After lunch I girded my loins and prepared to do battle with BT. After 45 minutes and an initial misdirection I was helped to access my account by a very helpful assistant named Jen. The problem concerned a different account and I really can’t be bothered to go into it here even if I could get my head around it. Believe it or not the “Bill” I hadn’t been able to access turned out to be a credit.
Having thus cheered myself up I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2021/12/30/a-knights-tale-85-i-was-stitched-up/
I then scanned four more of Charles Keeping’s excellent illustrations to “A Tale of Two Cities”
‘Sydney Carton drank the punch at a great rate’
‘He leaned and elbow on her table, and covered his eyes with his hand’
‘He sat munching and drinking near Madame Defarge’s counter’
‘She laid her face upon his breast’
This evening we dined on tender roast lamb; crisp roast potatoes; crunchy carrots; firm Brussels sprouts, sage and onion stuffing, bread sauce, mint sauce, and meaty gravy. Jackie, Becky, and Ian drank Vineyards white Zesty, while I drank more of the Merlot-Tannat, which involved opening another bottle.
I’m glad that you have a credit with BT! I guess that’s the end of your association with them. I’ve never heard of Bread Sauce or Mint Sauce.
Oh yes, it is the end. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bread-sauce-0
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/realmintsauce_67706. (this one we usually buy in a jar)
Thanks a lot, John
Amazing, I’ve never heard of this, it sounds delicious! Thanks, Derrick! ❤️
Tannat is a new cultivar to me 🙂 With only a day left before we embark on a new adventure in 2022 I wish you and Jackie well in health, happiness, gardening, photography as well as in your relations with family and friends.
And to you and yours, Anne. This is first time I have come across Tannat. Thanks very much
The illustrations are such a great depiction of the words!
Thanks very much, Sylvie
I’m sure you’re happy to have the situation straightened out–and with a credit!
Too bad you had to open another bottle. 😏 I guess that means you like it, but hopefully you weren’t drinking it the way Sydney Carlton was drinking the punch.
Thank you so much, Merril. Just one more glass 🙂
🤣
“which involved opening another bottle.” Laughter here
And, understanding.
🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Bridget
I can well imagine that BT drove you to open another bottle. Perhaps you could charge it to them?
What a good idea, Thanks a lot, Susan
I’m glad you were able to get your BT problem resolved. It must be a big relief!
It certainly is, Liz. Thank you very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Credits are so much better! We’re glad that you were able to connect with Jen, good over the phone service techs are hard to find! Sher and I both extend warm New Year wishes to you and Jackie!
Thanks very much, Maj and Sher. Your good wishes reciprocated by us both
YAY for it being a credit! 🙂 Whew, too!
Love the Keepings you shared today! The last illustration made me say “Aw!” 🙂
YAY for punch! HA! 😉 🍾 🥂 🍹 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn X
Happy New Year, Derrick and Jackie!
May your 2022 be filled with love, peace, joy, laughter, good memories made, good health, and much more goodness! 🙂
🌃🥂🥳🕛🎊🎆
And you, from us both, Carolyn X
Derrick, I can think of no better exercise after lunch than girding one’s loins. I bet that felt great😉
It was amazing, Steve. Thanks very much
One win the good guys. Nice!
Thanks a lot, Pat
Bread sauce is Mrs T’s favourite Christmas accompaniment. Well done for finding a human on the other end of a BT phone line.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
I’m happy you got your BT issue resolved…one more thing to check off of your list. If yours is anything like mine, it’s never-ending.
Yes – a plasterer visiting today. Thanks very much, Jill
Oh, I just love getting a credit!
Especially when labelled a bill 🙂 Thanks a lot, Sue
That’s a good surprise when a bill turns out to be a credit 😉
Delicious dinner 🥘
Thank you very much, Ribana
Credits are good!
🙂 Thanks very much, Barbara
I guess BT is British Telecom…credit sounds good, but can you access it…and if I was a wine drinker, I would probably open another as well.
(I once drunk alcohol but now it doesn’t like me at all)!
Happy New Year…to you both and your garden
Thank you very much, Carolyn. I can’t even be bothered at the moment to check my bank account for the small credit it was. Yes – BT. Your good wishes reciprocated.
What a nice surprise the credit was! My only experience of BT was buying one of their cards so I could use phone boxes and land lines, but they were making changes to something at the time and the thing never worked. I did get my money back after writing an uncivil letter describing in great detail the problems I had and enclosing the useless card because…it was useless and an emblem of their company. I was surprised they refunded it, but perhaps I shamed them. Glad your mess was cleared up.
Thanks a lot, Lisa. It has only been while wrestling with this problem that I have learned that BT is a vast global conglomerate so I should not be surprised
I’m glad things worked out with the BT issue. Love the last picture: ‘She laid her face upon his breast’ but sad that moonlight was “always sad.”
Thank you very much, JoAnna
It may sound strange to you but I am not surprised in the least about the befuddlement manufactured by your telecom provider. The torture you have undergone calls for a certain punishment to the perpetrators which unfortunately is difficult to impart. The tragedy is such uncalled for incidents have become the norm of the day, or as they say, has become the new normal. Mr Keeping keeps delighting us with his ingenious craft. Thanks for those priceless additions.
Thanks very much, Uma. It doesn’t sound strange at all. It is the norm. I have only recently learned that BT is a vast global conglomerate.
Happy New Year Derrick and Jackie🎉🎈🎊
And to you, Arlene. Thanks very much
Happy New Year from the land Down Under. Only 8 and 1/2 hours of the old old remaining here.
I hope 2022 is an absolutely boring year for all of us; we have had enough of the tension and unexpected events to last for a while.
That would be good, Yvonne. Happy New Year to you, too. Thanks a lot
Happy New Year Derrick … I think we could all do with a few glasses of ‘Punch’ …
“Another Year Out Of Tune”
Two thousand and twentyone
Dramatic events clouded the sun
Damaging floods, the worst for a century
But Mother-nature was not the enemy
Again the foreign virus exploded
And Earth’s atmosphere corroded
Our lives were shrouded and uncrowded
Covid even bloated and reloaded
No country was immune
And the World continues to spin out of tune
Here in Aussie-land normality twirls in dizziness
As we wait for next year’s unfinished business
Thank you so much, Ivor. Good poem
You have inspired me with these posts and although I read quite a bit of Dickens in school, I bought a book with 3 of his novels and a huge one of Mark Twain.
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/animated-happy-new-year-banner-in-truck.gif
I hope you enjoy them, GP. Thanks very much
Ah, your issue with BT is finally resolved. A good ending to the year.
Thanks very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I am glad the bill turned out to be a credit! That was a nice turn about.
It was, Lavinia. Thanks very much
Mr Keeping’s inimitable characterization is demonstrated even when faces are covered.
Yes, indeed. Thanks very much, Dolly
My phone bill never changes. I do not have a fixed land line – my mobile phone acts as the modem for my computer so all tele communications are covered by the one charge. I don’t know how it compares with England but there’s nothing much I can do about that. Today the temp got up to 38C or 100 F. Tomorrow will be more reasonable. I believe.
Thanks a lot, John. I hope it cools down for you.
Supper sounds particularly delicious.
Thanks a lot, AnneMarie