17/2/13–Eric Clapton & Bruce Willis on Top Gear

Testing the new Cee’d

Can you play an electric guitar through it? – Yes

 

Can Officer McLean operate the Horn? – Yes

Then its Rugby

The Captins

 

 

 

Going for a conversion

Good game but a bit of a poor surface!

9-02-13 Manvers arms, Radcliffe-on-Trent

Not many in so a delayed start. Up first after a couple from the hosts. At various times a drum, piano and harmonica joined in as well.

Played

Please read my letter - Plant/Krause version
#9 dream-John Lennon
Whole lotta Rosie - AC/DC lounge lizard version, rocked up at the end.
Land down under -Men at Work a new one for me. Went well, never played it before.
Behind blue eyes/won't get rolled again - the Who
Rocking in the free world - Neil Young
Another brick in the wall - Pink Floyd

When good ideas go wrong! Trent Barton & Premier

Recently Premier Bus went bust, to help (gloat) Trent Barton stated that they would exchange Premier tickets For Trent Tickets. Good news.

I am sure this is a PR exercise or am  I being cynical!

For a long time, Premier was an annoyance to Trent in offering choice to people. It has to be said that the busses were a bit ropey at times and punctuality was sometimes iffy, but value for money at £1 into Nottingham was excellent.

I have been on the Premier Bus, when Trent deliberately obstructed a Premier Bus, by two Trent busses when going through Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Why did I use Premier

Recently Trent increased their fares from £1.60 to £2.20 for a Mango trip Bingham to Nottingham, a massive increase. So I voted with my feet and transferred to Premier.

However, when you try and do this, several things go wrong.

I sent an e-mail, received a reply, checked the website, all seemed that I could exchange ALL my tickets.

Where are we now.

We have a monopoly provider. That will probably mean future price rises.

Service into Nottingham is fine, but try to get to Radcliffe-on-Trent and you can only do that in the evening, or Sundays

 

The dispute

 

I also had a long phone conversation with Trent, who basically said tough luck!

 

So my first e-mail to them..

From: Jon Chapman

Sent: 25 January 2013 20:17
To: talk@trentbarton.co.ukmailto:talk@trentbarton.co.uk
Subject: Premier Tickets

Sir

I read with interest about your willingness to take on the 10 trip tickets from premier.

I have a number of these and I am interested in how I can exchange these for journeys on your service between Bingham and Nottingham.

As an occasional traveller, I thank you for your assistance.

Regards

Jon Chapman

Their reply

 

From: trent barton customer services <customer.services@trentbarton.co.uk>
Date: 28 January 2013 11:12:53 GMT
To: Jon Chapman
Subject: RE: Premier Tickets

Good morning Jon,

Thank you for your e-mail.

You can exchange your Premiere issued tickets on our Bingham Xprss or Radcliffe Line service, by tonight. However, Broadmarsh Bus Station are accepting the tickets by Friday evening.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Sophie

Customer Services | trent barton

 

Then

We tried to exchange them

From: Jon

Date: 30 January 2013 13:46:55 GMT
To: trentbarton.co.uk>" 

Subject: Fwd: Premier Tickets - follow up

Cherryl


I am following up my recent call with you about exchanging the Premier Bus tickets which my daughter tried to do.

As mentioned, these are for the family and it is not practical for us all to go in, my daughter is at collage today and it was convenient for her and us.

Below you will see the email I have received from yourselves, where it clearly states you will exchange my tickets, if attending in person. If it means I need to come in on Friday afternoon, then that is what I will do.



I also understand that you actually placed the tickets, after stamping them into the bin, before returning them to her.

I look forward to the call from your manager, my number is xxxxxx, where I will explain the situation.


In addition your website says "any" tickets.
 

Regards

Jon Chapman

Next set of e-mails!

From: "Alex Hornby"
Date: Jan 30, 2013 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: Premier Tickets - follow up
To: "Jon"

Cc:
Thanks for your email Jon.
We are changing the wording on our web site accordingly and I have briefed our customer services team who sent the email to you. I have also asked that our team at Broadmarsh are investigated in light of the behaviour you have detailed below.
Many thanks for your feedback and I apologise if you feel we have let you down. Please also pass on my apologies to your daughter.
With my best wishes
Alex Hornby
Sent from my iPhone
On 30 Jan 2013, at 02:18 PM, "Jon"

wrote:
Alex

Thank you for the call back.

As I mentioned I applaud your help in doing travel ticket swaps, something you need not have done, as a company, but great PR.

As mentioned I base my point of view on the information off both your web site and the email I received from customer services where I pointed out I had a number of ten trip tickets. For your staff to deface tickets, without explaining and in an underhand manner, what would happen to them is unreasonable. We visited in good faith based upon the detail given to me.

I would have accepted mango trips on my mango card.

On the other point, my daughter visited at around 12:55 today.

My daughter said she was a horrid lady, threw the tickets in the bin, before returning them to her. Far from good customer service.

Regards

Jon Chapman

Revised Trent Web site!

I have asked them for a total of four, but do not expect any!!!

 

Spot the subtle re-wording to say one per customer!!!!

Clarkson and his P45! Top Gear 27/Jan/2013

A while ago, Clarkson demonstrated the Peel 50, The “World’s smallest Car” –

http://www.peelengineering.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peel_P50

It had some drawbacks so Clarkson invented this, the “P45”, fully legal on the nation’s roads!

It is capable of running on petrol or battery power, following a minor!!! Quick!!! Modification!!!

Reversing out of Lift

Shopping for James May!

British Library

Car Wash!!!

Dragons Den

17-01-13 - Open mic, Brave Old Oak, Towcester

Second open mic of the week, and another new venue.

Not many in, came because The Further Adventures of the Vodka Boy were on and I missed them last week at Scribal.

Up first again, and played a familiar set
Please Read my letter -Plant/Krause version. Afterwards a guy came up and said I did a great version of it. Thanks.
50 things to do before I die - Jon Chapman
Rocking in the free world -Neil Young
Pinball Wizard - the Who


Till next time

15-01-13 - Open Mic, The Boat, Whittlesey

A new one for me.

In this place called Whittlesey, did not see much of it as it was dark, but did pass the Mcain frozen chip plant! Sounds like it grows frozen chips!

It was dam cold but a good night with a mad host, Dave.

Not many were in, so went round twice.

Set 1:
Please Read my letter - Plant/Krause version
50 things to do before I die - Jon Chapman
Rocking in the free world - Neil Young

Set 2:
Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin (lounge lizard version)
Behind blue Eyes/Won't get folled again(part) - theWho
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC (lounge lizard version)

Till next time

05-01-2013 Manvers Arms, Radcliffe-on-Trent

First open mic of the new year.

Played some new songs and stuff not played for ages.

Sunset Boulevard - Charlie Robinson
Heroes - David Bowie
Whole lotta Rosie -AC/DC (lounge lizard version)
Feelin Good -Charlie Robinson
Brain Damage - Pink Floyd
Rocking in the free world - Neil Young with (Phil on Cajon and Andy on piano)