Life….is a journey November 29, 2022

Life….is not a straight line. There is no linear progress. Life is just everything, everywhere all at once. Profound stuff but nothing new …most people will be well up to speed on just how random every day can be.

Last week for example, I was having a pretty shitty day. The weather was foul, it was cold, it was miserable, I’d been cut up by various idiots in traffic, I’d had the usual person that you let out in front of you – who didn’t give the obligatory ‘wave’, then I’d made the mistake of watching the news – climate change, heating bills, cost of living, floods, hurricanes, strikes, changes of prime minister, a money laundering king …jeez…shoot me now.

So, I was feeling pretty low.

On a scale of one to ten, I was hovering over a three.

I got home and it was still raining but the dog needed walking – so coat on I headed out of the door and started on our usual walk along the river – when suddenly I realised that I was looking at …a kingfisher.

It was sat on a branch hanging precariously over the fast-flowing water and was totally unaware of my presence.

I just sat transfixed until the moment it shot off downstream in a flash of iridescent green.

My mood was immediately uplifted.

Life was good again.

Everything that had seemed so important was suddenly just a distant memory ….and breathe.

Nature …just a wonderful tonic in a sometimes shitty world.

  

Mike C

Dog Versus Wife November 15, 2022

Walking along with my other half a few days ago and we got onto a random conversation about who is the most important person in your life.

The discussion centered on who you would save in the event of a sudden crisis.

Imagine you’re walking along a cliff top with your mother and your husband, and the ground begins to collapse. You have time to save one person …but only one …which do you save…your husband or your mother?

So, my wife without any hesitation said… ‘Well obviously I’d save my mother…’

Nice.

So, in my head I started to think about recent goings on in our house hold –

I arrive home and my dog comes rushing to the door. She barks, she squeals – she wants a tummy rub and she will not leave me alone until she’s had some quality cuddling time.

My wife when I get home barely looks up from the latest podcast that she’s listening to and waves her tea mug at me for another brew.

I was in court recently for a driving offence and was banned for six months.

I got home and my dog comes rushing to the door. She barks, she squeals – she wants a tummy rub and will not leave me alone until she’s had some quality cuddling time.

My wife when I get home from court starts on at me…. ‘You’re an idiot, when will you learn, grow up, get a life, how are you going to get to work, don’t expect me to drive you everywhere!’ …

All I’m saying here is…imagine you’re walking along a cliff top with your wife and your dog and the ground begins to collapse …..

 

Just saying.

 

Mike C

It’s about the people, not the company name November 3, 2022

I recently had an all singing, all dancing alarm fitted at my house. CCTV, motion detectors, dead locks, pressure pads …the works …all fitted by ADT.

They did a great job, all installed by one team.

We pay a monthly fee for alarm monitoring and maintenance of the CCTV.

After a few teething issues we had to call them back to get systems back online and working again.

When I say… ‘we had to call them back’ – this involved repeat phone calls with an administrator who was obviously briefed to…. NEVER SEND AN ENGINEER OUT….

Whichever way I approached her …the computer would say ‘no’.

Eventually we did get an engineer to visit.

He looked at the alarm… but… had to be told how it worked.

He refused to go near the CCTV because he wasn’t aware we had CCTV and it wasn’t on his sheet.

So, for the last twelve months we have had a working alarm and only a partially operational CCTV.

The alarm then failed with warning lights showing battery failure….so we had the task of getting an engineer out again.

Dates and times were agreed then on the day of the appointment I received a text saying… ‘Your battery has been posted to you via DPD – on receipt please phone the office to be advised how to install.’

I rang the administration team and went ballistic with them explaining that this was not what had been agreed and insisting on an engineer calling to the property.

Enter Ashley, the ADT engineer.

(Sound of trumpets and drums to herald his arrival.)

He sorted the alarm.

He sorted the CCTV.

He sorted the remote monitor.

He stayed till we had tried and tested every part of the equipment.

He gave us his mobile number.

He was an absolute legend.

My point being – whilst you may be employing and paying ADT….

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED ….IS ….AN ASHLEY.

Thanks Ashley.

Mike C