Day of the Dead...

Listen to it here! Very surreal stuff.

No TV License for Me

When I moved into my flat and living off peanuts, I decided to minimalize as much money bills as possible. Also I don't watch TV myself unless I stumble across it once in a while. I Use the Internet. Yet still I have no Internet in my flat still, so I am thankful for the organizations, my friends and family who have allowed me to use theirs for on and off.

After over 3 weeks of living in a flat, I have recieved a very interesting and yet imtimidating letter, what caught my eye was, "Enforcement Officers have been notified" in big bold RED LETTERS, as if I have done something terribly wrong. So apparently I have to let these people inspect my house to make sure I am not using any kind of equipment to watch live TV.

I have a TV tuner card but I am not using it, infact the ariel cable is not in use, there is no plug on it. So touch wood they should be in and out. The bit of the TV tuner I'm still interested in, is the remote control reciver, it be can coded to control the PC in various ways. I have managed this on Windows XP, yet I wish to experiment with Linux. This is why I have not removed it yet.

However if they say I have to remove the TV card, I will of course remove it and feel I am being forced and I will further loath the TV and the license it self.

The BBC services are nice, I do admit I watch the iPlayer on and off, yet I feel they need to change some of their ways, especially sending imtimidating letters straight way, rather than friendly ones with some more common questions and answers.

I have to buy a TV license if I watch live television broadcasts on the Internet. So I don't plan on visiting "BBC News" live broadcast link on their website. Yet this made me question will they be following what I browse online? I rang the people to let them know I have read their surprise letter and stated that I am not using a TV or ariel, I also raised my concern about my privacy Internet surfing privacy, they said "They do not have the authority".

Minor Update
I recieved a nicer letter through the post confirming that I have called them up and told them I am not using the arial.

If the do wish to come and investigate my flat, which they stated in the nice letter it will be only a few minutes of my my time, I will let them. I have nothing to hide, yet I still feel that some of this needs changing somehow. "Being felt intimidated straight away". IF they mentioned more nicely that will be coming round to check, I'd be more happier about all this. Just didn't like that intimidation feeling when I haven't done anything wrong!? Think the gas person coming to check my parents meter is nicer.

One of my friends mentioned to me that I had to pay them, I retaliated by saying, 'visit my blog entry', then decided to rip out the tuner card (despite I am not using it or having any antenna cable plugged into it), let alone no Internet.

No Legal Weight
Apparently there is no legal weight, yet the first intermidating letter looks like it does.
Have a further read with the links below.

Further Reading
BBCresistance and TV licensing
Do you need a tv license to watch tv on the internet?
http://www.televisionlicence.info/

Lady in Distress

Had an interesting small dog walk last night, can't seem to get it out of my head still.

Whilst getting to the entrance of the park, I saw a comotion of people up ahead mainly all teenagers, I saw one with a torch just running away from some hedges saying, "Couldn't find anything". I could hear them commenting on me and my dog, they were saying things like "Look at the size of that dog", "Maybe he can help".

Time I got up, I was stopped by one them and quickly bluttered out, "Can you help!?, this lady has lost her bag and stuff and we're struggling to understand". I saw the lady looking in major distress and upset. I remained calmed best I could and showed some authority, I tried to piece together the problem, "PLEASE one person at a time", yet dispite the quick sudden silence, one person came up to me with a sycastic smile, "Don't worry about this, she does all the time and she isn't really worth worrying about...", then some bigger person came over and hooked him over his head and dragged him aside, which I was thankful for. The lady started to crying, so I decided to matters into my own hands and signaled her to come with me.

THE STRESS
From all the random sentences thrown at me, I managed to get a rough idea what the main problem was. She went out drinking to forget her troubles and stresses in life and one too many drinks, made loose her senses a bit and she even admits it. She lost her bag apparently it was stolen and the contents of the bag; had her keys to her front door, her money she recently took out, her only mobile phone, and her address book. She was also in major panic of haven been robbed. Whilst walking to her house, I could feel her mental stress and I knew I couldn't leave her alone until I have tried to help a little further.

