Paul Hadlow's blog

A Change Is As Good As A Holiday

20080723mobileme

It's came to that time when I change is as good as a holiday. The change is I'm going to be using my MobileMe blog. I wish I could download all my posts from here but VOX doesn't allow this, which is a pain in the ass. I have read a few posts of late where people are leaving VOX because it's too restrictive. This is not why I'm moving but for the fact I'm paying for a MobileMe serivce and I may as well get my money's worth out it. I've started uploading my photos to the MobileMe gallery from Flickr but I'm not going to be getting rid of Flickr any day soon. I'm doing that move because I have an iPhone and I may as well MobileMe for more that just email, address book and calendar. MobileMe is not cheap so it's time to use it a bit more. My website, paulsplace.id.au is hosted by the service and it has a blog on it so why not use it instead of letting it sit there doing nothing.

So check it at Paul's Place, you'll find all my services in one easy place.

 

Is It Summer Now? I Don't Think So.

It’s not Summer yet but it’s getting bloody hot over the next few days. Last weekend we had 3 days of temps above 35 and again this weekend and week we’re heading for temps hitting the 40 mark. It’s still only Spring and Summer is only almost a month away from starting and we’re having these high temps already.

I think we’re going to be in for a very long and hot Summer this year and this can not be good. It’s funny thou, a couple of months ago we were complaining about how cold it is and not we’re complaining about how hot it is and going to be. Are we ever happy? I’m just so glad I’m in a better house than I was last Summer. There is no way I could have lived in that old house again this Summer.

Telstra At It Again

Apple at the end of August released their new OS, Snow Leopard (10.6) and it’s now the start of November and I can still not use my Bigpond USB Wireless modem.

See my problem is not with Apple, it’s with Telstra. Now I know I’m not the only person that is not happy with this company, in fact I’ve never been happy with them ever since they took my money by saying I made calls to a 1900 service. Over $850 worth of calls to these services in just over 4 hours, the only problem with this is, I was NOT at home and in fact I was not even in the same state when these so called calls were meant to have been made but this is not my issue at the moment even thou it’s my on going issue with this company. My issue is that I have a Bigpond Wireless service (you know the one! it’s uses that so called wonderful Next G network) that I can not use and it’s not my fault. Well it is my fault because I upgraded my OS, that’s what they’re saying anyhow.

Now since upgrading to Snow Leopard I have not been able to use this service because Telstra has not released updated drivers and software for Snow Leopard and their current version of drivers do not work. I have contacted Telstra about this and all I get from them is they are working on it. This is all well and good but have they stopped billing me, NO they haven’t. So at the moment I’m paying for a service I can not use. Is this fair? again, NO it’s not fair. I’m starting to think it’s time I should pack up the modem and send it to Telstra’s CEO and he can use it and then at the same time they can credit my account and cancel my contract. I have less than 12 months left out of a 36 month contract. This is another issue, when I purchased the modem I signed up for a 24 month contract but for some reason it turned into a 36 month contract. Good one Telstra. I have moved my mobile service from Telstra as they say their Next G network has great coverage, well my main mobile has better coverage and it’s with Vodafone, so much for their better and bigger coverage (this is in my area, a major Australian highway).

It’s going to be a great day when Telstra is made to split in two, they need to sit there, shut up and listen to their customers instead of telling their customers what to do. If Telstra was to do this then people wouldn’t be taking there business elsewhere. Telstra are so costly, they overcharge for their services and then give their customers crap to no customer service when things go wrong. Just have a look at their data costs, who gives a shit if they are the fastest, it’s pointless being the fastest if no one can afford to use your services. Telstra it’s time for you to stop and start listening to the people that pay you, YOUR CUSTOMERS. Without them your shareholders would have nothing. This is the same thing for the banks. Without customers you don’t have a business and your shareholders have nothing either.

I really hope Telstra reads this and acts on it and while I’m about it, put ADSL2+ services in the exchange I get my internet off (Balranald) and stop treating us country people like total idiots because we’re NOT.

