Wednesday 30 April 2008

Pay in lieu

The Redundancy Payments Office have sent me the form to fill in and return to them for payment. I know that I won't get much as I was only unemployed for 2 weeks but heck! I'm due it! I've filled in the form so now all I have to do is post it and wait.

While I'm on about forms, the Tax Man (HMR&C) sent me a "short" tax form to complete. I can remember filling out the long version that was fewer pages than the short one is now. Still haven't had my P60 from zeda declaring my benefits, so I think that an estimate may be called for. Fortunately I have an exact record of my car mileage and expenses records so it's only the small stuff that I have to take a stab at. Hopefully I'll get a refund from them, which would be nice.

A mad, mad week (and a bit)

The last week and a bit has been mad! I’m not sure where to start, so let’s start with some happy news – sister Angie was 50 last week. John brought her up from Colchester to Derby the weekend before her birthday and we all went straight off for a meal at a local carvery. When I say all, I mean Mum, Angie, John, Suzie and I. We had managed to get Jane to sit in on Dad because with his MS he’s confined to the house and can only get out in an ambulance these days. After the meal Suzie took Angie off shopping in town and they had a girlie afternoon.

I paid a visit to the Diabetes Clinic at our GP surgery. Thank goodness my mate Fred can answer my questions (he’s a Type 1 diabetic and has to inject) because all I got from the nurse is that I’m not supposed to eat anything tasty, anything filling, anything sweet. No bread, no spuds, no sugar, no chocolate, no apples, no bananas, no grapes, no cakes, no cider, skimmed milk.... according to her it’s all bad for me (but I can drink whiskey!) and I get the impression that I’m supposed to die of starvation –- sod that for a cart load of monkeys, life is to be lived. She really filled me with confidence when she proudly announced that her husband was diagnosed as Type 2 a few years ago -- I’d have expected her to at least look after his diet so that he didn’t become a diabetic. At least Fred talks sense and has lent me a booklet that rates things in a way that is easy to understand – so now I’m using that as a guide and eating & drinking sensibly given the diagnosis. And I’m starting to loose a little weight -– which must be good.

Last Friday was Sid’s birthday and Saturday night Suzie & I had a night out as part of the birthday group for a meal, drinks, disc and entertainment at The Spot in Derby (visit their website at The Spot, Derby ). The entertainment was a tribute group called Fireworks and they were excellent. One guy, two gals. The gals were good looking, as in legs up to arm pits stunning and boy could they sing – everything from early 70’s stuff right up to date. None of this sing for 5 minutes and then talk for 10. It was all go right from the start, they didn’t stop – well not until the power went off to the stage and the management couldn’t get it back, but, by then they’d done their act and were on their encore.

Work wise I’m commuting between Coventry, Telford and Hitchin. Lots of miles and still finding my feet, but - like British Rail – I’m getting there. It would be nice to know if they are going to extend me beyond 16th May, but for now I just have to keep my head down and concentrate on the job in hand. I’m using the motorbike to commute whenever I get a chance, and that’s currently running at about once a week but looks set to improve as the weather gets better and as I spend fewer nights away. Might even start commuting daily to Hitchin if I can use the bike rather than staying away overnight.

While I’m on the subject of commuting, the Mercedes needed a service so instead of using Inchcape on Pride Park in Derby I went to an independent mechanic who used to service all our cars up until 3 years ago (when we both got cars with warranties). Full service, all parts and labour for £155. That’s a big difference when compared to the usual £400, or £800 that Inchcape have charged in the past, and he’s someone I trust to do a good job – he runs a Mercedes himself.

Another achievement this month is that I’ve published the route for the Deauville Owners ride-out on Sunday as part of the May Mega Meet. A 100 mile ride round and through Derbyshire taking in the Snake Pass. All we need now is some good riding weather for the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.

Monday 21 April 2008

It's a strange old world!

I had 52 candles on the cake this year and everything is either dropping off, failing to work or in need of reconstruction. Just got back from diabetes clinic, first visit after being diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic (see previous post). Now I can't drink cider or full fat milk. Mustn't eat fatty foods, foods high in carbohydrates, sugar and/or salt.... the list goes on and on. Got to give up blood donoring, have to get my eyes checked (linked to diabetes) and lazered if necessary, despite having had my cataracts done in the last 3 years.

Additionally they want to get me checked out for bladder cancer, and full set of blood tests in a month or twos time to see if the medication and change of diet is working. Good news is that I can carry on drinking tea & whiskey!

Other than that I'm perfectly well and best of all - I didn't know that there was anything wrong with me!

The surgery seem pleased as punch that I've at last tested positive (high sugar count of 9.1 when normal is between 4 - 6) for diabetes even though it now means that I get free prescriptions. It's a strange old world!

Monday 14 April 2008

My news

Well I suppose I'd beter share this bit of news with you all. Friday I kept an appointment with my doctor to get the results of a blood test taken almost 2 weeks ago. The news is that I'm now classified as a Type 2 Diabetic. Got some pills to take; warning these pills could cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence. And they are supposed to do me GOOD!. So far it has been a case of take one pill with midday meal, wait 2 hours and make sure I'm close to a loo. The up-side (according to my doctor) is that I should now start to loose weight.

