WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tizer]

Copied from the front page of today's `i' newspaper (sorry for poor image quality). Why do we allow such terrible things to progress so far before doing anything about it?...

[Stanley]

I agree with you Peter.
I think one factor is that we don't support our public services enough and consequently they are always fighting to catch up with the work load they already have without setting any fresh hares up to chase.
It's another good example of the evils that result from austerity and the short-sighted policies we are adopting again. See today's cartoon!

[Stanley]

The sheer mind-bending complexity of THIS caught my eye....
High on a mountain, in Chile's bone dry Atacama desert the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is currently building the world's largest optical telescope. No time was wasted on choosing a name - it will be called the Extremely Large Telescope or ELT. Instead, huge energy has gone into designing and building “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”, which should start collecting images in 2028 and is very likely to expand our understanding of the universe. None of that would be possible without some of the most advanced mirrors ever made.
The article goes on to expand on this and I find it astounding that we are still putting this sort of effort into building a terrestrial telescope when the ones in space do so much. I am sure there must be a good reason for it, it's just that it is beyond my understanding!

[PanBiker]

Chased my car insurance this morning which is due on the 25th. Couldn't remember getting a renewal email so went onto the online portal for my policy. Pleasantly surprised that it is less than last year and about £70.00 cheaper than anything the Meercats can offer. So I will stick with my current insurer, the policy will auto renew at the appointed hour, with payment actioned a couple of days before.

The portal said I had been emailed so I searched on Outlook, they did indeed send me the details but it was when I was on holiday. All good, fully comp, with additional driver (Sally), legal protection, 9 years + NCD, personal injury and RAC breakdown cover included.

[Big Kev]

"Have you reported that activity to eBay?"
Yes and they recognised I had a case and told me to wait until August 9 and they re-contact them. When I did they kept chucking me out saying there "was a problem". I tried four times with the same result and so went to PayPal for help. They have initiated a case and Ebay must have listened to them because they have informed me that my case with them is closed. I am now waiting.
In the meantime I rang Garlick's and they have a razor in stock.

Any progress with the refund?

[Stanley]

No word as yet, I could go and enquire but have not done so yet. No point bugging them.....
What did get my attention yesterday was the fact that Trickers are running a sale and I have been thinking about buying a pair of shoes because my feet have broadened as I get older. So I bought a new pair of brogues for the bargain price of £345. Would you believe that that is £200 off? They have shot up in price over the last few years....
Another thing has caught my attention, I have a video call coming in from Oz. Great grand children wanting to show me their dinosaurs...... The marvels of modern technology.
One other thing that has happened is that now I have an affective razor I have turned my attention to the bathroom cabinet whose shelves are lined with bottles of after-shave lotion collected over the years and not used. I have to report that I have started using them so if anyone meets me and wonders what the strange odour is it is simply me using up old stocks.....

[Stanley]

PayPal have refunded the £49.99 today Kev. That means they hold about £59 in my account. I shall use that for another purchase and the remainder can go to Ian for the site rather than it sit loitering in my account......

[Big Kev]

PayPal have refunded the £49.99 today Kev.

Excellent

[Tizer]

Well done, Stanley. It doesn't do anyone any good to let them get away with scams.

[Stanley]

Thanks for caring both of you. It wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had lost the money but it's good to know the firm's card has been marked..... Not sure what the sanctions are but surely there must be some. After all, if there isn't any claw back available to PayPal they have lost £49.99!

[Tripps]

I'm having an item delivered today. The vendor is using Evri who are keeping me well updated on the situation.
Problem is the emails from the Evri contractor look a lot as if they are from a scammer.

eBay - fairbank18 <397a4f8310f146109c72@members.ebay.com>

Treated with extreme caution but quite innocent. I can't help wondering if this somehow was a factor in SCG's electric razor not arriving.

[Big Kev]

I'm having an item delivered today. The vendor is using Evri who are keeping me well updated on the situation.
Problem is the emails from the Evri contractor look a lot as if they are from a scammer.

eBay - fairbank18 <397a4f8310f146109c72@members.ebay.com>

Treated with extreme caution but quite innocent. I can't help wondering if this somehow was a factor in SCG's electric razor not arriving.

