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Had an ache in me belly to 'gae hame agin'! Don't know why. I had a chat with a couple of good friends in Scotland, and sent off for some brochures & forms. I know …. Carl and Kevin are due to move to Basildon …. But that is to get near to London. (Are we going to be 'ships that pass in the night' again? May all come to nothing. Even the thought of packing gives me the 'willies'! Interesting … to fly to Scotland I have got to re-new my passport! You can't fly on a domestic flight without a passport now because of the terrorist fears. My 'concubines' are urging me to stay! Let's see how it all pans out.
The Basildon Housing Benefits manager has excelled herself. She sent me a four page letter saying, "Not me, gov!" So, I wrote to the CEO of the DPW, telling her that it was all her fault. It will all come out in the wash. I'll add it to the
BDC folder when it is all resolved.Been looking at the spam blocker used by BT-Yahoo. It trapped a few emails that were not spam. Put it right. It is supposed to learn from this. That is the prob with all spam traps - they tell you to look in the 'Spam' folder to see that genuine emails have not been treated as spam. That defeats the whole object of a spam filter. (If you still have to look at every email!). The system that I have developed is trapping half the spam, and I do not have to check it. Anyway, I delete the spam at the server. I hope that good emails have not been lost! Let me know if I haven't replied to yours!
Had another 'none available' reply to my moving house forms. Just two left. Had an attractive quote from a firm for moving to Arran.
The drunkard upstairs bunged another bottle into the garden last night. Don't know what she is doing, but I heard a lot of scratching noises. Sounded like someone was trying to get in (or rats!). I got up and looked around but no probs seen. A neighbour said that she was seen with vomit dried on the side of her face. How can the 'looking after people' be looking after her?
The Dept. of Work & Pensions/Basildon Housing Benefits
saga goes on. Today, I got three sets of documents from the DWP, all dated 16th April, all with differing figures. Phoned them, and spoke to a very personable Taurean, Amber. We sorted thing out, and she contacted BDC to prevent me …. once again ….. having all my benefits stopped. Keeping everything crossed in the hope that the situation does not go into another downward spiral!That was a lot of words. Getting verbose? Getting senile!
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Thursday, 29 April 2004. I went to see my sister-in-law, Amy, yesterday. She has not been too well since her husband, Chas, died about a year ago. She seemed to be coping, then took it quite bad. A 'domicillary visitor' , Tracy, is helping her to cope, and guiding her on getting back to normal. Glad to say that she is now back to her old self. She did me proud with a massive helping of stew & dumplings! While there, we looked at some photos. Some, I had not seen before. I have done a page of them
The probs with the DWP, as above, have been resolved. As also has my rent and council tax rebate bother with the council. I got a substantial cheque from the DWP, plus a good increase in my weekly income, and a whacking reduction in the rent and council tax that I pay. 'We're in the Money …. We're in the money'!!!! Carl said that Chloe is spitting feathers …. Hooray! It will be a big help if I do get to move to Arran, or Ayr.
Amy said that Ivor
(The Buckets) phoned her. Sounds as though they are getting a bit lonely. Might get some info on what's been happening. Also, might get some feedback on what happened with Dolly.Carl and Kevin are coming to Basildon tomorrow to sign up for the house exchange. They are bringing their music equipment down to save damage en-route. They are moving on Monday week, as it is holiday Monday next.
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Saturday, 01 May 2004. Did an experiment in converting Camcorder tape>DVD>MPG>Real Video using Pinnacle and Helix Real Player converter. The MPG was about 10meg - the Real Player version is about 0.5meg. Quality was not too good. The clip is about a minute long.
I then had another go at the video clip, and did it in wma format, using Windows Film Maker, for a 0.5meg file. It was better than the Real Player at 0.5meg. Then did it at wma for a 1.0meg file size and it looks good. It may be best to Right Click and 'Save Target as ….' if you do not have broadband.
See the clip here. (See Thursday below) When you view with Windows Media Player, use the sizing buttons to get an optimum viewing quality. (You may have to drag the bottom right 'handle' .) From this experiment, I think that I'll try all my clips using Windows Film Maker.The clip is of my neighbour, Ria, on her 90th birthday on February 24th. Sadly, she died about six weeks later.
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Sunday, 02 May 2004. Had yet another go at the video clip above, and added an intro. Getting used to Windows Film Maker. It has its limitations. No good for making good DVD type movies, just low resolution for the computer and web. Also Real Player is streaming video, WMP does seem to be so.
