Week of 25th October, 2010

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Monday, 25th October

OK, let's see what the credit card people are worrying about. And 12 minutes later, I'm still hanging on, listening to "All our agents are busy. You may like to call back later." The letter I got asked me to 'phone a particular, named, person, on a normal number, not a non-geographic one. And the first thing I hear is, "This number will be discontinued soon. Please redial on 0844...." That's a non-geographic number. Looks like the named person is a sock puppet. Maybe they meant it when they said, "Discontinued soon" and they just haven't updated the recorded message. I'll retry with the 0844 number later.

But before that, I need to get Jane's internet banking turned back on. After the saga over updating AVG to the 2011 version, I broke any site that needs a login, on Jane's computer. The Tech support slave disabled Jane's account as a precaution, while I ran a virus scan. That came up clean, but it took a while, so that's where things stand at present.

I really need to retire that machine - it's old and slow, and the HD isn't big enough. Katy's Packard Bell laptop is available, and is proven Skype-capable, so that will be Jane's new machine. Whether she'll like it is an open question.

<pause>

Can't get Jane's internet banking turned back on. She has to do it. But I've sent the funds to her bank account - probably not a good idea, now I think of it, because she can only use them with her debit card, not the pre-paid credit card she wants the money on. But I can load that myself, so I will.

And then an outing, first to help Jenny move stuff, and then some shopping for me. All successful.

<another pause>

Apparently, the security panic relating to my credit card is because the provider received a temporary change of address request, from an address in Barking, East London. They didn't believe it, and mailed me. So, at the second attempt, via the above 0844 number, which answered within seconds - go figure -  I found out about the attempt, and we decided that the existing card would be cancelled, and a new one issued - balance to be transferred, since there's no evidence of any fraudulent charges. So my card is unusable until the new one arrives, later this week. No biggie - just so there's no evidence of fraudulent use. Mem: check the statement that was issued last week.

I suspect someone made a note of the card number while Jenny was using the card - can't prove it, but that would be the most plausible cause, and they attempted to get another card sent to an address they control, so that they could drain the account.

Thank you, $CREDIT CARD PROVIDER, for being on the security ball. But a 'phone call would have been better.

And Jane's prepaid credit card can only be reloaded from an account in the name of the primary cardholder - which is not me. Or by personal attendance at the issuing office. Why? On any sane assessment, $FAIL.

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Tuesday, 26th October

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Wednesday, 27th October

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Thursday, 28th October

Last 2 days of this fortnight, and as seems to be usual, it's the busiest. But everything done by quitting time, and the missing lists are empty except for lives and on-the-day feeds. So that's all well, and I can get an early bath with a clear conscience.

New credit card is here. Good service that. But it needs activated - 'phone the number on the sticker affixed to the card. Which is a nonsense security precaution - if the card has been intercepted, the number to call is right there. Albeit they wanted lots of security data - most of which is trivially available online, much though I would prefer otherwise.

And they really wanted to sell me identity theft insurance.

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Friday, 29th October

Today, Mum wanted to recover some documents stored at her bank - seemingly wills (superseded) dating from 1982. At least, that's what she thinks... But, sure as eggs is eggs, there'll be something important hidden in there that she's forgotten.

OK, I know we'll need hard copy proof of ID. This would normally be 2 separate, recent, pieces of paper with Mum's name and address on them. So we found those, and pitched up to the bank, at the appointed time. Jenny came with me to assist, because parking near the bank is next to impossible.

Except it wasn't. I found a space 30 yards away. UKP0.30 per 10 minutes, maximum 1 hour, overpayment accepted. Luckily, I had UKP1.50 with me - which got 50 minutes legal parking. Sufficient.

In the bank, it turns out that hard copy paper ID is not sufficient - photo ID is required. OK, I can accept that - but TELL ME first!!! In this case photo ID means passport, or driving licence - or, in the alternative, bank cash card and PIN.

But we can't find them... So that was a bust. New appointment made for next Wednesday - when I will have my ducks in a row. And Mum didn't understand that quote...

Later, a visit to the local vet. to get Splodge checked out. And she's recovering well. She's due for a X-ray next week, at the Hampstead office, to check on progress. If good, some of the bracing frame may well be removed. New insurance claim form required, and downloaded by the vet.

I'll have to make this trip by myself, since Jenny is working. That'll be before work. And I'll take the insurance form with me - the vet. can fill it in. They have all the information, such as Splodge's microchip serial number - which we don't know.

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Saturday, 30th October

Since Jane is still in America, it falls to me to do the Dora run. Which went as well as can be expected, given Dora's age and infirmity - which has accentuated her tendency to piss and moan at everything. But at least we (Liz and I) got Mum out to the cafe for an early lunch.

Later I got a BBM from Jane, "Can you pick us up at Heathrow tomorrow morning?" Well, yes, of course, but which terminal (there are 4) flight (American Airlines 132) and how much luggage - there's too much for Nicole, so it'll have to be Hopalong.

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Sunday, 31st October

Pickup went well, but parking charges at the airport are larcenous - UKP4.30 for an hour.

Then I had to shop for blackboard paint for Katy - or chalkboard paint as they call it now. Took visits to 2 shops, but I have 2no 500ml packs, as requested by Katy. Now to get her chunky chalks - our local Early Learning Centre was sold out, so I need to visit again.

And while I was doing that, Jane and Sarah decided, in their collective infinite wisdom, to buy a new computer for Jane. After some to-ing and fro-ing, they settled on an Advent SFF desktop system. No monitor, the HP LCD monitor still works fine. It has Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB of memory, and 250-odd GB of hard disk. Intel GMA3150 graphics, which would be a no-no for gaming, but Jane doesn't do that.

So they wanted me to set it up, but not configure the software - they don't like my choices of passwords and system names. But If I leave the system name at the Windows default, and don't set a password, that objection goes out the window.

After that, let's get a printer installed. The Brother 5250DN laser is easiest. The (allegedly Win7 compatible) installer is a 101MB download. And it works

They bought Norton 360 V4.0, which comes with 3 installs, and an install key for M$ Office 2010 Home and Student, which allows you to upgrade a pre-installed trial to the full version. All well and good, but...

The machine has the 30 day trial of Office 2007 Home and Student. Oops! But this can be fixed - you can download the installer from Microsoft, if you provide your (valid) e-mail address and the install key you purchased. Which worked.

Then it was move all the user data onto the new machine, via the Freecom 400GB USB drive. This includes lots of music under iTunes management.

And when I installed iTunes, it found all the music. Result.

Finally, shove it all back into the corner cubbyhole where the old system lived, and it's done. I had hoped to avoid having to stand in a corner, legs braced, while operating the machine in situ, but 'twas not to be. Thank $DEITY I could do most of the setup work on the dining room table.

 
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