Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

tumptyteapot

I've been googling free films
http://www.blinkbox.com/Movies/Free
and http://www.veoh.com/list/s/Ghibli which has loads of Studio Ghibli :-) bring on the popcorn!

redglass_2

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I am disgusted at the dreadful email from the vets! I would be inclined to send the following to the partners, in an envelope marked Private & Confidential:

*************************************

This is the message I received from your office, when I expressed my dismay that they had implicated that I did not love my cat sufficiently, as I had the temerity to ask the cost of his treatment:

you take offence extremely easily when none is meant and draw extraordinary conclusions in a quite reactionary way which is sad

They take customer care and satisfaction extremely casually, which is why none is forthcoming, and are extraordinarily insulting, whilst considering themselves faultless, which is sad. If their attitude is indicative of the care that is available to my pet, I will take my custom, and his welfare, elsewhere.

**************************

xx

Good idea, but since they are a family firm it might not have much impact...OK, I'm about to get down and dirty now. Years ago I had my car serviced and they put a sticker in the back window (without asking me!) saying SERVICED BY BLOGGS MOTORS LTD (not their real name). I later found they were incompetent and had done damage to the engine that cost me a lot to get fixed... but they wouldn't admit it or accept any liability. It was hard to prove, so Bloggs & Co were laughing... but I edited their sticker so that I was driving around with a sticker saying BADLY SERVICED BY BLOGGS MOTORS LTD and I kept that sticker for months. With this in mind...I suggest you forward their email to local people, and just generally publicise how badly they treat their customers. Forward it to the local Consumer Advice people while you're at it. And see if they come up on any of those sites where you rate businesses, and give them the full benefit of your frank opinion. Nobody should ever be insulted like that just for asking a price! It's outrageous! :mad:

Aril wrote: »

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Congratulations Blairweech on passing your first year at Uni!!

I'm shocked by the stories of the vets I'm hearing- ours is a traditional one although a bit on the pricey side. I never buy F****Line from the vets- it's a lot cheaper online and I've never wormed her [or any other of my cats]. They all have had a litter tray so work on the assumption that I would know iyswim:eek: Her jabs are kept up to date and we've kept the insurance going from the Cats Protection League. We never had need of it with our old cat but thisone has been a ropey old dear who's had a hard life [prior to us] and now has an overactive thryoid and the policy covers the medication costs.

No spends today. A link for you for free short OU courses which may be of interest
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/

Arilx

Ooh yes, forgot to congratulate Blairweech - well done!

Aril and Tumpty - those are great sites, thank you so much! I've found something really useful on the OU one and can see several movies I want to watch. :j:j:j

ceridwen

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I've been googling free films
http://www.blinkbox.com/Movies/Free
and http://www.veoh.com/list/s/Ghibli which has loads of Studio Ghibli :-) bring on the popcorn!

Thanks - I've not had a lot of luck at googling for free films - other than Googlefilms (as most sites seem to require one downloads some "gadget" thingie to be able to view the films - and I'm a bit wary of doing that...)

Shall investigate further on the blinkbox link. Wondered what ghibli was and guess that means childrens' films - errrr...the rest of that site, at a quick glance, seems to be "odd:eek:" or in Japanese (not a lot of use to me personally:rotfl:).

paidinchickens

Morning peeps

I really don't like people being treat badly it really makes me grrrrrrrrr:mad:
I handled customer complaints for years and sometimes the people were dreadful, really mean and vicious. However I always stayed polite and respectful then when the were off the phone I would stand in my office and scream:rotfl::rotfl:
There really is no need to be horrid and I think in these times when people are reluctant to spend money businesses will have to be on top of their game both in their product/service and their customer skills. If not these will be the first people to go under and will probably blame the recession and not themselves.

I am a big believer in Karma.......deeds definitely catch up with bad people its just the time it takes that varies!

Why do I always pop on to put a couple of lines and end up writing an essay?????:eek:

I ran out of juice last night (thought there was some in the cupboard) I had just enough for packed lunch today. Bless the boys as not one moaned when I said they would have to have water, tea or milk:rotfl::rotfl:

I have been really tired this week. Roll on the weekend when I can have a lay in:T:T

23rdspiral

My last post was eaten! I said nothing bad in it other than I'd had a stupily spendy day. Accidentally bought a purse and handbag in the Accessorise sale. Might have to return them . Think it was a reaction to my car tax stress! but I've never been so happy to pay my car tax! I didn't have the reminder letter and the online wouldn't 'confirm' so was without tax for 4 days!:eek: until I could find the documents and drive the 20 miles to the DVLA office... Who were great, and also admitted their computer system was playing up. So relieved though.

tumptyteapot wrote: »

3 pots of apple jelly made from the thinnings of the apple tree - it is one specially for small gardens but it overproduces and the branches break if I don't thin it out. There are a couple of carrier bags of apples left to pick on it, think I'll make chutney.

ooh, wow! Thank you. New house has 2 apple trees, which keep falling and I was wondering if I could use them somehow.

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I've been googling free films
http://www.blinkbox.com/Movies/Free
and http://www.veoh.com/list/s/Ghibli which has loads of Studio Ghibli :-) bring on the popcorn!

Ooh, thank you. I never knew such sites existed. And I LOVE Studio Ghibli!

ceridwen wrote: »

Wondered what ghibli was and guess that means childrens' films - errrr...the rest of that site, at a quick glance, seems to be "odd:eek:" or in Japanese (not a lot of use to me personally:rotfl:).

