I don't have a good record...

....with technological hardware! Phones, computers, you name it and I can break it...or to be more specific I expect it to work like it says it will on the box! That seemingly is too much to ask, and furthermore, over the years I have learned that if I want technical help on one of these subjects the place to go is most definitely not the manufacturers or providers technical helpline, for it is there that one is most likely to get nothing in the way of technical help!

Mobile phones, my current case in point. My last one lived for three months before the email client died. I updated the software, I reinstalled the software, I called the helpline for further assistance and I was told I knew 'more than he did' (jeez) and so finally (and this is not the first time believe me)I 'persuaded' the provider to exchange it. Quite a feat of persistence in itself.

The replacement arrived. I charged it, I turned it on, I saw the email client for a moment.....and then the software died again and it fell off the phone completely!! FFS.

More phone calls, two and a half hours worth to be precise and a replacement of a different model was agreed. This was promised for two days later, in actual fact it took another two hours of phone calls and six days to get it to me in reality!

And they call this service????

Among all of this the most ironic and amusing aspect was that the guy I was dealing with gave me his email address and asked that I mail him instead of call because it would reach him more easily. Here is the ironic, frustrating, amusing f*ucking ridiculous bit.....

This was o2, I have an o2 contract, my phone emails through an o2 server.....but 'Sonny Jim's' o2 work email server classifies this server as spam and wouldn't let my emails through!!!!!

Give me strength. Is it just me that finds all this unbelievably aggravating and stupid??

But finally my new phone arrived, a Nokia 6500c, intact and apparently working (touch wood), I can email, I have the joy of Opera Mini (they have this sussed, it's so easy to use and surfing the web is such a good distraction from the daily white van grind that I have felt it 'appropriate' that I add to my monthly contract unlimited downloads! See they know how take our money, no problem there), the email works....and works well, I can even blog and comment from this little marvel, in fact all would be hunky dory, save for the fact that the 3g connection seems defunct and despite copious amounts of setting changes and calls to the un-help guys at o2 it remains defunct!

Maybe I just expect way too much in my assumption that technology does what it says it will on the box!