Wednesday 2000 to 0800 Ipswich station, five hours overtime

Entry for 06 December 2007 Thursday Rest Day (12 hour night shift)

Well, not done very much today, apart from watching DVD, after I got up (Buffy the Vampire Slayer season three), washing my uniform, & not doing very much.

I enter the Evening Star (Ipswich newspaper) competition for a Nintendo Wii, also the Norwich Evening News newspaper competition, also for a Nintendo Wii, but had to register.

I going to ork very soon, now, better be getting ready.

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Thursday 6 December 2007 - 06:54PM (GMT)

Entry for 06 December 2007 Wednesday 2000 to 0800, five hours overtime, Ipswich Station

I done 12 hours last night at Ipswich, five hours overtime.
The night went very well, even cleaned two 360's EMU's (360101 & 360115) with help from other station staff. (360107 was there too, it failed & was going back to the dept latter).

I sleeped quite well today, got up at about 1500 hours.
Got a letter from Powergen (e-on), asking for a gas meter reading, which I did & phoned it in, I then asked about 'Go Green electricity', so after I gave her my Powergen customer number, she asked for the electric meter reading, which I gave (after looking at the meter, with the meter number).

So from the 17th Decemeber 2007, I will be official with Powergen (e-on), with Go Green Gas & Go Green Electricity, so not longer with the evil greedy npower (UK).
Just read, they changed they name on 3rd december 2007 to E.ON, so that three change of name, from 'East Midlands Electricity' to 'PowerGen' & now 'E.ON'.

East Midlands Electricity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The East Midlands Electricity Board was formed in 1947, one of the 12 area electricity boards specified under the Electricity Act 1947.

In 1998, EME's distribution, and supply business was bought by Powergen.

Powergen was formed in 1990 when the Central Electricity Generating Board was split into three generating companies (Powergen, National Power and Nuclear Electric plc) and electricity transmission company, National Grid Company.

Powergen became a Public Limited Company, wholly-owned by the UK government. In March 1991, 60% of Powergen was sold to private investors, followed by the remaining 40% in March 1995.

It expanded considerably by acquiring the regional electricity company East Midlands Electricity and the supply business of TXU Energi. Powergen was eventually taken over itself by E.ON, an acquisition which was completed in January 2002.

It then went on and bought the Distribution Network Operator Midlands Electricity in 2004. This was merged with the distribution business of East Midlands Electricity and rebranded as Central Networks. The entire company was renamed as E.ON UK on July 5th 2004.

The company's headquarters are in Coventry at Westwood Business Park, in a building designed by Bennetts Associates. There are numerous other offices and power generation sites across the country.

National Express Group is also doing a rebranding and renaming of it Rail Services.

(National Bus Company (NBC)).

Planned rebranding : On 11 November 2007, National Express Group announced plans to re-brand their constituent companies under a new unified National Express identity.^[1] This is intended to achieve greater recognition for all the group companies, to coincide with recent rail aquisitions and after current rail operations had improved in reliability to warrant association with the established express coach image.

Rail Services

• c2c (passenger rail operation in the UK, to be merged with 'one' and rebranded as National Express East Anglia during 2008)
• Gatwick Express (passenger rail operation in the UK) franchise will transfer to Southern in June 2008
• Maintrain (train maintenance in the UK)
• National Express East Coast (passenger rail operation in the UK) starts December 2007 at end of current Sea Containers operated GNER franchise.
• 'one' (passenger rail operation in the UK, to be merged with c2c and rebranded as National Express East Anglia during 2008)

So that a little shock, C2C is going to be merged with ONE, for National Express East Anglia ? can they do it ? or is it in name only.
I did read somewhere on the internet, some forum that Gatwick Express had ended, was part of Southern, plus I did think Maintrain was part of East Midlands Trains ?
Or have Maintrain just lost the depot and staff in the midlands / central only area, but was that just what Maintrain was ?

Thursday 6 December 2007 - 04:51PM (GMT)

Tuesday 2000 to 0800 Ipswich Station, five hours overtime.

Entry for 05 December 2007 Tuesday 2000 to 0800 Ipswich station, five hours overtime.

I worked at Ipswich Station, last night, every thing went ok, done all the trains.
Then waited for the train back, mostly just standing around.
I like it, not list train on here, save a lot of time, for other boring thing, like my opinion, well I can not put anyone else opinion, because I do not know it & it will be for they blogs.

I got up at about 1500 hours, I got a cheap 3 film boxset from play.com.
Xanadu (1980), Sweet Charity (film)(1969) & Thoroughly Modern Millie 1967 musical film.