I have the Evri app on my phone. The Evri tracking number, once input into the app, provides me with updates directly from Evri. These usually coincide with the eBay email notification and inspires a bit of confidence in the validity of them.

[Tripps]

Interesting - thanks.
I use my phone as little as possible, and with the exception of Starling - never for banking. I can't see the level of detail needed for due diligence.

[Tizer]

Netanyahu will probably now be responsible for many more child deaths in Gaza - and perhaps elsewhere...
`Baby contracts Gaza's first case of polio in 25 years' LINK

[Tripps]

Well Letitia from EVRi has delivered my item.
A memorable "Beiderbecke" moment - remember the platinum blonde and Trevor Chaplin?
Outstandingly the best looking woman who has ever rung my doorbell. Drop down a rung Heidi Allen.

She kindly left a souvenir photograph on her EVRi page - I'm tempted to "share", but it would be an invasion of her privacy to publish it.

Brightened up my afternoon though - now what else do I need from eBay?

[Stanley]

That's bad news about the resurgence of Polio Peter an d only to be expected with the damage done to living conditions. High time we all got together and stopped the incursion. (Yes, I know that in some quarters that's anti-Semitic!)
Whatever the reason for non-delivery, PayPal couldn't cure it so I suspect it was a bit more than just suspicious emails. Remember they asked for my card details so they could charge me for re-delivery. I think that would alert both of you!

[Tizer]

Outstandingly the best looking woman who has ever rung my doorbell.

I suppose you were tickled pink that she made your day and floated your boat?
I'll bet Evri have dropped any ideas of using drones and send an AI hologram blonde to your door instead.

Ian will enjoy this one for the mini wildlife and Kev for the photography....
`Pest or picture perfect? Lives of bugs captured in striking detail' BBC

[Big Kev]

Some lovely images there

[Tripps]

Police in Solingen where the latest mass stabbing atrocity was carried out yesterday are said to be seeking a person "of Southern appearance". I guess they mean someone from Bavaria wearing lederhosen.

See what Solingen is famous for - knives - ironic really.

PS A fifteen year old is now under arrest.

PPS Seems he was detained for failing to report that an offence was about to be committed. They are still seeking the 'Southerner'.

[Big Kev]

See what Solingen is famous for - knives - ironic really.

They make very good saucepans too, I have a set.

IMG_20240824_171829~2.jpg

[Stanley]

My cut-throat razor (The one that the kids ruined by chipping the blade using it to sharpen their pencils.... )
was made in Solingen. The Sheffield of Germany.

[Tizer]

Some lovely images there

More images but of a different subject...
`Art capturing a disappearing industrial landscape' BBC

[Big Kev]

Some lovely images there

More images but of a different subject...
`Art capturing a disappearing industrial landscape' BBC

loving these.

[Stanley]

Imaginative images but of moonscapes produced by industry and not remediated. An indictment really.

[Stanley]

I fell into a gumption trap this morning..... One of my morning routines at the moment is to polish my new trickers with Ox Blood polish to give them a bit of colour. This morning when I went to polish them after an application earlier before I went in the shed, I took a brush out of the cupboard I haven't used for a long time. It did a good job and I noticed how my shoes looked noticeably darker. Then I realised the brush had thrown out a fine dust of black particles. To cut a long story short it was very old black polish, the brush must have been an applicator for black polish at some time. Then I noticed that my slippers rubber soles must have picked up a coating of the dust because I was leaving black shoe prints all over the vinyl floor.
All told it took me 45 minutes to get out of the mess and in the process I stained the front of a good shirt. I will be lucky if that washes out! The offending brush has now been washed and is drying in the cupboard, it won't do it again.
PS If you are wondering about the phrase 'gumption trap' it comes from the excellent Mr Pirsig's book, 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'. If you haven't read it I highly recommend you put it on your reading list!