Intermittent fault – first time for everything

Been home since Sunday, phone hasn’t worked properly since we got home and not sure how long it hadn’t been working prior to that.

The fault is intermittent, it’s like chasing ghosts, you unplug handset A, unplug handset B. Then plug in A. It doesn’t work. You plug in B, then it works, you take handset A to socket B and plug in, It works, then you check 2 seconds later and it’s not working.

You can’t report a fault like that. For two days I’ve waited. I’ve waited until I can prove there is a fault. Sure enough incoming call today and it disappears in static.

Enough is enough. I call Telstra from the same phone line and it too disappears in static.

I pick up my secondary line (which I pay for) and is far more stable than my main incoming line and call.

Today Telstra were extremely helpful. Or should I say that Bien was extremely helpful. Today she offered to divert my phone to my mobile (this has been refused before)

My secondary line is in the back of the house and is hard to hear if ringing, that’s why I wanted diverted to my mobile.

Previously I’ve been forced to go to work with a broken leg, because I can’t stay home because the phones weren’t working. It was February, a couple of years before the Black Saturday Fires. My sense of danger wasn’t wrong, just the wrong year.

Today’s resolution date is 5th February, it’s currently the 3rd February. Fingers crossed this time

Prior history can been seen at Telstra - History

Micro SIM adaptors, stuck, breaking phones and dual SIM phones (broken)

Yup, dual SIM phone, upcoming holiday, 1 x micro SIM adaptor, thankfully sourced from an Australian Company, thanks Allphones, thanks for supporting Aussie Suppliers!

 WHAM, BAM, after testing and setting up 'new' phone, I innocently placed Micro SIM adaptor back into SIM card slot, I mean where else do you store a SIM adaptor?

Guess what? $329AU down the drain, I now possessed a single SIM phone. BOO.

 After emailing said Australian Company many times and getting fobbed off, the same amount of times, I did some research.

Did you know that the ACCC actually has a section in their guidelines referred to as

"reasonably foreseeable use"? Yup, It means that unless packaging specifically warns against a certain action, and it's foreseeable that someone might use that product in that manner, the product is deemed defective.

 The packaging did not warn such behaviour might destroy a perfectly working 2nd product, which was 'now not fit for intended purpose' in fact the packaging did not have any warnings at all.

I provided the micro-SIM adaptor importer with this information, they once again fobbed me off.

I then approached Fair Trading in the relevant Australian state, I supported my case with all emails backwards and forwards, including my reference to the ACCC clause, 6 months of arguments dissipated in 6 days and a full refund of the cost of the phone was in my bank account.

It's a matter of knowing you are right, knowing your rights and remembering, ladders are covered in warning stickers for a reason!

Oh, and Apple? Thanks for creating the micro-SIM, it's caused many the same grief!

 

PS - I didn't chase AllPhones, wasn't their problem, it was the importer/manufacturer. I shall not name names, but remember Australian Suppliers are the key.

My experience with the Northern Hospital, Epping Melbourne in 2004

My letter to the Northern Hospital  dated the 16th July 2004

            

                                                           To Whom It may Concern.
                                                               ‘Without Prejudice’

 I am writing this letter because on the 30th January 2004, I was unlucky enough to require your services.  I presented at the Emergency Room after having a 600kg horse collapse whilst I was standing beside her, My husband drove me to the ER at approx 8.30pm, I was triaged quickly and placed in a consulting room to wait for the doctor.

 I was kept waiting for several hours and when finally seen by a doctor the doctor was going to discharge me, because it appeared that I was not in pain, as long as I was immobile.  But as soon as any pressure was applied to my leg, I went through the roof.  The doctor still said (with out X-rays) that the leg was severely bruised and rest should take care of. 

As I am a fairly docile person and have a high tolerance to pain, I thought okay, he is the professional, and he has studied and should know best.  But my husband being a little fierier than me requested X-rays.  The doctor thought these were unnecessary, but decided to shut him up anyway.  X-rays were taken and low and behold I had a broken fibula!

 The doctor was amazed that I was in so little pain, but like I had said from the time that I presented to the triage nurse I have a HIGH pain threshold due to previous injuries that have been on going.

So after a while the leg was placed in plaster and I was told to present tomorrow for a ‘plaster check’. No X-rays were taken after the plaster had been set. 

I presented for the plaster check mid afternoon the following day and was told that the plaster needed to be reapplied as the ankle had been set in the incorrect position.

I endured this with some pain, but kept my mouth shut. At this stage I was feeling useless and depressed at the fact that I was unable to earn an income and that I would be relying on people for everything from getting around to even cooking and cleaning (by the way those people that I refer to were my husband and children, 7 and 12) because I have no family within a reasonable distance who are able to assist me.

I was told that within the week I would receive an appointment card in the mail to attend the plaster clinic with the time and day on it. By the following Wednesday the swelling on my leg had reduced and I was able to get my fingertips to my ankle inside the plaster cast. The cast was offering NO support what so ever.

