they haven't taken the **&*%&* recycling, again!

ho hum. not much to report my fair readers. yes, it is the end of june, winter is here, yet i am strangely elated. Have completed first couple of major projects at work and am enjoying an in between projects happy phase, writing some proposals, eating cookies, having a proper 1 hour lunch, and generally doing a 40 hour week.

However. This has caused in me, being a workaholic, a disturbing level of existential panic in the evenings due to that most unusual of circumstances, "having absolutely nothing to do".

As such, last night i arrived home only to find, ye gods, that our paper recycling had not been taken for the 4th week in a row.

Now we (as per council regulations) tie up our paper recycling with cord, the same colour cord that is demonstrated on the council website:

Yet still, they refused to take it away, when it is in, on or around our blue recycling bin.

Disgusted, i grumbled my way up the stairs to the flat, slammed open the door and screamed to annabel, "they haven't taken the fucking recycling, again".

I phoned the council, who told me to phone another company (as they don't look after recycling!?), and then i spoke to THE MAN, nigel ("just call me, nigel on 0800 - RECYCLING!"), the happiest employee in the word (TM). He vowed to scream at the person responsible for this ghastly oversight, and said he enjoyed it every bit as much as i would if i had the chance. What a lovely man.

Needless to say i received a call back within 20 minutes to inform me that a 16 year old work experience person had neglected to take any residential recycling from our part of the street for weeks.

Now i write this on Wednesday evening at work, 5.52pm. It was supposed to have been taken sometime today. If it is there when i go back.....

So, i have turned 33 and have morphed into Victor Meldrew, grumpy old man, battling against human incompetence and bullshit. I struggle on..

UPDATE! 15/07/2005 - They didn't take it when they said, i rang up again and then they didn't come again when they said they would. Then, someone nicked our bin. Then we found it round the back of our flat yesterday. So, we're waiting to test them next Monday, 18/07/2005, stay tuned!!

UPDATE! 02/08/2005 - We have been really lazy (i have been really lazy) and haven't left the recycling out for the last 2 weeks. I left it out last night and am just about to go to work and check if this 2 week gap has caused them, like errant paperboys to forget about our wee flat at the end of the road. The tension mounts.

UPDATE! 09/08/2005 - Oh dear, they still haven't come, it rains, gets all mushy etc. etc. I rang Nigel the friendly recycling person and he has assured me he will sort out. Don't hold your breath..this bloody country i tell you..