It's been a while, so I guess I'm overdue for a rant. This one was inspired by Jo and the subject is blind Parochialism - particularly on Scotland's commercial TV channel - STV.
Up here in the North East of Scotland, we used to have our own regional ITV channel - Grampian - which was eventually taken over by STV, closing the Aberdeen studios in to the bargain.
The "S" supposedly stands for Scotland, but it is so Glasgow-centric, it's not true. They even announce at the end of most of their shows "coming to you from the heart of your city". Now I still consider myself a Glaswegian, despite the fact I've only lived there for less than a quarter of my life, but it's only the "heart of your city" if you happen to live in Glasgow, surely? - and what if you don't even live in a city, but are out in the sticks?
I haven't heard any Aberdonians or those from any other parts of the country commenting on this - but I do wonder in particular what those in the capital think of this?
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Pet Hates Nos. 20 & 21
It's been a while since I had cause to add to this occasional blog, but today I've got another two examples.
I ordered a new iPhone 6 on Friday - after a lot of hassle/sharp intakes of breath with Vodafone - and was told that there was a delivery slot the following morning and the courier would deliver it between 8 am and 1 pm, so I waited in on Saturday morning. Of course, it never arrived, but I just shrugged my shoulders and bit my tongue and thought to myself, well it'll arrive on Monday.
Monday was almost over and there was still no sign of the courier, who, I had been told, would phone/text about an hour before he arrived. So I decided to phone Vodafone - "hold on sir, I'll contact the couriers now." I was told there had been a technical issue at the couriers' but my phone was in their Aberdeen depot and would be delivered tomorrow (Tuesday), and I would get a text tonight with a one hour delivery slot and the name of the driver.
The text arrived - this morning - and it told me "Neil" would deliver my phone between 16:37 and 17:37 - how very precise, I thought. Of course, this meant I had to stay in all day - I couldn't trust the couriers to keep their promise and it would be Sod's Law if I popped out for an hour or two and they arrived then.
They got the timing right - it arrived minutes after 16:37. Neil was a right surly one - as he handed me the parcel and the signing machine, the only words he uttered were "we don't deliver on Saturdays", pointing to the promised delivery date on the advice note. I suggested perhaps somebody should tell Vodafone then, precipitating the gruff response "nobody delivers to Banchory on a Saturday". I impressed myself with the restraint I showed by not responding to this, but as I walked away, I wished I'd asked him what happened to Monday then?
This seems to happen on at least half the deliveries by couriers - either late, or no delivery, or worse still, they arrive but don't ring the bell or wait long enough and all you get is a card in the mailbox telling you they were here, and please call such-and-such a number to either arrange another time, or come to their depot and pick it up.
So that was my first Pet Hate today (and my 20th to date). Number 21 is directed at Apple. In a previous posting to this blog, I had ranted on about USB's, which have turned out to be anything but "Universal" connections. Well, the same now applies to Apple - they love to be quirky and their connectors were always different from others, but the new iPhone 6 has completely different connectors from my existing iPhone 4 - and Jo's iPad. What's that all about?
I ordered a new iPhone 6 on Friday - after a lot of hassle/sharp intakes of breath with Vodafone - and was told that there was a delivery slot the following morning and the courier would deliver it between 8 am and 1 pm, so I waited in on Saturday morning. Of course, it never arrived, but I just shrugged my shoulders and bit my tongue and thought to myself, well it'll arrive on Monday.
Monday was almost over and there was still no sign of the courier, who, I had been told, would phone/text about an hour before he arrived. So I decided to phone Vodafone - "hold on sir, I'll contact the couriers now." I was told there had been a technical issue at the couriers' but my phone was in their Aberdeen depot and would be delivered tomorrow (Tuesday), and I would get a text tonight with a one hour delivery slot and the name of the driver.
The text arrived - this morning - and it told me "Neil" would deliver my phone between 16:37 and 17:37 - how very precise, I thought. Of course, this meant I had to stay in all day - I couldn't trust the couriers to keep their promise and it would be Sod's Law if I popped out for an hour or two and they arrived then.
They got the timing right - it arrived minutes after 16:37. Neil was a right surly one - as he handed me the parcel and the signing machine, the only words he uttered were "we don't deliver on Saturdays", pointing to the promised delivery date on the advice note. I suggested perhaps somebody should tell Vodafone then, precipitating the gruff response "nobody delivers to Banchory on a Saturday". I impressed myself with the restraint I showed by not responding to this, but as I walked away, I wished I'd asked him what happened to Monday then?
This seems to happen on at least half the deliveries by couriers - either late, or no delivery, or worse still, they arrive but don't ring the bell or wait long enough and all you get is a card in the mailbox telling you they were here, and please call such-and-such a number to either arrange another time, or come to their depot and pick it up.
So that was my first Pet Hate today (and my 20th to date). Number 21 is directed at Apple. In a previous posting to this blog, I had ranted on about USB's, which have turned out to be anything but "Universal" connections. Well, the same now applies to Apple - they love to be quirky and their connectors were always different from others, but the new iPhone 6 has completely different connectors from my existing iPhone 4 - and Jo's iPad. What's that all about?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)