Ebay cheek!

Mostly, Ebay deals work out fine.  Just occasionally they don't.

I took delivery of a batch of 6 LED lightbulbs, ready for my inspection pre solar panel installation.  5 of them were fine, the sixth had one of the prongs missing from the bayonet fixing, so it won't sit in the light fitting.

I wrote to the company concerned asking for a  replacement.  They asked for a photograph.  I complied.  The resultant communication from them was ridiculous, unprofessional and downright cheeky!

I was informed that they only sell batches of 4 and 10 bulbs.  Untrue as my order was for 6 bulbs.  Therefore if I wanted one replacement bulb it would need to be ordered from abroad and would take 25-30 days to arrive!!!!!  Clearly not an appropriate timescale for a replacement.

Finally they said "How about we send you a pack of four bulbs and you just pay for three?"  You see what I mean about lack of professionalism and sheer cheek.  I don't need any  more bulbs, and if I did, I wouldn't be buying from them after such an attitude to customer service.

Naturally, I refused, and requested an immediate replacement for an item they had supplied that was "not fit for purpose".  If they don't send a bulb this week I shall name and shame them.  Watch this space!

Solar Panels - the adventure begins

Yesterday Stephen from Solar Warmth came to measure up my roof to give me a quotation for the installation of solar panels.

The back of my house faces South, the ideal direction for maximising input from the big golden globe in the sky. Consequently, I'd assumed that the sections of the house and garage roofs that face South would be the ones best suited to having the panels affixed.

Not so, in my case!  Stephen explained that because of the design of the roofline, the shadow caused by the house roof in the afternoon would fall on the garage roof, reducing the ability to gain maximum exposure.  Instead he suggested that I would generate more electricity by installing panels on the West facing house roof, which is not overshadowed.  Smart man, Stephen!

I was naturally guided by his expertise, and next Wednesday the team will come and fit ten solar panels to my roof.  I shall take photos and you can share the adventure with me.

The Life of a Cow

I saw this on Vegan Richa's site, and just had to copy it out.  The images may be cutesy, but the message is serious.  We have the phrase "it's a dog's life", but maybe it should be amended to "it's a cow's life"?

I know otherwise compassionate people who say that taking milk from a cow doesn't cause any deaths to animals, not like eating them does.  I've known for decades that this isn't true, that male calves are imminently disposed of, and the cow's life is ended when she is no longer able to produce commerically viable quantities of milk.  This graphically illustrates the point, well done PETA for producing it.