Where the hell did September go? :-O One minute it was the start of the month, and here we are at the end. Flippin' heck, I hardly had time to do anything! It's not going to stop me wittering on a bit though.
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Firstly, I must comment on the simply glorious weather we've been experiencing in these parts for the last week or so. I know Nature is tricking us into believing that we really did have a summer, before turning down the thermostat, but it has been so very welcome.
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The start of this month saw me trying to renew my car insurance. I had not had a reminder from my current broker (One Call Insurance), so gave them a call. They said they'd sent an email on 5th August ... erm, no you didn't. Anyway, they confidently announced their best quote was just under £500. ... Pardon?! I said I'd wander over to a comparison website and see what I found there. What I found was several quotes for under £200, and most of the big companies offering comprehensive cover for something around £250 (including one from the current broker!)
I called them back and told them I was a bit confused. How could their quote be so high when on a website they themselves could offer what I wanted for half the price? The chap looked into my file, and told me it was because of the 'outstanding claim' on my policy. Naturally, I asked what that outstanding claim was for. "The head on collision you had" he replied. This was puzzling since I have never, ever (touch wood!) had a head-on collision. The chap on the phone said he couldn't tell me any more and suggested I call the insurance company with whom my policy was held. So I did. I was passed from insurer to underwriter, and was becoming increasingly frustrated with every new person to whom I spoke.
Eventually I spoke to a lovely chap by the name of Mike (Axa Underwriters), and I liked Mike very much. He was able to tell me that 'my' head on collision took place in Wakefield last March. I told him that I had never been to Wakefield. He looked at the notes of the accident, and it turned out it involved nobody of my name. Or my car. He thought the brokers had mistakenly used my policy number instead of someone else's. He called them and told them of their error, asking them to remove the accident and associated claim from my file. He then called me back and assured me all was now well. I called the broker and confirmed that they had indeed removed the erroneous claim - they had. But nobody - not one single person to whom I spoke - apologised for the error which could have cost me a LOT of money. So that's the last time I ever do business with those people!
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I must say something here about the layout of my blog. I don't know what the hell has happened to it, but my sidebar has slipped down to the bottom of the page. Maybe it lost weight? Maybe it needs a belt and/or braces? Maybe it's legs are broken and it can't stand up anymore?
I cannot tell you how frustrated I've become in trying to sort this out - I've been into the 'Design' option of Blogger at least eleventy million times and no matter what I press, click, choose, or slide, my poor old sidebar remains slumped on the floor. :( I'd give it the kiss of life if I could.
Has anyone out there got the faintest idea how I can mend it? Please? I'd be very grateful if you could let me know.
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One of my Bookface friends introduced me this month to Pinterest. Oh me, oh my - a whole website full of fabulous images, crafty tutorials, stylish interiors, places to visit, clothes I want (along with plenty that I don't). I managed to download the app to my iPod Touch and now spend some very happy time most days just browsing, pinning and 'liking'.
If you haven't ever been there, I urge you to visit. If you need an invite, just let me know and I'll whizz one off to you. I am going to try to put a widget in my sidebar (read 'slumped on the floor bar') which should enable you to click through to my boards whenever you please. I'm by no means a Pinterest specialist, but I can see this becoming a long-term pastime. Thank you Holly, for the invite.
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No.2 began playing league games for his 'new' team this month. So far - one loss, one draw, and one (handsome) win. The Assistant Coach is 'a shouter' - we knew this before No.2 went there (because his 'old' team had played against the 'new' team a few times). During the second game, No.2 got heartily fed up with this guy's shouting at him (he shouts at everyone, not just No.2). When he got home, No.2 had a few tears and said he wasn't sure he wanted to keep playing for the team because the shouting was spoiling it for him. He asked if I'd speak to the Head Coach.
So I did. The Head Coach told me that every new child who joins the team, complains about the Assistant Coach. :D He said even he had had, on occasion, to tell the guy to turn it down. The shouting is, apparently, a reflection of how passionate the Assistant Coach is about each and every game. Anyway, after a few more weeks, No.2 appears to be building some resistance and is much less bothered about the shouting.
Shot taken from No.2's new training ground
No.2 came off the pitch after his last game, chuckling away. Apparently there was a 'mature' lady (ok, he said "old woman") with the supporters of the home team, who was shouting expletives every time she felt one of 'their guys' had been less than favourably treated by the referee. He said it was hilarious. I just hope he enjoys his football - and only time will tell.
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During a clear out of my stash, I found a little set of fat quarters. I bought them from Fabric Freedom - probably more than a year ago now. They are still in their ribbon and have the label from the shop (it reads 'Flutterbright FQ200/TURQ 6 Fat Quarters 100% Cotton'). The predominant colours are turquoise and purple, but there are lots of other colours featured too.
Anyway, I think there is only one of these fat quarters that I would use, and it seems a shame to break up the set; so I thought I'd give them away. If you'd like them, just say so in a comment: I'm happy to send them anywhere in the world. If there is more than one person who'd like them, I'll get one of the kids to pick a name.
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I have been pretty good again this month at posting some images for my 111 in 2011 project at Flickr. I'll leave you with some of those:-
The Written Word
Fire
Bridge
Spicy
Two or Twins
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