Normal Service Resumes

At long last I seem to have rejoined the modern world in that my internet connection and telephone line are now working. It has only taken BT three weeks including 3 engineer visits to my house during which they actually made the problem worse and managed to spread a considerable amount of mud on my newly cleaned carpets.

A time like this really gets you thinking about new technology. We survived quite well without being able to use the phone and internet at home although it did make it much harder for me to take work home. Is that such a bad thing? Perhaps I should be really grateful to BT for their unbelievably appalling service!!!

Technology Saga Continues

My long running problems with BT continue. Yesterday they sent yet another engineer to fix my long-running problem. He didn't seem to have any effect on the broadband speed or reliability but what he did manage to do was to stop the phoneline from working. Can things get any worse?

I suspect that they can and look forward to my nightly phone conversation with a so-called customer service assistant. I have to say that last night's was the best yet. I could actually understand what he was saying and he agreed with me that the situation really isn't acceptable. Words come easy and I will wait to see if he backs these up with any action!

Frustrations of modern technology - BT v Sky

At times like the present when my broadband connection isn't working and I am also having problems with Sky TV it is amazing at how this can affect my whole attitude to life.

There are so many other things I can do but it is just the fact that something isn't working that frustrates me and stops me enjoying all the other things I could be doing like reading, listening to music, practising my trumpet etc.

The really frustrating thing is the difference between the level of customer service you get between different companies. I am dealing with BT and Sky and one of them seems superb and treats you like you really matter. You get the feeling that they want your custom. The other treats you like an idiot and, apparently, don't have any engineers able to sort the problem until next week. I am not saying which is which although I am pretty sure I will have a full choice of TV channels tonight!

Posting by email

This post was published by email which seems quite amazing. Using Google Blogger I can publish things to the World just by sending an email to the right address from any computer or mobile phone with Internet access. This must be really powerful in areas of the World where governments are not so keen on freedom of speech.

Winning the Ashes

Isn't it strange how a sports team can lift the whole morale of a country by its successes. As a keen follower of cricket I am obviously over the moon at how we humiliated the Aussies in the recent series and wonder just how far reaching an effect like this can be.

As someone who is old enough to remember the 1966 World Cup win I have witnessed this first hand. I don't think the 2003 Rugby World Cup win had quite such an effect and suspect that the Ashes will be more like this.

I can also remember how great everyone used to feel when we had successes at Olympics. In this era of professional sport this just doesn't seem to happen to the same extent. I am sure that the standards in all sports have been raised dramatically, but has the enjoyment of players and spectators?