EASTER - GOOD FRIDAY

EASTER - GOOD FRIDAY

Remember the death of Jesus.

To me an essence of the Christian faith is acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness.

It saddens me greatly that Australia stands silently by while Israel exterminate the palistinians in Gaza.

The day started at 4:30am with  row in four.

Cribby,

Thorpy,

Me,

Russ.

Coffee at Veneziano

Drove round to Phoebe's. Coffee and croissants on her verandah.

Drove with Phoebe via home where I hung out the washing and then onto lunch at some of Phoebe's friends at Lota. A beautiful lamb roast, beautifully renovated house, chat and a game of cranium.

Dropped Phoebe home.

Back to Glenrich and took mags for a walk.

Sitting in the lounge. Cat on my lap. Dog sleeping on the floor. TV news and adds on

Optus Overseas Roaming

 While I was in Italy, there was a bit of a hiccup with Optus.  Now I am back I thought I would try and get my info straightened out.

It started with me receiving warnings from optus about incurring extra costs

==================================================

I contacted my account manager 

Hi Sahil,  Thur Feb 15 @4:44am

I'm on holiday in Italy. 

I thought Optus did roaming like Vodafone at AU$5/month.

I contacted Optus who said I had included data and did not need to do anything special. See attached screen shots of the conversation. I was skeptical and questioned her but in the end accepted her advice.  Then I get several text messages warning of data usage. Copies attached.

Can you firstly get Optus to cancel users these excess charges as the girl said it was OK. 

Then can you work out what the roaming deal is. If it's $5/day like Vodafone, can you tell me how to activate it.

Thanks,

Frank Thomson

==================================================

Hi Frank

Thanks for reaching out.

I can confirm your plan includes 2GB Roaming data and unlimited talk and text in Zone 1 countries. In regards to the text message you have received about additional charges I have raised a case for our back end team to look into it. I will let you know once I have an update from them. Also, I have enabled Roaming pass for you ($10 per day with 1GB) to avoid standard roaming charges.

The 1GB/$10/day roaming pass. The Optus Roaming Pass includes:

• Unlimited standard talk (mobile plans only) & SMS (excl. MMS)
• 1GB of data to use while travelling overseas.
• Optus Roaming Pass is $10 for 24 hours or until 1GB of data is used (whichever comes first). If active, a pass will automatically start when you use your service overseas in an eligible destination (subject to change).
• If you exceed 1GB of data or 24 hours elapses and you continue to roam in an eligible destination, another $10 pass will automatically apply and the 24-hour timer restarts. Any unused data will expire.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards,

 

Sahil Bansal
Business Account Manager

Business Account Management Team

	Thu, Feb 15, 9:36 AM
to Frank

==================================================

Hi Sahil,

Thank you for your efforts so far however I was expecting $5/day with 5GB data.

I looked into this a couple of months ago and just did a search on google that came up with the same result.

Screen shots follow

Can you make this happen.

It seems way harder than when I was on Vodafone. But $10/day is too expensive and will force me to get a travel sim or switch back to Vodafone.

==================================================

On 15 Feb 2024, at 2:52 am, Sahil Bansal <sahil.bansal@optus.com.au> wrote:

Hi Frank

The $5 for 5GB Roaming option is only available on our in market plan.

If you like I can change your plan to the $59 plan (attached) which will automatically enable that Roaming option.

Please let me know if you would like me to update the plan.

Kind Regards,

Sahil Bansal
Business Account Manager

==================================================

Thu, Feb 15, 3:40 PM   Hi Sahil,

As a temporary measure, in order to un stick my communications problem, please immediately put me on this new plan and activate the AU$5/day 5GB/roaming.

After that, I would like you to ask Optus to investigate returning me to my existing plan and including the roaming.  My reasoning follows:-

I'm perplexed, I do not see words like "in market" on your Web Site in connection with the international roaming.

When I log into to the Optus App, I see I'm currently on a plan called "Optus Choice"

Looking closely at your Web Site, I do see the word "plus" following the word choice and that does hint at a difference but I don't see anything about "in market". And Since you are offering me a plan that does include the $5 roaming but does not include the word "plus" in the name of the plan, I think it's reasonable to conclude that it's not relevant.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume that my current plan should support the AU$5 5GB/day roaming.

I believe the information provided on your website is deceptive and If this issue can not be resolved satisfactorily, then I will bring it to the attention of the telecommunications ombudsman.