I presented back to the Northern to get someone to look at the plaster and replace it. I would have thought that this would have been a given, considering that I had a broken bone and the leg had not been in plaster for the 6 weeks that I thought was the norm for a broken bone. I presented at the Triage window again and requested that someone needs to look at the plaster as I believe that it is wrong and needs to be replaced. Considering I was in considerable pain and had been for a period of a week by this time, I was feeling useless, depressed and close to tears most of the time. When the triage nurse saw the plaster I believe that she agreed with me and sent me next door to the clinic within the ER.

I waited there for hours, and by this time I was crying because my leg was sore and I felt as though no one believed me.  Finally a person (a nurse)  I believe came to me, looked at the plaster and said I don’t think we need to replace this, when is your appointment with the plaster clinic? I said what appointment, I have not received any notification and I have not even had the plaster on for 1 week. In the end I had to demand that the plaster be replaced through the Doctor. Who also asked me how I was coping. I was not coping. I was unable to feed my children I was unable to wash their clothes I was even unable to have a shower by myself. When I mentioned this to the doctor he found a social worker, who after asking if I lived with anyone, I said yes, my husband. Oh well he has to help you, we can’t

This was news to me, as he was trying to supervise apprentices and stop them from presenting to the Northern Hospital minus a finger or two. Sounds funny? Well stand in his shoes and see how funny Workcover think it is when you are charged with lack of supervision of an apprentice.

 At this same appointment I was presented with a card to see the Plaster clinic doctors the following week.

 Therefore I was sent home to fend for myself,  and try and feed two children and not kill myself getting up and down the front door step to tend the animals and the children. During this time, I was still in considerable pain, and my GP thinks I may have re-broken the leg at some stage when my left leg gave out, as it is prone to do, due to previous injuries, (Which I notified the Hospital about!)

 I presented at the Northern Hospital at the Plaster Clinic had an X-ray and was told it is okay to walk on!  Haha I could not weight bear let alone stand on it and walk.  I went to my GP, a person I am sure you are familiar with.  He took one look at X-ray and put me straight back in plaster.  This time the plaster was neat and reasonably comfortable.  I waited for a further 5 weeks and then the doctor took the plaster off and was happier with the result, but due to the two weeks, without adequate support, the healing process was very slow to start.

Because of this and the fact that the leg was still very painful, I requested a referral to a Specialist, I go to see the specialist In March, 3 months after the initial accident. He was surprised, but non-committal to the treatment that I had received from the Northern Hospital.

I am writing this letter for many reasons; one is to complain about the service and the additional cost that I now have to incur because of the inadequate care that I received under the umbrella of the Northern Hospital. I am sure that when I initially presented I was seen as a hypochondriac because I was not absolute agony, once I was immobile. I am sure that when I presented to the Northern Hospital on the third occasion I was just looking for attention and I am sure that when I tried to talk to the Doctor at the Plaster clinic he saw me as a malingerer.

I am none of the above and have never been. After being involved in a car accident whereby my vehicle was rear ended by a 12 tonne truck, and not having ONE day off. I know I am not. I am by no means rich in fact; some days my husband and children get a meal of potatoes only, because there is no other food in the house.  I am no entitled to any government assistance because my husband owns his own business and because I work a taxable income. I receive NO children support, No family and no income assistance and of course no rental assistance because we are struggling to pay off our own house.

Because of your treatment or lack of it. I am now faced with huge private medical bills and also the uncertainty that had I received appropriate timely treatment, I might already be walking normally on my leg, within the ‘normal’ six week period. I would not have lost as much income, because I would have been back at work already AND not spending time at Specialists along with the money for no reason. Because I am a contractor, I am not entitled to sick leave and was lucky that I did not lose my job. AT no point in time was ANY assistance offered to me. I get the feeling that because I was not ‘on the dole’ and I was not ‘single’ I was discriminated against.

I would like your comment on this letter as a matter of course, because I would like to see what your thoughts are.

 ------------------------------------------------------------

A follow up letter from me to the Northern Hospital dated the 24th September 2004

 

 

‘Without Prejudice’

 

Mr xxxxxx

 

I have previously written to you on the 16^th July 2004, regarding a problem that I have concerning the Northern Hospital, I have yet to receive a response other than ‘we have received your letter and are looking into the matter’ which was dated the 21^st July 2004.

 

It is now 2 months since the original letter was received and I was wondering when I might receive a reply?

 

I have enclosed both letters for your perusal and thought you might like to comment on them.

 

Since that time, I am still under the care of a specialist, the swelling in my leg is still quite evident and the specialist says that it is not normal.  Tuesday the 21^st September 2004 I tripped and managed to jar my leg again. This means that I missed another day of work due to the pain and I am now back on crutches.

 

Again I believe that had I received appropriate and correct treatment in the first place I would not be in this position.

 

I am still incurring specialist fees, I am still losing money due to the fact that I am sometimes unable to drive and consequently unable to attend work and this doesn’t take into account the fact that the house is a mess. Whilst we are on the topic of care or lack of, how many 7 year olds do you know that can make their own breakfast and clean up the mess afterwards? Because I have a little boy that has been forced to do this and that makes me very sad.

