ieatpenguin

June 21, 2010

Todmorden Sprint Try

Filed under: Exercise,Triathlon,training — Russell @ 11:19 am

So I’ve entered my first triathlons in the upcoming months. I’m doing the South Sea Classic in August (1.5km/40km/10km swim/bike/run) and as means of preparation decided that looking for an earlier event would make good sense.

And so I found the Todmorden Sprint Triathlon (400m/20km/5km). My aim is to try, nothing else – get experience of the transitions, see if I can get round and properly condition each leg so that I don’t blow up on the run – a distinct danger as I’m likely to give it some on the cycle. This is on the 4th of July, I’d like to think I’m prepared – the distance is easy, I’ve practised transitions. I’m hoping to finish in a competent first-go time.

The same has to be said for the SSC in August (14th), it’s a much longer distance, especially the swim which is my weakest discipline. And it is a wetsuit swim in the sea, which will be a real challenge for me. Still, looking forward to finishing and getting round in at least a competent time, with eyes on the bigger prize of Ironman distance next year with any luck.

June 16, 2010

Ideal Landscapes Ltd

Filed under: Gardening,Random — Russell @ 2:16 pm

Over a month long of chasing has gotten me nowhere.

We had some work done to our garden, namely a tree to be taken down, the root to be taken away, and the tree to be logged into firewood, with the ground being levelled.

The word undertaken by Ideal Landscapes (referred to as “Ideal” from here on in) was far from ideal. A catalogue of problems arose after allowing these people to undertake work for us. I guess I should start at the beginning, which is more then “Ideal” could do, as they undertook the work three days early. This wasn’t a massive problem aside from the fact that we had warned our neighbours of the impending work date.

Whilst the tree was indeed taken down, it was also taken away, leaving us without the firewood. Now the tree was between 45-50 feet hight, and around 1.5-2 feet thick at the bottom. Admittedly the wood would have required drying, but that is exactly what we intended to do. Estimates for this amount of firewood amount to anywhere between £200-£500 that I’ve seen so far.

Next, they did indeed take the root out, or some of it. I understand it can be hard to properly get rid of roots, so that is bye the bye I suppose. However, they were also to level the ground, something we spent the best part of a week doing.

“Ideal” left refuse (that they were contracted to take away) not only on our garden, but on our neighbours garden. Fortunately she has been cool about the whole situation, and whilst we gave her a very nice bottle of wine to say thank you, we should probably make that a few more.

And as a final insult, “Ideal” needed to bring in a digger to get the root out, and so had to take down the fence at the bottom of our garden. Far from safely re-attaching it, they simply cut the bolts holding it to the fence posts and left us with a future repair bill.

We paid “Ideal” £475 (inc VAT) for this privilege.

So we sent a letter, detailing why we were unhappy and what we wanted doing. No response. I phoned the number, which re-directs to a mobile, and after several attempts finally got through. Cue apologies, several promises to bring the wood round and sort the fence. Nothing about levelling the ground or getting rid of the rubbish, but I figured that was the best course of action. Of course nothing happened.

I then opened a case with Consumer Direct, the public facing arm of the Office of Fair Trading & Standards, who advised me to send a letter again, recorded, citing the Sales of Goods & Services Act.

So we sent another letter, this time by recorded delivery. This is where things started to get odd. First of all, Royal Mail said they couldn’t deliver it as no one was there to sign. Then a few weeks ago, we had an answer phone message from someone who said that they had lived at the address “Ideal” gave us, and that they had done so for over a year.

A few things strike me as odd here: firstly why would you sign for mail that was addressed to someone you know used to be at your address, surely you would tell the postman and send it back? Secondly opening mail addressed to someone else is an offence, and thirdly, if this had been happening for over a year why would you still be opening that mail to send it back to the sender? And fourthly, they managed to get my first letter, so why not the second?

I’ve spoken to the Insolvency Register to find out that they are a Ltd company and are not insolvent, so far so good.

And so I’ve been trying to find out where this company is actually based. I looked up the company on companieshouse, and then contacted the south Cambridgeshire District council to try and find out what type of property is registered at the address “Ideal” gave us. Due to Data Protection regulations however, they couldn’t help me. So I contacted the Valuation Office Agency, who obviously couldn’t tell me who payed council tax on the property, but that the premises is registered as ‘Domestic’.

As an aside – Ideal Landscapes by Design Ltd is registered to the above address on CompaniesHouse.gov.uk. It is a legal requirement to keep these details up to date, and an offence not to inform the register that your details have changed. So one way or another, “Ideal” have broken the law.

Sadly, this is where my trail runs out, and Consumer Direct can help me no more.

Edit:
I guess I could turn to Anne Robinson..

I can’t even tell dear old Anne about it because the Watchdog “Your Story” form is broken. Typical.

May 20, 2010

Google – ‘We Screwed Up’

Filed under: Random — Russell @ 9:26 am

Yes folks, it’s true, the great God Google is fallible. The only problem being that they have seriously broken the law this time.