Kindest regards,

Frank Thomson

==================================================

Thu, Feb 15, 4:12 PM

The $59 plan for now

==================================================

Thu, Feb 15, 4:50 PM

Hi Frank

I can change the plan to the $59 Business Choice Plan but just letting you know that I won’t be able to put your number back on existing plan. Also, the new plan doesn’t include Roaming as part of the plan.

Please confirm you are fine with it.
Kind Regards,Sahil Bansal

================================================== 

Feb 15, 2024, 5:35 PM  Hi Sahil,

Thank you for your patience. 

As I understand it, $59/mo for the plan plus $5/day roaming.

We will let the lawyers and the ombudsman deal with the old plan downgrade later. 

Thanks, 

Frank

================================================== 

Hi Frank

Thanks for confirming.

I have updated the plan now.

================================================== 

Fast Forward to 26-MARCH-2024 and I am back in Brisbane.

Checked the billing and the only way to see what is happening on on the PDF bills and there is only the end of Feb bill available when I log into and it has no sign of any $10 charges.  Only an appropriate number of $5 charges.

Searched "Optus Roaming" with google:
I find this url
https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming

26-MAR-2024 I logged onto "My Optus" and it seems to only have the $10 option

The web site says

\

One Drive Says It is Sync'd but isn't

 Disconnecting and reconnecting as described below fixed this problem

 

 

Task Bar says up to date

 

 

 Windows file explorer shows not up to date.
PDF files do not seem to be going up

 

 

 

Looking at the web version and the non sync'd files definitely not there.

And checked we have plenty of free space.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Right click on the task bar and choose Settings

 I sent microsoft a note explaining the problem and I even gave them the link to this blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

 Microsoft Help leads to:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/home/contact?linkquery=Help%20me%20troubleshoot%20OneDrive%20sync%20issues

THIS WORKED

---

1. Select the white or blue OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.

2. Select  Help & Settings then Settings.

3. On the Account tab, click Unlink this PC and then Unlink account.

4. Close OneDrive.

5. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.

6. Enter the path %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings and select OK.

7. Delete the PreSignInSettingsConfig.json file.

8. Press the Windows key   and type OneDrive.

9. When you sign in, OneDrive will prompt you that "a folder already exists" - select Use this folder.
   Tip: Select Choose new folder if you want to move your OneDrive to a new location, or if you were having sync issues.
   

10. OneDrive will now sync your files and folders back to your PC. OneDrive won't download all your files, (just their placeholders to save space,  learn more about Files on Demand below), but this will still take some time.

11. Once your files have re-synced, you can clean up your PC folder view and  choose which folders to sync to your PC.

This feels like a good thing.

Now we wait.....

 

dinner at Phoebe's

A very nice dinner at Phoebe's.

She'd cooked up several vegetarian dishes and a bowl of roasted chicken legs for the carnivores. 

Caryn N, Craig 

Mark. 

Robyn

Chris,

Dave F, 

Chris is going to France in a couple of weeks. I gave him my Navigo card. He's going to have a go at topping it up with the app. 

A couple of beautiful photos by Chris,

SUN 17 MAR - London Transport Museum

 Marcus, Sophie, Henry & Frank took the 341 bus to the city.  Walked around Covent Gardens looking for lunch.  Eventually settled on The Petersham Nurseries Deli for lunch.  Then Sopie peeled off and the three boys went to see the London Transport Museum.  This was mainly my desire as I was hoping to buy a post card or two associated with the tube or rail tech.

Like the science museum, it's light on technical info which I think is kind of disappointing.  It's geared to little kids.  

Frank & Marcus

Why is that people are getting wider but modern seats are narrower?

 

Travel Notes

7 DAYS CLOTHES
Need to take 7 lots of Polo shirts, socks, undies plus ski socks.

WISE CARD - it's basically a Visa debit card and behind the scenes once can have multi currency accounts. Better than bank exchange rates.  The physical card died but I transferred it onto my phone and that worked flawlessly.  I have a commonwealth mastercard for contingency. 

Wise does not have travel insurance. 

AEROPLANES

I Don't fly china Eastern or jet star.

Booked with Qantas and some legs were code share with Emirates which was good. 

Isle seat - so I can get up and walk around. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE - My cc does not include travel insurance. If I do this again, I think I would change my cc to one that includes travel insurance.

