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Originally Posted by Higgers

“I'm thinking vans should be banned from suburbia

We have one in our street who starts work early hours, and has to have the van sitting there on tick over for about 10 minutes, which feels like an eternity. Just get in and clear off, quietly! ”

Sounds like there's a breed of them!

He sat outside my house last night looking in my direction, before reversing down communal drive.  I was on 'phone (signal's better at front), wasn't interested so just turned my back on him.  Of course he will be long gone when the communal drive needs to be resurfaced so he doesn't care about the damage he's doing.

End of rant!!

Given some of my recent experiences with customer service, I think it has improved.

Apart from the satisfactory resolution of my recent telephone problems, I also had to return a pack of tights to my local Asda.  No way were they the size it said on the pack.  Expected to be given third-degree, I was pleasantly surprised when I handed them over and got a refund with no quibbling.  

Angela - I agree with your comments about Trip Advisor.  Same scenario with holidaymakers blaming tour operator for bad weather!

Agree with your comments Steve.

My last parcel was delivered by a local plumber in his company van, so it's a second or third job for him.  I also know of some mums who take kids to school then do deliveries/collections, go home to do paperwork and drop off returns at depot, before collecting kids from school.  If it works for them....

What concerns me is that whilst Amazon will ensure their drone pilots are properly trained and certified, other less scrupulous companies may feel they can do it "on the cheap".  In that situation, I would rather wait for a human to deliver my parcels.

Great picture Steve!

Those stripey huts always remind me of an ex-boss and his antics during Rag Week at Birmingham University many, many years ago. He and his mates picked up one of these huts, carried it through New Street Station and put it on a train (to Bristol I think). 

Given the other things they did, it was very close between getting their degrees or being excluded. Then there's the story about a famous Birmingham statue and a chamber pot, but I digress 

Originally Posted by Barney

“That old photograph reminded me of the old paraffin lamps they used to use to prevent people from falling down holes.... I nicked hundreds as a kid in the hope someone would fall down..... wish I had kept them all as they sell for £25 a pop on ebay....”

Good one Barney!  I also remember the nightwatchman in the stripey tent who had a brazier to keep warm and light from the paraffin lamps around the hole.

Thanks for the very interesting comments.  

FCO has introduced a new advice section on their website and also published a list of the 400 partners involved.  These partners are from travel, insurance and allied industries although it's not clear what their contribution has been, or what involvement they will have in the future.  It may be more of the same, in recommending customers look at the FCO website.  My initial thoughts are that there are still some important items missing.  Perhaps I should contact FCO...... 

Originally Posted by ITGeek007

“Clinton - I give up!  Not going to pursue this 'conflict' any more, you've got off lightly this time

So, I'm not going to elucidate.  Normally I would have said that I can't, because I don't know what that word means, sorry, however thanks to the power of Steve (AKA Google), I now do, so I'm still not going to eludicate.

Oh, and it's "see what I 'did' there?" not "done"  - and NO, sorry, I didn't!

Steve - I DIDN'T think that Clinton was having a pop at me personally, he just goes around correcting everyone's English.  Speaking of which, Clinton, if I had a hat, I'd take it off to you!  Considering you're from Poland, you're English is very very good!

Oh, and Steve, thanks for picking on me there!  "classic case of reading too much into something"  The bl**dy cheek of it!

Why are we talking about shoes all of a sudden?  As long as we haven't got off on the wrong foot on this thread, that'll be fine!  Sorry, couldn't resist that one!

 ”

Good discussion with plenty of differing views on the importance or otherwise of grammar.  I applaud Clinton in mastering a difficult language.  

IT Geek - I used shoes as an example of incorrect use of "them"; a habit that seems to have stemmed from a certain soap.  Pay attention please 

Originally Posted by Steve Richardson

“Can I help you? Yes please make coffee faster Costa Slowbucks  I reckon they need a big jar of Nescafe, problem solved.

At least now we know is eating all the muffins ”

Steve, haven't had a muffin for a while, swopped to danish pastry.  Not wishing to be too indelicate as it's coming up to lunchtime.  They were a "healthy" option having bran on the top, so were not conducive to spending 3-4 hours at 35,000 feet after consuming.  I will leave it there.....

Difficult to work out where to post this so opted for this discussion.

In my last job I gave travel briefings to colleagues as part of their pre-travel risk assessment.  Since being made redundant it's got me thinking about how travel providers, tour operators and those just selling single elements of a holiday approach the issue of travel security advice.  I have written to a number of "niche" holiday providers (solo holidays, people of a "certain age") offering to provide information to them, but had no response.  Their magazines do not feature any articles on travel security. I've also now decided to stop posting free travel security tips on one forum site because most of the contributors don't recognise the importance.

It's not scare-mongering, travel security is an important part of enjoying our holidays.  Are these companies reluctant to become involved because they fear being sued if something goes wrong? Most suggest FCO advice, but that offers general rather than more specific information.  

Last Thursday marked 30 years since Suzy Lamplugh disappeared and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust is a recognised authority on safety at work.  On the same day, many newspapers ran a story about a doctor who had been raped whilst on holiday in St Lucia.  She is now suing the sailing holiday company for not providing secure accommodation.  This could become a landmark case if proven that the holiday provider did not recognise its duty of care to customers.

The media has a lot to answer for especially on aviation issues!  They see Virgin and aircraft then automatically think Virgin Atlantic.  In aviation speak VX is Virgin America, VS is Virgin Atlantic and VA is Virgin Australia.

I take some of what SRB says with a large pinch of salt.  Look at his comments in days before Brexit vote (we must stay, etc, etc).  What happens a couple of weeks later, he's at Farnborough Air Show arriving on Airbus A350, to announce an order for this aircraft worth $4.4bn at list prices.  

Laws on company ownership vary from country to country.  Virgin Atlantic's joint venture with Delta is 51%/49%, so contrary to what many cynical media commentators say, Virgin Atlantic still has overall control, despite appearances that Delta holds the strings.