Following a remark I made on a previous thread: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14699/comments#comment303115
"I have an unplayable Overton small D whistle. It's not even tunable. Aren't the best ones made by some guy Goldie, and the rest are cack? I've got a cack one. I was stoopid enough to buy it because of the Overton name. Once upon a time it did play quite well, albeit always on the sharp side for sessions, but over time it has deteriorated. I wouldn't go there again. So that's my Overton story."
Colin Goldie and his partner Brigitte then got in touch with me - without a hint of acrimony - and invited me to send my whistle back to the workshop in Germany.
But in the intervening time I also read this: http://www.overton.de/texte/beaware.html
So I sent it back, and after some phone calls Colin said he would make me a new one of his and he'd take care of the old one - and I would pay really just for the "upgrade".
So, each day in early last October I had been expecting a package from Germany to arrive. Then one evening there was a card from ParcelForce saying a package had been delivered to a nearby address. The person who lives there is very strange, plays very loud soul music a lot of the time, parks her car AND her motor bike on the road in such a way that no-one else can park nearby, and indulges in several other anti-social behaviours. After knocking at her door several times but getting no reply I left a note asking had she received a package, and if so could she drop it round. Next day I got a nastily worded note as a reply, telling me never to trespass on her property again, etc. (....we're talking little terraced houses in South London, BTW).
So, I got in touch with ParcelForce again, got the driver to come round to ascertain that he did drop the package where he said, then finally got the Police onto it. Eventually a PC did call to her house asked her if she had received the package, to which she said "No" (surprise, surprise), and that she could pprove she had been at work on the day in question.
Then nothing.... till a few weeks ago Colin Goldie called me to say HE had received compensation from the German postal service. He'd make me a new whistle, which he duly sent to me (to my work address, this time!)
And a brilliant whistle it is too!!
I also met Colin and Brigitte (by previous semi-arrangement) a couple of weeks ago at a recent Moving Hearts gig in London and lovely people they are as well.
So...3 cheers to Colin and Brigitte! HIP HIP HURAHH!
Well done the German postal service.
Thumbs down to ParcelForce here in the UK. They weren't very helpful. Crap, actually.
Go to the back of the class, Lewisham Police. No doubt these crimes - Theft and Fraud (as the whistle had an unknown name as its signature when delivered - sorry, I forgot about that bit earlier...) are not as important as the usual murders rapes and stabbings that go on daily here....not that I've ever seen any....
But of course, burn in Hell, horrible neighbour. How do I know it was her?
I don't.
But this person has done so many other strange things it fits the bill and I strongly suspect it was her.
Conclusion?
If you have dodgy neighbours get packages sent to your work, or have "to be delivered to addresee only" writ large on the package.
Keep on niggling at those who are supposed to deliver your stuff...it worked for Colin.
Any similar tales? Any views?
Perhaps your neighbour is sitting at home practising the whistle - the loud music is a cover, soa s not to give the game away. What would you do if she turned up at The Blythe one day?
My wife works at the postal service. That makes things a lot easier when I buy something online. You should take these things into account when you get married
God, London sounds a terrible place, almost as bad as Dublin over on that other thread- but then I've been watching City of Vice- where it's currently the Irish in Seven Dials who are causing mayhem (the story is set in the C18, I hasten to add- back in the days when the Irish were bad).
I bet your purloined whistle ended up on eBay, Danny- if not, if you ask nicely, she'll probably sell it back to you for the price of a new exhaust on the motorbike.
Inside her skull sounds a terrible place, actually. London is safe compared to other megalopolises. I bet the whistle ended up in a wheelie bin. i don't think she'd know what to do with it.
As a footnote, Colin said the batch of which that particular whistle was a part also had one which Brian Finnegan bought because he was so bowled over by the sound of it! sob!
Nice to hear that the German postal service has done a good job for once. Generally they are cutting back on services to the public in an impertinent way.
But this does not affect our postie, a very kind and helpful person. A whistle would probably have been hidden under the doormat. Bigger items are to be found under the wheelbarrow. So keep the parcels coming
That's the kind of customer service that is priceless. I'll have to start saving for one of their whistles just because... What lovely service. They must be nice folks... Bless them... That puts them in my list of folks worthy of recommendation, with a small reservation, I've never actually had the pleasure of playing one of their whistles... Some day hopefully, if my wife will allow it...
A few years ago I was living in rural Ireland, about 3/4 mile from the nearest village. Probably you know how Irish addresses exist but are very unhelpful to the stranger as the roads are mostly unnamed; the houses too have neither nameplates nor numbers.
Anyway, I had been on the list to have Terry McGee's "Roving Ambassador Flute" stay with me for a week - the idea was that over a year or more it would be posted from one interested person to another, and some might then choose to order one from Terry.
