Here's a thought.....

...Jessops went into administration yesterday.

 

On Monday - their appointed repair agent (PJ Camera Repairs)  collected my camera for inspection and damage report to Jessops/Royal and Sun Alliance.

 

As a result of entering administration, Jessops are not honouring vouchers issued as competition  prizes and, I assume, vouchers issued as  replacement value by insurers.

 

I've called R&SA and they've told me that although they are not sure what is happening as far as the relationship with Jessops goes, they (or at least the Claims handler I spoke to) are sure everything will be sorted out and not to worry.

 

Not to worry. Hmmmm. Wouldn't you?

And now I have a stinking head cold!

But Belper Town cheered me up for a while yesterday with a thoroughly professional performance in beating Rainworth MW at their place by 3 goals to 1.

 

A very competitive game with a lot of talking points was captured as ever by Snapper Harrison - and here are his pictures.....

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timharrisonphotography/sets/72157632445342790/

 

Very good set an all that Tim!

 

I didn't take the camera - it's all packed and ready for pick up from work on Monday by the repairers. I eagerly await the result of their examination.

 

Nowt else to tell except we just finished dismantling the Christmas tree and decorations. All now needs moving up to the loft. I'll do that in a bit - and very carefully given my recent run of luck!

 

To quote Victor Meldrew - "I don't BELIEVE it!"

Called in  at our sister company at Dronfield on the way home from work Friday (early finish still feels good!)

 

Dropped off what I needed to drop off and headed for home, 5 minutes drive away. On the way, would you believe, I had an accident! I drove into the back of the car in front as we entered the Bowshaw roundabout.

 

Traffic was just heavy enough to make us wait for a gap. A gap appeared so I glanced forward and saw the car in front had started to move off. I glanced again to my right and estimated there was still enough time for me to go as well so I accelerated, looked forward and he had stopped. Bang!

 

My fault, we exchanged insurance details and I went back to our sister company's office to see the boss and report. The car is driveable but there's cosmetic damage to the front grill and bumper.

 

Another incident I could do without..... wonder when my luck will turn?

 

And btw - the insurers are picking up the 5D and lens from work on Monday. They'll check out the lens (which as I said is totally screwed) and also the body (which I am really hoping isn't damaged.)

 

Football today - Belper Town away at Rainworth. Looking forward to that - I think!

Remind me not to tempt fate....

Remember my "are you superstitious" blog entry and one of the closing comments, quote "Wonder what breaks next?", end quote.

 

Well guess what - Wednesday 2nd January 2013, I managed to drop the camera and the 24 to 105mm "kit lens" is now knackered.

 

I'm sorting it out through my contents insurance policy. The lens is definitely damaged - the "zoom ring" won't "zoom" - or at least it will but it's very stiff and when the lens is presented to the body, the bayonet fitting is also very stiff. I managed to get the lens off the camera after I'd dropped it and I've fitted and used the 100mm fixed and the 70 to 200mm with no apparent problems but I want to make sure the body isn't internally damaged.

 

Anyway - the camera and lens will be collected by a representative of Jessops (the insurance company use Jessops as their "camera inspections and repair" agents) and they will report back to the insurers  on what can be repaired or needs replacing. The insurance company explained that anything up to £1,000 can be authorised by phone but anything over that and they will send a claims assessor to interview me.

 

The lens sells for about £800 so if it's just that, it will be repaired or replaced and the bill will go to the insurers but the body sells for around £3,000 so that would need further discussion! Since the policy allows a max of £2,912 on any "single valuable claim" - it's based on a percentage of the buildings cover -  it might be a very expensive mishap.

 

I now await a call to say when the gear will be picked up.

 

Incidentally, I was bemoaning my run of bad luck to my son and he's given me something of a bollocking about my suggestion it's all linked to breaking a mirror. He says the series of events is just coincidence and part of life's general curiosities. (He did also add that if my daughter-in-law hears me talking like that she will kick my butt! She hates negativity basically. They are both probably right - they usually are!)

 

So - I'll get back to my sulking now (but don't tell our lad!)