 

Should you require any further information please feel free to contact me 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I received a one paged letter, that said, sorry, we have implemented changes in the emergency department and something like this shouldn't happen again. Forget the fact I've paid $1000's if not $10,000's now in 2014, or forget the fact no-one wants to employ a 'cripple'........... Yup, forget about ALL that. As long as the hospital didn't receive any adverse media coverage.

Forget the fact I sat on an esky in the shower, for the time my leg was in plaster, forget the fact.............. Yeah, well, you know the story. You've read it.

Have any hospital horror stories? Let me know

 

 

Photographic Exhibition 23-25th August 2013 - Whittlesea, Victoria

I have been invited to participate in the Whittlesea Photography Group Exhibition.

Please feel free to attend, drag along some friends, if you drop me a line, I'll meet you there. Some of the work presented here will be available for sale, but mostly photos from RedBubble - PhotosbyEnigma will be available for you to view and buy if you wish.

I, along with the group will be presenting photos in loose format, frames, (various sizes) and also gift cards, local work, by local artists.

Please come and have a look!

I didn't want an iPhone

I really didn't……….. but I now own one

I wanted a phone that

1) Made calls
2) Took calls
3) Sent messages (in bulk)
4) Received messages
5) Had a calendar I could SYNC with MY PC and audible alarms
6) Alarm clock
7) Twitter
8) Able to tether to a PC
9) Store photos
9) SYNC OFF-LINE - VERY Important to me

I don’t think it's that hard? Do you?

Since Adam was a boy, I have had a new Nokia (1990's) every two years, never had a problem until 2011 when my handset decided to fail, no bluetooth and no tethering. Of course my telco couldn’t provide me with a 'loaner' that would do all of the above. After approaching TIO, the telco was quite amenable to my receiving a new handset (under contract) prior to contract finishing. So another Nokia it was - they have never failed me in the past.

2013 - 5 months before contract finishing, my Nokia died, wouldn’t charge and prior to that had problems with long phone calls. The charging was the crunch. Once again an argument ensued, thankfully sanity prevailed before I had to take the matter further. After reading and asking around, the only phone that would sync off-line was the Apple handset.

I now own an apple handset (64g) and 3 weeks later am already regretting the decision!

To make the phone work to my needs, I have had to purchase a song, an app for group texting, I had to become an expert in tweaking and changing file names to get a louder volume necessary for a calendar alarm.

So in three weeks, I have found the following 'problems' not evident in the Nokia models.

1)  Calendar alarm not loud enough

2)  Battery life is abysmal. A mobile is no longer mobile if it needs to be connected to a
      power source 24/7
3)  Needed to BUY an app to enable group messaging (up to 60 a week)
4)  Install iTunes
5)  Create folders on my PC solely for the purposes of syncing photos
6)  Can't 'drop' photos into the phone - must be synced
7)  Can't delete loaded photos from the phone, must be done from the PC
8)  Not all calendar alarms sound, pretty random in fact
9)  The keyboard for texting and twitter is awkward
10) Can't 'close' apps without intimate knowledge of the phone and how it works
11) Sites prefer apple, but I think they are close-minded IMHO
12) The 'Apps Store' is terrible, in fact forced to supply a credit card before I could
       DO ANYTHING
13) Can't hotspot unless to another apple product
14) Can only cable tether
15) Can't move stuff from 'back office' to the front page, just can't be done,
      Guess what? In Nokia you could

The only benefits I can see at the moment are:-

1) Siri - although can’t use in public, great for tweeting in private
2) The number of apps out there, but really how many are THAT useful?
3) The calculator has nice big buttons
4) I can get my custom made case now! with one of my photos
    Custom iPhone cases - by ME!
5) The do not disturb function is pretty good too

But besides that, See my problem?

I was anti-apple before and guess what? - even more so now. I pity my family and friends for the next two years.

That is all

Once again Telstra left us without phones 30th May 2013 - Ongoing

I get a barely audible call from my husband last night at 7.30pm, advising me that the landlines aren't working (He was calling from his mobile)

I asked him to pull all the phones (3) from the phone jacks, he said it could wait until I got home. I got home at 10.30[m and was too tired by then. Phones weren';t working at midnight - I know that for a fact.

Phones still weren't working at 6.30am in the morning. Didn't have time to pull the phones, so thought I would wait until I get home.

Halfway through the day, I realise I can check to see if a there a fault, via a Telstra automated service without having to pull the phones from the walls.

I do the check and sure enough 'There is a problem at the exchange and we should have it fixed by 7pm'

I hang up, as my mobile was ringing and I figured it's only a machine

I call back and was pushed through to the automated service again, this time the message said 'There is an unidentified fault and it will be fixed as soon as we can'

(These two calls were only 5 minutes apart)

I hang on the line and speak to an operator (overseas of course) I explain the problem, asking for a diversion to my OTHER landline (THAT I PAY FOR BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS) and she refused, would ONLY divert to a mobile! HUH? I've been diverting from one line to the other every time there is a fault and they have never refused to do it previously. She also advised that service would be rectified by the 3th June 2013

She was reading from some scripted lines and refusing to divert. I asked for the call identification number, advising the person on the other end of the phone that I would be informing the TIO. She didn't seem to care.

