30 September - 30 days of rubbish
Bexley Council will resume its programme of meetings next week after its long
Summer recess; meanwhile there is not a lot to report. I went to
the Cost of
Living Crisis meeting in Abbey Wood on Wednesday and it was nothing like what I naively
thought it might be. Interesting nevertheless and lots of notes were taken a summary
of which will appear here soon, probably tomorrow.
With a Sainsbury’s branded item I used to buy regularly having gone up in two
stages from £2·30 less than six months ago to £4 this week there is certainly a
crisis. I didn’t buy it, not because I didn’t have four quid but because at £4 it is
very poor value for money.
This month has been taken up by a lot of DIY work. Until very recently I never hired
a tradesman to do anything and September has seen me indulge in plumbing,
electrical alterations, carpentry, bricklaying and computer fixing with another
two old PCs waiting to be mended and obstructing my front door. In the past I have
replaced gutters, installed kitchens and on one occasion my own double glazing.
However it gets to be increasingly difficult. I gave up building my own radios and
amplifiers 30 years ago when they became controlled by microprocessors and the
amateur had no access to that sort of technology. Basic electrics are to some
extent going the same way. If I modify my solar panels and associated
electronics various authorities have to be notified and they will only deal with
registered contractors. So called professionals have to be employed.
I asked one to quote for a job nearly two months ago and it seemed to be a
reasonable price at the time so I asked exactly what equipment he had in mind to
fit. I was sent the maker’s name, model number and two photographs. It was entirely
unsuitable equipment and I emailed to say so. For more than a week I was ignored
but eventually told less than gracefully that 400 similar jobs had been completed this year so far and
no one else had queried their choice of equipment. I still maintained that their
plan was unviable and provided several reasons.
Much to my surprise a sub-contracted electrician turned up at my door,
roll-up
dangling from his mouth, and told me he had come to carry out the work. I asked
him what he planned to do and was told “I am not here to talk to you, if you
have questions ask Joe in the office”. I told him that I had and attempted to explain why the plan sent out by
Joe was entirely unsuitable. His response was that he would not “listen to a silly old man” and
went to leave. I encouraged him to do so.
Subsequently the boss of the company confirmed that I was entirely correct and
the wrong equipment list had been sent to me. A pity that he ignored my immediate
protestations but he is the registered MCS installer and I am the silly old man.
Not a bad month, racist and electrically incompetent to boot.
Across the road
SloppyStyle Recycling’s mess goes from bad to worse and this
morning their collection staff thought all the road’s brown bins were mine. A good job they
are numbered and could be returned to their rightful owners.
Note: The initials MCS are not explained on their website but it is the body that maintains the central database of solar installations.