Go on, give Ghibli a go! They are beautifully dran tales, often quite magical and moral. Maybe try Howles Moving Castle... Actually based on a welsh story book... Evil witch, mysterious fella, and a castle on legs... Can't go wrong!:rotfl: or try Spirited Away it won oscars. Don't try Grave of the Fireflies, set in WW2 Japan, unless u like harrowing sadness that lingers with u for years... NOT a kids film I would say.:(

tumptyteapot

ceridwen wrote: »

Thanks - I've not had a lot of luck at googling for free films - other than Googlefilms (as most sites seem to require one downloads some "gadget" thingie to be able to view the films - and I'm a bit wary of doing that...)

Shall investigate further on the blinkbox link. Wondered what ghibli was and guess that means childrens' films - errrr...the rest of that site, at a quick glance, seems to be "odd:eek:" or in Japanese (not a lot of use to me personally:rotfl:).

you can filter it to just show films in english, Studio Ghibli are japanese animators who do very beautiful kids films that are good for adults too. Ponyo is the most mainstream one, it was in the cinema recently. They are dubbed into English.

http://www.blinkbox.com/TV/Free/Comedy does TV shows too I have just discovered - loads of things from Shameless to Bottom to Bugs Bunny!

alec_eiffel

23rdspiral wrote: »

My last post was eaten! I said nothing bad in it other than I'd had a stupily spendy day. Accidentally bought a purse and handbag in the Accessorise sale. Might have to return them . Think it was a reaction to my car tax stress! but I've never been so happy to pay my car tax! I didn't have the reminder letter and the online wouldn't 'confirm' so was without tax for 4 days!:eek: until I could find the documents and drive the 20 miles to the DVLA office... Who were great, and also admitted their computer system was playing up. So relieved though.


ooh, wow! Thank you. New house has 2 apple trees, which keep falling and I was wondering if I could use them somehow.


Ooh, thank you. I never knew such sites existed. And I LOVE Studio Ghibli!


Go on, give Ghibli a go! They are beautifully dran tales, often quite magical and moral. Maybe try Howles Moving Castle... Actually based on a welsh story book... Evil witch, mysterious fella, and a castle on legs... Can't go wrong!:rotfl: or try Spirited Away it won oscars. Don't try Grave of the Fireflies, set in WW2 Japan, unless u like harrowing sadness that lingers with u for years... NOT a kids film I would say.:(

I agree, just because a film is animated doesn't mean it's for children! Taking time out to indulge in some beauty and as you say, magic is a wonderful thing. Spirited Away is just gorgeous. Embrace the beauty in the world - even when it comes with subtitles!

LolaLemon

Nearly the end of the 1st week of school/nursery holidays, and OMG, if I hear scooby blimming doo again, I swear I'll scream Hahaha
Had a bit of a 'thing' in the bank yesterday, on Friday I went in before half 3 to pay money to cover the mortgage, checked with the teller that the mortgage had bn taken, it had and put me over my overdraft, so paying in then ment I would not be charged for going over... etc, got a letter yesterday for my mortgage to say it was rejected and I'd be charged £30 to my account, so went in, just to see what had happened. The woman had said I might have been too late for it to get checked, but no, my acc showed it taken then rejected then my payments, the teller was most unhelpful and very patronizing and kept saying it was to do with the level of my account, so I asked to know what level I am considered to be (very low I assume) to which she replied with 'its banking terms that customers are not to know' . So I let her know that I wasn't leaving until she told me, as it was obviously a major factor in her attitude towards me, and the banks false advertising which I was taking further, and SHE ROLLER HER EYES AT ME! she went to get a manager to give me my 'level', as the only one authorised to do do, (I did not ask to speak to one) and was fobbed off with a fone call in the morning, so told her I would wait, and plonked my son on a comfy seat and prepared to wait forever.
By now, my issue is not the false advertising, but her attitude. The manager comes over to explain that she is with another customer and will call me in the morning but I reiterated that I was waiting, and to take her time.
Twenty mins later she takes me into a room and b4 I even say much, she says that they will pay my charge from the mortgage company and waive my charges from them (YIPPEE) once she had removed charges and xfered money to my mortgage account I then told her what had gotten me upset, and that it wasn't the actual charges but the attitude of the staff. She was a bit shocked to say the least hehe.
2 lessons their for them I think, 1 get all the facts before u act, and 2 good customer service, !!!!, just customer service goes a long way!


I hate being on this mobile, I can't remember what I was going to comment on, I know I need to say thanks for the wonderful advice regarding my pending relationship and of him moving in (I've asked that we start right at the start, go on dates etc as it was a bit of a whirlwind the last time. and this way I can see how my sons coping with it.) I will thank properly next time I'm at a pc.

I see lots of pet problems hugs to all
I remember someone talking of getting chickens, I'm soo jealous! I want a green frog coop, a lot cheaper than the egloos but not 'as' pretty, but I don't have the money for it just now


if anyone is in or near the west coast of Scotland, we have the Tall Ships races this weekend, should be a good thing to see, last time they where here it was great!

rubytuesday

Well I will be having a spend.

I need cat food and yesterday my son text me to ask if I could feed his cat as he is in Milan unexpectedly.

The meanie has only left her with dry food and she likes the sachets.

She is more upmarket than my lot!:rotfl:

Absolutely pouring down now though so I'm stuck!

23rdspiral

:eek: i've just had a final demand gas bill threatening them to enter the property and fit a meter!! it's for 141.10 :eek: we've already moved supplier so it must be from the previous residents but its a shock... its addressed to our estate agent so i've been popping all letters like this down to them. i guess they havnt done anything and i opened this one just by rote :mad:

and ditto an electric bill, at 70.00 for a month!!:eek: we suspect the previous residents were avid 'growers' as the loft was Very well insulated... but that is surely just rediculous!

i'm trying to not panic, calm down and find an alternative to number to 0845 to SSE... which is Southern Electric Gas, member of Scotish and Southern Electric. SAYNOTO0870.com here i come