I placed an immediate fault report and non-assistance complaint with the TIO - It's not good enough that people can't call me and I can only call out once I am 10km away from home (mobile reception up here requires aerobics of the sort I can't do)

This all happened at about 12pm. I had been inc contact with the social media team on Twitter, who just told me to call the number I called, but as soon as I mentioned the unwillingness to help went to ground, even when I called them out on that - they refused to show their heads (probably for fear of having it knocked off)

I get home at 6pm and find that the phone is working - I recall the TIO complaint, they can't do anything now and I won't hear anything from Telstra - so here is the proof of what went on.

Telstra if you are reading this - the TIO complaint number 2013/05/18123 I noted the Telstra complaint number at work and it didn't carry across through on the TIO paperwork.

You know where to find me - you have all read this blog before. so call me - I have nothing to hide.

**PS - I never did disconnect the phones from the sockets, so the problem wasn't at my end (again)

Read previous history, over the last 15years :(  Telstra - History

No Telephones again Telstra, 22nd March 2013

Once again Telstra have excelled at the (non) excellence of providing a service I pay them to do………….

Thankfully I PAY (from my own pocket) for a secondary line into my premises, but no compensation for me to do that is there? Yet it's their cruddy service that forces me to do so.

My husband is currently using a chainsaw, ALONE…… Imagine if he had an accident? We don’t have very good mobile phone coverage up - so who do I call? (IF I can call)

See my problem?

 Telstra - enough is enough - the TIO will be hearing from me on Monday…….

 Your lose, your problem, you had better just hope no-one I know and care about suffers any sort of accident/illness/injury and I can't get help - because GOD HELP YOU - I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR IT THEN

 

Tonights text message

A reminder from Telstra: Our commitment to repair 0397** **** is by 26/03/2013 19:00.

Reckon it will happen OR will I get ANOTHER text message, advising of a further delay like last time?

See other incidents here

Telstra - the most recent incident was 27th February 2013

Phone services restored on the 26th March 2013.................. Until Next Time

No Telephones again Telstra, 21st Feburary 2013

(And my neighbour had his Gall bladder removed on Thursday)

Some might say this is irrelevant - Sorry it is - original diagnosis was a heart attack - he's 74 years old. A phone was needed that night………… see where this is going.

 I have checked some of the houses on the street, there are 11 houses on this street, 1 doesn’t possess a landline, 2 don't have working landlines, 1 I can’t check as they are not home and the other 2 I checked do have working lands. - so of the 5 houses I've checked, 2 don’t have working landlines, since AT LEAST the 21st February 2013.

The Telstra technicians have been crawling up and down the street (I know the name of technician BTW) Pits have pulled out and re-assembled, still no solution.

When I initially phoned in the non-working line (from my OTHER landline) that IS WORKING (that I pay for) I was told the problem is in the exchange, when the technician calls, he tells me it's MY fault and I will owe Telstra $120.00 for a call out fee.

Soon after I received a message (dated the 21.02.13) advising that services will be re-instated on the 25th February before 7pm……….. at 5pm on the 25th February, I receive a message, advising that my landline service will now NOT be restored until the 8th March 2013.

THAT'S 15 days WITHOUT A phone……….. (Lucky I pay for a separate line) so I haven’t lost phones completely. Mobiles don’t work very well up here. You certainly can't have a conversation.

My biggest concern at this time of year, besides health issues (as per opening paragraph) is bushfires, on the Monday the 18th February 2013, we were under DIRECT THREAT and 5km away from me was under a possible evacuation order, for fire to impact at 4am in the morning.

Besides that we have an arsonist in the area, who has lit numerous fires, and then there were lightning strikes last week, just over the other side of the hill.

I pay for a service that has not been functioning properly for a LONG time. Here is some memorable outages on the last 15 years http://itaintalwaysmylife.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/telstra-you-had-better-hope-no-one-dies.html

 So once again - god help Telstra if anything happens to the people I know and love because they have not been able to call out or I have not been able to call them in case of emergency.

 Services restored as at 27th Feburary, no notification from Telstra as at 5.11pm that service has been restored.

In Memory of Joan Gillespie 1937-13th July 2012

Today I learnt that a dear friend had passed away. Nothing is as final death. Not illness, not sickness, NOTHING.

I've known Joan since 2002, May actually. I was working at the Austin Hospital at the time.

We seemed to hit it off straight away, age made no difference, nor the fact that she was wheelchair bound and using a respirator to survive. See Joan was a polio sufferer, yet suffer she did not.

She helped everyone, she had a smile for everyone. She was a beautiful person.

She always put everyone else's needs above her own. In fact when I saw her on Thursday, whilst she was an in-patient, she was more concerned with getting out and about again, than worrying about her health. She was worried people were missing her already (She'd been in hospital one week)

She would do the shopping for many patients, buying Tattslotto tickets and generally just being useful for those that couldn't get out. Being wheelchair bound made no difference to her.

