I am back!

Well its been ages and ages. Finally, yesterday my new laptop got here. I had to argue with the insurance cos they objected to me wanting a replacement IMB ( now called lenovo!) but eventually I won. They wanted me to accept a £299 PC world replacement. I had it as a named item so eventually after threatening a solicitor they gave in. Also turns out at some point in last 10 years the CIS changed their policy from "new for old" to "comparable" so I got £758 for my £900(in 2005) IBM!. AND worst of all they are downright sexist. I have complained ( with M) to ombudsman. He made a claim earlier this year ( yes its been a terrible year!) and they sent a voucher in his case but addressed to him not to us jointly which seemd right. They sent mine addressed to him only, whilst knowing I was the claimant, and the cheque was in both names. Well I suppose they can argue the cheque since the policy is a joint one, but my IBM was insured with them since before we ever officially lived together ( since I bought it in 2005 and altho we were together we only officially moved in together when we moved here in 2007 so they definitely know it is mine!). Every time I rang them they made me give Ms date of birth not my own as ID( I am sure this is wrong too as far as data protection etc is concerned and how can I prove my own ID when giving someone elses?), they persistently called me Mrs not Miss despite me repeatedly asking them to update the details. They kept ringing him and not me and they knew it was my lap top and my claim. The CIS are sexist. I am sick of them. Actualy took out a policy with em this year too but have cancelled even tho we lose on it and moved to another and also cheaper company since they have annoyed us both so much. I also spoke to 2 solicitors and Coventry law centre to see if we can take them to court for sex discrimination but apparently they have not discriminated, they are legally allowed to behave in a sexist manner. Well we used to insure everything thru CIS since they are considered Ethical but as far as I am concerned they are sexist and out of date. Stuck in a 1950s attitude towards women who live with men. I bet they would have treated me fairly if we were in a same sex relationship! Would they get away with this if we were both men or both women? I doubt it. Well over the rest of my life they have lost a lot of money since I have been with the CIS since Decenmber 1999 and never before claimed and I will never ever insure with em again. Not just with house insurance either but with all my insurance. Well they have lost me forever now. Also just about everyone else is cheaper so stuff ethics. Its all a con! Some ethical company to treat me as a second class person just because I got together with someone! Or because I got together with A MAN! Anyway they have f*cked emselves as far as I am concerned. In the end move your money and they may just get the message. Polite requests get you nowhere!. After all in the end Aparteid was beaten by people refusing to trade with south africa, not by people objecting to their ill treatment of people due to race. Money talks louder than anything else it seems. What a sad world. All equal people who have this kind of problem with CIS should stand up and be counted. We are equal. They WILL learn!

Well as for everything else, Yey its so good to be back online! My chickens are doing well tho still have a few feathers missing. Still self employed tho its not looking good but I start at Brum Rag market this friday and maybe that will be my turn around. Brackencraft of the 1980s has joined new Brackencraft and I am making recycled patchwork hand bags. Will take some photos and post in next few days. We are finally clearing the shed and have done some bootsales which sadly have raised more cash than the proper business - still Brum here I come! I am starting ( assuming they get enough students) part 2 of webdesign in a couple of weeks and off to enrole tomorrow. Will now be able to finish doing my website but need to suss out how to upload again since lost all the settings on dead laptop. Still I did it once so must be able to do again. Managing to eat very frugally too since we have hazels in the garden - made pesto today and had with mushrooms and pasta and have made loads of home made wine. Drank the red wine kit all but 1 bottle which is for Christmas but also have banana, bananna and cinnamon, plum, damson, elder( 5 gallons!), plum again and also now hawthorn. Wine kits taste ok after 1 month but real wine doesnt! I have bottled it. The banana is very sweet - good with mince pies/ puddings maybe. Its very cheap anyway. And very alcoholic but the bit we tasted which was not very nice being very yeasty but could be good in a few months time. Loads of apples on the tree too so will have a ago at apple wine and have discovered we have a quince tree. Well I think its quinces but not positive. Didnt notice them last year and when looking on internet they show pictures which look like mine but the core I would have expected to be like pears but it isnt its more like a mango so I am not positive but hopefully if made into jelly or wine they wont poison us! I am doing the Viva veggie roadshow in Cheltenham and also West Midlands Vegan fair in next month or so, so its posibly going to be a brilliant month. Well you have to believe dont you. And I do believe so it must happen. I have my laptop so now life must be getting better. I will write again tomorrow. I am on a roll now and off to check my neglected email................Ah life is good. I have no money, business is cr4p but I just cant help it. Life is great...............