 

Happy New Year!

To everyone.

 

Looking forward to footy today - a fine morning here in Sheffield although we've had some overnight rain.

 

Back to work in the morning......  Looking forward to that a little less than I am the football match!

 

See yer later

An interesting week!

We had a very nice (but all too brief) visit over Christmas from our son and his wife. They went home on 27th December.

 

After the cup defeat at Ossett Town and a postponed league game at Market Drayton, Belper Town returned to action against Sheffield FC at their ground in Dronfield on Boxing Day.

 

The game ended in a well deserved 5-1 victory for Belper in the pouring rain on a pitch which cut up very badly as the game progressed. It's always satisfying to put one across Sheffield FC who have some of the most arrogant fans I have ever come across. As in all such cases, a handful of bad apples spoil the whole barrel but the banter is generally verbal - until Tuesday that is!

 

Belper were winning 3-0 but Sheffield pulled a goal back. The game became end to end as Sheffield tried to increase the pressure in an attempt to get back into it.

 

Then Belper made a break and sub Shaun Tuton raced a defender across the penalty box looking for a shooting opportunity. The defender slid in a tackle - probably not the smartest idea on a wet and muddy pitch - and took the ball and Shaun in one movement. The ref awarded a dubious penalty which Belper gratefully accepted of course!

 

I turned to Snapper Harrison and said "I don't think that's a penalty." and then felt an almighty shove in the back from an enraged Sheffield FC fan who was screaming "That's NOT a F**king penalty."

 

Fortunately, I didn't drop 3 grands worth of camera I was holding at the time and I turned to ask this idiot what he thought he was doing. His face contorted with rage, he shouted again "That's NOT a f**king penalty." I calmly pointed out that I agreed with him and repeated what I had actually said - "I don't think that's a penalty."

 

With hands thrust deep in his pockets, he replied "Well, he's a f**king awful referee." as if that justified it.

 

To my eternal regret, I did nothing about it at the time although I have since e-mailed Sheffield FC to warn them that they have a maniac in their midst. I should have called a steward but wanted to carry on taking pictures. (There's dedication for you!)

 

After the game, as I was packing away the camera gear a guy approached me and said "I thought that was totally out of order mate - what he did to you." He added that he was a Stocksbridge fan first and a non-league fan second and he was there because Steels were away at Buxton (getting a 7-0 hammering as it happens!) "Don't need that sort of idiot at any game and certainly not at non-league level!" he added.

 

The good thing is that we don't play the First Club In The World again this season! And their manager - Curtis Woodhouse - resigned on the Friday because his boxing commitments were clashing with the football and he'd decided he could no longer manage both.

 

The football pictures are here:

 

Mine  http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDnmVEq

 

and Snapper's      http://www.flickr.com/photos/timharrisonphotography/sets/72157632349314880/

 

Think between us we got that covered!!

 

That's about that for now. Looking forward to Mickleover Sports at the Meadow on New Year's Day. Hoping  a nice win for the Nailers will set me up for the return to work on January 2nd!

Are you superstitious?

Some months ago, I managed to break the mirror on the Duchess' dressing table.

 

Since then, we were without broadband and a landline for around 2 weeks.

 

Then the PC broke down.

 

Then the car broke down - Engine Management System fault which required a software download! (And what a long story THAT is!)

 

And last week.... The remote (wireless) thermostat on the central heating system failed and needs replacing (fortunately under warranty) so currently our heating is either on or off. Manufacturers coming to sort it New Years Eve.

 

Wonder what breaks next!?

 

And by the way, I haven't posted in about a month because Google is telling me once again that I can't load any more pictures into the blog. So sod 'em. I'll have to link you to Flickr where I am now storing online albums (cos JAlbum upset me as well so I've kicked them into touch too.)

 

Here's last Tuesday's Cup defeat at Ossett Town - more good news - NOT!

 

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDfZh4y

 

More might follow when Christmas is over - but then again, It might not!

 

Anyway - hope you have a Super Christmas, and "All The Best" for the New Year - whoever and wherever you are.

 

Cheers