Been to three keyboard clubs with Carl. We are getting on OK. He even seems to be calming down a bit, and gets on well with the people we meet. Interesting web sites are -
http://website.lineone.net/~thebkc/ and - http://www.lingwoodmusic.4t.com/ . The first is the Basildon KB Club and the other the chap who played at their last do.All this KB info has encouraged my motivation, and I have promised myself to practice two hours/day from next Monday. Hope I keep to it. I had a review of my Yamaha PSR620 facilities. I have not used it properly since I got it nine years ago!
Been thinking of having a '70 plus one' bufday party as I did not have a 70th (or 65th !). Just to get Carl (and Kevin?) to show off, and for me to bask in the reflected glory. As I have decided to draw a line under moving to Scotland by 28th July - my birthday, depending on whether I get an offer of a flat, it could be a going away or a staying party!
As I say, I have been busy. Also had a visit from David and Diane, friends from the
British Legion, (the same people are still embezelling the cash!), and neighbours of the 'Buckets'. They brought me up-to-date with all the news and gossip. Nice to hear that enemies are not doing too good!Many tenants here are not happy with the way the social club is run, and are thinking of getting it all re-organised. I may, (against my better judgement), get involved. Got some ideas from the sheltered housing complexes that held the KB clubs.
Bought myself a set of phones, with a base station. They are mobile, but not cell phones. They work at a range of 300 mtrs. Handy for carrying around the complex. They came with 'free' gifts of a digi 'Freeview' box and a 'keep cool' haversack. I use the digi box for my VCR. All for £98 from Viking Direct. Haven't found a DVD recorder with a built in digital tuner yet.
The drunkard upstairs, set off her fire alarm …… twice ….. at 1am. Gets me worried. A drunkard who smokes is a high fire risk. Oh, well!
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Monday, 28 June 2004. It's been a terrible 12 days. I'll put the full story up ASAP. For now, I will only say this. If you have seen the film 'Cabaret' with Liza Minelli you will remember when the compere sings the song "If you could only see her through my eyes". He sings it to an ape dressed in women's clothes. He finishes the song by singing, " If you could only see her through my eyes …. She wouldn't look Jewish at all!"
Oh, the drunkard upstairs deteriorated so much after I made
the totem, that she has been moved into care accommodation. Seems to have worked? I'm now working on a totem for this event.In keeping, as is my wont, and considering the success of the totem above, I have made a totem to reflect the ill will aimed at me by the people here. (Mad ain't I!?) It represents the elements of those people, and what they have done. It is a black hangman's noose that holds a micro-cassette - containing evidence, thirty pieces of silver - the wages of Judas, and a key with my blood on it - representing the key-holder.
See it here I find that these totems are a useful psychotherapeutic tool. I have hung it in my kitchen window.I have been quite ill since the unsettling incident here three weeks ago. I have done a web page version of the details, and will put it on here as and when. Seems that it has made my heart condition worse, and it has had an effect on my carotid artery prob.
Details here. Saw the doctor and I am to see the specialist, and maybe have an operation (Carotid Endarterectomy). Not sure if I'll bother. Just take it one stage at a time. When I saw a specialist three years ago, he said that there was a 50:50 chance that I would die on the operating table!I have been seeing my psychotherapy counsellor, Laura, for two sessions. One thing that came out of the first session was that I did not really have a 'problem' but that 'they' (BDC?) had a problem. To this end, I decided to end my correspondence regarding the 'unsettling incident' that occurred on 15th June 2004. As you will see above, I have suffered quite a bit for the past six weeks waiting for things to happen.
The manager seconded by the CEO to deal with the matter, like all others, has left me 'roasting', for three weeks. Not a 'dickey bird' out of her. So, I sent a letter saying that I wanted nothing more to do with the matter, and enclosed an addendum to the set of notes I sent to the chief executive. You can now see all the
notes here.I gave a lot of thought as to whether I should include the last two pages of the 'Addendum' that I sent to the CEO and managers. These deal with the mismanagement of the complex, and I highlight eight examples. My decision has been to withhold these for the moment. I will review my decision later. The notes may seem a bit daunting at first, but it is well worth the effort to get a feel of what has happened to me. You may even be tempted to read about the other 'campaigns' that I
have had with BDC!Yes! ……….. I know what you will all say, "Why the bloody hell did you get involved. You should have just told her to f*** off, and got on with your life!" But, that is how I am. I told Laura that if anything else happens, I will 'quietly exit stage left'.
