July 28, 2006
*sigh*
We were so close to completion. Have been for a week now. But things keep popping up and people keep doing brainless things...
July 18, 2006
Eeeee!
We're close to sorting a completion date.
*excited*
And in other news... I appear to have a new job. Again. Well, OK I was "promoted" in June last year, but this is a real new job in a different company. I'll be team leading second line support for a major travel web site(s) based in town; managing a team of what I think will be around 18 guys, including the database sub-team, based in both London and <exotic location>. I'm not sure I'll actually get to visit the part of the team in <exotic location>, but a girl can hope!
I finish here in 4 weeks and then get a whole 4 days off before I start the new job. Which, if the house goes to the current plan, will give me a bit of time to sort out housey things like unpacking some rooms, getting in an architect for the loft conversion etc.
July 17, 2006
Unbroken streak
First Capital Connect have still not managed a single train on time for my journey home from work since last I mentioned it. And then there's the impending signalmen's strikes...
A throughly modern farce
My Oyster annual season ticket is up for renewal shortly, so I tried to buy a new season ticket...
Last week (Thursdayish maybe):
- attempt #1 to buy online fails "we were unable to proceed with the transaction" type message
- attempt #2 to buy online fails "we were unable to proceed with the transaction" type message
- attempt #3 to buy online fails "we were unable to proceed with the transaction" type message
- attempt #1 to buy over the phone (talking to a real human being) fails "we were unable to proceed with the transaction" type message. They say "you'll have to buy at a ticket office"
I figure I've got a few more days to sort this out before my season ticket expires so I'll leave it for Monday.
Today:
- get to <station> and bip through gates as usual
- go to ticket office to buy new zones 1-n annual
- dude tells me I have 2x 1-n annuals on there and he can't refund me, I have to talk to Oyster on the phone
- attempt #1 of phone refund - Oyster on the phone tell me they can't see anything yet
- attempt #2 of phone refund - Oyster on the phone tell me they can't see anything yet
- check online - see 2x 1-n annuals
- attempt #3 of phone refund - Oyster on the phone tell me they can't see anything yet and I could go to a ticket office or wait for them to call back to see if they can help (huh?)
- go to ticket office, yes he can do a refund. please insert credit card. woo!
- insert credit card - "last try - please enter your PIN"
- enter PIN
- <phone rings in pocket. I ignore it.>
- "Your card is now locked. goodbye"
- call <BANK> "help!"
- <BANK> say the quickest thing is to use an ATM to unlock the PIN
- trundle to (nearby building) to <BANK> ATM
- insert card, choose "PIN services, unlock PIN"
- attempt #1 to enter PIN - bzzzzt
- attempt #2 to enter PIN - bzzzzt
- attempt #3 to enter PIN - bzzzzt - machine eats card
- call <BANK> "help!
- <BANK> say "we cancel and send new one"
- I say "can you suspend a transaction while I wait"
- <BANK> say" Switch is like cash, once it's been paid..."
- I butt in "but this is a Mastercard"
- "please hold"
- <time passes>
- "is that the card that ends ****?"
- "uhh no, that's my VISA card, I said Mastercard"
- <time passes>
- "I'll put you through to <department> now"
- <department> cancel my Mastercard and re-issue a new one (to arrive in 5-10 working days)
- pick up voicemail "Hi, because you bought your ticket today we've got nothing on the system yet, please wait until tomorrow morning"
- call Oyster to say "but I didn't buy it today!"
- "Ah, but you picked it up on your Oyster today and that's when we take the money. We won't have the info until tomorrow."
- to the office! ('s too hot outside anyway)
- <time passes>
- call from Oystercard "can we ask who is your card issuer because we have 4(!) transactions going through?"
- "<BANK>"
- "OK we'll have to talk to them to release the *mumble*indistinct* and we'll see what comes through tomorrow. I'll call you back tomorrow."
*boggle* But OK, that's 3 web transactions and one phone one, it adds up. And it explains why my PIN had one try left on it; <BANK> fraud systems must have kicked in or something.
...but why did both I and the phone support people get an "we were unable to process your transaction" error if they were, in fact, going through?
July 12, 2006
Happiest place on earth
 |
Vanuatu, officially the happiest place on Earth. And I've been there. :o) |
July 11, 2006
Still crap
Every working day for the last week, I've had to wait for a delayed train at Wimbledon to get me home. There's only one every half hour, so you'd think it wouldn't be so hard to get them to be on time, compared with a more dense timetable on other lines. Bored of this crap service. Make with the house moving already.
July 10, 2006
Gagged
...for now.
Once I am ungagged, I'll break the news.
