Sometimes I worry about computers, we are getting far too dependant on them. I was using a pen and paper the other day, and struggle as I always do with spelling (yes, I know, grammar as well) I stopped and looked at a word and thought: well it must be spelt correctly as it's not underlined. I'm just becoming far too used to this feature I'm afraid and I now expect A4 paper will do the same.
Onto my second topic for today and it is a link that a resident from another park forwarded to me. It is an article from The Insolvency Service regarding action they have taken on what seem to be Wyldecrest related companies, or at least they used the same name. Have a read and see what you make of it. http://news-insolvency.bis.gov.uk/Press-Releases/Mobile-home-services-providers-immobilised-by-Insolvency-Service-68b82.aspx
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Swans, Ducks and ISO9001
The river beside us has been very high recently, rising very quickly considering there has been quite a extended dry spell. Anyway extreme events seem to be a weather pattern now from extended very cold periods to very wet periods and the next surely has to be an extended warm (and dry) period. Musing about the uncertainty principle and others where an observed experiment will change the outcome I wonder if I have an experiment that tests if I expect a warm and sunny period it will happen and I'm also an observer what does that mean? Rain probably!
Various displays by a pair of swans on the river and I have posted a couple below, they seem such a loving pair. Only male mallards at the moment I guess all the females are on eggs. Sadly one poor tiny duckling passed on the river during the flood heading down river, no way back for that poor little guy.
Anyway, while chatting with other residents we were discussing that our fine park owners, Wyldecrest, are now ISO9001 certified. This demands very clear quality management systems and is quite difficult to summarise easily - but one statement is: "The quality policy is a formal statement from management, closely linked to the business and marketing plan and to customer needs." I suppose they have two levels of customer, those that buy a park home and those that pay them a pitch rental. One becomes the other on buying a home of course. Inevitably their focus is the buyer as a home has a nice profit margin and their other significant income from a home will be when someone sells to move on (10%) or unhappily someone dies, leaving an empty home that the relatives will sell (10% again). On a large park the pitch rental total will be significant but on a small park like ours it does not amount to very much income at all.
Well all this musing took us to the subject of maintenance on the park as there are some road drains that need the gulley emptied as during heavy rain the water does not drain away and large puddles form. So if a simple thing like this, just general maintenance looking after the infrastructure, you would think would be an expected expense. Well from what we hear things like this will not be done until the park generates some income from home sales. So as far as the other improvements that might help the park look more attractive to potential residents (like the rear retaining wall and screening that is needed) there is very little chance of this happening. It is a bit of chicken and egg situation with some of this I think.
How does all this fit in with ISO9001 and procedures and actions that are defined? More 'uncertainty principle' I might suggest.
Anyway, we may have some new residents in a new home soon so lets see what happens - and back to something much more appealing - the swans.
Various displays by a pair of swans on the river and I have posted a couple below, they seem such a loving pair. Only male mallards at the moment I guess all the females are on eggs. Sadly one poor tiny duckling passed on the river during the flood heading down river, no way back for that poor little guy.
Anyway, while chatting with other residents we were discussing that our fine park owners, Wyldecrest, are now ISO9001 certified. This demands very clear quality management systems and is quite difficult to summarise easily - but one statement is: "The quality policy is a formal statement from management, closely linked to the business and marketing plan and to customer needs." I suppose they have two levels of customer, those that buy a park home and those that pay them a pitch rental. One becomes the other on buying a home of course. Inevitably their focus is the buyer as a home has a nice profit margin and their other significant income from a home will be when someone sells to move on (10%) or unhappily someone dies, leaving an empty home that the relatives will sell (10% again). On a large park the pitch rental total will be significant but on a small park like ours it does not amount to very much income at all.
Well all this musing took us to the subject of maintenance on the park as there are some road drains that need the gulley emptied as during heavy rain the water does not drain away and large puddles form. So if a simple thing like this, just general maintenance looking after the infrastructure, you would think would be an expected expense. Well from what we hear things like this will not be done until the park generates some income from home sales. So as far as the other improvements that might help the park look more attractive to potential residents (like the rear retaining wall and screening that is needed) there is very little chance of this happening. It is a bit of chicken and egg situation with some of this I think.
How does all this fit in with ISO9001 and procedures and actions that are defined? More 'uncertainty principle' I might suggest.
Anyway, we may have some new residents in a new home soon so lets see what happens - and back to something much more appealing - the swans.