I went to Royal Mail Thorpe road, to pick up the parcel, again it was from play.com, a mobile phone.
Motorola 'MOTOFONE' F3 on Orange for £9:99, very cheap for a basic phone, about ten years ago, I think a Motorola MR201 was about £80 in Colchester phone shop, & it could do about the same as this phone (well not text, as it was 'Just Talk' pay as you go, only contract phones then on Orange, could text, well that more to do with the sim card ? ).
The one thing I like about this phone, is it talk to you, which is nice, but if you somewhere public, might not be as good, as at first it seems.
But everything else is, a little hard to use, untill you get used to it, it's 'Clear Vission' display is a little hard to read, but not see, it large but more like the old display on phone, clock, watches, in that it got two lines of text or numbers (each letter or number is made up of short little line to make a eight if all on, other letters or number of part on).
Also at the top & bottom, are icons, that when on, you can see easy, this very basic display would I think, make battery life better ?
It very slim, another good point, as well as it good looks.
I think this is a good phone, if got used to it, but there are better phone, for the same price on Orange network, like the LG I got from Sainsbury's for £9:99 Great Yarmouth, the Alcatel OT-E 207, also £9:99 from Woolworths on Orange, has a better display, but a big ugly & very cheap looking.
Alcatel OT-E805 (I think the last time I looked was £14:99 from Woolworths, if they still stock it, anywhere ? ), is a nice phone, with USB leads, nice feel to it & a mp3 player, also nice looks for a phone at that price.
But right now, I use a Samsung C300 I got from Woolworths for £14:99 on Orange, this slide phone is easy for me to use (I got used to it now), easy to text, nice display & looks like it cost a lot more.

Strange how many thing mobile phone do nowdays, I think most people do not use everything on they phone.

I took some photo's of Norwich Thorpe Station, went to Morrisons, then home.

Payment made today
ARGOS £6
A&L (MBNA) £32
Royal Bank Of Scotland £65

I did not have the money for MBNA, which need £110.
I made a payment of £10, & will make another payment of £100 on Friday, which I think is pay day.
I did not think I spent that much this month, but I did again.
I will have to watch my spending more, no more DVD or anything else on play.com
Nothing from iTunes.

Monday 2000 to 0800, five hours overtime, Ipswich

Entry for 04 December 2007 Cats to rule the world by 2010.

Still in bed, not doing much.
Did have a strange dream, but forgot what it was now, if I do not make a note of it, soon after, I forget it.

Now waching 'What's My Line?', first of two parts,
Spike & Drusilla, are the big bad in these two episodes, this is they big season from episode 3, but unlike the other big bads, Spike comes back a lot in the next few seaons, untill he is a reguar from seaon five.
Even a reguar on Angel in seaon five, the last seaon.

my cats spend most of they time on the bed with me.
Genesis, Charlotte, Jaguar & Tanya.
Not Genesis right now, I might have to get up soon, to give them more room.

No letter or anything by post today.
Again I am using the Nintendo DS, so no spell cheak and a bit slow.
I wonder if this Nintendo DS use less electric than the Apple G5 iMac, as I can say, me been more green ?.
better have my daily bath soon & get up for another night of work, plus five hours overtime.
I just get back to watching 'Kendra The Vampire Slayer.

Tuesday 4 December 2007 - 02:09PM (GMT)

Entry for 04 December 2007 Monday 2000 to 0800, five hours overtime

Last night was another night at Ipswich.
I got up about 1130, well still in bed, watching Buffy The Vimpire Slayer seaon two dvd box set, Halloween.
well was but it takes so long on this Nintendo DS with Opal , now it is 'Lie to die'
I also can not add a photo.

Sunday night, as I waited on the 2100 Norwich Thorpe to Manningtree, on platform 2, I could get Norfolk County Council wi-fii.
Very weak signal on my Nintendo DS.

Now I just get back to watching my Performa 5320 & Playstation 2 (dvd player).
also eating Lyons Maid neapolitan ice cream.
one litre for one pound, from Morrisons.

Tuesday 4 December 2007 - 12:05PM (GMT)

Sunday Rest Day 2000 to 0800 12 hours rest day to Monday.

Entry for 03 December 2007 Sunday Rest day 2000 to 0800, 12 hours overtime.

I done a 12 hour Rest Day last night, tonight i am doing another 12 hour, five hours overtime.

