July 30, 2007

Long story about my telephone machine:

It should have been delivered on 2 July. I was at home all day and waited, but it wasn’t delivered. I checked my mail box, but there was no delivery notice.

After I received the bill, I sent my complaint to the company by email. Their first automation reply was:

“We are very sorry that you have had cause to complain. We take any complaint very seriously and will do all we can to resolve the matter for you. We will now look into the details of your complaint and aim to respond with a resolution within 2 working days.”

But I’ve not received a reply over 10 days since then. I sent an email again, and their automation answer was:

“We are currently experiencing a very high volume of emails following the recent poor weather, and we apologise in advance for any delay this may cause. We will aim to reply to you as quickly as possible.”

Well, I have no choice other than waiting for their reply. After several days, finally I got a reply. It says:

“Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to you and for any inconvenience this may have caused. In response to your email, I am sorry to inform that I am unable to understand your query. Hence, I request you to explain me more about your enquiry; I apologise but I was unable to take hold of the situation you are facing. Kindly elaborate your query, so that I can look into the matter for you.”

I just asked them to cancel my rental telephone equipment because I gave it up. How is it unable for anyone to understand?

They don’t reply to my email quickly, but they issue their reminder bill really quickly. I received it and it’s written if I don’t pay it immediately, I need to pay extra 7.50 pounds as late payment charge. I should avoid this. So, I paid all fees included rental telephone equipment that I haven’t received. Actually, the fee for rental telephone isn’t a problem it’s just 1.17 pounds per month. However, I should tell them I didn’t receive it because I can’t return it when I finish the contract. I sent an email again, but after I paid the fee, they don’t reply my email.

By chance, I found information that a Japanese girl sells her telephone machine with 3 pounds because she goes back to Japan. Buying telephone with 3 pounds sounds nice.

Because it was her departure day and she was busy, I went to her place to fetch the telephone machine. The telephone machine is 3 pounds, but I needed to pay another 3 pounds for taking the bus to her place. This is not good idea in the sense of saving money but telling the truth, it was the first experience for me to get on a normal bus in Manchester. I got on a free shuttle bus before, but it runs limited area and I know the route well. She explained me where and how to get on a bus and where to get off the bus. With her kind assist, I could come to see her. In addition, she presented me some Japanese foods. I have never tried dried Umeboshi (pickled plum), but it tastes nice! Japanese food brings small happiness to me.

Let’s get back to the story about telephone machine. Now I got my telephone. I can use it and call to the phone company instead of sending an email. After making my complaint, I thought the operator told me:

“I can cancel your……”

Actually she told:

“I can’t cancel your……”

The difference of pronunciation between “can” and “can’t” is really difficult to recognise. Anyway, she forwarded my line to another section. Another operator checked my status. She said, “Sorry, we didn’t order to send it out.”

WHATTTTTT????

Is it such an easy mistake? She promised that the fee will be deducted from my next bill.

Hope this works.

July 25, 2007

I went to health check for registration with GP. A nurse checked my height, weight and blood pressure before she asked some questions about my health condition. I was wondering whether I should take off my shoes or not when I step on the scale. She just told me “step on a scale.” So, I stepped on a scale with my shoes. She also measured my height while I was with my shoes on. Thanks for my shoes my height was 1cm taller than usual. If I knew this, I would have worn high heels ;) After some questioning, the health check was done. She said “OK, that’s all.” I said thank you and “see you” when I leave the room. She just said “bye-bye”. Of course it’s better not to see her. I felt her kindness.

July 24, 2007

Two addresses in one property caused a problem though I brought a letter from the estate agent. I went to a surgery again for registration with GP. The receptionist lady asked me which address I live in. Well, actually both of them refer to my property. When I told her that, she started explaining about the ambulance. She says that if I called an ambulance and they couldn’t come because of the different address, I would have to pay thousands pounds. OK, I appreciate her kindness, but now I come for registration with the letter which explains the problem of two addresses. But she did not read the letter, and kept complaining about the case of calling the ambulance car. Well we have no way to go out. After 15 minutes complaining, she called her boss. The boss was a nice lady and she knew the name of my property. She finished my registration in a minute. I made an appointment for my health check and went home.

July 18, 2007

It’s been a month since I arrived in Manchester, still I don’t know what the British food is. Now I don’t have a car, so I need to go grocery shopping every day and carry the items by hand. I have heard there’s delivery service at supermarket however I don’t trust it because my telephone machine has not been delivered yet. Anyway it’s interesting to go to a supermarket. I miss fresh fish, but I can buy turkey and lamb instead. Of course vegetables and fruits taste the same. Milk and eggs taste a bit different, but no problem. But rice, I can’t buy it at the supermarket nearby. They sell different kind of rice from Japanese one. Fortunately, there’s Chinatown in Manchester.

I can buy rice (NISHIKI), miso(Takeya), soy-sause(Kikkoman) , curry sauce mix(S&B) and even frozen Natto. NISHIKI is California rice, but called Sushi rice here and it tastes quite nice. Thanks for Chinatown I can cook curry rice here as well as in Japan.

July 14, 2007

I checked the web site of “Manchester Art Gallery” and found the lecture about “Natsume Soseki”. Natsume Soseki is one of the most famous writers in Japan, and I thought he was famous in England, too. “Kokoro” is my very best favorite novel written by Soseki, and the lecture about the novel seemed a must for me. I went and attended the lecture.

The lecture starts at 2:30pm, and I arrive there at 2:20pm. There are already about 40 people. I see a few people who look like Japanese, but most of the audience is not Japanese. I’m impressed that Soseki is such famous in England. Everybody speaks in English at the lecture room. Some apparent Japanese people also come with a non-Japanese and speak in English. I feel like I’m an alien here and waiting another 10 minutes till the lecture starts.