On reflection, I think that the reason why I was so angry was that Eileen had treated me with disrespect in public. This I cannot accept.
To be a bit naughty I have bought the URL -
www.BasildonCouncil.org - if you click on the link, it will take you there.Am I also gullible, in that I have a feeling that a more mature person is involved? You have to laugh though ……. The CEO passed the job to a senior manager ….. He was on holiday so it was passed to a middle manager …… That manager goes on honeymoon so it is passed down the line again …… and that manager is away today and all next week! I'm waiting for it to be delegated to the Senior Bog Cleaner in Basildon Centre! What to you all think?
Mrs Manager -Three brought Mrs Manager-One with her, who 'conducted' the first 'meeting'. She just took notes. I recorded the meeting with their permission. An interesting fact emerged. When I
recorded Eileen, the warden, she said that she would not visit me in my flat. It transpires that it was Mrs Manager-One who advised her on that! We must now wonder why? Is it that Mrs Manager-One is very close to Eileen, and told her that if she went into my flat that I would record her? (That was a waste of her time - wasn't it!) We must also wonder if she also gave privileged information to Eileen regarding the attitude survey, and the identity of the manager who was 'out to get' Eileen. There certainly is a 'mole' in the housing office that is passing on information.Diary items that are about BDC are being copied to the BDC section.
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Saturday, 14 August 2004. What with all the misery with the BDC, it's nice to be cheered up. The button battery in my alarm clock died, and Carl tried all over Basildon to get me one, no good. I went on Google and found
http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/ Sadly, their site had a bug, and the pages kept refreshing. I sent an email telling them, and they replied with, "Let's have your address, and we'll send you one, compliments of the firm." Now how bad's that!?Re the Basildon District Council saga above. I had Mrs Manager-Three come to see me, with Mrs Manager-One to take notes. Again ….. sad …… she then went on holiday for a week! Still it gave me time to think about our meeting, and I have compiled an email with a few daunting points, and questions. That is two months since the original 'unsettling incident'. Makes you think don't it? I'm looking forward to getting back to my usual lazy life, and putting it all behind me.
Lil must be a bit miffed about it all. On the balcony, last Saturday, she did a loud theatrical aside, and shouted, "There are no men here. They're all wimps!" I doubt if she was referring to this computer … a Windows, Icon, Mouse, Program! As soon as she said it, all the 'concubines' got up, made their excuses, and went off to bed! (To think that I gave her about £300 worth of computer, scanner and printer, and all that training. Ho, hum! Will I never learn?
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Friday, 20 August 2004. Saw my doctor today about the throbbing, and my blocked carotid arteries. I was supposed to go to the hospital in September for a check up, and maybe get the advice to have an operation. As I am not going to go under the knife, I told the doctor that there was no point in going. We had a chat and he said that it was unlikely that the throbbing was due to the carotid artery. Most likely, it was the muscle in my neck. At least it put my mind at rest on that point. He did explain that there was the likelihood of a stroke, but not to over worry.
I sent the email to BDC managers last Sunday with a receipt request. No receipt, and no reply! Looks as though I am going to have to get an outside body in to fight my corner for me. Also been keeping an eye on how often Eileen meets with Joan, and it has been very interesting!
Because I have all this money floating about, I am thinking of buying one of
these, or even one of these!The BDC bods and bodesses are neglecting me again. 'A person' was supposed to be coming to see me with a summary of the 24 pages I sent them so that it can be used in the disciplinary hearing. I have got it down to two pages. Wonder if we agree? Let's see how things go when they get back refreshed from their bank holiday.
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Friday, 03 September 2004. Bloody fed up with the BDC bods again. They practice 'Mushroom Management' …. Keep you in the dark and then pile s.h.one.t on you! WWII started 65 years ago today, I'm not going to start WWIII.
Got my Technics organ, and set it up with the other two keyboards. Working on getting the midi operating. The Yamaha is OK, but the Technics is not GM, so I will have to puzzle a few thing out. The new Yamaha is good as a piano as it has a 71 note keyboard. I am using the Technics amp for the other KBs. Quality quite good - 200 watts! When I've got the hang of it I'll do an mp3 demo.
See me here.Put the final 'complaint' statement to the BDC. Let's wait and see how they judge their own.
Still enjoying the keyboards.
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