Monday, 25 March 2013
Bill Posters and Bill Savers
Well we have a noticeboard on the site after only a couple of years of waiting, it is a shame that the site licence displayed was issued to the previous owner who sold it to the present owners over two years ago. It does make you wonder if they have applied to have it changed. There are so many issues like this where regulations are just ignored and I suppose some are being ignored to our benefit, could be I suppose. Yes really!
On yet another completely different subject and to prove my green credentials, whatever that means, I have been fitting individual radiator control valves to replace the usual manual valves. So each room will have a separate temperature control unit with a wireless link to the radiator valve and the temperature can be programmed for different times of day. This is a much better solution that just having one main control for the whole house where if you need a bit of extra heat in the living room, the main thermostat is turned up and the whole house gets warmer. Also these single controls are often rather inaccurate and trying to increase by a small amount usually ends up as too much. It is surprising how a difference of only 1 degree can make a room feel comfortable or too cool.
So after a little research I found that EON were selling these at a reduced cost compared to elsewhere and that these were the same units as sold by Conrad Electronics. This was important as EON only sell the radiator control and not the boiler control. This second unit is needed for a good installation as it responds to a demand from the thermostats and Conrad sell this unit.
So the kits arrived from EON and they have a selection of adaptors to fit the actuator units to the radiators. Well of course our radiator valves are not standard and none of these would fit, not a surprise really! So loving a challenge I set about adapting the adaptors and with a bit of careful drilling and extra clips we had a solution.
The boiler control unit arrived from Conrad and this was not a problem to
fit. However programming this to recognise the room controls was a little more of a problem as although the instructions were in English the control unit itself was in German. With a 'useful' section in the manual showing the translation it all became clear eventually.
So it all works and I suppose it theory we are saving money as well as having the rooms at a comfortable level.
.
On yet another completely different subject and to prove my green credentials, whatever that means, I have been fitting individual radiator control valves to replace the usual manual valves. So each room will have a separate temperature control unit with a wireless link to the radiator valve and the temperature can be programmed for different times of day. This is a much better solution that just having one main control for the whole house where if you need a bit of extra heat in the living room, the main thermostat is turned up and the whole house gets warmer. Also these single controls are often rather inaccurate and trying to increase by a small amount usually ends up as too much. It is surprising how a difference of only 1 degree can make a room feel comfortable or too cool.
So after a little research I found that EON were selling these at a reduced cost compared to elsewhere and that these were the same units as sold by Conrad Electronics. This was important as EON only sell the radiator control and not the boiler control. This second unit is needed for a good installation as it responds to a demand from the thermostats and Conrad sell this unit.
So the kits arrived from EON and they have a selection of adaptors to fit the actuator units to the radiators. Well of course our radiator valves are not standard and none of these would fit, not a surprise really! So loving a challenge I set about adapting the adaptors and with a bit of careful drilling and extra clips we had a solution.
 |
| Adapted adaptor fitted. |
fit. However programming this to recognise the room controls was a little more of a problem as although the instructions were in English the control unit itself was in German. With a 'useful' section in the manual showing the translation it all became clear eventually.
So it all works and I suppose it theory we are saving money as well as having the rooms at a comfortable level.
.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Snow on Snow on Tarmac
It has been a long winter and still the snow is falling. The residents have put in some hard work this year clearing the road and it does make you wonder what would happen if there was no one - or less than there are - fit enough to do the job. The park would probably have been inaccessible at times as some of the falls and partial thaws were followed by very hard frosts.
The park owners say they can't clear the snow as if they did, they would be liable if someone fell. The council don't as it is a private road. Yet we pay the park owners for staying here and we pay full council tax. If one of the emergency services has to get in and can't what then?
The park owners say they can't clear the snow as if they did, they would be liable if someone fell. The council don't as it is a private road. Yet we pay the park owners for staying here and we pay full council tax. If one of the emergency services has to get in and can't what then?
The snow building up one evening
One of the residents out with the gritter after a hard frost
Monday, 4 March 2013
Quiz night was very enjoyable and won by the "Flowerpot Lady's" team (34 points) from Park Village. They were presented with the Mill House Quiz trophy this year as well as a prize each.
Second was 'The Quartet" (32 points), Third "Bacon Bottoms" (27 points), Fourth "Adam & Friends" (25 points), Fifth "Scrambled Eggheads" (24 points) and wooden spoon went to "4 - 1"
All went well with the organisation other than the designer of the answer sheet who put two lines for question 14. Not clever and Prickly is denying all responsibility!
