Free to every complaining customer...

When our conservatory was finished, alongside the final bill there was a feedback questionnaire asking if the installers had followed certain procedures (they had, where appropriate) and asking how satisfied we were and if we would recommend the firm to friends and neighbours. The gist of what we put was that the builders, installers and electricians were courteous, efficient and seemed to do a good job, but we were unhappy with the lack of communication from the company (there were big delays and getting information about what was going on was like getting blood from a stone) and the fact that they tried to change the agreed payment terms towards the end (after a very wet summer, I suspect cashflow was an issue for them). As a result, we said, we couldn't really recommend them.

Well, that was a couple of months back and we didn't hear back until a couple of days ago when <3 received a phonecall, apologising for our dissatisfaction and saying that if we could pop into the shop, they had a hamper of goodies for us. So yesterday we went by after work and now have a rather nice M&S hamper containing lots of lovely consumables, including cake and pudding to supplement our home-made ones, in case we get more visitors than expected.

While we still probably won't be recommending the firm, this has left us with a much better feeling about the experience. Hopefully the goodwill gift is a sign that they have taken our criticisms on board, but if not, it's not a problem: we no longer need windows or conservatories, and we have a great supply of sweet (and other) stuff for the holiday.

More Scores on the Doors

And the final result is in: I now have a first class honours degree in IT & Computing. Ph34R my 1337 X4|\/| 5k!lz. This is such a relief and has put a huge grin on my face.

And the scores from the Milton Keynes jury...

Holy crap! I got my course result today and somehow I actually managed to scrape a distinction. This is a *lot* better than I was expecting and needless to say I am very happy with this. Now I just have to wait for the letter offering me a degree, which should (I think) arrive before Xmas.

I am going to accept the offer, by the way.

One More Couple, Please

Last night <3 and I got out for one of our rare nights out thanks to one of her friends stepping up for babysitting duty. So we pottered off to Grove for a ceilidh organised by White Horse Ceilidhs. These guys organise half a dozen or so ceilidhs each year and the one we had been to previously was great fun, so a return visit was always on the cards.

This time was every bit as good as last time. The band was Boldwood, who specialise in playing tunes found in C18th manuscripts, and are effective proof that the modern era does not have the monopoly on great dance tunes. We came home with a copy of their CD, which is a really nice listen. I'm going to have to see if I can learn a tune or two off there. The caller was Will Hall, a chap who occasionally attends our local pub sessions and who has proved a great help to me in getting used to learning and playing folk tunes, and who is a lot of fun to play with, even with my very limited skills and repertoire. Anyway, this was the first time I've seen Will call a dance, and I really enjoyed it: his choice of dances was a lot of fun and he had a great, gentle presentation style. (I don't have much to compare with, being pretty new to ceilidhs, but he's definitely good.) Half-time entertainment was courtesy of the energetic and enjoyable Borders morris side, Armaleggan, who did a great, manic show full of sound and fury.

So, we danced to the point of exhaustion, we chatted, and we won a big box of fudge in the raffle. All good. Time to decide when we can next make it...