this as I wasn't getting anywhere trying to explain how stupid this appeared to a mere customer particularly as they were just holding into the money. Strange also how only a few days earlier, they sent a letter saying they where sorry that I had left BT, and would I like to return. I hadn't left BT as far as I knew.

After spending some time in a pay phone (why no seat or loo?) trying to find out what was happening, I decided to just BACS the money while I wait the 10/14 days that BT business say it will take to get my money to me.
Then on the Wednesday (18th), a letter arrived from BT saying that if I didn't pay the outstanding monies,  my telephone contract will be terminated on 26th June 2008. Off to my 'local pay phone' to find just what was going on. Another hour+ listening to rather distorted noise, it appears that I was disconnected in error - I think - however, my telephone number has been 'lost', but not to worry, we will try to get your line back working by the 20th.

It seems that the line was indeed 'reconnected' on the 20th, but the number is a mystery, so not really a lot of use as it is not known to anyone except BT.

On the 26th June my lost telephone number suddenly reappeared, but now the broadband has disappeared. By now, I'd found out that 'business' had told my Internet supplier that I no longer wanted the service (ignoring me!), forgot the tell residential as well and arranged for my wiring to be removed in the exchange. Getting even this information was like drawing teeth!

It's now August. The telephone is now back to it's usual old self and it's only now that my Internet actually is doing what it said it might do on the packet.
It seems that once the BT machine gathers pace, nothing will stop it. Naturally, broadband it related to a telephone number, so not a lot could be done until that was resolved. Then it seems computers are very selective in their memory and I never existed before.
Not to worry sir, we will soon get you connected with our super new package costing just 50% more than we used to charge. A couple of weeks later, yet another bit of kit arrives (just after my existing kit decided there was a Internet connection after all). Oh, the joys of not having to disconnect the telephone just to check for messages or agility show dates/changes.
Hang on, it is the same as I had before, only 50% more expensive! On the phone I get to find out why.
Over two months it was: I must use their equipment, I should turn it off and back on again, I should turn it off and on at least 10 times, 'yes sir, that what you get', 'we are giving you the right speed, so it must be you' or even 'you can't get any more'. The only thing they didn't suggest was putting the equipment in a bucket of water.
Last week a kind lady said she would look into it and ring me back (OK, you know what happened – why does it?). This week, I'd had enough and said I wanted to cancel and annoy someone else. The little Irish man at the other end of the phone said ' Don't worry sir, I'll fix it'.
Apparently, the equipment in the exchange hadn't been changed from my 'old service' as I was a new customer. Two minutes latter, the impossible actually happened, but why does it take so long for the customer to be believed?

Honest, I'm not making it up – you couldn't!

Anyway, we are now back up and running, so you will have a bit of catching up to do. Now what else has been going on?

Going Green in mid August

Well, here we are amongst another 750+ caravans on the East of England showground at the Kennel Club international festival - again!
The one thing about caravans is that they comply with the current thoughts regarding 'going green'. I mean, everything as to be carted to and from somewhere else. The water has to be brought from the odd tap which are provided around the side using a rolling barrel. The waste also has to carted off - usually in the opposite direction.
Power comes via little bottles of gas, so we have hot water (including a shower!), heating and cooking. Lighting and electrical power (water pumps and TV) are courtesy of a 'leisure battery'.
So, where does the green bit come from?
Everything has to be carried, so you have to make decisions on what to bring (or is that take) as we might as well be in the middle of nowhere, but surrounded by loads of other strange people from all over the world as this is the largest international agility competition open to all breeds of dog anywhere.
We arrived on the Thursday afternoon with  the forecast promising an assortment of various grades of wetness. Thursday was overcast but dry, Friday was overcast and damp, Saturday morning was sunny which gave the solar panels a chance to charge the battery - slowly. Needless to say, the rain returned in the afternoon and electric power saving is now the order of the day as without electricity, we have no pumps and thus no water.
Overnight, the rain and wind battered the 'van, but Sunday brought clear blue skies and lovely battery charging weather. This is our last day and as I sit writing this, I've just spotted a lady in her wheelchair 'walking' her course. Her dog does as well as those able bodied competitors. The technique is to set your dog up, drive to the ring centre and just guide your dog round - easy, if don't have to do it!
How did we do? Just the usual mix of clear rounds (good dogs) and elimination's (bad handler) this time.

Berkhamsted Access Committee 29th August 2008

The recent quarterly meeting took place on Friday 29th August in the Civic Centre and the usual culprits attended (including myself).
The long campaigned for public lift in Smiths is in the last throws of being installed, improved access to Bakers Alley from the Water Lane car park is imminent and HSBC is still hoping to resolve their little access problem.
Our concerns over the loss of some disabled parking at the Lower Kings Road car park will be resolved when the car park is re-organised shortly.
Remember, this is intended to help access for Berkhamsted disabled and elderly residents (or their relatives) and you are welcome to attend our next meeting on the 12th December.
Minutes of latest meeting on the berko.org.uk web site or get in touch for a copy/more information.