Here are the questions if you want to have a go...
Second was 'The Quartet" (32 points), Third "Bacon Bottoms" (27 points), Fourth "Adam & Friends" (25 points), Fifth "Scrambled Eggheads" (24 points) and wooden spoon went to "4 - 1"
All went well with the organisation other than the designer of the answer sheet who put two lines for question 14. Not clever and Prickly is denying all responsibility!
Here are the questions if you want to have a go...
1.Name
Tintins dog.
2.Name first plane to drop the Atomic Bomb?
3.Oscar wining actress married to “Colplay” frontman Chris Martin.
4.T.S.Elliott wrote “old possums book of practical “....what?
5.Name Crieff’s emblem, from the Gaelic “Craobh”.
6.Which Ford car of the 1970’s is named after Italian ski resort?
7.Scottish actress played “Margaret”, Victor Meldrews wife?
8.How many years married is a “Crystal Anniversary”?
9.Which planet in our Solar System is 2nd closest to the Sun?
10.Which American gangster was known as “Scarface”?
11.On which racecourse is “The Grand National” run?
12.What is the surname of Dickens family in “A Christmas Carol?
13.A Swede is a cross between which two vegetables?
14.What is the fastest running bird recorded?
15.Which composer wrote the opera “Carmen”?
16.What is the largest single Scandinavian country?
17.In which Russian city is “The Winter Palace”?
18.From which plant is Linseed Oil produced?
19.”Chromophobia” is the fear of what?
20.which country produced the dance “The Lambada”?
21.Which instrument does the “Leader of the Orchestra” play?
22.Who is the Roman “God of Fire”?
23.Which South American country is named after an Italian City?
24.What is the fastest animal recorded on land?
25.What does a “somnambulist” do?
26.Which fruit has the highest calorific value ?(calories)
27.On Pencils, what does “HB” stand for?
28.What material is “The Taj Mahal” made from?2
9.What vehicle would you find on the Cresta Run?
30.Which common food item literally means “twice cooked”?
31.Which mythological creature has the body of a lion? (top is eagle)
32.Which paper is Britain’s oldest Sunday Newspaper?
33.Which “F” would a Vexillologist be an expert on?
34.Which Scottish Liqueur combines whisky & heather honey?
35.Branch of which tree is on “The United Nations” flag?
36.What does “pm” stand for, meaning “in the afternoon”?
37.How many President’s heads are carved on Mount Rushmore?
38. Actor changed his name, was already a Michael Douglas?
39.On Bottles what does “ABV” stand for?
40.What year was The Berlin Wall pulled down?
41.What is the World’s longest river?
42.Greek mythology, who shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow?
43.An alternative name for The Mountain Ash tree?
44.On British Streets what does a “costermonger” sell?
45.What year did” Making Your Mind Up” win Eurovision?
46.Which animal was the croquet ball in “Alice in Wonderland”?
47.Who was the first non-royal on a British stamp?
48.In Russia, what are Matryoshka?
49.Who designed St. Pauls Cathedral?
50.What name is the skin hanging from a turkey’s neck?
2.Name first plane to drop the Atomic Bomb?
3.Oscar wining actress married to “Colplay” frontman Chris Martin.
4.T.S.Elliott wrote “old possums book of practical “....what?
5.Name Crieff’s emblem, from the Gaelic “Craobh”.
6.Which Ford car of the 1970’s is named after Italian ski resort?
7.Scottish actress played “Margaret”, Victor Meldrews wife?
8.How many years married is a “Crystal Anniversary”?
9.Which planet in our Solar System is 2nd closest to the Sun?
10.Which American gangster was known as “Scarface”?
11.On which racecourse is “The Grand National” run?
12.What is the surname of Dickens family in “A Christmas Carol?
13.A Swede is a cross between which two vegetables?
14.What is the fastest running bird recorded?
15.Which composer wrote the opera “Carmen”?
16.What is the largest single Scandinavian country?
17.In which Russian city is “The Winter Palace”?
18.From which plant is Linseed Oil produced?
19.”Chromophobia” is the fear of what?
20.which country produced the dance “The Lambada”?
21.Which instrument does the “Leader of the Orchestra” play?
22.Who is the Roman “God of Fire”?
23.Which South American country is named after an Italian City?
24.What is the fastest animal recorded on land?
25.What does a “somnambulist” do?
