Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

mothernerd - thank you for popping in. I know things have not been easy for you, which makes me even more delighted that you have chosen to make the time to pop in to see us here. Thank you. My problems are small beer in comparison to what a lot of people face on a daily basis. Hence why I'd prefer to step back and deal with them, rather than turn this wonderful thread into a wingefest of 'Greying's Groans' :rotfl::rotfl:

I was going to pop a couple of pics of food up that we had, but P bucket is playing silly b's and wouldn't show the pics as reduced size, which is needed on MSE, as I know that it can make viewing a thread a nightmare for folk when huge pics appear on it.

So we'll have to start afresh and see what frugal fare we can continue to conjure up eh? We'll need to again this month. April is currently shaping up to be no less squeaky than March :rotfl:

Greying

kem10

brizzledfw wrote: »

Very touched, hon, by your post today on my diary..you're simply the best

(sorry not trying to channel Tina Turner there, honest :rotfl:)

I find it impossible to read "simply the best" without it turning into the Tina Turner tune in my head!

I'm sorry you had to take a break Greying but I'm glad it is sorted. Everyone has their own challenges and well done to you and your DP for facing yours.

That beanotto thing looks rather good. I shall see if my mum wants to try it as my boyfriend's thoughts on mushrooms are similar to dreaming's.

Hope you get that DD malarky sorted. What a cheek! I realised O2 had been playing funny b*ggers with my account but thankfully got someone helpful on the phone.


Hope you have a good day!

little_sweetie

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

AAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad: [RANT ALERT]

Why, why, why, why, why, oh why? Are Br1tish T3lecon so bl00dy incompetent???????????

You pay them UPFRONT for your annual line rental and the B8rstards then continue to take the same amount as usual D/D from your bank account ...... which includes a charge for......... line rental.....aaaaaarrrrggghhhhhh!!!!!!

I hate, loathe and detest dealing with this bl00dy company!


*sigh*

At least the sun is shining. And I got some of my chores done. I'm still waiting for the person I'm waiting in for to turn up though...................

Greying

Oh my dear GP that is exactly what happened to me. I thought I was being very MSE by paying for a year in advance in January when the last bill arrived, expecting a revised bill for the balance of call charges due. But, no, the blighters took the WHOLE amount of the last bill (£115.43) by DD as well as the £141 year in advance :mad: After a prolonged phone call to them they will very kindly refund some money in April (5 minutes to take it but 3 MONTHS to refund it!) I am waiting with baited breath...... It was only by a fluke that there was enough money actually in the account to cover it all What a nightmare they are...

Anyway, it's lovely to see you back. Don't let the beggars put your blood pressure up again.

little_sweetie

Ooooo, forgot to say WELL DONE brizzle :T What simply marvellous news :beer:

sonas_baby

Glad to see you're back GP. Desperately need some food ideas, been on lettuce sandwiches now for too long. Hope you get that DD sorted easily.

Greying_Pilgrim

little_sweetie wrote: »

Oh my dear GP that is exactly what happened to me. I thought I was being very MSE by paying for a year in advance in January when the last bill arrived, expecting a revised bill for the balance of call charges due. But, no, the blighters took the WHOLE amount of the last bill (£115.43) by DD as well as the £141 year in advance :mad: After a prolonged phone call to them they will very kindly refund some money in April (5 minutes to take it but 3 MONTHS to refund it!) I am waiting with baited breath...... It was only by a fluke that there was enough money actually in the account to cover it all What a nightmare they are...

Oh little_sweetie HOW I wish that you could have been a 'fly on the wall' to the conversation I have just had with a representative of Bee T - you would of wet yourself laughing.

It didn't help that this particular employee clearly is a devotee of Bee T and all that it stands for and had swallowed the company line hook, line and sinker... However, they put on their sincerest voice to explain - very s-l-o-w-l-y, (as I am clearly thick.....) that Bee T would never collect too much money and any money that is collected in error is given back immediately because they are signed up to Ofcom, and they would never hold onto money that is in fact the customers by right......... crikey, if the operative hadn't thought me thick already, I really would have tackled them on your behalf - but I figured the line would have gone dead if I'd of said, ' but little_sweetie off the internet said.....' :rotfl:

As it is, they have amended my D/D for next month, and they have assured me that I can claim the amount that I am owed (which includes an account credit too) in 48 hours............ Of course, if I can't - what's the betting I get shoved through to a different operative????? And of course, waiting 48hrs (at least) for a refund doesn't exactly equate to *immediate refund* in my book............

The operative said that they didn't promote the monthly payment plan, as it always caused problems when you tried to change things mid-billing. Bl00dy simple solution to that Bee T - charge monthly and make transactions instantaneous - stop thinking you can collect monthly payments, but make changes quarterly. The operative would not have it that my online account details are incorrect - apparently I am looking in the wrong place...... um no, your system can't cope with the 'add-ons' that your company sells.......