On the way there, I got on the 2100 Norwich Thorpe to Mannintree, which never left platform 2.
Due to a power problem near stowmarket (junction to Bury StEdmunds), at around 2215 hours, it came over that the train was replaced by taxi to Ipswich.
So I got a Taxi to Ipswich (well, did not want to just go home ? lose 12 hours overtime).

No really much to say about the rest of the night, as I not listing train here now, what i cleaned.

Today, I have not done much at all, just watched TV & some DVD's.
Been on the internet, but very little else.

Nothing from Virgin NTL , but I do not expert anything, they just ignore everything, a very bad company, very bad customer service.

Monday 3 December 2007 - 09:09PM (GMT)

Entry for 03 December 2007 No many like TESCO

no tesco in the unthank road!

Save our Sheringham website and blog

No to Tesco on Mill Road

Inverness Tesco Town

Evening News 24 - Hundreds comment on Tesco plans

the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

Supermarket Anger
A Tesco customer is outraged at the number of times she has been overcharged at the Long Eaton supermarket. Caroline French says the store on Waverley Street has overcharged her on many occasions and says there are a number of people she has spoken to who have also been overcharged. Caroline said: "The tickets on the racking show one price and you are charged another. There has been so much hype about Tesco making so much profit, well, no wonder." Caroline has spoken to Tesco and they have assured her price checks are carried out on a regular basis. She added: "I feel the checks they have in place are failing them and they are failing other people too. Some of these people are pensioners or they are on a low income." The manager at Tesco has been very sympathetic towards Caroline and has told her that the prices come from the head office, but Caroline feels the blame has to lie with somebody. Caroline says that on occasions she has been overcharged by about £8 among five or six items.

Quote from Home , some local web site.

Monday 3 December 2007 - 06:26PM (GMT)

Sunday Rest Day

Entry for 02 December 2007 Shopping and customer sercvice

I keep think about doing this post for a long time, about my opinion of some high street shop, they staff & customer service.
I like to use only shop that I like, feel welcome in and sell items, goods that are of high quality, I do not want to pay too much for them, but for better quality and customer service, I will buy thing at a little high price.

1. Marks & Spencer : This national chain of store always seems nice and friendly, very good quality and at good prices, very helpfully staff who seem to never look like they do not like what they are doing.
They used to have good contracts with they suppliers, I think that changed in the late 90's, but still a lot better than others.

2. Boots : Another store I like to use, not as good as M&S, but still very good. It has a great past with Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent & started by John Boot, the company done more for they staff, than just pay them & which most company now day could never match, still now day, it seem a good shop for customers (may be not as good, as it used to be for staff, but still they seem happy to service customers), after being bought out by New York City-based Private Equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, that the service will get worst, but so far, I have not seen any sign of that, plus with this & other changes, that more of they offices in Nottingham might be history ?
Still IMHO, I think as a shop, they are very good, helpfully staff, good quality & nice prices.

3. Morrisons : I did not use this supermarket chain much, before they opened Riverside store, Norwich, the closed I seen was Grantham Newton Shopping Center I think, but now I used this more than any other supermarket, the staff are helpfully (but i been in some of they stores, like Stratford & staff there do not seem as nice, like a different company), good offers, prices, but question over they treatment of suppliers, as with all supermarkets, they seem to just want to get the lowest price, at any cost, which is good for shoppers in the short term, but bad in the long term.
Morrisons seem to be better than the others, a lot better than Tesco, but still they that aim, to be the only shop around, they actions lead to closer of many small shops.

4. Co-op : In some way, Co-Op seem the best shop, more green than any other, better with suppliers, but in most Co-Op supermarkets, they staff seem like they think, serving the customers is a little too much for them, they also feel like they are ex-headmaster & what to cane someone, like any one who ask a question they do not like ? prices, quality of good are good, but service seem bad, like they do not want to be there, for some reason.
May be it just the shops I have been in, some of the Colchester Co-Op have been a lot better, from memory.
Norwich Thorpe Station is the worst, low quality food, but that was the same when 'HEAD' Nisa Today's & Budgens ?

5. SPAR : Now this, I do not use much at all, I remember some, when i lived up Desmond Drive, but I was a little too young then, but the one in Great Yarmouth, the staff seem like the Co-Op, but even worst, they seem to have better things to do, than work in a store, they shop are not what I call supermarkets, just small shops, it hard to see the different now day, a small shop are more like small supermarkets ?
I would like to use SPAR shops more, but I do not like the service I get in them shops, mostly because of the store at market Gates, Yarmouth.

6. Sainsbury's ' : This is another shop I have a high opinion of, very good customer service, helpful staff, good quality, nice prices (but think Morrisons are better on price), can not say anything bad about them, unless talking in general about supermarkets.

