Gut Optus

You know what really grinds my gears? Being ripped off by phone companies! I changed phone plans on advice from Optus from my 150 cap which gave me $750 in calls to a 79 cap which gives $500 in calls. The advice was based on the fact that my call usage was around $350 a month which is far less than the 500 cap. So after changing over my first bill comes in at $280!

I call up Optus to complain and they said well the problem was my “old” plan was at 17c for 30 seconds and 17c flag fall. The new plans are 30c flag fall and 35c per 30 seconds. So, I have a hard time understanding how call prices keep going up when everywhere else in the world they go down. I mean the infrastructure is there, is just gravy! So they bring in a new plan which is 79 cap which had $195 in calls, now is $495! Double the calls! Wow what a great freakin deal, except that the call charges are over double! So in fact you get less calls.

The Optus solution? Move back to a 150 cap…and the current $280 bill, well just have to wear that. Oh, and to cap things off, my $280 bill included a $150 advance payment refund, so in fact it was like $420! So now my next bill will be two lots of $150!

I hate phone companies!

Spend some time with Conrad

Our good friend Conrad (www.pixelflavour.com) made it into Brisbane yesterday after spending some time with family in Darwin, and is staying with us for a few days, which is excellent.

He has grown a tad more hair, looks more unruly than he used to look, and still cant find a decent belt – but he is still the old Conrad we have grown to love. he was a tad crashed when I caught up with him after he arrived at 5 freakin 30 in the freakin morning!

Today we decided to have breaky at The Gunshop (www.thegunshopcafe.com) a favourite haunt with Mel and John (a very good friend of mine). Food was excellent, John and I pigged out on the Lamb omelet whilst Mel and Conrad chowed down the ol favourite French Toast.

The beast has been satisfied – I look like a toad fish.

See Ben Folds

Last night Mel and I went to see Ben Folds (www.benfolds.com) at the Lyric theatre, which was excellent! It was one of the best concerts I have seen. Ben, as known to his closer friends, performed with the QLD Symphony Orchestra as well as tenor opera singers and a duo called The Dresden Dolls (www.dresdendolls.com) – check out their web site for some MP3’s.

The sound was simply sensational, the piano, tenors and orchestra made for an amazing experience. Even better, we had seats in the choir area sitting above theorchestra. What excellent seats! Being able to hear every little nuance of each instrument. Fantastic! He is a great showman, got the whole audience and the really orchestra revved up.

A big thank you and hug to Melikines who bought the tickets!

Its amazing how much spit a tuba can hold….

Start up my blog

I finally decided that its time I started up a blog. Not because I have something interesting to say as such (though of course I do), or that people should read my blog in preference to everyone elses (and they should); its mainly because I lead such a fruitful life full of little twists and turns – so many little events some fortunate some not. In any case I thought I would share them with you as I have so much to tell and so little time.

To get things rolling, I have been using the WordPress blogger. As you can see my banner is, well, the default crapola. I’m after a few ideas from those artistically gifted to get things lookin sweet. If you think you have what it takes then give it your best shot.

The winning entry will get a little gift…

Get a decent phone

I finally ditched my Sony phone, which over the l two years has spent over 3 months in repairs, for a Nokia E61 (http://www.nokia.com.au/nokia/0,,85381,00.html). I have been deciding between something small or go for a PDA style. What finally swung the vote was SIP support within the E61 as well as integrated WLAN, which is pretty cool. Saying that I haven’t actually managed to get the SIP working. Of course its just a matter of time, for the penalty for being stuck with “a brick” without being able to show due cause is beyond mention.

Read on for some cool features.

Heal my dog

Poor bear. Seems to be in a bit of bother. Took him to the vet today as he has problematic skin, scratching, has welts etc. Well, he’s not too good had a few jabs, and the vet said he has skin of a 10 year old dog. So not really sure what is wrong. Sounds expensive.

Has anyone been to China? How do you BBQ a dog? 

Stop being ripped off on my phone bills

I have been using VOIP from home for customer calls, and I must admit that it is pretty good. Going from wireless BlueTooth headset to notebook over wireless LAN to router, and yet very good call quality. I have been sussing out some new wireless routers which have two VOIP phone lines built in with QOS. Pretty cool.

See a decent film

I decided to take the family along to see Kenny (http://www.kennythemovie.com/) at Southbank last night. Its a mockumentary about a portaloo “plumber”. In the same line as The Castle, which has always been a favourite, I thought it was excellent. Of course, given the subject matter, there are bound to be a few poo jokes, which are always welcome.

“The male smell does register anything after about 6 or 8 seconds. That’s why a bloke can sit on the lav for a full 20 minutes and read the paper. Of course if someone else walked in afterwards, well, well it would be like being hit in the face with a poo stick”

 There are some good podcasts on the website. So check it out.

RawPrawn rating: 8/10