As we had to move the van this morning to a nearby site we were up at a reasonable time so as to ensure we did not get to hot during the move. But you guessed it as soon as we got outside and started to prepare the van for the move it also started to rain, not heavy mind you but more of an annoying level. Anyway we took about forty five minutes to move and set up shop again and as it was quite grey outside, but not cold, it was a time for the great English Breakfast of eggs and Bacon with a few tomatoes thrown in for good measure. This was followed by croissants and strawberry jam and a a very nice cup of real coffee, not this instant stuff. What a way to start the day.
Let us share with you a couple of stupid things which do create aggravation and could so easily be avoided. Noel has to make a payment on line through Lloyds Banks, yes here we go again. First of all consider the following. The Wi-Fi station is about 100 metres away and just reaches the caravan but can cut in and out if a bird or ant moves and to have this happen whilst creating this payment would not be good. So Noel walked the 100 metres and set himself up with a good reception and logged on to the Bank and started entering the data regarding payment details viz, name of bank, account and sort code etc etc and pressed the last button to confirm transfer when up came a screen with a new set of instructions of online banking which we presume are a security measure against others using your bank details when you are overseas. This new screen said there would be an automatic call to your choice of home or mobile phone and on the computer appeared a four digit number which you would need to enter on your phone to seal the deal. However, not knowing and also not advised about this new system and mobile phone requirements, Noels mobile phone was safely tucked up nice and warm in the caravan. The Bank would call you in 30 seconds and you could enter the number. But as my name is not Michael Johnson or similar there was no way for me to get back to the van and back and wait for the phone to start up.
The phone being retrieved having slowly walked the 200 metres or so I tried again only to find I had no phone signal, Wonderful. So I went bank to the caravan and tried again but this time the Wi-Fi signal kept cutting in and out and although I had a phone signal I could not log on. What a Bloody mess. This all happened yesterday and this morning i tried again with the same result only the phone stuttered in to life and then I lost the phone signal as well as the Wi-Fi signal.
Slightly earlier in the day when trying the signal from the caravan I checked on my credit card just to ensure everything was correct only to find that two payment had been duplicated and then as I was cut off by the Wi-Fi I tried again closer to the signal only to find that I had been locked out of my account and needed to completely re register.
Anyway after an afternoons rest and about four hours after my above exploits my mobile phone sprung in to life indicating I had two voicemails but due to poor signal strength I could not fully understand them, the voicemail sounded just like standing in St Pancras Station listening to the train announcements and the only person who can understand them is the announcer, and so got in the car and drove a couple of kilometres to a hill overlooking the local town and trred again. The two voicemails were from Lloyds Bank asking to me through an interrogation process did I really make a call to them and if so please say Yes and then add the number from the computer screen only I did not have the computer. What a very stupid game this and so it can all wait until all the Wi-Fi demands and mobile phone signals meet a useable quality.
I also had some trouble with the caravan motor mover. It’s a long and annoying story but having spent £ 60 on new batteries for my De Walt Drill and then another £ 80 on a new more powerful Bosch drill only to find that the set up of the mover is wrong. The most annoying this about this is that they came to service the motor movers two days before we left home. They still work OK than heavens.
The weather after lunch time ,turned nice and sunny but not to warm, I guess aound 28 degrees, just nice.
Anyway this evening we had delightful BBQ of Cumberland pork sausages and Costco rib eye steak cooked over some Carrefour supermarket charcoal. Mon Ami it was really good and washed down with some leftover Sancerre.
Tomorrow its the Formula One British Grand Prix and in the evening its the World Cup final where I think Spain will beat Holland 2-0 but let’s not jump to conclusions as I have been known to be wrong on this forecasts. Eg I got the England 6-0 win over Germany not entirely correct
T
