Well the weather finally broke just a little and we had a mild storm last night for about an hour. It brought the temperatures down slightly today but the ground was so dry I doubt it did any real good, that is unless it rains again soon - which doesn't seem to be on the cards right now!
It's been so hot (38°C/100°F yesterday) that yet again I haven't felt like doing much, although on Monday I did manage to make a trip to the tip and also to drop some stuff off at the big charity shop. Since I was out that way anyway I took the back road over to Jordan and Jen's place to check in on Leni, The Horrible Cat! Their neighbours are taking care of him while they're gone but I thought I could take a book and read for an hour or so, in order to open up the place and give him some time on the balcony. In the end I spent 90 minutes there and he seemed glad to get some fresh air, although you wouldn't know it because he still treats me with complete disdain!
I mentioned some time ago that I had received an email from "the gendarmerie in Paris" indicating that they had evidence that I'd been looking at child pornography and to call them pronto if I didn't want the matter to go any further". Well I saw an article in Le Parisien this week where one of their reporters followed up on these scammers and was told he could "pay an immediate fine of €7,000 if he didn't want the matter to be taken any further". So he called them back pleading poverty and they kindly offered to let him pay an immediate amount of €3,000 (with the balance to be paid later) and gave him the bank account details where it should be paid. So they tracked down the female owner of the bank account and as a result up to 100 arrests were made! Well done that reporter! I suppose it begs the question why someone would pay anything to these bastards if they were completely innocent, but I can actually see that some people might be confused or just frightened thinking they might accidentally have landed on a site like that - I don't know really, but all I can say is that I'm glad at least some of them got caught. Now if they could just catch the slimeballs who are "holding my parcel until I make a payment" or the people from McAfee (whose email address reads something like xsajksdkfjasdfasdfjdj182@asdfkdfj.com) and let them know that I haven't used McAfee ever so no, my coverage isn't about to run out, I would be really grateful!
In other news, I called my fuel supplier this week to order 800 litres of fuel and thought the lady was very decent when she asked if I could hang on until I needed to order at least 1,000 litres because I'd get a better rate! It's expensive either way you look at it, but I thought it was kind of her to mention that. She also told me that the price of fuel is currently going down so to keep an eye on the price at the pump and try to time my order in accordance with that! Huh, there are some nice people about aren't there!
I don't know if any of you play Words With Friends but if you do, you'll probably have noticed that after every second play you have to sit through advertising blurb before you can continue. Well I noticed this week that the advertising at the moment seems to consist entirely of a sales pitch for the game Family Farm Adventure and I just realized how awful it is! In one scene a young woman runs in to show her partner her positive pregnancy test and next thing you know he's physically throwing her out of their home into the snow! Then in another scene Mr. Macho is just about to hit his partner (for whatever reason) when the dog jumps up and bites him on the arm! Damn, I hadn't noticed it before, but I can tell you I'm mad as hell to see that these game developers think that kind of crap is a good idea for a game! So guess who's going to be writing them a stinking review!!!
And talking of abusive AHs, I saw a book review of My Daddy Is A Hero - the story of Chris Watts, the murderous pig who killed his pregnant wife and two very young daughters! I've only gotten to the part where they have just discovered the bodies but the book is written to ask the question "are psychopaths made or born?" - which is why I bought it in the first place. That is something that really interests me - but how that monster could murder his entire family because of his infatuation with a skank is beyond me - or probably beyond most of us, I suspect!
In other news Jordan and Jen left Brittany today and are heading south for a few days, and André - as far as I know - is now in Slovenia and they will be making their way back to France via Bulgaria next week. It's all right for some isn't it! That being said, I'm going to check out a few of the "solos" holidays available between now and Christmas and see if there are any European trips I could join up with by driving to meet the group. I've got the travel itch starting up again!
And finally, my friend spotted that there was a pottery market taking place this weekend up at Grand Bornand - which is about 30 minutes from here. Since we both fancied a trip out despite the heat, we headed up there yesterday morning, knowing full well we would most likely ding the bank cards pretty hard but ,,,,! Well the market was pretty small so it didn't take long to wander round but their stuff was beautiful. I spotted a large salad bowl that I fell in love with and intended to go back and buy it after lunch, but my friend trotted over there and bought it for me as an early birthday present (she'll be in Spain for the next two months)!!! Did I need it? Not in the slightest! Do I love it? Absolutely! How lucky am I?