The good news (if there is any) is that Type 2 can be controlled by diet and pills. As you can imagine I'm not exactly over the moon. In some ways I'm disappointed because the surgery has been testing my blood at least twice a year for the last 5 - 6 years for diabetes because I "looked like somebody who would get it" and now they are all happy in a "told you so" sort of way.

Ah well, shit happens. I've beaten hayfever, asthma, sarcoidosis, cataracts in both eyes and survived 25 years with a slipped lumbar (before it slipped back into place) so this is just something else on the path of life that has to be beaten! Suzie just says that I'm falling apart -- bless her!

Pay in lieu of notice

I contacted Robina at EWS by email enquiring when payment in lieu of notice would be settled. The response is:-

"Pay in lieu is being dealt with by the RPO and you should contact them regarding that, unpaid wage, holiday pay and redundancy."

So I guess the next stop is the Redundancy Payments Office....

Sunday 13 April 2008

EWS update

SteveC sent EWS an email requesting an update in relation to payment for outstanding overtime, the reply he received follows (confidentiality maintained relating to personal details):-

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From: Robina Vxxxxx [mailto:r.vxxxxx@ewsllp.co.uk]
Sent: 10 April 2008 11:03
To: SteveC
Subject: RE: Update

The Board have approved your expenses in full, in accordance with your schedule. Payment in full will be made by HR by the end of the month (so I’m told!)

You’re also owed £nnn.nn for overtime. This has been sent to the RPO and they will pay up to the statutory limit. Anything over that, and up to £800, will be paid, as a preferential claim by the Liquidator. The balance due, after that preferential payment, will be an unsecured claim for payment by the Liquidator, funds permitting.

A schedule of how the payment is calculated etc will be sent to all employees when we are in funds to make a distribution.

Hope that helps

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Does anybody have any news on payments relating to "In Lieu Of Notice" monies outstanding?

Tuesday 8 April 2008

Severn Trent get fined £35.8m

See this news article .

What is the point? Government Offices, Quangos and Regulators monitor these monopolies in such an off-hand way that they are totally ineffectual (i.e. The FSA and Northern Rock) and then either cry wolf again as they try and wash their hands of the problem OR, as in this case with Severn Trent Water, they impose huge fines.

So who pays these fines? No, really, who pays? You and I, the consumer, that’s who! The rates charged by the Utilities Companies never goes down. Next year it will go up AGAIN to cover the cost of paying this and any subsequent fines so that THEY can maintain their profit margin and make a payout to their shareholders.

If these fines are going to be levied then why can’t it be in the manner of refunds to the paying customer? After all, WE are the ones who have paid for the poor service. WE are the ones who have been lied to about THEIR performance levels. WE have paid THEM for an inferior service therefore WE should be the ones who benefit from the fine levied!

Monday 7 April 2008

Ride out missed

Due to the problems with the front brakes I missed out on the first annual ride out with local (Midlands) Deauville owners. Considering the fact that we woke up to snow on the ground on Sunday morning it’s a little surprising that it went ahead, but, it did and I missed out. Am I miffed? Yes! More than just a little bit, but, at least I fixed the brakes on my bike! That's some small compensation.

News from ex-zeda

Had a couple of emails from ex-zeda colleagues:-
Iain G to say that he’s been taken on as a permanent employee at Alliance & Leicester following on from the testing he was doing.
Susan C to say that she’s hoping for an extension on her current contract but wants a better day rate (can’t say I blame her).
Andy B is one of those moved down into the basement office in Telford, he now sits next to me so at least we both have somebody to chat to.

Franchised car dealers

I’ve been looking for a replacement for the Mercedes for a few weeks now. I really fancy a SEAT Leon but I’m also considering a Vauxhall Astra or a Peugeot 308. On Saturday afternoon Suzie and I went up to Sheffield to see a Vauxhall Astra. The thing that attracted me to it was the colour, a real red. Really bold. I like that. Turns out the car is the Elite model, top of the 5 door Astra range with built in sat nav and all the toys. Things didn’t go well. First we turned up at the address on the web site to be told that the car had been taken to their other branch for us to view. So ¾hr late we arrive at the other branch and get shown the car. Immediate disappointment as both front seats have obviously had some heavy bums sat in them and the vehicle hasn’t been prepared at all. The dashboard area looks dirty and the car shows signs of having not been looked after. On the test ride I’m impressed with the way it pulls and the brakes. We get back and I show him round the Mercedes for him to evaluate. He then goes to see his Business Manager.

And this is the bit that I hate about franchised car dealerships. The sales people aren’t allowed to negotiate the price. It’s dictated by the Business Manager. So salesman comes back with some figures. My car plus £3,500. No way! He says “I’ll get the Business Manager to have a look at your car, see what we can do” and disappears again. Then back he comes with an offer that is £300 better (in my favour). I point out that he needs to find another £1,200 in order to get my business, he says he’ll have a word with his Business Manager but without success. What a sham. I say that I’ll stick with the Mercedes and his whole attitude changes from Mr Nice Guy to Mr Hostile so we quickly leave, commenting that he sounds just like a Time Share rep that’s been turned down.

