Fucking Banks. Part 1 (Probably)

So I got the news today that the bank that I was expecting to get a mortgage with have responded that “the valuer currently has advised Accord that he doesn’t deem the property to suitable security at this present time as they are over exposed on the block”. Fuck off. Fucking banks. Appreciate that I’m 15 years behind the trend here and everyone was way ahead of me on fucking off banks. It took a while for my mortgage broker to find this place as most banks will no longer lend on blocks of flats that high due to the … Continued

2017 – Debt Repayment Plan

Another old series of e-mails that I wanted to publish but never got around to it – regarding my debt to Reading Council from 2010. I wanted to try to reduce my payments when I was unemployed in 2017. My Original Request Dear Sir I have been repaying a debt from your over-payments to me for some time now. I called last week to check how much was left to pay, and was advised that the sum remaining was £75.00. Part of the reason for my call was also to advise that I am currently unable to make any more … Continued

Complaints From 2017: Hull Trains

Another old complaint that I thought I’d post, seeing as a whole 2 people read the last one. This time to Hull Trains. Me: Good afternoon I have just been through the trauma of purchasing tickets on your website. I wanted to purchase three tickets, however there were only two tickets at the price. One would have thought that one would have been able to buy all three at the same time, with one of them in the next price band. Alas, no, the website would instead try to charge me the next price band for all three tickets. Were … Continued

Where To Go On Holiday Next?

So I’ve reached the “I need a holiday stage” of year, given that it is a whole two months since I was on an aeroplane, and am wondering where to go next. I have a big list of places that I want to go to, so I don’t need any recommendations. You want the list? Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. GothenburgLuxembourghGranadaValenciaSan SebastianCordobaRondaBilbaoAthensNaplesFlorenceSaltzbergSarajevoOdessaFareo IslesKotorTallinnPortoVilniusDubrovnikOslo to BergenMontpellier KrakówČeský KrumlovLjubljanaSofiaPragueSicilyBuenos AiresMontrealMarrakechMedellínChicagoIstanbulBariSardiniaTel AvivMadeiraTiranaTbilisi Plus I want to go to every single European Capital Of Culture. Spain So I have to go back to España. There’s a few Spanish things that I find rather … Continued

Complaints From 2018: M&S Pie

Remember when I used to spend time writing complaints in the hope of getting a £10 voucher which would keep me fed for a few days? Well, I don’t do that nowadays. Partly because it isn’t worth the effort – I’m neither especially bothered about the hope of a voucher, nor does a total of 3 views really enthral me. Plus supermarkets are much tighter now – I do still complain when something is wrong, but it is more of a battle and, well, I can only be bothered if they’ve really pissed me off. However, there are a couple … Continued

Where I Am Musically – 2022/23

Music is still a huge part of my life but I don’t really talk to people about it – people ask me what my favourite roast dinner is, not what my favourite track is. Plus I do like some weird music, anyway. But on the off-chance you are interested, here goes. Firstly, I’m way more organised than you might think. I have blogs. Yep, James has a blog about something. Every single track that I love, I list on House Minimal Techno Disco – which is basically a load of YouTube videos on a website. I wrote the website years … Continued

Flats: Choose From Four Or Wait For More?

You may have gathered that I’ve been busy looking for a flat to buy. So I thought I’d write about my options – maybe you are interested, and writing tends to help me. Before I go on. I do like Croydon. Seriously. No, I do not want to move to Reading, Hull, Spain (well I do but cannot leave family really), Crystal Palace, Brighton, Redhill, Woking, Kent and all the other places kindly suggested to me that are not London. And nor do I want to run a management company looking after 300 flats. Yep, service charges are a pain … Continued

James Went To Malta

Winter seems like it is going on forever – though by time I’ve finished writing this blog post about going to Malta, it will probably be September. Why Malta? I had two criteria for my holiday. I did at first consider going to the Caribbean or Mauritius, but decided spending that much money was daft when I am saving to buy a house. I also considered Dubai to visit a good friend of mine – but decided going when Ramadan was on wouldn’t be so conducive to fun. Which also then ruled out North Africa and the rest of the … Continued

Detox Over – Bring On The Fun Part

Well, I’ve had a stinking cold, I’ve lost £3k on the stock market, I’ve gone through yet another re-organisation at M&S, had several wake-up calls in the middle of the night on call, it’s a year since my best holiday in years – it feels like a good time to end the detox. Beer is back in my life! But first, a list of things that I’ve achieved. James Is Boom I’ve lost a fairly staggering 9kg of weight since Christmas. Whether I can keep it off for a month, let alone the rest of the year or the rest … Continued

2023 Goals

Ahh it has come to that time of year to write some goals for the year that is already one month in – my 2023 goals. Though I have been achieving already – 5kg lost, 3 cultural activities done, 2 good restaurants visited, 4 very good roast dinners and just one poor one, several friends caught up with, family visit, a job search initiated, my portfolio improved and the old one sacked off, another personal project light-released and actually getting my head back into working at M&S. I might even go into the office. Who knows what I will have … Continued