Honestly, Bee T make the energy companies look more benevolent than a co-operative movement! C'mon Marty - do something about them! :money:

I'm going for a lie-down - me BP is rising again...... :rotfl::rotfl:


Greying

Pippilongstocking

****sends healing vibes to GP******

I'm black afronted with that company at the moment.

Despite cutting us off for a day (the shame)
Despite assurances that the DD wasn't actually cancelled just changed
Despite paying it over phone on card as I couldn't do anything else to sait the robot on the phone
Despite telling me not to worry - they've taken DOUBLE my DD off this month.

I'll be having words and then sending you round once your recovered.

Honestly, if I'd wanted my pockets picked I'd have asked directly for Fagan, if the robot would have let me pass.......

PS Nice to see you.

Greying_Pilgrim

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

****sends healing vibes to GP******

I'm black afronted with that company at the moment.

Despite cutting us off for a day (the shame)
Despite assurances that the DD wasn't actually cancelled just changed
Despite paying it over phone on card as I couldn't do anything else to sait the robot on the phone
Despite telling me not to worry - they've taken DOUBLE my DD off this month.

I'll be having words and then sending you round once your recovered.

Honestly, if I'd wanted my pockets picked I'd have asked directly for Fagan, if the robot would have let me pass.......

PS Nice to see you.

That's at least 3 of us that know and have experienced that they DO take money that is not theirs to have! I got round the robot by saying I WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT (I didn't shout as such, just spoke with *perfick* diction :rotfl:) It asked me to confirm, 'if I wanted to complain', so I said yes, through gritted teeth and got transferred immediately.......................:rotfl:

I will be the first to comment favourably, if, in 48hrs time I can request the money to be returned to me (what's the betting it will take 'up to 28 days' or summat daft?), but I'll not hold me breath.............................

Greying

satchmo1

The Direct Debit guarantee, which is part of every mandate entitles you to claim a full refund from your BANK if they have been incorrectly collected.


"If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by xyz Ltd or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society."

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Wot a luverly place this thread and forum is to be :D:D

Right, so I'm not claiming a NSD today, as I spent money. I think I managed about 2 more NSD's in March, but didn't hit the 20 days target - I think 16 would be a fair assessment. I did however, have access to time, the grocery budget and the car yesterday, so although it was still March, I bought April's groceries, and I finished that off today (as the D/D's go out, so I never count the 1st as a NSD) and got the TV listing guide at the same time. So, I've about £10 in the food budget remaining and 29 days to find food for the table....... *gulp* :rotfl:

We made progress with the *redevelopment* (:rotfl:) of Greying Towers today and therefore, I can tentatively say that we are limp-lurching onward with that side of things :rotfl: Whilst telling myself Rome wasn't built in a day............... :rotfl:

DP and I had a good auld belly-laugh earlier at the preposterousness of a number of things that have happened today - always good :D

I have got some plans for April, and I must tell you all about them - so that you can laugh at me! :rotfl: I just run out of time - all the time - to tell you about them!

kem10 - lovely to *see* you - glad that you know someone that might use the beanotto recipe - I'm sure the m*shrooms could be substituted for something else.....

sonas_baby - thanks everso for popping in Funnily enough, I had lettuce sandwiches (with some cuke and egg slices snuck in too) last week - I really enjoyed them, so fresh and light in the warmer weather..... but then that only lasted 2 days......

Tonight's dinner was wonderful - and I can say that because it wasn't my recipe.... :rotfl: It was a recipe from the wonderful Ms Heidi Swanson's blog again, although the recipe author is Megan Gordon. So tonight, Matthew, I mangled a version of........ Californian Barley Bowl Picture here;



I had to substitute a bit, as I forgot to get a lemon again. So my version used; pearl barley, (frozen) spinach and a manky auld leek, half a packet of valoo feta, some ground coriander seed and sumac (for the lemony vibe) salt, pepper, yoghurt, fresh mint (HG) and fresh parsley (HG) an avocado and a dollop of HM yoghurt. I made a *warm* version of the salad, because we are only just out of winter in England after all........:rotfl:But the original is a cold salad. I have to say, 'warm' didn't dint the yumminess of the salad If you would like to see how to make the salad *properly* please have a look HERE

In my own humble opinion, it was a frugal dish to make. Pearl Barley is still *relatively* inexpensive, valoo feta is too (even better grade stuff doesn't bust the bank) and despite the fact the recipe said 2 avocados, 1 for 2 people was plenty - I got my avocado from L*dl - 69p for a big un - but I always think of *Robin* and her 'windfall' avocados whenever I hand over cold hard cash for an avocado

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

my *lot* in life - really, there are people with much worse problems. I'm lucky, blessed and truly - I do realise this.......:D

that I have DP - we've our ups and downs, but we do have each other and we're figuring it out..... slowly.......... :D

that we once again, seem to have options............. :D:D

Thank you all everso for popping in, reading, commenting and joining in. Know that it is appreciated. Greatly

See y'all in a bit.


Greying