Mood:
mischieviousNow Playing: Neurosis - Times of Grace
Topic: Stephen Says
We've been back to England only 3 days and the nonsense is already piling up.
1) Due to the fact that I went to Paris instead of staying in the UK and signing on for the dole, I got in a bunch of trouble at the Job Center and was told that because of my actions I would be taken off the list and would have to re-apply. When I pointed out that I wasn't getting any money anyway and didn't see what the point was, I was told that it was about maintaing the levels of my pension. I pointed out that I would only be in England for a few more years and wouldn't be eligible for a pension and was told that, yes, signing in every two weeks was a big, fat waste of time. Especially since I can make payments into my pension retroactively once I've started working. The dole officer agreed to tear up my application so long as I promised not to come after him should I decide to stay in England and, in a few years time, discover my pension isn't as high as I'd thought it would be. I promised not to and we called it even.
2) Dell has now sent me two invoices for over 380 pounds for their non-existent repairs on the computer. I've had to get in touch with them and point out that they've never actually done any repairs on poor old She-Bop and they've promised to credit my Visa in a few days. I'll see it when I beleive it.
3) There will be some mad tidying going on tomorrow as the landlord & estate agents will be coming by for their 1/2-yearly inspection. They'll be bringing some building assessor-somethings to appraise the value of the flat as well. While housing prices in England are stagnating or dropping; Wokings market is booming and, according to last week's real estate news; we're paying 50-75 pounds a month less on our flat than we should be. I suspect this will be an attempt to twist our arms to pay more when our lease comes up for renewal. I suspect, though, that when our flat is assessed, it won't deliver our landlord the god news he's hoping for.
4)I've got to go and check our electricity meter. We got our bill the other day and thay've doubled how much we're expected to pay. Elisabeth called them up to find out how they'd come to their conclusion that we'd doubled or eletricity usage and they told her it was only an 'estimate' based on 'projected energy usage' for this time of year. Seeing as we haven't turned our heat on all winter, I seriously doubt that we're using more. Hopefully the people below us will get around to using more heat, though. It's been bloody cold in here the last few days and we need to steal their warmth!
5) And finally the good news... We got out phone bill and this 1p a minute deal is frigging fantastic! Over 6 hours of calls to Canada and we were charged less than 4 pounds. If anyone in the UK wants the number, drop me a line...