What really irritates me is that Sergey Brin is merely exercising in damage limitation. This would have come out sooner, rather then later, if Google hadn’t taken the step to admit it publicly, and things would have been a lot worse for the bastardscompany.

They say they’ll now delete all the data they collected. Right, who’s going to watch them do it?

This kind of thing is illegal, and anyone else doing it would face massive fines and a criminal record, within the UK, but because it’s Google, I’m betting they’ll get away with it.

May 14, 2010

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire

Filed under: Random — Russell @ 2:57 pm

Call the Bible what you will, but some of it is a fascinating read; Revelations, chapter 20 especially. It just so happens that, in my opinion, the King James Version is best.

May 11, 2010

Roy Hattersley In The Times

Filed under: Politics — Russell @ 9:42 am

Praised Gordon Brown in this article in the times.

Evangelical fervour and reformist zeal: the very qualities that drive the extremist, the obsessive that will brook no other view but his own. Indeed Brown possesses these without qualification and he would bend any means to his end. He taxed and taxed to fund his ‘vision’ and when this was not enough he borrowed and pledged the future. He bloated the public sector and let slip the reins on immigration to ensure his future constituency. Like other obsessives he lived in denial of any error of his own, seeing always the fault in global markets, disloyal colleagues, biased media: he could not be wrong. He pointed the finger at privilege, accusing it as self-serving, dishonest and incompetent by definition; the very characteristics he himself displayed and that is why the Duffy slip so damaged him.

His legacy is debt almost beyond comprehension and a society deeply divided and uncertain of its future. His passion has invoked a passion also and he will be remembered, but not as the writer so fondly imagines. He is a monument to ruthless ambition for self and a warning against the Socialist’s longing to control the lives of his fellow citizens. Let us be done with him and may the memory of him remind us to be watchful that our government remains our servant, not becomes our master.

May 4, 2010

My Manifesto

Filed under: Politics — Russell @ 9:44 am

Since its all the rage at present, here is my manifesto should I get elected on May the 6th that I will try to adhere too for the coming years:

  • Own an electric car (if I need a car)
  • Start micro-generation of power
  • Grow ALL my own vegetables

    More to come

    • Conservative Contract

    Filed under: Politics — Tags: — Russell @ 9:10 am

    This isn’t necessarily an indication of which way I’m going to vote, I just want some record to stand in case the Conservatives get into power.

    This is what Dave says they will do in the “Conservative Contract”:

    We will change politics

    Our political system needs to change. Politicians must be made more accountable, and we must take power away from Westminster and put it in the hands of people – individuals, families and neighbourhoods.

    If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:

    1. Give you the right to sack your MP, so you don’t have to wait for an election to get rid of politicians who are guilty of misconduct.
    2. Cut the number of MPs by ten per cent, and cut the subsidies and perks for politicians.
    3. Cut ministers’ pay by five per cent, and freeze it for five years.
    4. Give local communities the power to take charge of the local planning system and vote on excessive council tax rises.
    5. Make government transparent, publishing every item of government spending over £25,000, all government contracts, and all local council spending over £500.

    We will change the economy

    Gordon Brown’s economic incompetence has doubled the national debt, given us record youth unemployment, and widened the gap between rich and poor.

    Unemployment is still rising, and this year we will spend more on debt interest than on schools. We need to get our economy moving.

    If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:

    1. Cut wasteful government spending so we can stop Labour’s jobs tax, which would kill the recovery.
    2. Act now on the national debt, so we can keep mortgage rates lower for longer.
    3. Reduce emissions and build a greener economy, with thousands of new jobs in green industries and advanced manufacturing.
    4. Get Britain working by giving unemployed people support to get work, creating 400,000 new apprenticeships and training places over two years, and cutting benefits for those who refuse work.
    5. Control immigration, reducing it to the levels of the 1990s – meaning tens of thousands a year, instead of the hundreds of thousands a year under Labour.

    We will change society

    We face big social problems in this country: family breakdown, educational failure, crime and deep poverty. Labour’s big government has failed; we will help build a Big Society where everyone plays their part in mending our broken society.

    If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:

    1. Increase spending on health every year, while cutting waste in the NHS, so that more goes to nurses and doctors on the frontline, and make sure you get access to the cancer drugs you need.
    2. Support families, by giving married couples and civil partners a tax break, giving more people the right to request flexible working and helping young families with extra Sure Start health visitors.
    3. Raise standards in schools, by giving teachers the power to restore discipline and by giving parents, charities and voluntary groups the power to start new smaller schools.
    4. Increase the basic state pension, by relinking it to earnings, and protect the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences, free bus travel and other key benefits for older people.
    5. Fight back against crime, cut paperwork to get police officers on the street, and make sure criminals serve the sentence given to them in court.
    6. Create National Citizen Service for every 16 year old, to help bring the country together.