The lecturer started his words with “many of you wouldn’t know about Soseki”.

I see. My expectation was too much. Soseki is not famous in England. However, his lecture was impressive. He introduced Soseki’s life (esp. his stay in England) and work, and also mentioned that Soseki is likely to become famous in England in the future. The lecturer has also translated some of Soseki’s novels into English. The most interesting part was that he explained two paintings at Manchester Art Gallery, which he inferred inspired Soseki to write “Sanshiro”. After listened to his lecture, I really want to read Soseki’s novel. The problem is: should I read them in English or in Japanese?

If you’re interested in his lecture, the detailed information is here.

July 12, 2007

In case of illness, I have to register with GP at a surgery. The procedures are not complicated however I need to bring the proof of my address. This causes a problem. My address on the tenancy agreement does not work for official use, because it's different from that on the letter from the city council. So, I needed to visit the estate agent, again. Every time I go there, I wish this would be the last time to come. But it would never be the last one.

The lady at office said it’s difficult to re-issue my tenancy agreement with the official address. Instead, she wrote a letter to the doctor’s surgery. It describes: the problem of two addresses is due to the fact that the property has 2 entrances and therefore 2 different roads correspond to the same address.

She handed this letter and said “Good luck”. However, as far as I know, my property has only 1 entrance, and the problem results from the misprint by the very estate agent. Anyway I wish the letter will work.

When I leave there she says “See you SOON,” with a big smile.

I really don’t want to see her soon…..

Does “see you soon” mean something else?

July 10, 2007

My Internet line is back! Yeah!

Now I feel it was a waste of time that I did yesterday. I rushed into the store to buy a telephone machine, but the store was closed. I called broadband support service from a public phone and it took time but they just gave me another telephone number. The next morning, the Internet line is back. If I didn’t do anything, the result is the same.

Even when I rush into action, things are not so different. I should be relaxed and wait. I haven’t received telephone machine nor reply email from the company yet. OK, I will wait anyway.

July 9, 2007

Off-line! It’s a disaster. Suddenly, my Internet at home is off. I’m not sure about telephone line. I need to buy a telephone machine to check my telephone line. I arrived at a department store 5 minutes before their closing time. I couldn’t get in the store. So, I used a public phone and called broadband support service. The line is always busy. After 20 minutes waiting, I was told I’m not the only person who can’t use the Internet. At all of my area, there was a major problem with the provider. The adviser gave me a telephone number. In case I couldn’t access Internet in 5 hours, I should call the engineer. Every time I call them to ask some help, they give me different numbers….

July 8, 2007

It’s still rather cold here. I took the following photo at a big shopping mall today. Everybody wears long sleeves. All of my jackets and sweaters are shipped and now on the Indian Ocean.

July 5, 2007

Today, I received a bill from the broadband company. It required paying the fee for rental telephone equipment. I have NOT received it! So, I made a complaint by email to the company and asked them to cancel the equipment. Thanks to the bill, now I know my account number and can access their online form with it to send a complaint. Things are not going smoothly, but keep gaining small progress anyway.

As for my kitchen, the next to the washing machine is a dish washer. So, two noisy machines are next to each other. I also think it is a good idea to put noisy things together into one place.

This is the other side of my room:

My favorite part of this property is the clean floor. I can walk in my room with bare feet. I still love Japanese custom to take off shoes in the house.

July 3, 2007

Finally, my broadband connection is activated! It provides both Internet and telephone　service. I ordered rental telephone equipment and it should be delivered before the activation, however, it’s not arrived yet. Something is not perfect. Now I found the telephone set is not expensive, so I’d like to cancel the rental order and buy the new one. However, the cancellation telephone line is busy and I can’t do anything else other than just waiting.

About electricity, I couldn’t find the meter in my room. It is at the common place and it’s locked. So, I went to the estate agent office of renting my place for opening it. They just gave me three telephone numbers, and said one of three offices would help me read the meter. Do I need to appreciate the information? I have to call them one by one. My telephone at home isn’t delivered yet. Well every process is not a big problem, but doesn’t go smoothly. I am getting used to wait or queue here.

This is my kitchen:

Washing machine is in the kitchen! Is this normal in Europe? It’s a big surprise for me at first. Now I think it is a good idea!

June 30, 2007

Still I don’t find the meter for electricity in my room, but I received a letter from the electricity company with their unknown postal code. I don’t get this. Maybe the estate agent office didn’t call me, but called the electricity company. I’m disappointed at my useless work yesterday. I could have just waited their letter without calling them. Anyway, I’m happy that I have almost solved all of my problems in June.

June 29, 2007

I haven’t solved the problem about water and electricity yet. I haven’t received any phone call from the estate agent office about the postcode of my place. I could check my postcode by the web page of Royal Mail (UK mail service). And I got one postcode. I was 100% sure I could solve the problem about water and electricity problem with this postcode.

HOWEVER, the water company couldn’t find my property by the post code which exists on the web page of Royal Mail. And the operator recommended me to call a different office where registers new property. I am 100% sure this is not a new property, but he kept saying “I’m sorry but I can’t find your property in my database.” OK I have no choice. I took a note of the number for another office and called it. Finally I finished the water problem. (I hope.) Now I have the last problem. I called the electricity office. Things are the same. I got another number where I can ask the account number for my electricity. This time, I got “1 minute remaining” message from my cell phone. DID I LOSE another 10 pounds for this helpless telephone information?? Sad…

I went to re-charge for cell phone and called again to the electricity company. The operator couldn’t find my property and she told me I should find the meter for electricity and take a note of the ID number written next to the meter. I didn’t know where the meter is, so asked her. The answer was, she didn’t know and I should find it by myself. Well, I couldn’t solve all my problems in June.