Needless to say, there were strict rules for the journeys, which were to involve insurance, couriers and all the rest. Not the mere post office. Delivery to be signed for etc.
So one morning I got a phone call from the van driver asking me how to find my house - this is the normal thing in Ireland. A couple of hours later I got another call saying that he couldn't find the house, so he'd left the package at the petrol station in the village. I jumped in the car, drove down there, parked, got out, and saw a package, addressed to me *on the open ground of the forecourt close to the cashier*. I picked it up and put it in the car. Before driving home, as an afterthought, I went in to the cashier and said "I just picked up that package - it was for me". The response: "Ah, yer grand so".
Had I been less honest I could have driven home without saying anything and let the insurance company sue the courier for leaving it without getting any confirmation of delivery.
So it's a story that ended well, but it does illustrate the risks of delivery.
Imagine THAT happening in Catford!
I like the idea of the missing whistle being a Roving Ambassador Whistle" though.....
As for all the suggestions of criminal behaviour - yes they have crossed my mind, but
a) I will never stoop down to the same level as this person.
b) I'm still hoping for some kind of outcome...even if it is not as a result of the whistle, by the tortoise-like Lewisham Police, she'll get her comeuppance somewhere down the line, by someone, somewhere, if this is the way she chooses to live her life.
c) I'm not going to risk getting a criminal record on her account.
My sister-in-law, down in Melbourne, noticed a couple of teenagers 'loitering with intent' by the mailbox of the house over the road. One of them took a parcel out of the box and started to run off with it. She valiantly gave chase and miraculously outpaced them and got the parcel back with a minimum of fuss and a stern telling off.
The weird thing was, as she was returning it to the mailbox she checked the address and it was actually a package for her, which had been delivered to the wrong address.
What about this for a whistle story?
What about this for a whistle story?
Following a remark I made on a previous thread:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14699/comments#comment303115
"I have an unplayable Overton small D whistle. It's not even tunable. Aren't the best ones made by some guy Goldie, and the rest are cack? I've got a cack one. I was stoopid enough to buy it because of the Overton name. Once upon a time it did play quite well, albeit always on the sharp side for sessions, but over time it has deteriorated. I wouldn't go there again. So that's my Overton story."
Colin Goldie and his partner Brigitte then got in touch with me - without a hint of acrimony - and invited me to send my whistle back to the workshop in Germany.
But in the intervening time I also read this:
http://www.overton.de/texte/beaware.html
So I sent it back, and after some phone calls Colin said he would make me a new one of his and he'd take care of the old one - and I would pay really just for the "upgrade".
So, each day in early last October I had been expecting a package from Germany to arrive. Then one evening there was a card from ParcelForce saying a package had been delivered to a nearby address. The person who lives there is very strange, plays very loud soul music a lot of the time, parks her car AND her motor bike on the road in such a way that no-one else can park nearby, and indulges in several other anti-social behaviours. After knocking at her door several times but getting no reply I left a note asking had she received a package, and if so could she drop it round. Next day I got a nastily worded note as a reply, telling me never to trespass on her property again, etc. (....we're talking little terraced houses in South London, BTW).
So, I got in touch with ParcelForce again, got the driver to come round to ascertain that he did drop the package where he said, then finally got the Police onto it. Eventually a PC did call to her house asked her if she had received the package, to which she said "No" (surprise, surprise), and that she could pprove she had been at work on the day in question.
Then nothing.... till a few weeks ago Colin Goldie called me to say HE had received compensation from the German postal service. He'd make me a new whistle, which he duly sent to me (to my work address, this time!)
And a brilliant whistle it is too!!
I also met Colin and Brigitte (by previous semi-arrangement) a couple of weeks ago at a recent Moving Hearts gig in London and lovely people they are as well.
So...3 cheers to Colin and Brigitte! HIP HIP HURAHH!
Well done the German postal service.
Thumbs down to ParcelForce here in the UK. They weren't very helpful. Crap, actually.
Go to the back of the class, Lewisham Police. No doubt these crimes - Theft and Fraud (as the whistle had an unknown name as its signature when delivered - sorry, I forgot about that bit earlier...) are not as important as the usual murders rapes and stabbings that go on daily here....not that I've ever seen any....
But of course, burn in Hell, horrible neighbour. How do I know it was her?
I don't.
But this person has done so many other strange things it fits the bill and I strongly suspect it was her.
Conclusion?
If you have dodgy neighbours get packages sent to your work, or have "to be delivered to addresee only" writ large on the package.
Keep on niggling at those who are supposed to deliver your stuff...it worked for Colin.
