Salva Nos

I got my gas and electric bills today. Gas bill is ok, electric says that my monthly payments are being increased by about 65% due to my higher than expected usage. Apparently they used an actual reading to calculate this bill, rather than an estimate. Except the "actual" reading was for the gas meter, not the electric.
The other week I returned home to find a card left by a meter reader, so at the weekend I logged on the site given on the card and provided readings for both utilities. Only they used the gas reading to calculate the electric usage, and put down an estimate for the gas (which was very close to the correct reading). I wouldn't mind a mistake, but not when they use it to increase my payments by 65% without checking first!!!
Guess who's getting a bollocking tomorrow...

I have been working with a new colleague for the past week. I mean, he's been in the job for a long time, but we'd never worked together until now. Apparently this situation has been of great concern to our bosses, as we've each had at least 3 calls a day asking if we were ok, and 2 separate visits to make sure, just for good measure. It seems that the bosses were expecting sparks to fly (or, as one put it, blood and guts). We both have a reputation for having very strong personalities and being very fussy about how we work, wanting things done *just* so. As I explained to my boss this morning, I don't really care how things are done, as long as they get done efficiently. In fact, my colleague and I spent a lot of this week throwing ideas around (how he does things and how I do things) and picking out the best, or mixing them together if they gave better results.
We've also been sniggering after each call enquiring about how we were doing :D

On a slightly different note, I had a half-arrangement to see someone last Sunday, but he had to pull out due to other commitments. However, we've been exchanging texts on and off all week. As I'm off to Italy in two days, we won't be able to meet at least until December, and even then it might be difficult as I have guests... although if it gets critical there's always that nice hotel up the road!

And I do like Mediaeval Babes!

Since when...

Is attempting to shag an inanimate object in the privacy of your own home a crime???
I mean, it wasn't even a sheep!

But seriously, if I'd been the guy I'd have sued the cleaners for breach of privacy... or is there something we don't know?

¿Por qué no te callas?

Instant classic!

I don't know if it was funnier to see Chavez refusing, yet again, to be silenced or the King of Spain behaving like I probably would have in a similar situation.

I'm torn about Chavez. On the one hand I can only applaud his internal policies (what I know of them) and his stance to the Western powers... On the other hand, I can't help being suspicious of his radical left policies. Mainly because he seems to encourage Red Ken every step of the way... But then again, that is possibly not a bad thing!

Quite a few things going on at the moment. I went to Italy and saw friend's baby, even more gorgeous than in the pictures.

The day before I came back we went to see The Police in Turin. Much as I think Sting is a hypocritical piece of shite, I can only drool at his gorgeous bod. I mean, the bloke will be applying for his freedom pass soon (if he hasn't already), and he looks as if he got himself cryonised at his peak.
Then I saw Rush at Wembley. Wow! Not my favourite band but I must say they rock!
So that's two items struck out of the "bands to see before they die" list.

Now getting ready for the next Italian trip with annexed gigs (somehow I always manage to arrange trips around gigs!) - and also my niece's birthday that was yesterday. I'll be a couple of weeks late to celebrate with her but it didn't make sense to go down now for a few days, come back and go down again at the end of the month.

I've been binning all music newsletters and brochures from a few theatres with hardly a glance at them as I just can't afford to buy any more tickets for a while. I know that if I read them the temptation would be overwhelming. Maybe next year...

Also met a few interesting people lately but it's difficult to keep up as I need my own space and time to unwind, and in the past couple of months or three I've hardly had any. Last weekend I banned all activities and just hid under the duvet with books, DVDs, music, etc... bliss! Possibly I'll have a repeat next weekend too.

My new(ish) mobile phone died a sudden death about 10 days ago. I took it to the shop to be fixed under the warranty and they told me they couldn't do it and it had to be sent back to the manufacturer. I'll probably end up being given a brand new one as I suspect the problem was a bit terminal, but it won't be for up to a month. I feel lost without it, I'm using my previous phone but I don't understand how I could live without my latest one before I got it!!!

And to end with a smile...