BT Battle

I am in the middle of a battle with BT over my broadband. I have reported the sloth of my broadband several times over the last two years and each time I have either been fobbed off or told to call back later.

Well, since I am at home for a while I am chasing them now. They have gone through the, oh dear that's not good, sorry to hear that ... So I called back and they sent out an engineer: he told me that he could probably do nothing but after he'd gone I waited 24 hours and as nothing had happened I called again. They told me the engineer had changed some settings and I should wait up to a week. They promised to call me on Monday evening to check up: they did; but they asked me, is your broadband working? I answered, yes; and they said good and put the phone down. I was furious so I sent them another sms to tell them the following:

Over the weekend I downloaded the new iOS Mountain Lion ... but it took me 5 days to do it. Part of the reason for the problem with downloading was that my connection kept dropping ... another factor that's driving me on is that I am paying far too much to lose my connection and have a speed around one eighth of the national average broadband speed.

I have now been promised an engineer of engineers to come and sort me out! He's coming on 2nd August and I will report back.

DW

Radio Star ... Again!

There was a discussion on You and Yours on Radio 4 today and they asked what we thought of the Olympics so far. I can't believe how many people are being so negative: the cycle race is coming through my town and already they have put barriers up in front of my father's house and he'll be 100 years old in three weeks ...

Anyway, I am a great supporter of the London Olympics so I wrote up; and they read out most of what I said! This is what I said:

"Dear Sirs,

I have been a firm supporter of the London Olympics from day one and whilst the seat allocations are a bit of an annoyance, they are not a major distraction are they? The security guard problem was another blip that has hardly presaged the ruination of the Games has it?

On Sunday I went to Old Trafford to watch two Olympic football games and it was a magical experience. 66,212 people were there and the atmosphere was magnificent: everyone cheered everything. Yes, there were supporters of particular teams but everyone cheered every goal, all substitutes were given standing ovations as they left the pitch.

As we all left the ground, there were probably hundreds of policemen and security guards: they really weren't needed as nothing needed controlling!

People had come from all over the world to see their own team, the opposition teams, Old Trafford itself. The standard of football was pretty high too. And for an average of £20 a game I even got to see a Brazilian team whose players are the senior Brazilian players of the future: they were an inspiration too!

Just listen to the crowds at every event on the television too: so much energy and emotion.

£9 billion will prove to have been very well spent when all of this settles down."

DW

Olympic Football Summary

In response to an email from a friend today, I wrote the following and It seemed like a good summary of my trip to Old Trafford today.

I went to Old Trafford today to watch two Olympic football matches. 66,212 people were there. From many nations. The substitutes were clapped into the stadium. The teams were cheered onto the pitch. Whichever team scored, everyone applauded. Everyone was happy.

The Egyptians played New Zealand in game one: one all draw. Good game, great spirit. Many Egyptians there. Two rows down from me there was a posse of young Egyptians: faces painted with their flag, wearing their team shirt, banging a drum they'd brought with them, chanting and singing in Arabic. No one cared, everyone enjoyed it! Come half time, one of the cheer leaders had a bit of banter with some young children in the row in front of him ... perfect English.

The second game was Brazil v Belarus. Suddenly, half the stadium seemed to be Brazilians. Fantastic atmosphere. Superb skills from such young players. Time flew. Belarus scored, everyone cheered. Brazil equalised, everyone cheered but the Brazilians cheered louder still. Brazil won the match by three goals to one.

This is the Olympic spirit.

DW

I Arrived ... Old Trafford!

This is where I am now. Train on time. I spotted two likely lads and shared a taxi to the ground with them ... security was OK!

The ground seem smaller than it is on the telly!!!

Egypt v New Zealand first, in about an hour from now.

DW

<Whispers> the Old Trafford Journey Begins

For the first time ever I am on my way to Old Trafford, football ground. Never had the need to go there before and it's the Olympics that beckons!

Egypt v New Zealand at noon followed by Brazil v Belarus around 3 pm.

I hope the journey is without strife, collecting my ticket is straightforward and the games are exciting.

DW