Welcome to the Esdale Family web site

Like a cobbler's shoes, this site is not always kept right up to date. It is a mish-mash of Mark's current bête noire, pictures, the boys' experimenting with HTML etc.

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BARCLAYS PINsentry

If you are a Barclays on-line customer, please read on...

As you know, Barclays have introduced PINSentry, to improve on-line banking security. It uses your bank card. I happen to find that most inconvenient, as I do not keep my Connect card by my computer and if I go and fetch my wallet, I am likely to leave it on my desk when I go out. So, I requested an "Authentication Card", which the bank issues to people without a bank card.

The system does not allow them to issue an Authentication Card to account holders who already have a debit card.

I'd like to get this changed.

If you agree with me, please contact Barclays and ask them to issue you a card in addition to your debit card.

Barclay's head office is 0800 282 390. I spoke to a very helpful lady called Jackie Stinchcombe. She logged my comment and said that although Barclays obviously won't change their policy because one customer asks, if there are many complaints, then they might.

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Help the environment...
Ground planes once a week

Why not ground all civil aviation on one day a week - Tuesdays perhaps?

As strikes, accidents, terrorists, government action and fuel shortages have shown, airlines can schedule around all kinds of stoppages.
Grounding aviation one day out of seven would reduce pollution not only from the aircraft themselves, but also the ancilliary equipment, transportation to and from airports and even the airports themselves.
It would improve load factors on the other days of the week.

In short, there are no losers.

In a world where we must soon start facing hardship in order to save the planet, doesn't a move like this - now - make sense?

If you agree, please write to your local and/or government policitians, write to the airlines, write to the local and national newspapers... anyone!

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Useful tips

When washing your hands after gardening, sprinkle half a teaspoon of granulated sugar into your hands with the soap.

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Brickbats and bouquets

Brickbat to...	Bouquet to...
	BT (British Telecom)
	For: Efficient handling of conversion of phone lines from IDSN, even when they knew they weren't getting the order for Broadband
Baggage handlers at either Copenhagen or Stansted Airport	Samsonite
For: Ripping a half a wheel off my suitcase	For: Sending a replacement wheel, completely free, despite the suitcase being over 8 years old
	Spear & Jackson
	For: Sending a replacement part, completely free, for a pair of secateurs

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Trivia

The M25 does not go all the way round London
There is a 4.9 mile section around the Dartford Crossing which is not motorway.

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Gumstix n00b