Time I got to her house, told her we was going to call the police and I assured her I will be with her during the time of speaking with them. After a good moment of debating that me and the police gather she hasn't been robbed of any possessions in the house, emergency police services gave us a number to call about reporting missing/stolen items from venues.

Turns out the number was an 0845 number and she had no land line or mobile (obviously), so I decided to say we'll call them from my parents home, at that moment I started to panic myself about my parents thoughts and future thoughts.

The Calming
I remained calmed and walked her to my parents house. My dad came down and I told the story and offered a drink to the lady. I took to making us all drinks and stayed with the lady whilst she called up the 0845 number, also helped her remember the contents of her bags during the time and she was given a reference number.

After my mum and I chatted with her treated to her to some food and drink and she bursted into tears and cryed out, "She misses her son". So I got some details and started searching the Internet, eventually got her up and had look at some faces I managed to find, no luck thuogh. After a while of googling, I managed to salvage an address for her. I hope its the correct one, the young 16 year old is under the care of some house in Cornwall, Truro.

Just before I left the computer, I tried to search for any possible helpful organizations that may be able to help, in the end I printed out CAB (Citizen Advice Bureau) details and told to visit them Monday.

POSSIBLE FRIEND NEAR BY!?
I asked if she had any friends near by that she could stay with for the night, she said yes and I walked to her friends. I knew she needed some mental support, after knocking on her door and some ranting on the other side, I knew she wasn't the best friend I hoped she was, in the end I walked her all the way home, even let her wear my jacket as she was cold.

Cats, a little more help and a little thankyou
I wanted to make sure got in back into her house safely as she felt worried she wouldn't be able to get back into her house. She struggled to even open up her back door, which made me panic there and I quickly tried to open the door myself.

Thankfully the door open and she invited me into the house and she wanted me to see her cats. She had no milk so she treated me to some "hot blackcurrent drink". Whilst sitting down and seeing each of her cats, I finally realize I am seeing the owner of the cats that 'Tom the family dog' has always tried to chase after.

Saw some photographs and got to see her daughter and son she hasn't seen for years. I finally came to realize she was a majorly distressed person and needs more help than just from me alone.

Saw a 'Freeview Digital Box' unattached and I thought I may of been able to get it working just before leaving. Proved myself wrong after spending an hour or so trying to get it working and even felt a current going through the cable that is attached to the ariel. I could sense she was mentally not well as she was getting slightly angry on and off and then appologising.

Just before I left I told her to make sure the windows are shut and I even saw a window broken at the back, turns out shes been hassled by trouble makers more often than I thought. I also said if there are any further support I can think of I will let her know.

Final Thoughts
I even remined her to go visit the CAB first thing monday as she has only enough for a couple of days.

As of now after writing this true event in blog, I am still at a bother about seeing a majorly troubled person, even I have reminded her to, "never give up trying".

She needs a lot of mental support and guidance to get herself back together, I really hope she'll looks for it Monday.

Letting Loose and Clowning Around

http://www.nosetonose.info/

I was invited to Reading's "Resource Café and Art Gallery" to experience a workshop like never before, very intriguing one too.

They motivate the group people participating with various activities to help loosen the mind and have a laugh at the same time, not forgetting the great work out you get physically without realizing it till the last moment.

VERY WORTH WHILE.

So if you hear of this in your area, go for it.

PS: My anxiety levels went up to begin with, then somehow felt completely free of everything during the final performance.

Not every day you get permission to just clown around.

Been rather Flustered with New things

Things are busy at the moment and that I have been unable to keep updating my blogs and study fully.

• Currently still moving into my first flat
• Getting into photography, taken up a basic course in photography to hopefully get really good shots for my website projects, along with many other things. Just started a blog to keep my findings online.
  
• Still helping my troubled parents issues on and off, still keeping my mind cool as possible, like everyone else on this planet.
  
• Just started up my volunteer opportunity with no Internet, computer desk or chair, been slow developing yet thankfully making slow progress too.
  
• Dealing with tooth issues and this 17th March 2009 I will be getting a wisdom tooth out just to stop this silly hole from producing evil things in my mouth.

My future is still uncertain but enjoying these new experiences (excluding the wisdom tooth situation).