26.Which fruit has the highest calorific value ?(calories)
27.On Pencils, what does “HB” stand for?
28.What material is “The Taj Mahal” made from?2
9.What vehicle would you find on the Cresta Run?
30.Which common food item literally means “twice cooked”?
31.Which mythological creature has the body of a lion? (top is eagle)
32.Which paper is Britain’s oldest Sunday Newspaper?
33.Which “F” would a Vexillologist be an expert on?
34.Which Scottish Liqueur combines whisky & heather honey?
35.Branch of which tree is on “The United Nations” flag?
36.What does “pm” stand for, meaning “in the afternoon”?
37.How many President’s heads are carved on Mount Rushmore?
38. Actor changed his name, was already a Michael Douglas?
39.On Bottles what does “ABV” stand for?
40.What year was The Berlin Wall pulled down?
41.What is the World’s longest river?
42.Greek mythology, who shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow?
43.An alternative name for The Mountain Ash tree?
44.On British Streets what does a “costermonger” sell?
45.What year did” Making Your Mind Up” win Eurovision?
46.Which animal was the croquet ball in “Alice in Wonderland”?
47.Who was the first non-royal on a British stamp?
48.In Russia, what are Matryoshka?
49.Who designed St. Pauls Cathedral?
50.What name is the skin hanging from a turkey’s neck?
Friday, 1 March 2013
Time Passed
Aye, well it has been a very long time since the last post on this Blog!
No excuses other than too many other things going on. Anyway, with the re-launch of the Mill House Park Web Site I thought it was time to get to the keyboard again.
What has happened here? Well for the past year the residents (those that agreed to do it) have been carrying out the general maintenance - the gardening type. The site has looked well for it and much better than the previous intermittent work (and mostly only if we moaned about it). This was a trial for a year and it is likely to continue. The Residents Association get a payment for this work.
A few falls of heavy snow over the winter and again (much) the same team were out clearing this. Hard work on occasions but it still seems that if we don't do it then nobody will and we would be left with some very dangerous conditions.
Not many other communications to report from the owners, just the usual notification of the annual increase (based on RPI) in their usual brief and brusque manner - they all go the same charm-school.
The electricity price has stayed at a reasonable price and thanks to our RA Chair it will stay reasonable for the next year or so, to be pro-active in this was certainly worth while.
The Quiz night tonight so there may way well be a post tomorrow with the results.
No excuses other than too many other things going on. Anyway, with the re-launch of the Mill House Park Web Site I thought it was time to get to the keyboard again.
What has happened here? Well for the past year the residents (those that agreed to do it) have been carrying out the general maintenance - the gardening type. The site has looked well for it and much better than the previous intermittent work (and mostly only if we moaned about it). This was a trial for a year and it is likely to continue. The Residents Association get a payment for this work.
A few falls of heavy snow over the winter and again (much) the same team were out clearing this. Hard work on occasions but it still seems that if we don't do it then nobody will and we would be left with some very dangerous conditions.
Not many other communications to report from the owners, just the usual notification of the annual increase (based on RPI) in their usual brief and brusque manner - they all go the same charm-school.
The electricity price has stayed at a reasonable price and thanks to our RA Chair it will stay reasonable for the next year or so, to be pro-active in this was certainly worth while.
The Quiz night tonight so there may way well be a post tomorrow with the results.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Good Office and bad Offices.
We have now been moved from cards to pay for our electricity to a periodic billing from readings. No official notification (of course) and no details of cost per unit or how (and how often) we will be billed. Can't understand why the policy is not to notify. It is almost like this would be an admission of weakness, rather than the opposite where we might begin to respect the owners or at least to understand the problems and reasons for making changes. More later on this I am sure.
On a completely different subject I have moved my email solution from Alentus to Microsoft Office 365. This is the online 'Cloud' version of Microsoft Office that includes an online version of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Onenote - and Outlook of course with ActiveSync to sync to your phone. Storage is now 25GB and at a cost of £4 a month compared to my previous £8 a month for Outlook only and 300Mb. An interesting and easy to use development in Office that is easy to use and set up.
On a completely different subject I have moved my email solution from Alentus to Microsoft Office 365. This is the online 'Cloud' version of Microsoft Office that includes an online version of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Onenote - and Outlook of course with ActiveSync to sync to your phone. Storage is now 25GB and at a cost of £4 a month compared to my previous £8 a month for Outlook only and 300Mb. An interesting and easy to use development in Office that is easy to use and set up.
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