I Hate Winter

Firstly: It's Winter, in fact it's been Winter for a couple of months now. So for the last month or so I've been fighting to keep clear of the flu, both the normal flu and the Swine flu (H1N1). Well it's got me, I'm talking about the flu, I'm not a pig so that side of things I'm lucky with. having a heart condition I'm in the high risk area when it comes to the H1N1 flu so I really don't need that flu. So I'm now having to tablet even more pills to get rid of this bloody flu, happy days for me yet again.

Secondly: Last night I was getting ready for bed and was getting into my PJ's top and I noticed the area where my pacemaker is fitted was swollen and up like a balloon. So while at the doctors I thought I would ask him about it. I had an ultra sound done on the area and they found fluid there. So I now have to keep an eye on it and was told it should go down over the next couple of days, if not I'll have to have it looked at again. I'm thinking of ringing Melbourne tomorrow and speaking with them about it. I know this is going to be pointless because they are going to ask to me to come into them which I just can't do. So I can only speak to them and see what they say and hopefully they will work something out with my doctor here or wait until I'm down in Melbourne at the end of next month.

All this could only happen to me. You got to love my life.

Being Lazy to Post An Update

I know I shouldve posted someting a lot sooner than this but I haven't been feeling the best and been fighting off the flu.

As you can see (below) I've received my new phone and have been having a lot of fun playing with it. I got hold of a very nice person in at Vodafone who helpped me out with my issues. As a result i got my new phone quicker than i wouldve if i had just sat around doing nothing about it. I've gotten a few apps on it, one paid and the rest free. I still have another app to come but the will be done when I'm down in Melbourne next month.

Other tha. Fighting off the flu there has not been much happening in my boring and stressed out life. So until next time be good.

Oh there is another issue I'm having but I'm waiting for some further info before starting on the bastards but this is for another time and not now. Keep checking.

Sent from Paul's iPhone

Update: iPhone 3GS and Vodafone

Today I decided to contact Vodafone again after a friend of mine emailed them to see if they had any 32Gb iPhone 3GS' in stock. He forwarded me the email reply (see below) as they said they had limited stock of them. Limited stock? So why haven't I got mine seeing I ordered it over a week ago now.

On the phone I got and I got a guy by the name of Peter (I think that's was it was) and he looked into it and yep they have stock, about 1500 units but I'm still on back order. I asked this guy I hope that people that went court up in Vodafone's system fault are on top of the list seeing it's not the customers fault their orders were delayed and the fact that some of them, including myself have already received their bills and are not paying for their iPhone. He said he was sorry about it and that I should have my phone next week as it looked like I was on top of the list. I told him I'll believe it when I have my iPhone in my hot little hands.

So this is the latest update. Still no iPhone and it's a wait and even more wait for it. One day this year I'll have it. I just won't be paying Vodafone a cent until I receive it, that's very simple.

Letter 1

I have removed the names of the receiver and sender of the letter except for Vodafone's details.

iPhone 3GS and Vodafone

On the 26th of June, when the iPhone 3GS launched here in Australia, I rang my phone carrier Vodafone to upgrade my phone. I was out of contract and was getting phone calls every month asking me to sign another one, which I told them I'm waiting for the new iPhone.

Anyhow that day came and on the phone I get, I got a nice gentleman who I could understand and I asked him I would like the new iPhone 3GS. He said great lets do it and I said ok. Anyhow we got through a few things but everything stopped because Vodafone's system that handles their MPP (Mobile Payment Plan) went down and because I was wanting the iPhone 3GS 32Gb on their $59 cap plan with handset payments of $15 per month they couldn't go any further with my order. The gentlemen said he would keep my deals and ring me back as soon as it came back up. I thought great no iPhone for me but I had been without one for this long whats a few more days wait?