You have to book your tickets with the cc that has the travel insurance. 

I went with RACQ but it was last minute so I didn't really research properly. I did note that they have medical only which was way cheaper. It does not include coverage for things like loss of luggage or rental car excess or loss of tickets due to delay or even sickness. Having said that, I wonder what happens if you try to claim.   Next time just get a cc with travel insurance.

PHONE

Henry et al suggested I get a travel e-sim but it turns out my phone can't do e-sim. I had researched that Optus could do $5/day for 5GB but that was nightmare in its own right and I'll probably write to the telecommunications ombudsman. Previously I'd used Vodafone who do the same $5/day thing and that was seamless. 

In hindsight, I should have gotten a new phone that could do e-sim and gotten a travel e-sim.  Alternatively if one thinks ahead, apparently one can get physical travel sims but that takes time for delivery.

POWER & CHARGING

Chris loaned me a universal thingy that plugs into any power point. It's quite large and heavy but includes a USB charger. 

My laptop charger if big and bulky and doesn't have a plug and lead and that puts leverage on the power adaptor. 

BOOTS AND SHOES

I have only two pairs of shoes. 

Sneakers that are deliberately slightly on the large size for general wearing incl on the plane and running. Did park run with them and they were great.

Waterproof boots that I bought to wear at the ski fields. 

Normally I take more shoes including sandals. So I felt a bit naked when planning but it's worked out well.

JACKETS

Puffer jacket - squashes to almost nothing weighs nothing - I'm wearing it every night. 

Old Columbia liner - so far surplus. Have worn in London as my puffer jacket was too hot and sweaty.

Sloppy Joe - worn once out twice. Did wear on the plane. 

PRINT EVERYTHING 

Booking confirmations, tickets. 

POLO SHIRTS
No ordinary Tee shirts because I need the pocket for my glasses.

UMBRELLA
Henry had suggested to bring a small umbrella and that was very very good advice.

XTM SKI JACKET
I am very very happy with this.

WOOLIES BAGS
took two and that was the right amount.

USB POWER BANK

2000mAH  - Was very handy.  Should have tried to get a smaller one as this one was physically large.

USB LEAD - Long - I took a 2m lead to charge my phone and that was great.

LONDON
I used my cc all the time - no cash ever.

PARIS
Need a train card - Apparently there is an app but multiple people said it does not work.  One can buy an all day ticket for about 8 Euros.  Also the price at the machine was less than the price advised on a nearby summary.

ITALY

SAT 17 MAR - Family Dinner

 Haley and Kara (Daughters of Peter) came to dinner.  Marcus and Sophoe cooked up a beautiful vegetarian pasta dish.

Henry and I contributed wine and 'Butter Beans' - I was messaged to buy these but I had never heard of them.

 

Sophie cooked up an amazing meal.

Marcus made home made pasta

 

 

SAT 17 MAR Finsbury parkrun

Congratulations on completing your 20th parkrun and your 1st at Finsbury parkrun today. 

 Your time was 00:41:14. You finished in 715th place out of a field of 741 parkrunners. 

 You beat the 4yo girl with pig tails and the dad with two kids and a dog in and out of the pram. 

 You were the 369th male and came 14th in your age category VM60-64. 

Well done on your first result at Finsbury parkrun. We have set this as your PB.You achieved an age-graded score of 39.25%. 

 Your son Marcus came in at less than half your time on 20minutes and Henry and Haley were also way faster at 21 minutes. 

The course was two laps of the park. I'm wondering if they did that second lap

Cleaopatras Needle

 In Paris, we saw Cleopatra's needle and Henry advised that there are four of them.  London, New York, Berlin as well as Paris.

Wikapedia seems to be in a whirl about these things.

SAT16 London National Portrait Gallery

After park run

Cheese toasted sandwich and then bought an apple from one of it many small fruit shops.  Sophie peeled off and Marcus,Henry and myself took a bus into town. Henry was keen to take the bus because you can see things. 

 

Interesting to see the styles change across time.  Early on, important for people to loo pious and they did.  In the 30's, more colourful and less detailed.  I think that photography had arrived and so the need for paintings to be detailed was less and so artists probably looked for ways to differentiate themselves from photographers.  So try and communicate other feelings within the painting.

 

 

 

 

National Portrait Gallery.  I figured the photo should be in portrait mode.