7. Somerfield : I used some of they older store in the past - Keymarkets, International Stores, Fine Fare , I do not remember much about International Stores, KeyMarkets on StStephens I remember going with my Dad, Fine Fare with they yellow own brand, but not much about anything else, David Greg on Grove Walk was a small supermarket, this was turn into a newsagents, then latter to Tesco Express?
I been in the Lowestoft branch of Somerfield, they staff seem ok, but some time not too helpfull.
I like to use them more than Tesco, but the Tesco staff seem a little more helpful sometimes.

8. Tesco : This is a shop, that most people in the UK use the most, spend the most, but is not liked the most, the staff are helpful, the price seem good, the quality of good are ok, but they seem to build store sometimes right next to others, like in Long Eaton (Asda), Skegness (Morrisons), & Diss (Morrisons), but they buy land next they own store, to stop other doing the same.
They also bad for suppliers, not good for the farmers, bad for small shops, more so than any other supermarket, because of they need to open small stores & lots of stores, big and small.
They customer service and prices, seem great, you get everything from a supermarket, plus cloths, mobile phone, TV, DVD's, bank account, loans, nearly everything, which is bad for other small shops, some might think, well hard luck, they just not as good as TESCO, but who wants just TESCO as a shop, I want more choice than that. (I think you can buy cars as well ? but not sure ? ). Tescopoly

9. ASDA : They have not got the same bad aftertaste as TESCO, but Wal-Mart has, in the USA, I do not feel as bad, when I shop at ASDA, as when I use Tesco, but may be I should.
Good , helpful staff, nice prices, good quality goods, from the worlds biggest supermarket.
Is biggest the best ?
"Specific criticisms include the company's extensive foreign product sourcing, low rates of employee health insurance enrollment, resistance to union representation, and alleged sexism."
Criticism of Wal-Mart


There many more stores, big and small.
But I just going round my Dad's.
That my opinion of nine of the national chains of stores / supermarkets, I have used.

Edit at 1913 hours.
10. Kwik Save : not a store I use much, I used them may around 1996 & may be 1997, in the Peterborough area, even got a mobile phone from there for £40, which then was very cheap.
There seem cheap and more basic store than Sainsbury's / Asda / Morrisons, but with the ASDA Farm Stores (now Smart price), Tesco value, Morrisons Bettabuy & other shop with they own cheap budget brands, plus new stores like Aldi , Lidl , Netto , it made it harder for Kwik Save and they No Frills brand.
It sad when a company, goes into administration & Kwik Save had a few good things about it, but they lost they way, lucky for some, 56 stores & they staff being bought & turn into FreshXpress.
Just looked at this on Wikip, see they found it hard too & now only 23 out of 56 FreshXpress stores left.
I wonder what the Beeston Kick Save store is now (some small shopping center, that the bus from Broad Marsh Centre to Long easton, stop at, in a little bus station, also remember the video / DVD rental store as well.
If I every used it, it would be about once, as I never got off the bus, as I remember, only about once.
Address of last FreshXpress in Nottingham, to think there was, about 1000 kick save stores at one stage, in the 90's.

NOTTINGHAM - CLIFTON

350 SOUTHCHURCH DRIVE
CLIFTON
NOTTINGHAM
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
NG11 9FE

11. Farmfoods : I remember there used to be on in Broad Marsh Center, Nottingham, but the last time I look, it unit was being used for something else, mostly selling frozen food, it a bit like Iceland, I have not used them much, but they looked cheap, as in they stores looked cheap, not the price, I can not remember the price of anything in they shops.

12. Iceland : Same as Farmfoods, but the shops looked more better, have a lot of offers, In Norwich they have the old Keymarkets stores in StStephens, a store at Anglia Square, I have not used them much.
They staff always seem helpful.



Now watching Columbo on the Hallmark Channel , Swan song (3rd March 1974 : 1.4 Third season (1973–1974, 8 episodes))

"Swan Song" (3/3/74) imdb

Johnny Cash is Tommy Brown, gospel singing superstar. Ida Lupino is his wife Edna, head of the ministry seeking to build a new tabernacle. Since Edna caught Tommy cheating on her with an underage girl, she has been blackmailing Tommy into donating all of the proceeds from his concerts and records to the building fund. When Tommy decides he has had enough, he slips the girls drugged coffee to put them to sleep on their small private plane while flying into Los Angeles and then bails out with a homemade parachute. Edna's brother Luke (Bill McKinney) insists that the police handle the case as a homicide, while the FAA is ready to write it off to an unfortunate accident. In the course of the investigation, Columbo comes to realize that Tommy Brown is one of the most sympathetic murderers he has ever pursued. Nicholas Colasanto (Coach on Cheers) took his second turn behind the camera to direct this episode.