    April 8, 2010

    The Digital Economy Bill

    Filed under: Politics,Random — Russell @ 12:37 pm

    There are several worrying aspects to this soon-to-be-legislation that I could comment on. The fact that the Bill has been “washed-up” – parliament parlance for pushed through without proper consultation – is both dangerous and worrying to begin with: the fact that the government didn’t try to push this through earlier should ring alarm bells as to why they considered a period where proper consultation doesn’t take place (with parliament being dissolved) the necessary time to have it read.

    The ever-unpopular Landline Tax has been shifted to the Finance Bill, so we are still paying. Powers given to Ofcom are again dangerous and worrying, considering nationalisation of Nominet is a terrible, terrible idea.

    I’m not going to go into much detail because I’ve exhausted my thoughts on this in several places, but what sickens me the most about the whole thing, is that 40 Members of Parliament turned up to vote on the second reading.

    Forty people from our collective body who are supposed to represent us. I wrote to my MP, David Howarth, asking him why he felt it unimportant to be present at the second reading. A reply from my MP’s secretary (or whoever it is that actually replies to us mugs on these occasions) wrote a nice letter about how Mr Howarth MP opposed the DEB and had voted accordingly.

    Well first off, I appreciate him voting against it, but secondly it didn’t answer my question. I wanted to know why my MP (and by proxy hopefully why so few MPs) considered it not important to be at the second reading. That is the failing in democracy for me: our politicians – our elected representatives – do not give a damn about what we actually want.

    March 23, 2010

    There is time for pain tomorrow™

    Filed under: Sport — Russell @ 9:01 am

    If I ever realise one of my goals of opening a running shop, I’ll create a sideline in clothing with this catch phrase. I was thinking this running last night. Coming off a slight back niggle, about 4 miles into the run I was considering stopping because my back felt sore. Sensible in many cases, but I am not sensible. So I did what I’ve done many a time – told myself that I could worry about it hurting later, and took it easy for the next mile. I think that this is the only way – within reason – I’ll achieve my goal of having an injury free year.

    March 12, 2010

    Please do not vote Labour back in

    Filed under: Random — Russell @ 2:00 pm

    Whilst there is scant choice within the British political system, a few notes of Labour’s reign will hopefully convince people not to vote for them.

    Here is a few of Labour’s achievements from their last few terms in government:

    • University Top-up Fees, huge student loans, debt and low job prospects
    • Gap between rich and poor biggest since the war
    • Lies on the EU constitution/treaty and refusal to offer a referendum
    • Immigration uncontrolled intentionally for political purposes
    • Bailing out the banks whilst they stick two fingers up with their continued bonuses
    • PFI finance schemes
    • Private pensions wrecked
    • Selling our gold when it was at the lowest price for 20 years costing £2bn, it has since trebled
    • Out of control burgeoning public sector and public pensions
    • Over officious local councils and council tax rises over the rate inflation, doubling since 1997
    • Scrapping of the 10p Tax band hitting the poor, claiming it to be a good thing before changing it back
    • DNA database
    • ID cards
    • Selling of DVLA data to anyone who will pay
    • Peter Mandelson back after being booted out twice for wrong doing and given the title ‘Lord’
    • Impending energy crisis by dithering on new power stations
    • Failure to build more prisons, deciding to release prisoners early instead
    • Poverty at a nine year high
    • Quangos
    • NHS superbugs and dirty hospitals
    • Carelessness over vital personal data being lost on numerous occasions, HMRC, housing benefit, criminals and so on
    • Over use of CCTV and speed cameras used as cash generators rather than safety tools
    • Billions wasted on NHS computer system
    • Record numbers of young people not in employment, education or training
    • Nations credit rating downgraded, making our massive debts even more expensive
    • “Positive” Discrimination
    • FTSE returns down as they have for every single Labour government since the war
    • Longest and deepest recession since the 1930s
    • 9 out of 10 cars bought under the car scrappage made abroad
    • An Illegal war and insufficient equipment for our soldiers
    • National road pricing scheme plans and “pay as you drive”, on top of existing fuel duties.
    • Unaffordable housing, and failure to meet house building targets leaving those under 30 struggling to find a home of their own

    Not to forget the countless sound bites driven by a corrupted media team, a few choice ones being:

    “No more boom and bust”
    The biggest bust since the war, needs no further explanation.

    “British jobs for British workers”
    A hollow sound bite. Uncontrolled immigration taking up low paid unskilled work whilst the welfare system encourages people to stay on benefits.

    “Education, Education, Education”
    Record numbers of young not employed, in education or training. Spiralling student debt, top-up fees and low job prospects.

    “Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”
    Prisoners sentences cut short due to a lack of prison places. PCSO plastic police and police investigation little more than handing out a crime reference number for insurance purposes. The re-offending rate among young prisoners is close to 90%.

    “Best placed internationally to weather the economic storm”
    One of the first in and last out of the deepest recession since the war whilst increasing our debt significantly in the process.

    We don’t have any great alternatives, but none of the parties in opposition can be worse then this travesty of a government.

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