I slept well, but was still up earlier than I might
have liked on a Sunday morning. I made toast and looked at the Internet. I’d
thought last week’s episode of Star Trek was rather good, but sadly there were
no end of so-called fans finding fault with it. It was the so-called fans that
got the show cancelled in 2005, and the same killjoys won’t be happy until
they’ve killed it again.
I checked my emails. I had an email telling me that my
car insurance is due for renewal, and in the email the nice people from “Insurance
R Us” said “You have been with us a number of years. You may be able to
get the insurance cover you want at a better price if you shop around” I thought
that was rather honest of them so I spent a little while shopping around.
Bearing in mind I’m old, I thought that a well-known firm who specializes in
the older members of society might be the best people to tap up for a quote (I
don’t dare mention them by name for obvious reasons!). They wanted a
hundred and fifty quid more than I’m currently shelling out.
I tried LV as I’ve heard they are cheap. After what seemed
like an age they told me that they couldn’t insure me (!) Oh well, it’s
their loss. I shall take my money elsewhere.
I then went through the U-switch comparison site and Money
Supermarket, both of which gave me loads of quotes. Both including one from “they
who shall remain nameless” which was quite a bit cheaper than what they
themselves had quoted.
Bearing in mind how good my current insurers were when I
had a prang a few years ago I think I’ll stick with what I’ve already got. But
I shall give them a ring and see if they can’t get it any cheaper… I’ve tried
it on in the past and they’ve often made a reduction.
And whilst I’m thinking about it, I really should review
the house buildings and contents. When we had the leccie debacle last New Year
our current insurer said we didn’t have emergency callout cover. I spent a
small fortune getting someone out, and when I complained the nice lady insisted
that we did have emergency callout cover… but wouldn’t reimburse me on what I’d
spent because of their mistake.
But whoever I go with for house building and contents
it won’t be LV – I’ve taken offence with them.
And whilst on the subject of insurance, if you can
scrape up the cash, it is *far* cheaper to pay for a year’s worth in one
go rather than shell out each month. The last time I looked I was saving about
two months’ payments by getting a year’s worth in one go. Of course the flip
side is that if (when) they balls up by saying that you don’t have emergency
callout cover when you actually do, then you are stuck with them until the
policy runs out.
With that in mind I started Wordle this morning with “quote”
(despite the Q). It gave me the U and the O as being correct; if in the
wrong place. To be honest that’s a better start than I usually have. I got it
on the fourth attempt with “lousy”.
I popped into the garden and got a coat of paint onto
that planter I built yesterday, then we took the dogs for a little walk. Two
weeks ago we walked for a mile along the canal where we spent over an hour and
a half looking for a geocache before finally giving up. Armed with a hint from
people who’d been there and found it we went back and after quite a search we
found it.
As we walked Bailey was entertaining. Twice she found
fox poo in the long grass which she moved onto the gravel path where she rolled
in it. You can clearly get better coverage of fox poo when the dung is in the
open on the gravel rather than buried in long grass.
Treacle went in the canal and couldn’t get out, and
Morgan was gobby.
We came home for a cuppa, then I set off to work. The
plan for today didn’t involve work, but the late shift had gone sick, and there
it is. As I have said so many times before, if I had my time again I’d work
somewhere that owns a “closed” sign. But that’s a decision I should have
made over forty years ago.
I drove up the motorway past the Operation Brock
stupidity. The lane toward Maidstone was rather busy as was the
coast-bound lane. But the Operation Brock bit was all but deserted. As I drove
the fifteen or so miles I counted seventeen cars and two motorbikes (all of
which shouldn't have been in there), and perhaps (at most)
twice that many lorries.
As I drove the radio was playing the omnibus edition
of "The Archers". Seriously? How many people listen to that
drivel? I looked it up.
About five million people a week. Marginally more than the amount of viewers
that tune in regularly to
Eastenders and about a million more than the amount who watch Coronation Street.
One lives and learns.
I got to work and sulked. Yesterday afternoon I'd
pootled in the garden dodging in and out of the house to avoid the drizzle.
Today I'd volunteered to go into work and the weather was glorious. But it
could be worse. I've got a job to go into.
I did my bit, and eventually the late shift arrived
and I got to go home. Down the "A" road, and not the motorway.
The Operation Brock stupidity was being removed. Apparently
a spokesman for the bunch who bring it in and out of action (the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum) said
the removal was due to a decrease in expected tourist traffic. Now I'm no
rocket scientist (blood, yes. Rocket, no) but it strikes me that next
weekend is the Bank Holiday. The entire point of Operation Brock is to ease
congestion at the post of Dover. If ever there is going to be congestion there,
it will be at a summer Bank Holiday weekend. Won't it? If the Kent and Medway
Resilience Forum are removing Operation Brock on the lead-up to a Bank
Holliday, then surely they have no business instigating it ever again and are
admitting that too?
I must admit I see this as our new Reform UK County
Council falling at the first hurdle. Operation Brock is a complete shambles at
best, and something they could have easily put a stop to. Something my new
county councilor assured me they were going to put a stop to. Perhaps they
might put a stop to the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum - especially when you
bear in mind that this august body is made up of them and those to whom they
ostensibly give orders. They've had their chance and blown it.
Operation Brock will be back in a month or so…
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