Sunday 2 December 2007 - 04:17PM (GMT)

Sunday Rest Day.

Entry for 02 December 2007

I few strange dream last night.

1. Going on Hoilday to Spain or somewhere, at the airport, going to get on the plan, got charged £35, I only got £25 from the cashpoint waiting in the airport, I was with xxxxx, who paid £10.

2. A dream at a railway station, I think it was Yarmouth Vaxuhall, but not.
I was waiting for someone, as a train came in, some one went onto & off the track, then went to the toilet , I went to tell them off for going onto the track, he was hiding in the toilet, under a bath ?
He could not understand anything I told him, but by then I missed the train & missed the person I was there for.

3. Driving a car ? from Great Yarmouth to Norwich, but not like any road there ? by my self.
One point in the dream, I was in the Maestro & could not move it, but I could see myself in front of me, driving away from me, fast at the same time ? two of me & the Maestro.
Then when it was out of sight, I started to move again ?

The reason I woke up so much, was because my cats, keep jumping on the bed, and I am mostly in light sleep when I dream (or can remember dreaming ? ).
I did have another dream too, before the second or first, plus they was a little more to the dreams, but not much, as soon as I got up, I started to forget them.

Sharpe's Justice (TV programme 1997)

UKTV Drama +1 (Virgin 130), now going to watch this.
I quite like this Sharpe series, it very good, I have not seen this one before.
"Unlike most of the other installments of the series, this episode was not based on a novel by Bernard Cornwell."
It says about this on the Wikipedia page on it, I noice that Alexis Denisof (which I seen in other episodes) and Philip Glenister .

Sunday 2 December 2007 - 11:18AM (GMT)

Entry for 02 December 2007

Going to bed soon, just watching Constantine, I got from Morrisons today for £4:99.
I watch it once, now again with commentary.
That the thing I like DVD's so much, as the extra, which tell you about the story, the background on how the movie was made & other things.

Today was not so good day for me, mostly a not much anything.
Well, I got a week, working night at Ipswich to look forward to, may be better than days like this.
The week after, is A/L, not that I got anything planed, just will not be at work.

I notice that Live Journal now has over 18 (or 21) post warning now, I set my Live journal to that, so it has a warning for over 18 or 21 content, which I hope that any one on a Windows PC at work, can not see any of my post.
I do not want, to be told off, because I have opinions that do not meet the standards of the evil comapnys that run the railways now, mostly coach company's. I have a very low opinion of First Group, Stagecoach & national Express.
Well, some people love them, I do not know why.

I am off to bed very soon, now Sunday at about 0120 hours, I am working tonight from 2100 I think.

Sunday 2 December 2007 - 01:26AM (GMT)

Saturday Rest Day

Entry for 01 December 2007 Saturday Rest Day

I got up late today, at about 1130 hours, I wished my uniform last night, now doing some more washing (bed covers).
Today is the first day in December, the last month of 2007.
This year feel like it has gone quick & I find it hard to think of much this year, that happen, mostly just work & more work.

I might just watch DVD today and not do much, not that there is much to do.
Been in bed nearly half the day.

Some news stores I took notice of
Traders urged to open for parade Several thousand Apprentice Boys are due to march through Londonderry city centre.

Blaze deaths caused 'huge trauma' The deaths of a family in a Tyrone fire caused the community "unbearable suffering", a priest says.

Man arrested over train collision A 20-year-old man is arrested after a freight train crashed into an empty car in East Ayrshire.
SNP considers working with Tories The SNP's ban on working with the Tories could be overturned at local government level.
Is Union at 'breaking point'?

UK peers in bid to free teacher Two British Muslim peers arrive in Sudan hoping to secure the release of jailed UK teacher Gillian Gibbons.
Rescue me Why island girls are bucking the trend with the RNLI
Protest at nuclear power station
Man is charged over priest attack

Warning over fake ID bogus caller A warning is issued about a man using fake credentials claiming to collect money on behalf of the police authority.
Calderwood earns monthly accolade Forest boss Colin Calderwood is named League One manager of the month for November.

Chancellor opens finance academy Alistair Darling opens a £5m financial skills academy to help train young people to work in financial sector.

Saturday 1 December 2007 - 12:32PM (GMT)