Her lovely husband John, made much of this possible, John was Joan's right hand man, literally.

Joan (and John) would regularly present a Sunday session on Inner FM, Melbourne 96.5FM Much of the music was requested by Joan and Johns' friends.

Some of Joans' Milestones

1937 - Contracted polio and lived in an Iron Lung for the next 30 years

1967 - (approx) released from the confines of the Iron Lung

1980 - (approx) Met John, her partner

1990 - debut on radio

2011 - Victorian Senior of the Year Awards - Veteran Community Award

 Joan was an avid listener to 3AW Melbourne radio, as well as a prolific poem writer, which were often broadcast on 3AW radio.

I have previously written about Joan (and Charlie) here My Hero

Joan loved the work she did, it may have been voluntary, but to Joan it was work and very rewarding from what she always told me.

Joan, you will live in my memory forever. I looked up at you. My problems seemed like baby goldfish. Yours were the sharks of the world.

Thank-you for being my friend.

Thinking of you John at your great time of loss.

Life of a casual employee

For most of my 'career' I have been a casual employee. It's never really bothered me before, although you don't get sick leave, annual leave or long service leave.  The hourly rate does allow for sick leave and annual leave and with careful budgeting, you can make all that work for you.

My reason for being predominately casual, is that it allows for me to work around my family.

I don't let any of my employers down, ever, but often (in fact more often than not) they let me down, frequently at very short notice, frequently attempting to jib hours paid etc and many think they don't have to pay superannuation!!!!!!!! (Go figure)

I enjoy the variety of casual employment, I enjoy the  different tasks I get to do on a daily basis. Boredom is certainly not a problem!

Today for example (being Sunday) I was informed that my 'employment' at one place (for tomorrow)  was no longer required (well maybe in 1-2 weeks time, they'll have me back) but I can't wait for them. So I sent a text to my contacts. 6 hours later I have work for tomorrow and most likely ongoing!

So the life of a casual is not that uncertain, just requires a little lateral thinking!

So if you are looking for an employee in Melbourne's North, someone who is reliable and not concerned if the work is permanent or not, or ongoing or not, why not drop me a line via www.hsamsa.blogspot.com or use the contact details there!

You never know - I've been assisting some of my people in excess of 10 years in a temporary capacity!

To BCC or Not? - Let's Stop the Spam

I mean seriously is it too hard to understand a simple email program and use the bloody thing correctly to protect peoples privacy?

Computers have been around since ….. what 1990 (common use) email for just about a long. Email has been common use since 2000 (or thereabouts)

How many spam emails do you receive daily? 10, 20, 30? or more? I imagine that businesses receive 100's if not 1000's.

If employees used BCC for group emails, then spam would be greatly reduced. Just tonight I received an email from a sporting organisation (state based) and in the CC section, there are 25 email addresses.

6 are ISP addresses, like Telstra and Optus
1 is Government defence address
1 private business
15 are free email addresses (predominately hotmail!)
1 is a large business
1 is a "mobileme" address

So big deal you say………………

If everyone on that list forwarded the email without cleaning up the email addresses in the CC line - YOUR email address has been exposed 1 x 25 = 25, and each recipient forwarded that email twice, and  every person who received that email also sent it forward by two. Your email address has been sent to 30,065,107 people (If I am not mistaken) IN SEVEN (7) days……………………….

See how evil not using BCC can be?

Do you know how much a viable (working) email address is worth? It's worth between $10 and $30 on the black market. Value of Email on the Black Market Now add to that any other personal information a hacker or spammer has been able to determine and you can immediately double that value!

So USE BCC, Train your staff, train your parents, train your children and stop the spam.

The meaning of  CC and BCC (Old School)
CC = Carbon Copy
BCC - Blind Carbon Copy

The Federal Government is Broke and I am a Tax Cheat.

The 8th of February 2012, made me realise that the Federal Government really is hard up for money and that government employees have no idea how to perform their job let alone meet KPI's.

I received a letter dated the 8th February 2012, stating :"You may not be eligible for *********** tax refund that you claimed in 2009 and 2010 tax returns."

Claiming that I had not made payment application for benefit **** from Centrelink.

Hate to tell you ATO - but you were WRONG. I had claimed BOTH benefits, one had been accepted, the 2010 period in PAID July 2011 and the 2009 period was denied by Centrelink because Centrelink couldn't "data-match" with ATO records.

I resubmitted the Centrelink claim for benefit **** for the 2009 period and blindly waited for a response. Centrelink guidelines are 28 day turn-around. I advised ATO this was the case and sat back and waited (stupid me)

I re-entered the Centrelink office on the 21st March, they advised me that the claim was still being processed. I asked for a letter confirming this was the case, which I received and duly faxed off to the to Centrelink AND ATO data-matching team office. NO RESPONSE. Exert "As this matter is beyond my ability to solve. I just have to wait and consequently you will also have to wait. This also means that the adjustment to my tax return for the period 2009 can not be enforced until such time as Centrelink data-match information previously provided to them in July 2011."

