(no subject)

[fpb]

I have had a quite exceptionally straining six months, starting last August when my phone line was disconnected for no reason and - as it turned out - without the knowledge of British Telecom. From then I have never had to deal with less than two crises at once, and it is still not over (the heating in my flat is currently broken, in beautiful and artistic coincidence with the coldest winter in years). And such a multiplication of crises has the effect of making you less effective - you just look around in bewilderment, wondering which one to tackle first, and wasting time and nervous energy. No, it has not been a good year. The best that can be said for it is that it is coming to an end - and that I have written some rather good fanfics in the intervals.

Comments

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

Let's hope 2008 is full of less dramatic artistry. Best wishes.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

And more drama-free zones to you, ma'am.

[filialucis]

Good grief. BT must be an absolute morass of incompetence. Have they at least managed to reconnect you at last?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Yes... in early November. It turns out that the cutting had been done by a contractor and there had been some sort of communications breakdown.

[filialucis]

I suppose the answer to the question whether you can sue somebody for this is a resounding "No"... but at least you're back online.

I've been at the wrong end of a similar breakdown myself since May or so in the matter of renewing my IHT subscription. The outsourcer that handles their credit card payment has been stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that I made the payment, and I've been having to scream blue murder at the IHT customer "care" people every couple of months or so as a result. The only upside to the whole thing is that a newspaper subscription is nowhere near as mission-critical as a working telephone line. :S

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Ah, the wonders of the corporate world. And every step they take is in the direction of further isolation and separation from the customer who is supposed to be paying their wages. >SNORT!!

[marielapin.livejournal.com]

Wow, it sounds like you and I have been in similar circumstances recently. However, I have not gone without phone or heat in my house. It is everything within or physically on the house that is breaking, all at once, or at least two or three at a time. You have my sympathy, and prayers.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I wonder whether having a new baby makes things better or worse. I would imagine that it would do both - babies can never wait for anything, even if the house is collapsing around their ears, and it will have doubled the amount of crises you must cope with. On the other hand, I would imagine that it would give you a reason to go on coping somehow - my guess is that, one look at the baby's face, and you would no longer feel that horrible question that haunted me from time to time, "what's the use to keep trying?" Anyway, have a MUCH BETTER 2008 - both halves.

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you've had a pretty rotten few months. Hope the new year brings better times!

[fpb.livejournal.com]

You too, even though it sounds like your year has been mostly positive.

[purple-mirie.livejournal.com]

The good thing about bad days/months/years is that from now on, things could only get better. *hugs* Hopefully 2008 will be happier for all of us.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Or we shall be prepared for all the worst it can throw at us. 8-)

[guarani]

It's been a rough year for me too, and I'm certainly glad it's coming to an end. I managed, however, to score some good points, so I guess something's gone better than I expected. Let's toast to an improved year!

[super-pan.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry it's been so tough. And I totally know what you mean when you don't know where to even start. Although I hope you started with getting your heat back! Have you gotten the heat back yet? I can't imagine it's safe to go without heat in a place where it actually gets cold like where you live.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Well, actually, no. but I am leaving for Rome tonight for a three-week vacation, and I have notified the landlord. We know what the problem is (a broken valve), and we hope that when I come back we shall be able to settle it easily.

[super-pan.livejournal.com]

Oh good! Have a great vacation in Rome!