Four posts in one day?  What’s going on?!  Even though I still don’t have the router, I have somehow managed to get on-line at home using dial up and I’ve gone blogging crazy.

This is just a quick post to say a belated THANK YOU to the Rotten Correspondent who nominated me for Power of Schmooze award a while back.  I believe that this makes me doubly schmooztastic now!  Hooray!

I have to say, I was dead impressed by Brian May (he of Queen fame) for handing in his PhD thesis after a thirty year break.  I am sure I wouldn’t understand a word of the 48,000 word document entitled “Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud” … but I remember how much I procrastinated when completing my Master’s dissertation, and how difficult it was for me to get motivated and write whilst sitting alone at my desk for days on end.  He must be completely passionate about his subject as he certainly didn’t need to do it to further his career.  I hope that he passes with flying colours!

Update: 23.8.2007

Just read on the net that he passed and is now Dr May!

After the race I completed a few weeks ago, me, E. and H. went for a celebratory drink.  In the pub, E. took out her phone and started showing us the photos that she had taken of us before and after the race.  They were really good pictures (although we all looked pretty sweaty and gross in the after shots!), and I asked her to send them to me.  Having recently discovered Bluetooth (about 5 years after the rest of the world), I asked my friend to ’bluetooth’ them across to me. 

E. began to search for my phone.  Its name - the very exciting and original ‘Nokia 6280′ - appeared on her screen … as did the names of the phones of the other people in the pub.  It was a very quiet night in a country pub in Hertfordshire, and who would have thought that amongst the respectable looking men supping their pints at the bar, there was a Big Willy, Horny Boy and a man with a penchant for French Knickers!  We couldn’t stop laughing …

The following Monday, I turned my Bluetooth on in the Docklands Light Railway and discovered many more interesting names amongst the poker faced commuters.  Hilarious.

I had no idea that you could change the name of your phone … and hadn’t considered that you could use it for pulling purposes.  Has everyone else in the world been walking around sending saucy photos to each other via Bluetooth while I was completely oblivious? 

I’m thinking of changing the name of this blog and of my blog persona.  I’ve been considering it for a while, and have come to the conclusion that I am not a “Stratford Girl”.  In fact, the name makes me cringe now.

Much as I try to ignore the fact that I’m an adult and the responsibilities that go with it, I definitely am a grown up.  I am a woman and not a girl.  I also have no great affinity with or affection for Stratford.  Sure, there are things that I like about this place - and I have been here for 3 years now - but it’s definitely not where I want to end my days.  Stratford is not my home.  

It took me ages to settle on Stratford Girl in the first place, so I doubt I’ll be changing my name in the next few days … but hopefuly I’ll come up with something soon.  I’ll keep you posted.

On a less grumpy note, Ireland was absolutely beautiful. 

We (me, sis, nephew, mum and mum’s friend) flew to Cork before hiring a car and driving to the house that my sister had rented.  It was a converted barn outside a little town called Drimoleague … basically in the middle of nowhere.  The accommodation was fantastic.  Owned by a British woman (who obviously had the right idea), it was so cosy and quiet.  And the views of the countryside from the house were stunning. 

We visited loads of little towns in the nearby area, and on one day drove to a beach called Barley Cove, which was fantastic.  We also went to Mizen Head, the most south-westerly point in Ireland, the views from which were absolutely breathtaking.

I had never been to the Republic of Ireland before - only the North (which is equally beautiful)  - but I’d defintely like to go back.

… but still no bloody router.

Honestly, TalkTalk are the most un-customer-friendly company that I have ever come across.  As I’ve explained in previous posts (zzzzzz …), my broadband was supposed to be up and running by 10th July.  The line was installed, but the wireless router TalkTalk were supposed to send did not arrive.

Since then I’ve had endless conversations with TalkTalk staff all over the world (Delhi, Mumbai, Cape Town, Dublin, Hull and Bangalore) to no avail. Each time it takes about 15 minutes to get through, and then I’m usually told that the router is on its way and that it will be with me in a few more days.

Although very polite and apologetic, the people I have spoken to have been no help whatsoever.  The lack of router has been blamed on:

- the one-day postal strike one month ago … although it’s not even being delivered by Royal Mail;

-me supposedly giving them the wrong address … although the billing department seem to have my correct details;

- an unspecified “technical fault”.

It’s been such a pain not being able to get on-line without going to the internet “café” (read sweaty back room of dingy newsagent’s) round the corner.  TalkTalk have offered compensation of £5 (!) for the inconveniece I have suffered, and I was also told that I would get “a nice surprise” through the post by way of apology once the bloody thing arrives.  (Are they taking the piss?)

Hopefully this will be resolved soon (probably gonna have to switch providers - more hassle).  In the meantime, hopefully this post will serve as a warning to anyone (like me) seduced by TalkTalk’s fluffy, cuddly advertising campaign.  BEWARE - TalkTalk are a load of charlatans who should be avoided at all costs!