On the 17th April, low and behold a revised assessment is received from the ATO claiming I owe them $1000. I duly send off ANOTHER letter to both the ATO and Centrelink. No response is received from either party. Exert: "As I have previously explained to you. Centrelink have failed to fulfil their end of the application, regarding benefit **** which was submitted to them on the 27th February 2012. I have now received an amended assessment, which I will not pay until Centrelink either pay or decline my application, which has been submitted. not once BUT twice for this period."

On the 19th April I decide enough is enough and submit a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Low and behold within 48 hours I am talking to sane people from both the Ombudsman AND ATO (Not Centrelink)

At NO POINT IN time did ANYONE from Centrelink contact me to discuss this matter, even when escalated to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. NOT ONCE.

The ATO refuse to acknowledge they are wrong in applying a penalty, when evidence obviously shows doubt. They will only extend the payment due date, nothing else. But better than nothing I suppose.

On the 24th April 2012, (57 days after second application) a determination is made in my favour (as I knew it would be) and Centrelink have to pay me (as I knew would be the case.)

I then have to contact the ATO and advise them this is the case. Exert: "The stress you placed upon me was unacceptable and no-one was prepared to accept the fact that I am an honest law-abiding citizen. No wonder people dislike the ATO and staff face issues of verbal abuse, in relation to determinations that are incorrect. and force people to approach the Ombudsman to get things resolved."

The matter is now closed, but the fact that Centrelink did not contact me regarding ANY correspondence sent to them and ATO take 5 days to acknowledge fax or not at all in some cases, is deplorable.

My only conclusion in all of this, is that the Federal Government is broke and they are hoping the Little Mr and Mrs Smith, will just pay up and shut up and save the Government billions in benefits and reap illegal back payments.

Have you had a similar experience?

 My previous run-ins with Centrelink.

Social Security - September 2009
Social Security - Name and Shame - July 2011

**Centrelink finally called me on the 10th May 2012 at 5pm.........

A Photographer for a Day

**Disclaimer - I am NOT a professional photographer and neither do I profess to be one, or ever dream of being one. It was a favour to a friend at the last minute.

 It was Monday afternoon and I popped into J's factory for a coffee and yarn. (as you do when work is thin on the ground) The next thing you know, somehow, without actually saying anything. I've volunteered to photograph (wait for it........................... .........) A FUNERAL.............................

Of all things. A FUNERAL, not a kids party, not a wedding, A FUNERAL.... Apparently the 'regular' photographer is in hospital. I don't 'do' people. I prefer animals and things that can't talk back or give you the evil eye!

I don't profess to be a good photographer, I work on the theory of; get enough monkeys in a room, with enough typewriters and eventually something worthwhile will be produced.

It's a 9am start, fairly local, so not a problem, BUT........ the service won't be in English, and it's very rare for photographers to be a funerals! Derh.......... That's what I thought, but apparently the photos are to be sent overseas for family who couldn't attend.

I think I need God's help here/intervention. Now I'm starting to see failure written in proof all over EVERY photo!

 Take a deep breath, I get to the designated location at the correct time, take some 'landscape' shoots and then scout out the inside of the church for some areas, that might be suitable for me to camp for the entire ceremony. I am panicking right now!

Can't use the flash, or the tripod. thankfully I don't like the flash and have always taken photos without it. But without the tripod? In low light? It's going to get interesting. Almost too interesting. Can I run and hide under the nearest tree?

I get through the ceremony, taking the required photos, on viewing the photos the following day - I have somehow managed to capture those that are liked and not captured those that are disliked! (Pats self on back) I don't know Joe from Fred or Martha from Jane!

The photos are now safely with the family and come hell or high water, I will be running 200miles (on a broken leg) than have to do that again!

Google is a dirty word

Once upon a time I had a Google Adwords account, well not that long ago, actually, the 16^th March 2012. Google Adsense decided that I had violated their rules by ‘posing a risk of generating invalid activity.'

You want to know what I did?

I published a funny email titled “Where did Piss Poor come From?” The email isn’t the problem, it’s the traffic it generates that is! About 700 hits a month, from the Stumble on Network which is a sharing site, blogs and news etc, from what I can determine.

It’s not StumbleOn’s fault. The fault lies squarely with the Google Adsense.

See I’d had that account since 2009 and was about $2.00 away from actually collecting my revenue...... a WHOLE $50.00 WHOOP WHOOP.

To me, it wasn’t revenue, either earned or unearned, Google Adwords, seems to allow complete garbage on some sites, and then screws down on others. I have 3 blogs and 1 website, all were connected to the same account. Suddenly all sites were without ‘income’ (Remember I don’t call it revenue.)

I believe the trigger was the fact I was ABOUT to collect MY $50 of UNEARNT Income.

Yes, INCOME. A silent earner, that I never thought I would actually see, but was amazed to slowly watch the total climb higher and higher.

I always knew I would never see a cent of anything. I mean we are talking about Google here, the same Google that just opened up in direct competition to Dropbox. But Google in their wisdom have decided that ANY file loaded onto THEIR network, becomes THEIR file.