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| I just love this sculpture! |
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| Made out of recycling materials! |
Love your new bowl! I play Words with Friends, but had the Family Farm Adventure ads months ago! My question to you is, do you know everyone you play against? I keep getting invited to play games and I swear I'm playing against a bot. No matter what time I play, he/she immediately plays back. I've tried asking a question in the chat, but don't get a response. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteHa, good thought about playing against a bot. I play against a couple of people I know and a couple more I don't know who play regularly, but you're right, a few seem to come straight back no matter what time of day (or night) I play! I'm a late bird and can play as late as 2 a.m. here, so it shouldn't be a surprise that someone in the US would play back right away, but when it's in the middle of the night there .... hmmmmm! I think you are probably right! Still, I don't mind as long as it's not "Mr. Gorgeous" who eventually turns out to be a retiring US marine or military attaché in Afghanistan!
DeleteThose emails are so easily deleted. Over here, we also phone calls telling us our Social Security has a problem and it has been locked until we contact them. Those I hate, because seniors might take them literally. The sculpture is nice. Though I also liked the T Rex at the carousel.
ReplyDeleteI delete and block the emails but they have more email addresses than I've had hot dinners! And I'm glad you spotted the carousel. It was a real old thing and the rides were fabulous - hot air balloon, WWII plane, T-rex. Really pretty!
DeleteI really hate those scams. I get them and wonder what is in the package or whom it is from. But, I steel myself and ignore it all. I wonder how many fall for the scams.
ReplyDeletePretty salad bowl.
The Family Farm Adventure sounds like a horrible game. How can people be so awful?
The "parcel" scams used to get to me because I would often be waiting for an Amazon package, but like you I steel myself and delete. And you're right, the Family Farm Adventure ads are horrible - hence I'm going to write and complain. Since when has saving someone from domestic violence been "fun"?
DeleteWe're also dealing with a lack of rain, lately, though thankfully, while it's hot here, it's not out of the ordinary.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I got an email suggesting I was looking at child porn and to contact them if I didn't want the matter to proceed. I chose no contact and haven't heard from "them" since.
That sculpture is amazing, as are the recycled ones.
Is that the bowl, because it gorgeous!
You were right to ignore the scammers but I'm sure some people might be so afraid that they call them back and end up getting bullied into sending money. Pigs aren't they! I loved that driftwood sculpture too - very clever. And yep, that's my bowl, although my photo doesn't do it justice. Now I'm going to have to invite loads of people round as an excuse to use it!
DeleteGood to see you out in the world again! Hard to imagine it's that hot and dry where you are though. How bizarre! But, I guess we better get used to it.
ReplyDeleteThat carousel is the sweetest thing! How I would love to ride it!
And your new salad bowl is a lovely work of art.
I knew my mother was losing it when she called me to tell me of the great amount of money she'd won-notified by a person on the phone who gave her instructions on how to send in that small amount needed to process her prize. My mother was no fool but with age came more vulnerability.
That carousel was just beautiful, and I would have been on there like a shot too if I could have kicked that little kid off the hot air balloon!!! And I agree that some people become more vulnerable with age and these scammers know that In fact, just last night I watched a Youtube video of a guy In in the US I think) who takes on scammers and he could see that a lady in Quebec was about to transfer $150,000 to "Dave" in Thailand. He had her bank info (account and address), her name, her home address, etc. and tried EVERYTHING to stop her. He called the bank, the police, the Canadian anti-fraud organization and NOBODY would do anything. Until .... one of his viewers who was watching the livestream said that she had relatives in that town, called her cousin who went over there and they were able to prevent the woman from making the transfer! He didn't have to do any of that of course, but what a great guy eh!
DeleteThat bowl is gorgeous. The game? Attrocious!!! I'm glad your family members are having good trips. I hate cons and thieves. They pretty on the most vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteI'm still riled up about that game and I definitely WILL be giving them a review. I'm not sure I want to do it on FB though because of all the kickback. I looked up a "give a review" site on google yesterday and will be doing it today!
DeleteI love the bowl - so pretty and how thoughtful of your friend to buy it for you.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually much prettier than it looks - I just take rotten photos! I guess now I have to start having people over again so I can show it off! And you're right, it's a lovely early birthday present!
