22.1.07

Reclaim bank charges


Reclaim bank charges
Originally uploaded by fred pipes.

Watchdogs Back Fight Against Bank Charges (from The Argus): they're all at it now! The Argus jumps on the 'reclaim your bank charges bandwagon'!

I first became aware of reclaiming bank charges through Martin Lewis's money saving website but didn't do anything about it until I saw the BBC Money Programme on a village where they'd all done it! So a letter - a combination of the two templates - went to the Co-op bank on 13 December claiming 160 quid's worth of charges from when I went slightly overdrawn - plus interest - and a letter came back on 3 January with a refund (no interest, but I'm cool about that). Now everybody is at it!

Had a hilarious half hour on Satuday watching a recording of Count Arthur Strong's radio show at Komedia. It also starred Sue Perkins and Dave Mounfield. An excellent 2 quid's worth of entertainment!

15.1.07

Wob


Wob
Originally uploaded by fred pipes.

Being on the wagon is not conducive to going out, hence the lack of blogging recently. I have in fact actually set foot in pubs since 1 January 2007, on a Clarion bike ride and to the Catalyst Club at the Jooglebury last Thursday. On the first I resisted a pint of Harveys for that excellent and cheap substitute - a pint of lime and soda. At the Jooglebury it was easy to forgo their selection of overpriced young-persons' continental lagers in favour of said substitute, but at an extortionate £1.45 a pop it was nearly cheaper to go for beer! However I couldn't resist a night at the Albert and a pint of Pullman. It did go straight to my head and I had to immediately water it down with an 80p (that's more like it) glass of L & S! The occasion was Kerry's birthday gig and the line up was Deacon on piano and guitar, followed by Asbo Derek (with Kerry on bass and Don Bradman as guest harmonizer), Pog (also with Kerry on bass, Deacon on keyboards and Wob on drums) and Wob with band headlining. Wob was augmented by a bass and drums (John and Jon) and played selections from his excellent new mini-album 'A month of Sundays' (which can be ordered from his website), including the rather wonderful charity shop anthem 'All for a good cause'. Not going out much means you forget to stock up with cash so it was only by sticking to the one pint (and an L&S) that I could scrape together the necessary fiver to purchase a signed copy of said mini-album. Wob has a fine voice - give him a listen.

1.1.07

Happy New Year


Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by fred pipes.

Happy New Year to one and all! I've still got a stinking code (cold) so spent last night watching Adaptation (must watch it again whenever I get writers' block!) and Jools Holland on tv, sipping some of that amazing cask-strength apple brandy Sam bought me for Xmas (I am now today officially on the wagon)! Went on the obligatory Clarion bike ride to a jam-packed Carats cafe at the end of Shoreham harbour. It was a glorious day, albeit with a strong wind against us as we travelled west. Behind us Brighton was busy preparing security for the Fatboy Slim concert this afternoon. After polishing off a plate of egg and saute potatoes in the open air outside Carats, stopped off to do some trawler spotting behind Fatboy's house on Millionaires' Row, hoping maybe to see the one Judy Stevens drew. Back in town, I managed to bump into most of the people I know in Brighton, including Peter Chrisp who reminded me I hadn't blogged the Count Arthur Strong show I saw with Peter and Lisa. So here it is: he's a sort of cross between Harry Worth and Fred Emney, with a touch of John Shuttleworth and Freddie Frinton, ie a posh drunken thespian of Northern Origin prone to 'senior moments' played by Steve Delaney. He was ably assisted in the Komedia performance of 'It just wouldn't be Christmas without us - now would it eh!' on 23 December by sidekick Terry Titter, a scouse entertainer of yesteryear, buxom TV cook Irene Titter, and Malcolm, a camp graduate of the Count's Doncaster Academy (all played by Terry Kilkelly). After several false starts with voices off, it started shambolically and got even more chaotic, but in the most amusing surreal way, ending with the audience tiptoeing out leaving Count Arthur and Terry both asleep on the sofa in front of the telly! An act to catch again in Edinburgh next year for sure.