But it’s the same everywhere. They are all like it. All the major firms with franchised dealerships must send their people to the same school for training. Why? It was never like this. But it is now, everywhere you go. And the greater the monopoly the worse their attitude. They all treat you like a moron expecting you to give them your car for nothing and pay top price for whatever you’ve decided to show interest in. I don’t expect them to give the car away but I do expect a fair price in part ex-change AND I do expect them to be courteous to the end. Had we gone home, reconsidered and changed our minds then I may have contacted them and bought the car, but, when they sign you off with bad attitude and rudeness then no way am I going to pick up the phone and say I’ve changed my mind.

So I’m still looking and he can go whistle! He needs sales commission more than I need to buy his Vauxhall. Interestingly, neither of the 2 appointments that were in his diary for the slots after us turned up - seems like they may have known what was in store for them…

A long family news update

Let’s start with some good news… Mark has passed the theory part of his car driving test. His progress towards the actual driving test appears to be good, and hopefully he will be taking it sometime in June but he has to fit it in around his end-of-year exams at university.

Other family news is that Andy has taken this week off and is going up to Northumberland with his girlfriend and her family for a few days break. On Saturday he fitted the replacement differential to his BMW and did a few other mechanical bits that needed doing. He’s now proclaimed himself happy with it from that point of view, so next is a further clean up of the interior and then get the bodywork sorted. On Friday Suzie had her meeting with the investigating officer that’s looking into the grievance that was logged against her by Angela Fitzjohn. There are witness interviews to be carried out and statements to be taken, but, at this stage it looks like the case against Suzie will be thrown out on the basis of “no case to answer” as Suzie was correctly following laid down procedures. The new UNISON union representative that’s handling Suzie’s case is then looking at the union taking out a case against both the DCC management and Angela for failure to comply with and follow agreed procedures (gross misconduct issues) – that should be interesting!

Well I’ve completed my first week working at Telford in my new PM role. First impressions, well the office we’ve been allocated is pretty dismal, no ventilation, air-conditioning that doesn’t work, poorly lit and virtually no natural daylight. At least it is carpeted and the desks are new. It’s a basement office, no wireless and very few cable internet connections, which makes it difficult to connect to the world and that in turn will make doing the job that much more difficult as we should use MS Outlook to arrange meetings, communicate by email, etc… I’m currently using the new Blackberry that Trinity have provided but it’s only a poor substitute for real email using the laptop. Last week there were just 8 of us in the office and it got unbearable, but, from today there will be up to 26!

The daily commute from Derby to Telford is bearable. Only 64 miles each way, but, loads of speed limits with speed cameras (GATSO tax collectors) and 20 miles with no dual carriageway or motorway so little opportunity to make descent progress – just trundle along behind (mainly) HGVs. Having tried a number of options I’ve found that patience is the best option and just go with the flow. By starting out early I can get down in 1.25hrs and back at night in 1.50hrs. Fuel consumption isn’t brilliant because of the stop/start nature of a lot of the trip.

The work I’ve been allocated looks like it will be very interesting once it gets underway. It involves moving the contents of the current basement data centre (all racking, servers, blades, comms units, etc..,) into a new purpose built data centre (which is awaiting planning permission at the moment). Up to the completion of the building, including laying it the power and data cabling the builders will be the prime contractor, but, after that Trinity will take over and that will be when my planning ability will be revealed, so here’s hoping I can get it somewhere near right.

Suzie’s hunt for a Caribbean cruise to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (March next year) has hotted up with her making some approaches to travel agencies for details on specific trips. I’m still not prepared to commit to going until I’ve been confirmed in permanent employment either with Trinity (won’t know until early May) or another employer (not having much joy there though).

Sunday morning I tried, for the 3rd time to get the front brakes on my motorbike working properly – they’d been sticking on. Success, as I finally found the cause and got them sorted. It’s booked in for it’s 16,000 mile service on Thursday/Friday this week so I’m looking forward to picking it up on Saturday morning - not so sure I’ll be looking forward to the bill though as this is the BIG service with valves clearances being checked and all filters and plugs being replaced. On top of that the bike’s insurance is due on the 14th so I’ll have to do some shopping around. I’m looking forward to doing a bit more commuting on the bike after that, might even treat it to a new rear tyre as the current one is 12,500 miles old and well squared off.

I spent some time with Mum & Dad Sunday afternoon, while Suzie was with her parents. Dad was asleep when I got there which allowed Mum and I to chat a while. She was better this weekend than last, but still needs a break so Suzie will be chasing up Social Services again this week to get the assessment that was promised carried out. Mum was amused to recount a conversation with Christine in America; apparently her eldest (Wayne Jnr) went away for a few days with some mates, then phoned home to say that they were having a good time and had decided to stay away for a few days more and that he’d be home in 3 days time but could Chris make sure that the trousers he’d got with him were washed and ready for him to wear the night they returned. Chris says that she now understands the meaning of “what goes around, comes around” because that is what she was like at that age. Me, I’m making no comment…