More Promises Than Action.

Roberto Matta.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Matta 

Well it seems that Seetech is also going to be something that is turning into a never-ending story.

I hope not, but it does seem to be a problem, when Riny, from RTD came here with the Seetech computer on 29 August I thought everything was in order.

On the day transpired that despite promises that the RTD employee Werner made on 15 May they have not been able to provide an English dictionary.

Nor are they managed to buy the correct German dictionary, for which we paid them a couple of months ago.

Riny promised me that he would track down both of these applications and he would call me back last week to make an appointment to this week.

Well he did neither last week, something that did not surprise me and that is the behaviour I'm used to from his company, RTD Het Dorp from Arnhem.

I sent the company an e-mail last Friday asking to be called this Monday, Riny called and left a voice message promising to get back to me on Wednesday.

After waiting all day hearing anything I concluded at 17. 37 that I might as well forget about the phone call.

Right then the phone rang and it was Riny from RTD, however he was not calling to make an appointment, sadly not, instead he had other news.

Which was quite shocking news, he told me that I was the first person to want to use English on the Seetech computer, according to him this was the first time.

The

I was amazed to hear this yesterday, especially as this was never mentioned by other employee at the appointment to discuss Seetech on 15th of May.

Werner, their salesmen, who told both my occupational therapist and myself that it was no problem to install both the English as well as a German dictionary.

Riny told me he would do his best to try and work out how to install and use both dictionaries of the Seetech computer.

Once again I got the promise of a phone call either on Friday or next week, again I am left waiting, a familiar story and one that I've become very used to.

Over the last years of having to deal with suppliers as well as the bureaucrats who act as go-betweens.   

Remain Positive And Optimistic.

Roberto  Matta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Matta 

On Saturday evening the weather became clammy, oppressive and the clouds became dark, then a rumbling noise became audible.

Not long after that it was followed by lightning and another roll of thunder, the storm went on for most of the evening and night.

It seemed to rain all night and I was most surprised to find quite a pleasant day on Sunday.

            

It was changeable weather but there had been blue skies and sunshine with large clouds.

Since the weekend it has been cool, overcast and rainy with no sign right now of the summer weather returning, although the long-term forecast predicts warm weather.

As its no longer hot weather the air conditioning unit is turned off for now, it is nice to feel a breeze coming in through the window.

Much nicer to feel natural breeze rather than cool air pumped endlessly around the room, also it is lovely to me to hear the noises from the neighbourhood.

Something I can't do when the air conditioning unit is on, when the weather is suddenly hot I need a cool room which only the air conditioning can provide.

This afternoon I had an appointment with a man called Andre, from an air

conditioning company, to see where install the air conditioning.

It won't be a mobile unit as that is not suitable for us, or the apartment, Andre had a very thorough look around the apartment.

Then he suggested that the heat extractor unit should be placed on the small balcony which we don't use in the front room.

In the front room high on the wall he will place one air conditioning unit, which is not very big, it measures 80 cm x 20 cm.

Then he will install another unit in the bedroom and connect them both together, so that both the front room as well as the bedroom will have air conditioning.

This all sounds very good, because it's the Amsterdam Council, he has to send them an estimate of the costs before he can install the air conditioning.

Hopefully they will not take their usual two months to give their agreement as it would be excellent to have it installed as soon as possible.

Andre said that if approval from the Amsterdam Council was not needed he could install it next week.

If the bureaucrats take their usual two months to give their approval then it won't be installed until October the earliest.

I shall have to do my best to remain positive and optimistic and hope that despite it being the holiday season the Council will nod this application through.

    

Shocking News.

 

    

Jan Muller, 1957.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_M%C3%BCller_%28artist%29       

Today I'm recovering from an extremely humid day yesterday, as well as the shock of hearing the latest news about the air conditioning.

The friend, who represented me at my appeal hearing on 9^th of May against the Amsterdam Councils decision to refuse me urgently needed air conditioning, telephoned them yesterday.       

She wanted to find out for me when the council intended to get around to actually installing the air conditioning.

She was informed that another e-mail with more questions for me to answer was sent on 12^th of June, when they did not get a reply they sent a  letter on 19^th of June.

The letter was to inform me that the advice was negative and they were closing the case immediately.

Both my friend and I were shocked at this news, the only e-mail I received on 12^th of June was one from the investigator Hans de Graaf explaining his investigation.

In the e-mail he apologised if he'd upset me, that was not his intention however he did have to ask questions.

Apart from his apology and explanation there were no questions in this e-mail nor did I receive any letters in the post from either the investigator or the council.

This afternoon I sent an e-mail to Hans de Graaf, it was very short and to the point I just said no e-mail with questions was received on the 12^th of June neither had I had a letter in the post.

I asked for an explanation as to why the case was now closed, I wonder when I will get response, as its July I stand more of a chance of getting an out of office reply.

This really is an incredible state of affairs; it is as if Amsterdam Council were above the law by deciding arbitrarily to close the case.

I almost want to re-read the court decision of the 16^th of June which informed me that my case had been accepted by the court and I had won my appeal.

It was particularly horrible to get this news on the hottest day so far this summer, on Tuesday it was 18° and yesterday it went up to 28° and it was humid.

The humidity made me feel physically sick and I could not do much on the computer, my left index finger was floppy and could not function at all.

The air conditioning is a vital necessity for me now, yet Amsterdam Council seems to think that is not urgently needed.

They have Zero understanding about disabilities especially the effects of a debilitating disease like Multiple Scleroses.

Their only interest is in their careers not in the people they are supposed to be assisting, burocrats love ticking boxes and saving money.