Any similar tales? Any views?
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Perhaps your neighbour is sitting at home practising the whistle - the loud music is a cover, soa s not to give the game away. What would you do if she turned up at The Blythe one day?
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
My wife works at the postal service. That makes things a lot easier when I buy something online. You should take these things into account when you get married
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
If she did that - all would be forgiven!
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
(my answer was to namechanges, not ramiro, you understand!)
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
God, London sounds a terrible place, almost as bad as Dublin over on that other thread- but then I've been watching City of Vice- where it's currently the Irish in Seven Dials who are causing mayhem (the story is set in the C18, I hasten to add- back in the days when the Irish were bad).
I bet your purloined whistle ended up on eBay, Danny- if not, if you ask nicely, she'll probably sell it back to you for the price of a new exhaust on the motorbike.
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by Here Lyeth
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Inside her skull sounds a terrible place, actually. London is safe compared to other megalopolises. I bet the whistle ended up in a wheelie bin. i don't think she'd know what to do with it.
As a footnote, Colin said the batch of which that particular whistle was a part also had one which Brian Finnegan bought because he was so bowled over by the sound of it! sob!
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Nice to hear that the German postal service has done a good job for once. Generally they are cutting back on services to the public in an impertinent way.
But this does not affect our postie, a very kind and helpful person. A whistle would probably have been hidden under the doormat. Bigger items are to be found under the wheelbarrow. So keep the parcels coming
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by kuec
3 cheers to Colin and Brigitte! HIP HIP HURAHH!
That's the kind of customer service that is priceless. I'll have to start saving for one of their whistles just because... What lovely service. They must be nice folks... Bless them... That puts them in my list of folks worthy of recommendation, with a small reservation, I've never actually had the pleasure of playing one of their whistles... Some day hopefully, if my wife will allow it...
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Set fire to the motor bike, call round the next day and ask about the parcel, no joy, set fire to the car etc etc etc.
Seems to work around here.
# Posted on February 6th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
I was going to suggest hoisting the motor bike up the nearest flag pole...
# Posted on February 7th 2008 by lamh trom
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
A few years ago I was living in rural Ireland, about 3/4 mile from the nearest village. Probably you know how Irish addresses exist but are very unhelpful to the stranger as the roads are mostly unnamed; the houses too have neither nameplates nor numbers.
Anyway, I had been on the list to have Terry McGee's "Roving Ambassador Flute" stay with me for a week - the idea was that over a year or more it would be posted from one interested person to another, and some might then choose to order one from Terry.
Needless to say, there were strict rules for the journeys, which were to involve insurance, couriers and all the rest. Not the mere post office. Delivery to be signed for etc.
So one morning I got a phone call from the van driver asking me how to find my house - this is the normal thing in Ireland. A couple of hours later I got another call saying that he couldn't find the house, so he'd left the package at the petrol station in the village. I jumped in the car, drove down there, parked, got out, and saw a package, addressed to me *on the open ground of the forecourt close to the cashier*. I picked it up and put it in the car. Before driving home, as an afterthought, I went in to the cashier and said "I just picked up that package - it was for me". The response: "Ah, yer grand so".
Had I been less honest I could have driven home without saying anything and let the insurance company sue the courier for leaving it without getting any confirmation of delivery.
So it's a story that ended well, but it does illustrate the risks of delivery.
# Posted on February 7th 2008 by Lingpupa
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Imagine THAT happening in Catford!
I like the idea of the missing whistle being a Roving Ambassador Whistle" though.....
As for all the suggestions of criminal behaviour - yes they have crossed my mind, but
a) I will never stoop down to the same level as this person.
b) I'm still hoping for some kind of outcome...even if it is not as a result of the whistle, by the tortoise-like Lewisham Police, she'll get her comeuppance somewhere down the line, by someone, somewhere, if this is the way she chooses to live her life.
c) I'm not going to risk getting a criminal record on her account.
# Posted on February 7th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
My sister-in-law, down in Melbourne, noticed a couple of teenagers 'loitering with intent' by the mailbox of the house over the road. One of them took a parcel out of the box and started to run off with it. She valiantly gave chase and miraculously outpaced them and got the parcel back with a minimum of fuss and a stern telling off.
The weird thing was, as she was returning it to the mailbox she checked the address and it was actually a package for her, which had been delivered to the wrong address.
Instant karma.
# Posted on February 7th 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Nice one!
It would have been almost excusable if herself had been a teenager, but this one is an adult...chronologically speaking that is.
# Posted on February 7th 2008 by danny flute whistle box
Re: What about this for a whistle story?
Making it live and direct and with respect ~
http://www.overton.de/
# Posted on February 8th 2008 by ceolachan