See Google thinks they own the world. But public opinion, public demand and the need for privacy, dictates the world, NOT Google

A product is only a product if you pay for it – if you don’t pay for it – YOU ARE the PRODUCT.

Remember that, and remember that ANY company offering something for nothing, only has their best interests at heart, not yours.

I did try to appeal the decision, but remember Google think they own the world, doubtful they even bothered reading the appeal, hell just like them, I too was ‘just going through the processes’

So be warned, You are the product, if you haven’t paid for anything!

Disappointed

Often I get let down in life, just like you and everyone around you.

But enough is enough, I've been used and abused, far too often to allow it to continue any longer.

Time and time again, people offer to help with something and in reality they are only looking to gain either personally, professionally or financially. Enough is enough.

I don't play politics and I don't have an ego (So I'm told) My problem is I'm too trusting, too forgiving and I think it's time I changed all that and stopped being a super highway for other people's egos.

There is only so many times you can be used and abused. There are so many times you can lose your job because someone decides you make them look bad.

There are only so many times that offers of help are stymied by those only looking for personal gain.

There are only so many times, you can offer your hand in friendship to help others and they walk all over you.

Well starting today, things are going to change.

I always said that "You can only rely on you and you only" Well that is now so true, it's almost criminal.

I am beginning to understand why people turn into loners and Lonely old women with a 100 cats. I really can.

I have my darling husband, he'll keep me tethered and stop me turning into that mad woman down the street with a 100 cats, I'll make a concession and only keep 2.

I won't hoard animals, but I certainly won't hoard associates nor useless, using friends.

I'm sick of the tears, I'm sick of feeling angry and frustrated. I'm sick of feeling used and abused.

My ability to trust has slowly been eroded over the years and tonight was the last straw. my trust just collapsed into a chasm deeper than I thought possible.

My spirit might be broken, but my soul is still my own, no-one will ever own that.

AND if you are reading this from on the internet and I haven't met you in person. I'm sorry - but you don't rate in any of this. But I can't trust you until I meet you. End of story.

1 weekend and 8 dead on Victorian Roads

The weekend just past, the second weekend of November 2011, was a horrific one for the Victorian road toll.

I feel for the emergency services who had to attend the scene, I feel for the people who had to knock on the parents doors. I feel for the kids involved and I feel for the friends of these kids. Because kids are what they are.

I have a 20 year old, driving and when I was teaching her. I made sure she knew the consequences of ‘bad’ behaviour. I hope I have managed to achieve this. We were lucky, we had the opportunity for my daughter to do 200hrs of driving under her ‘L’ plates, which was all noted in her logbook.

I don’t know what the solution is, I honestly don’t.

Kids seem to think they are bullet-proof. We have the luxury of having purchased my daughters car and one of the rules of driving was that any penalty infringements received, would result in the vehicle being confiscated for 1 month PER POINT LOST. We were able to do this, because we PAID for the car and it is OUR right to enforce ANY rules we choose, if she chooses NOT to obey the road rules.

Her response was…. “you can’t do that” Our response was “Yes we can, we own the car and we can do what we please, if it means you are alive to tell your children about it, then we have succeeded.”

Two years later, no infringements have been received. I don’t care HOW we achieved the outcome, but I’d like to think that this rule and the risk of losing ‘her’ car had something to do with it.

Mid-October we witnessed an event of colossal stupidity, It occurred within 10m of our vehicle and in front of about 50 witnesses. A driver, (since disclosed to be about 25yo) did 3 donuts in the middle of a very busy intersection, just because he could. He placed himself and others in extreme danger and thought nothing of it. This same vehicle was also witnessed travelling the wrong way around a round-about some 10 minutes later. It wasn’t peer-group pressure as he was travelling alone.

So why did he do it? Because he thought he could get away with it with no consequences. 

The hoon laws only apply IF YOU get caught……………………..

Every action has a reaction, Teach your children this and perhaps we can save them, one action at a time.

My hero

.................................................. ..

Joan and Charlie ......................... .............. .................. ....... Sally!

Some 7 or 8 years ago – I met a lady. I took one look and realised she was something special.

First and foremost, she loves animals, in fact had a companion dog that went everywhere with her. Secondly, she volunteers at the Austin Hospital a minimum of 5 days a week and is there Christmas Day also, loving, and laughing with the patients. Thirdly, she endures the after-effects of polio, which means she relies on a ventilator for every life-giving breath. Thirdly she is confined to a wheelchair.

Every day of every week, she is lifted out of bed and every day she is thinking of someone other than herself.

Her name is Joan Gillespie and she is my hero. Joan was born in 1937 and in that same year contracted Polio. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that Joan left the numerous hospitals she called home and moved in with her partner John. Soon after full-time employment was no longer an option with the worsening effects of polio taking a toll on her body. About the same time technology caught up with Joan and allowed her to continue to work full-time in a voluntary capacity, with the provision of a portable ventilator.

Joan volunteers once a month at Inner FM (96.5FM) radio in Melbourne, along with her partner John. Joan is also a member of the Polio Advisory Committee, who meet once a month and discuss and advise on issues relating to Polio.