DeleteI LOVE your bowl. It is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteScammers are the worst. I had a local phone call this week saying they were from Amazon and there was a problem with my account. I reported it to Amazon immediately and changed my password.
The photos from your day trip are awesome.
I let all calls on my landline go to the answering machine and when I get really tired of them I just unplug it for a few days. That being said, I did once pick up and somebody wanted a monthly standing order to their charity. Now I give to a similar charity so quickly looked up the salary of their CEO. Then I told her I wasn't going to give money to any (small) charity like theirs when they were paying their CEO such a ridiculous amount! I've never had the Amazon scammers, although I fairly regularly get the "UPS" tricksters, and I do believe that as we get older and maybe more vulnerable it becomes easier to fall for their spiel sadly!
DeleteThe McAfee subscription email is becoming a tad tedious now. It eventually goes away only to start up again a few months later and why my email providers can’t spot and filter it is beyond me. They seem to be doing a grand job with all those inheritances from darkest Africa I was being offered a share of, and at least they could be an entertaining read. Oh yes, I think I would brave the heat for a wander around a pottery fair too (lovely bowl) not sure I’d do it to cat-sit but am sure the family value your commitment.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess that proves we're related somehow because Colonel Ghadaffi's only surviving daughter routinely wants to send me a few million too - we must be cousins! As for the cat, I didn't mind sitting there as I had a good book. I'm not a cat person and Leni isn't doing anything to change that, sadly, although he's ok with the baby! Tolerant in fact!
DeleteI used to play Words with Friends, now I am stuck on Wordscapes. I am sure there are more than a few people out there that would be scared if they got an email concerning child porn.
ReplyDeleteHi Bathwater, and thank you for stopping by my blog. I quite like Wordle too probably because you can only play it once a day. Or that's what I thought, until my sister told me about World archives!!!! Damn, you can get hooked can't you. I must admit I thought the same initially about anyone who would pay the scammers regarding child porn, but then as the reporter pointed out, some people might just be confused or thought they had accidentally stumbled onto an inappropriate site. Heck, my friend tells the story of wanting to look up something on the White House so typed in "Whitehouse.com" (I believe) and ended up on a porn site. Apparently the correct address is "Whitehouse.gov"! Easily enough done I guess!
DeleteWordle ARCHIVES!
DeleteThat bowl really is pretty...what a lovely thing for your friend to do for you.
ReplyDeleteMy photo doesn't do it justice but you're right, it was a lovely thing for her to do. And I tell ya, I carried that thing back to the car like a newborn baby!
DeleteAnd hey, I see you're back blogging (I lost you in 2019). Another blog for me to start reading!
DeleteThe most consistent scam I'm getting just now is telling me Ive won a shopping voucher for (you name a shop and I've won a voucher for it apparently!) Fortunately they mostly get caught and put in my junk mail. Then of course there are the text messages telling me I've a parcel waiting which is short on cost and if I pay up they will forward it to me! The first time I nearly got caught with that one as I was actually waiting for a parcel at the time, thankfully I contacted the sender of said parcel first who told me it hadn't been dispatched yet! I'd love to wander round a pottery fair and your bowl looks gorgeous. I'd use it as a fruit bowl then you can use it all the time! That was nice of you to cat sit even if the cat didn't really seem to appreciate you! x
ReplyDeleteI've just started getting that kind of email from Currys too (I've never been in Currys and we don't have them here). They are SOOOOO annoying aren't they and of course you can so easily get taken in - I almost did the first time re the parcel too. I already have a very large fruit bowl on the table but the new one is also in pride of place too. Damn, I'm going to have to move house if this keeps on! As for the cat, meh, I don't like him (he only likes "his people" anyway), but I would never see him not looked after! He's just one of those unpleasant cats!
DeleteSuch a thoughtful thing for your friend to do. I am so glad you're able to enjoy the weather and the markets etc! I am getting spam emails and texts. The texts offer me money but alas, none ever shows up in my account ;)
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a lovely thing for her to do - and my birthday isn't until September!!! Oh and I hope that money shows up in your account soon although judging from the comments here we might need to share it! At the moment I'm getting bombarded with emails from Currys (a kind of catalogue/hardware store in the UK). Got another one this morning. I always tell them where to shove it and then block - but of course just like telephone spammers they've got more email addresses/telephone numbers than I've had hot dinners!
Delete