Intermission

Tomorrow, 75% of the denizens of Ranty Barracks will decamp.

We are leaving No 1 son in charge of the house, the two dogs and the cat. With a fair wind, the barracks may still be intact when we come back.

We trudge south, to the heady delights and temptations of Manchester to celebrate the 50th birthday of Ma Ranty's oldest chum.

I have this particular milestone to look forward to in January.

All of the above is my way of saying that blogging will be anorexic until we return next week. Please treat this as an open thread to discuss worldly matters of great import anything you damn well please. Mi casa is zu casa and all that.

Couple of updates:

1. That speeding thing.

Nothing. Nothing at all. The alleged "offence" ocurred on 23 September. Their paperwork arrived 5 days later and it was explicit: the whole thing will be over within 30 days. Tomorrow is day 30. Apart from that Saturday morning visit by Bodie and Doyle, nothing else has happened. I fully expected to have a summons delivered to me. No joy.

2. That Sky/DCA thing

Those leeches at the DCA said that they would "acknowledge receipt of my email within an hour". That was 14 days ago. They did attempt to call me but when I answered the phone, all I heard was some ridiculous automated voice asking me if I was Reeeantyiearghoohow. The robot seriously mangled my surname and then asked me to pick one of three options, the third of which was "Press 3 if you do not recognise this name". I genuinely didn't, so I pressed 3 and hung up. No letters or calls since then. They may not yet have gotten the message that for them, the well is dry. If they call me again my fee schedule kicks in.

3. That energy scam thing.

I showed you all the letter wot I wrote. They have since sent three missives: the first apologised for the long delay in replying, the second was much longer but said nothing and did not answer any of the questions I had asked, and the third (received today) was to inform me that they had revised the estimate. Upwards. They now want just over £2,900 off me between now and this time next year. They have so far declined to check the accuracy of the meter. I may get it checked independently. Something is seriously amiss here. The national average, (for those on electric only) is somewhere around £1,100 per year. Which indicates that I am paying for two other families to heat and light their homes. It may be that the Greeks have tapped into my supply. I must check the cabling....

So, that's me. Play nice while I am away. If I get access to a PC or laptop in Manchester I will chip in. If not, spend some quality time checking out the Awkward Sods on the right hand side. That should keep your blood boiling nicely until we troop north again.

Yer old pal,

CR.