Anyhow Monday came and no phone call so I got onto the phone to find out why, I got onto the gentlemen that was looking after me and he told me the system was still down. Now this got me thinking, what is going on with all the people that had walked into a Vodafone dealer/shop? Are they too not getting their iPhones if they pick this plan? So anyhow he said he would call be back at around 2pm on that day, he called back at just before 3pm, anyhow we were able to get the plan and upgrade going and was told I have my new iPhone 3GS on the way. Woohoo I thought and then it hit me, when am I getting it, when did they send it and do I have to sitting around at home waiting for it. It's a new phone and I want to play, and want to have some fun with it so any wait was going to be a very long wait.

It' now Friday and I'm sitting here with still no iPhone and wondering where it is. Vodafone have changed my plan so I'm now paying for it but I don't have a phone to play and use. Now I hear you saying why didn't I just go into a Vodafone store and get one? There is a simple answer to this question, I don't have a Vodafone store/dealer near me for over 450kms or a 5 hour drive. So this is why it was done over the phone.

Decided to give Vodafone a call to see what is going on with my iPhone and I was told they have ran out of stock and it's gone onto back order. This would be fine seeing it is an iPhone and everyone wants one but Vodafone have changed my plan and is now charging me for this phone, a phone I'm not going to see or have in my hands for a few weeks. I think this is very wrong because I'm paying for something I don't have and paying a higher price, some $25 more a month for something I'm not getting. They should not have changed my plan until they shipped the phone out, at the moment, like I said, I'm paying for a phone and service I can not use and I'm not happy. They should have not taken orders for a product if they could not supply in the first place. Yet Vodafone is still taking orders for the iPhone and at the same time not telling people they don't have them in stock. This is wrong and misleading.

So if your with Vodafone and you want an iPhone 3GS don't call them because they have none but will be very happy to take your money and leave you hanging. Not good customer service in my books.

My letter to the CEO of Vodafone is now in the mail. Lets see what happens as in the past he's been very good at fixing problems and getting things done.

 

Taking Out the Rubbish

This puts a new meaning to taking out the rubbish. What was going through this persons mind to do this to a wheelie and to endanger other road users. I think there are just some people that shouldn't be allowed to drive on our roads but I guess you can't have laws for stupidity (even thou they do try).

  

Read the full story in the NT News

When a Family Isn't a Family

It's been a while since I last posted anything here. I've been a little busy and a little stressed. I've been down to Melbourne twice for medical appointment, one for a normal specialist appointment which in turn turned into another urgent trip back down there to have my ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) battery changed over. I have to head down to Melbourne again next month for two more appointments which is worrying me because of the cost. To make matters worse, I have to get the electric windows on my car fix which is going to cost me about $80 to fix. Now I know this it's a lot of money but when you don't have spare money it's very hard. I don't know what I'm going to do because I just can't seem to get in front of things and it gets me down. It makes things worse when you can't ask for help or get help. I don't have a family that would help, in fact they wouldn't give a shit, the last time family tried to help they just didn't get it and just made things worse. I think it was just their way of not helping and being their normal self, unhelpful and not giving a fuck. I have a wonderful family, one that wouldn't help their own child if they were the last child they have. In fact they don't deserve having a child in the first place. I gave up on them when they were rude to the specialists in Perth and I knew then I would be on my own. So fuck you mum, dad and my fucked up sister. Don't get me started on my sister, this is one person that thinks of themselves while trying to look like they care. If she can see she can get something out of you she will do whatever (suck up) for you.

If I ever won lotto and I know that's never going to happen they would NOT get a cent of it. In fact I wouldn't even tell them because in my mind they are no longer living. I needed help and they shitted in my face so they can get lost.

Anyhow it's time to move on and forget about people that are not worth my time. I've had it with people that treat others like shit and waste my time. I've meet some real arseholes over the last few years and I have had to change the way I look at people. I will help people but if they shit in my face I will have NO time for them.

You can keep up-to-date with my life (my boring life lol) you can by following me on Twitter.

What A Crash

It's amazing that no one was killed in this crash. Watch the video and judge for yourself.