The Christmas traditions ............... No 1 ............... Trial by Ice
Robert Frost wrote
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
And ice can be an awesome thing to behold, especially when it's under an inch or two of torrential rainwater and littered with the wobbling, unstoppable carnage of 50 or so of West London's finest flashing blades...
Every year, as Christmas approaches, the Yuletide fairy (Mrs S) drags us all, kicking and screaming, in the rain and the sleet, to the Cromwell Road in lovely London Town.
The Natural History Museum erects a skating rink in the forecourt, a festive rain-drenched "Xmas Fayre" springs up in the drizzle and we all enjoy the nice ice followed by a choice slice of seasonal pizza. Click the pic for the video experience.
Getting into the festive spirit
Customer Service, ha ha ha only joking, Esporta responds - ish
Those of you captivated by my earlier post and correspondence (click here) with the management at my friendly neighbourhood gymnasium might be sitting, waiting, breathlesssly expectant of the next missive...
So (lightly edited for clarity and comic effect) here's my latest epistle ...
Dear Mr Name changed to protect the guilty, A number of events have occurred since I wrote directly to you on 24th November.
- I received a poorly written letter from one of your staff, dated the 30th November, assuring me that the membership of my daughter ChaCha had been cancelled with immediate effect.
- You then withdrew £263:00 from my bank account on 3rd December (as you do each month), indicating that despite the aforementioned assurances her membership is still costing me money.
- I received a “one size fits all” mail-merge letter bearing your signature telling me how much you hoped I appreciated all the effort that Esporta put into enhancing my gym-going experience.
- Your letter, (although it did offer me a free cup of coffee) also informed me that my fees would be rising from £335 monthly to £345, hard to reconcile with the £263 you’re already erroneously charging me.
- I spoke with your reception staff and offered a conversation (over a free cup of coffee?) with you to address some of these issues and provide a little constructive customer feedback. As someone who makes a reasonable living advising companies on their approach to Sales and Marketing I thought that might be attractive to you. If not, that’s fine, however, I was told that you’d ring me. You haven’t, that’s not good.
To help you to reconcile the ongoing series of administrative errors and customer relationship mismanagement I enclose the correspondence to date. I’d really appreciate it if you’d take some positive action to rectify the impression you’re generating.StuffyThis was sent on the 5th of December,
still waiting ...
7th December still waiting
8th December still waiting
9th, 10th and 11th December, yup, still waiting...
Labels: esporta poor customer service royal berks oakwood stuffy
By public demand (that's right, you've no-one to blame but yourselves) - more Haiku movie reviews
Well folks, having launched the Haiku juggernaut on it's ponderous path I'm now, (in response to literally a brace of requests), having to put my minimalist money where my massive mouth is.
Heretofore and therewith, the miniaturised critiques of the latest offerings from Messrs Forster and Eastwood.
Quantum of Solace (slightly more substantial review here)
Sony and Aston
What was missing ? a story
and a sense of fun.
The Changeling, (a Mrs Stuffy selection)
A tragic tale, told
enthralling as the cold, red
slash, Angelina's lips.