Joan goes shopping for patients at the Austin Hospital and the adjoining nursing home, because (as Joan says) ‘They can’t get out, like I can.”

As we have both have a love of animals, Joan asked me to do her a favour. Joan knew that her dog Sally was struggling to keep up with her and she asked if I could perhaps find a dog that might replace Sally when her time was near.

I asked around my network and was offered two brothers, little Chihuahua Crosses. I couldn’t make the choice for Joan. So I organised for the dogs to be bought to the Austin Hospital for Joan to see if she liked either dog. After much debate and what ifs and maybes, Joan settled on the less dominant of the pair. This little boy had been abandoned and was a little timid, but had a lovely temperament. I organised for this little guy to come home with me on the weekend.

He spent a week at my place, where I tried so hard to stay remote from him, but alas 6 years later it appears that I failed.

He was named Charlie and helped Joan with the loss of her Sally and is trying hard to fill the space that Sally left.

Today Joan and I were laughing at his antics, and I realised that Charlie helps Joan and Joan helps Charlie. The two are a match made in heaven.

Joan is my hero. If you are ever at the Austin Hospital and you see a lady in a wheelchair with a little dog walking beside her. Say hello and remember that without people like Joan, the world would be a sadder place.

Thank-you Joan for giving me permission to publish this.

"We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained,
"We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.
The former generation didn't care enough to save our environment."

He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.
So they really were recycled.

But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers, because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room.
And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana .
In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.
They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor, instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were... after all, they didn't have the green thing back then.

Uh huh. Right.

(I believe this was by Jim Knowles, The attribution to Jim Knowles If anyone knows any differently PLEASE let me know - happy to attribute it's brilliant!

Australia – A Land of Contrast

The 31st December 2010, the last day of the old, and soon to be the new year, the weather put on a show.

The 31st December, saw Australia endure everything from the threat of cyclone in the west, to flooding in the north and high temperatures and fire danger in the south. It’s not abnormal, these extremes, we are talking about Australia. She is a land of contrast.

I think people have forgotten what Australia is truly capable of. Many people just sit back and wait for someone to tell them to do something, tell them to leave, tell them to tie everything down, tell them to have batteries at hand, or food or drinking water.

We are adults, people need to realise that the more they rely on government authorities to tell them what to do, the less choices there will be in the future. We need to make sure we are self-reliant and not reliant on others to make decisions for us.

Make 2011 the year you decide to become accountable for your actions, the year that you become aware of your surroundings and you become aware of what is going on around you.

The year that you stand up if you see something that isn’t right, the year that you make yourself heard above the rabble for the causes that need fighting.

Australia is a compassionate country, but for some it seems more important to look over our vast waters to neighbouring countries and offering aid there. We need to look in our own backyard first.

There are children and adults, without adequate food and shelter. There are agencies that need our help and yet people are willing to assist those less fortunate in other countries and happily turn a blind eye to those on their own doorstep.

Make 2011 the year that you become self-aware and help those in your neighbourhood and town, be it the next door neighbour or an Australian based charity.

Welcome to 2011 – may it be the best yet!

Wall-E – The Movie, The world that could be….

.............If we allow it to be.

My reason for writing this post, is that I was watching this movie on the weekend with my 13yo and even he realised there is a grain of truth in. Are we smart enough to save ourselves now? Or do we have to wait 800 years for a saviour?

W.A.L.L.E. = Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class.

Walle is a trash compaction unit, left behind after Earth was evacuated due to people just using and abusing and throwing away. Humans are evacuated as a temporary measure until the WALL-E units can clean up the planet and allow the humans to return.

Unfortunately 5 years after taking to the skies, earth was deemed too toxic for humans to return, so they stay in space and with a sedentary lifestyle, turn into fat humans, unable to move and only living because computers do everything for them, from making decisions, to bringing them food, to clothing them and making them scared of the real world.

When Eve is sent down to the Earth to see how things are going, she finds WALL-E and then a seedling, once Eve detects the seedling, she shuts down, hiding the plant, and calling for a ship to come and pick her and the plant up.

WALL-E hitches a lift and makes it back to the mother ship. The Auto-pilot of the Mother ship realises that the plant signifies life and by declaring WALL-E a threat and stealing the plant, the autopilot almost derails humans returning back to Earth.

Eventually the humans realise that being obese and reliant on robots/computers is not good nor healthy for them and make a change.

What I’m getting at, are humans being too consumer orientated, prepared to settle brand-new straight out the box and not fix something that is broken, rather throw it out and get a replacement?

Are we becoming too reliant on computers to feed us, warm us, monitor us, coach us, entertain us and pretty much do everything except spoon the calorie laden food into our mouths and wipe our butts (Although I believe you can buy a toilet seat that does that!)

Have we lost our sense of who and what we are? Have we lost the ability to think for ourselves, have we lost common sense. Are we so stupid that we can’t think for ourselves anymore.

Think it about – watch the movie WALL-E, it might have been made in 2008 and it might be animated, but look, listen and pay attention – there IS A MESSAGE THERE.