The Retirement Thread
- Thread starter Dirk
- Start date
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
Dodgy smart meters/comms signal in Todmorden 5; British Gas comms fixer guy 0!!! 
I used to hate having people watching over me while I worked so I showed him down into the cellar and left him to it. I thought I'd take the opportunity to clean my best bike while the kit was being fixed.
It seemed to be taking a long time so I took my singlespeed bike outside and cleaned that too.
Hmm, no sign of fixer guy... Defrost the fridge!
And then... play games on my phone.
He eventually surfaced and admitted defeat. He had replaced the comms unit and the new one picked up a signal for a few seconds and then failed in the same way that the old one had. He said that the signal isn't great in this town and would be even worse down in the cellar. Also, the meters themselves are older models so he has booked replacement meters and another replacement comms unit. There is a 28 day lead time on these jobs so it will be another month before the next attempt.
I have a feeling that this problem is going to linger on and on...
The traffic has built up now. I'll go for a shorter ride later once it gets quiet again.
I used to hate having people watching over me while I worked so I showed him down into the cellar and left him to it. I thought I'd take the opportunity to clean my best bike while the kit was being fixed.
It seemed to be taking a long time so I took my singlespeed bike outside and cleaned that too.
Hmm, no sign of fixer guy... Defrost the fridge!
And then... play games on my phone.
He eventually surfaced and admitted defeat. He had replaced the comms unit and the new one picked up a signal for a few seconds and then failed in the same way that the old one had. He said that the signal isn't great in this town and would be even worse down in the cellar. Also, the meters themselves are older models so he has booked replacement meters and another replacement comms unit. There is a 28 day lead time on these jobs so it will be another month before the next attempt.
I have a feeling that this problem is going to linger on and on...
The traffic has built up now. I'll go for a shorter ride later once it gets quiet again.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
What I forgot to say was that I would not be too fussed about whether BG's tech can read my meters remotely 4 times a year - I would be happy to read the meters myself and submit the readings online. Only I can't, because I have smart meters... apparently BG will read them remotely instead!
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
BG fitted my smart meters and they can be read - I have to press a button on one but the other just has a displayWhat I forgot to say was that I would not be too fussed about whether BG's tech can read my meters remotely 4 times a year - I would be happy to read the meters myself and submit the readings online. Only I can't, because I have smart meters... apparently BG will read them remotely instead!
good job really because they went dumb when I changed company - as you are encouraged to do by the government!
Dunno who designed this smart meter system but the version 1 was moronic - I spent many years designing, programming and implementing computer and comms systems and if I had done that one I would hang my head in shame!!!
Although I suspect it was just the government bit of the design that caused to stupidity!
oldwheels
Legendary Member
I remember well the old Glasgow tram lines. I would never have crossed at the angles some of these cyclists used. Biggest danger if the angle was not right was getting a wheel stuck in the rail. never came off or got stuck but it was something you had always to remember.
Dave7
Legendary Member
Tbh.....i don't have anyone on an ignore list. If I don't like their comments or attitude I just flick past and literally ignore them.
Dave7
Legendary Member
I was dragged up in Wallasey. Between us an Birkenhead was "the four bridges".... all cobbles and rail lines.
As you say, you MUST cross at the correct angle. I remember my Bro coming home with a broken nose and black eye after he misjudged it.
Drago
Legendary Member
Its to be expected that a big rock star like you would habe the occasional problem with stalking fans, Jon. I'm sure your minders will keep you safe.Some people never learn, a cyclist, no a thug on a bike comes to mind, now wishing me harm.
The best thing for me to do is bugger off as my blood pressure is rising fast.
pawl
Legendary Member
Morning all
Yay! Tis Fish Friday
Will nip into Wadebridge in search of a decent chippie later.
Currently about to have our 2nd cuppa in bed, overlooking Padstow.
Still no sign of Rick Stein yet.
Sign of the times - 5 units on site and we are the only caravan, all the others are mohos.
I normally don’t like Cornish Pasties but have never tasted a genuine Cornish one I was in Padstow a few years ago Changed my mind after tasting one I bought at a pie shop in Padstow.
Perhaps Cornish Pasties should have protected status like Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies
Tenkaykev
Guru
I thought that they had?
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
My Dad used to ride his bike around Liverpool. He told me that if you got your wheel stuck in the tram line you had to wheel it to the tram depot to get it out
I was a kid at the time - he may have been exaggerating - it is the sort of thing I would say - but it may have been the true if you were near the depot!
He also told me a lot about RAF bikes during the war - apparently the correct course of action on getting a new bike was to knock the cotter pins out and replace them - the supplied ones were rubbish - dunno where they got new ones from but as they were on an air force base I suspect there was a workshop with a sideline
Drago
Legendary Member
Where else could you get inane drivel of the ridiculousness I trot out?
Juan Kog
permanently grumpy
Inane drivel , now you tell me . I have always taken your pronouncements very seriously.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
I CAN read the meters but when I log in to my account there is nowhere to enter the readings and I am told that it will be done automatically. Which it WOULD BE... if my smart meter comms unit were not playing up...
I had a look down in the cellar. Before the 'repair' there was a red error light showing all the time on the comms box. Now it goes off, leaving 2 green leds for a while, but then I get the error led again.
I checked my account - the system hasn't managed to upload any new readings today in between errors. The last smart readings were taken in November 2020.
12boy
Guru
If one of the Clares was a really sweet technogeek would she be EClare?
As far as ignoring buttons go as I set it up to ignore this thread which is my favorite. Of corse the outcome was I ignored myself?
Had a very nice 20 mile SS ride. Fastest one this year, I believe. And, plenty of juice left to go shopping.
So a friend came by and I wound up giving him two 26 inch wheels with almost new 2 inch tires so this morning he gave me a handmade, 40lb draw, hickory and bamboo long bow with a string he had also made. Now I have 2 bows...a 46 lb recurve and the longbow. Nice guy who cannot stand to be beholden to anyone.
As far as ignoring buttons go as I set it up to ignore this thread which is my favorite. Of corse the outcome was I ignored myself?
Had a very nice 20 mile SS ride. Fastest one this year, I believe. And, plenty of juice left to go shopping.
So a friend came by and I wound up giving him two 26 inch wheels with almost new 2 inch tires so this morning he gave me a handmade, 40lb draw, hickory and bamboo long bow with a string he had also made. Now I have 2 bows...a 46 lb recurve and the longbow. Nice guy who cannot stand to be beholden to anyone.
