Advent 3

My first Christmas ..

 

Christmas stamps were issued by other countries well before the UK. I'll come back to the subject of UK Christmas stamps, and Tony Benn, later on in Advent.

Advent 2

Just crackers.

Advent 1

I was wondering what to put here to create a kind of Advent calendar. I've decided on some pictures of a nostalgic and vintage theme, with just a few words.

So to kick off we have a few old fashioned (vintage!) Christmas light bulbs. I'll probably put some more of these up in the next 23 days as I like them. This kind of bulb is usually in a string of 12, being rated at 20V (for anyone reading from overseas, domestic UK power is 240 volts).

They have been produced in this voltage and fitting (MES) format since at least the 1930s, and many of the original bulbs are still around and working today, having had relatively little use in total during the past 80 years.

This type of decorative bulb, called 'figural' when representing a particular item, person, or fruit, are an interesting and attractive thing to collect. It's even better if they're still working. So if you're looking around flea markets, reuse shops or car boot sales - my advice is - always carry a 9v battery.

 

Well well well,

so this old thing still works.

The Number One Job on the Number One Day

I hadn't seen this little gem of a cartoon for I don't know how long. I hope you like it.

If you're celebrating, have a good time. Merry Christmas.

Talk Talk the latest, it's official - they ARE crap.

Talk Talk voted wankiest internet provider and most complained about bunch of internet scam artists and tossers in entire history of the on-line world;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15018161

No news really.

I've moaned about this before. Here's the local proof;

As you can see the magnificent Talk Talk, with their pardners in cowboy hats and jangly spurs Openreach, manage to deliver an APPALLING  one thirtieth, rising to one twentieth, of the expected and paid for service speed.

Lets review:

• Their fault reporting system is debilitating and wearing. Deliberately so, I am sure.
• Their complaints process is exhausting and impenetrable - and relies on web access to use it HA HA HA HA. Oh my aching sides!!!
• The transfer and switching process to a new ISP frankly does not bear thinking about.
• OPENreach, who's fault some or all of this abomination still 'technically' COULD be, (who knows), are UN'reach'able except through one's ISP (see above).

Frankly, dear reader, I am so sick of this shit, and much else to be honest, that I might just cancel the accounts, rip out the plugs and return to 1989. Opting out of the information super-ditchway really appeals to me now.

What do you think? Drop me a postcard and let me know.

Oh and if you are reading this, TalkTalk, do please sort your shit out once and for all. It's your problem, not mine. We're not 'all in this together'. I am not your friend, nor your 'colleague', just a soon-to-be-ex-customer.

Thank you for tuning in to Pest Media Updates.