The Filter^

Virgin on the Ridiculous

I bet you're wondering where my posts from Finland have gone - including the review of Helena Juntenen in La Boheme. The answer is they haven't gone anywhere - they're sitting on my computer, but thanks to Virgin Media I still can't post them as I don't have an internet connection (I can only grab the odd minute here and there, hence this...).

Hopefully they'll be available soon - six weeks and counting since Virgin drilled a large hole in my wall and fed a cable through it, so hopefully not too long to wait now...

Oxenholme

On Saturday on my way back from Edinburgh something happened. It has been reported in the press, and I don’t wish to go into my own experiences of it here, largely because I think they would be unhelpful, such is the way when a large body of people witness something.

This morning I received a letter from Virgin trains. During the event I felt that the company and the members of the staff performed brilliantly. Just before the incident happened, whilst dealing with a passenger without a ticket, I had heard a guard say how hard his day had been so far, and I was thinking how well he was representing the company in dealing with her.

However the letter today has increasingly concerned me. To start with, I was a little surprised that the company felt it should offer me compensation at all. Had the two hour delay been caused by some error on their part, I naturally would have taken them up on their absurdly generous offer of refunding my outward and return journeys, but this obviously was outside of their hands. What really troubles me, however, is the following paragraph in the letter:

I would like to reassure you that this type of serious crime is extremely rare on our trains. However, in an increasingly violent society the potential for this type of incident is, unfortunately, always present.

They have moved me from wanting to write a letter of thanks for their handling of the situation, to one of complaint. Increasingly violent, indeed. Perhaps then I should take to living on their trains where such things are 'extremely rare’.

Hanover Hotel, Victoria

30 St. Georges Drive, Victoria, Westminster, London, SW1V 4BN

It's tempting to write a lengthy article as to why this hotel is under the category "shit service" but it only takes 5 words: used nappy in bathroom bin.

Making Lemonade in Washington, DC

Despite America being the pioneer and momentum of global capitalism, financial services are often  archaic and inefficient. Two tasks that would be effortless in the UK - transferring a gas account from my landlord to myself, and paying money from one personal bank account to another - have to be done in person. To kill two birds with one stone we went into DC yesterday, spending a few hours in various queues attempting to communicate with various troglodytes.

Job done, we made the most of it by having lunch at ESPN Zone, and watching Lleyton Hewitt's epic viktory. I've clearly not been keeping up to date with the exploits of my favourite tennis player - since when did he marry Hayley from Home and Away? And isn't she about 14?

I was thinking of this when we noticed a commotion in the corner of the restaurant, and realised that we were on live TV, providing a civilised and classy backdrop for an ESPN interview with Caps sensation Alex Ovechkin. He's played for the only team Faith's been to support - the Washington Capitals, and before that the only team i've ever been to support - Dynamo Moscow. So we liked him. Even more so, hearing what Wayne Gretzky has to say:

You know, he's a phenomenal player, and he's been a tremendous influence in the game. It's great to see, because he is that good.

And even more so, when we saw *that* goal. Phenomenal.

After the sport, we wanted some more refined culture and had a look at the National Gallery's Félix Buhot exhibition. Check out the exquisite "Landing in England".

DC Metrorail

About a week ago Faith and I went out for a few drinks in Arlington, and left it a little late coming home. We raced into the metro station, unsure when the last train back to Vienna was, knowing a taxi would be pretty expensive.

AJE: Have we missed the last train?
Attendendent: Yes, by about 5 minutes
AJE: Nevermind

As we were walking out I noticed the sign that said

LAST TRAINS:
    Vienna-Fairfax (GMU)    12:18
    New Carollton               11:42

I looked at my watch, and it was 12:10.

AJE: But it says last train is 12:18
Attendent: Yeah, but that's for Vienna
AJE: We're going to Vienna
Attendent: Oh, i thought you were going to New Carollton

A textbook case of misinformation combined with ridiculous excuse.

Ballston iHop

2 hours wait for food at iHop, after a fair few hours worth of lively drinking. We weren't lairy, weren't out of order, and just sat patiently for our food. An hour into the wait I said to the waitress Excuse me but we've been waiting a long time, and I've noticed that people who've arrived after us are being served sooner - do you know how long it'll take? She says 5 minutes. Every 5 minutes it'll be another 5 minutes. A bit later I said We're ordering a taxi now, if the food does finally arrive we expect a discount - I'm not paying for food that's so late.
When it came, 2 hours after the order went in, a couple of the meals were cold. I called over the waitress and said You don't want to have to make this again, and I'm starving so i'll just eat it, but please tell the manager that when our meal has finally come it's cold.

All eaten up, the $50 bill arrives with a tinge of embarassment and I don't let them off the hook. I'm not being funny but we've waited over two hours for our food and you're going to charge me for the cup of coffee that I drank whilst I waited? She returns having taken off the drinks from the bill, and I say When I said that we wanted a discount, I expected more than $5... She says that the manager will speak to us but he's at the front desk. We thought that he should come to us, but he wouldn't, and that's ok.

We get to the desk, I understand you've been busy tonight but I don't think I should have to pay for a meal that's 2 hours late, and cold. We apologise, we sorry, but can't give a discount.... So you're going to charge me for a cold meal, that shouldn't have been served since the meat wasn't even cooked properly? We are at the entrance, and several people are waiting to be seated including a tall guy with a goatee. The manager strikes off half the bill, which is fair enough and we send over the cash and make an exit. Just as I leave I hear the goatee mutter They're trying to pay with pounds...

What was that? I ask. I don't think he realised that i'd hear. Jav also heard, and steps up beside me. The others are now outside. He didn't mean to say anything says the policeman at the entrance. But he did say something - What did you say? asks Jav. As we stand there giving it the eyeball goatee takes a side step so that he's stood behind the copper, protected. A few words are spoken but we leave, laughing at the prick.

Jump into a cab and who pulls up beside us at the lights? Fuck off English he says, and Nick (from Missouri) give's him an earful. The window didn't wind down and we couldn't get out - as soon as the lights change off he flies, safe within the shell of his knobhead car.

Just on the off-chance that he's reading this now, and recognises the story - Get in touch pal.