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Dead Scared Love on the Line Search for the Sage Tunnel at World's End The Key Dead Scared Kindred Spirit Three Into One Does Go As They Grow Older

AI on the phone

rant incoming

I've just spent an hour trying to talk to someone at Virgin Media. Anyone. By the time the hour was up, I'd have been happy to talk to one of the cleaners, or canteen staff.
   The AI answer-bot took me round so many circles I nearly flung my phone out of the window. The only reason I didn't is that I didn't want to damage the window.
   It was so bad I eventually Googled 'how to speak to someone at Virgin Media' and lo and behold there were lots of similar posts about the problem. Just say 'I want to speak to an agent' regardless of what the answer bot asks, said one wise responder.
   So I tried that, and after another ten minutes actually got through to somebody (who was clearly based in India and who I could scarcely understand, but that's another story.
   I've no idea if the same trick works for other organisations fronted by answer-bots. I'm rather hoping I don't have to find out.
   AN HOUR!!

/end rant
add comment | read comments (0) | 2025-05-19

Ayr Writers Club Prize Night

Ahem As I managed to win a prize (for the best opening of an unpublished novel), I was invited to attend this event to read out 750 words or so from Dead Scared. You can learn more about the book by clicking on its icon above.
  If you want to learn more about the Prize night, including a photo of yours truly looking suitably authorial, you'll need to go to

www.ayrwritersclub.co.uk/trophy-winners-night-30th-april-2025

Well done to all the winners, and here's hoping I manage to win something next year!
add comment | read comments (0) | 2025-05-05

A word of advice

Should you ever get on a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central, setting off from platform 11, and you find that you are on the wrong train, here's what to do. Disembark at Larbet; exit the station and re-enter around the other side; catch a train from there that really goes to Glasgow Central. Be sure not to get on one going back to Edinburgh.
   Don't ask me how I know. I just know, all right?
add comment | read comments (0) | 2025-04-20