What did you do today (2015)

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Maybe I should stop griping here and “Haye ” my say?

One last thing on this.
If I had encountered a site with those difficulties and lack in presentation. .in any other connection. .I would be highly skeptical about ebtrring payment details. Suspecting some sort of scam /phishing site

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Agree, not helped by the e-mail I have just got with nothing entered as the subject from Model Engineer. Tells me I can login with my customer number but Bu**ed if I can see where it asks for this number.

As the change was announced quite a while before it actually happened it would have been nice if this time could have been used to sort things like this out before going live.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 20/10/2015 19:21:19:

Can't find it either, just registered for my ME sub and get a page comes up with MEW logo and not a great deal else

This comes up after you register, you still have to log in to access your account.

That means visiting

me.secureorder.co.uk/index.php?force_sid=583inmsjv38391o4t6nd97kmd1&cl=account

again and logging in.

You should then see your details and links for queries and feedback (PLEASE use them as this will ensure it gets better!)

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 20/10/2015 19:50:38:

Agree, not helped by the e-mail I have just got with nothing entered as the subject from Model Engineer. Tells me I can login with my customer number but Bu**ed if I can see where it asks for this number.

You enter your number as part of the registration process.

As the change was announced quite a while before it actually happened it would have been nice if this time could have been used to sort things like this out before going live.

Agreed.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 20/10/2015 20:00:14

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

So it does Neil and with teh ME logo, just logged in again with e-mail and password still cant see what my customer number does. Would it not be better if ME heading came up when you register via ME?

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Well I have “Haye your say”..
Lets see if I can get any where before I miss any edition. .

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

I think I have a new hobby.

having found a route to actually subscribing ..the payment page of

"me.secureorder.co.uk/index.php?cl=payment&&" etc. sets off both firefoxes security and kaspersky …..

this from a site whose purpose is to process online payments….

I hope MTM can get their money back.

I am not using them.

thusly I shall not be renewing my subs..

though more fairly " I shall not be renewing my subs …… through these jokers"

 

 

 

Edited By jason udall on 20/10/2015 21:13:34

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Posted by jason udall on 20/10/2015 21:10:50:…………..

"me.secureorder.co.uk/index.php?cl=payment&&" etc. sets off both firefoxes security and kaspersky ………………..

Strange just tried that url and no problems. Ubuntu/Firefox

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

Posted by jason udall on 20/10/2015 21:10:50:

I think I have a new hobby.

having found a route to actually subscribing ..the payment page of

"me.secureorder.co.uk/index.php?cl=payment&&" etc. sets off both firefoxes security and kaspersky …..

this from a site whose purpose is to process online payments….

I hope MTM can get their money back.

I am not using them.

thusly I shall not be renewing my subs..

though more fairly " I shall not be renewing my subs …… through these jokers"

Edited By jason udall on 20/10/2015 21:13:34

Jason, you had it right first time I think. Most people will not go out of their way to subscribe and you did more than most would expect to do.

I think the best feedback is voting with your feet, having told them why.

You can always try to come back later and if the process has improved, join again. Then you will be a new customer, be treated better and maybe get a gift!

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

well the "Haye your say " route has not even had an automated reply yet.

.So I phoned on the "overseas" number.

Got through to "Paisly..".

nice polite cheerful.

took postcode

confirmed first copy to renew from.

took card number..

DONE.

Thank you Paisly of MTM.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Just spied this half meter nest of Asian Hornets in a tree close by. Unfortunately, most of the queens should have hibernated by now. If you find a nest like this near to you, report it to your local beekeeper association who will take steps to eradicate it.

Edited By JasonB on 23/10/2015 18:20:54

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Or box it up and post to Clive

Neil

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Interesting nest but I don't think the asian hornet has made it to the UK, yet.…..

Rod

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

No reported invasion of the Asian Hornet yet ! It is a reportable matter though and of all things do not try to eradicate it yourself. Leave that to the big boys who come and deal with it after it is reported. These Hornets especially attack honey bees, making concerted attacks on one hive at a time until they get into it. The bees become scared and stay in the hive but are grabbed one by one and dismembered by the Hornets. French bee keepers are having problems with them. Some beekeepers have died from their stings !

Initially they arrived in some plant pots in the hibernation stage and then started breeding. There is a much more dangerous beetle coming that is called, 'The Small Hive Beetle', which has now made an appearance in Italy, initially in Sicily and then near Palermo. Very serious as they are hard to deal with and quite insidious. Infestation means complete destruction of all beehives for about a five kilometer radius. I will try to find the reporting base and post later with it.

Just a follow up, Honey production in the UK is now at very low level with some areas reporting no recoverable honey for sale ! Personally I have only taken about 40 lb which is a lot less than my average take. In fact half of it is inedible as it is from Raspberry and is quite sharp and needs blending with a milder honey but I do not have any to do this.

The bees are still quite active and there is some nectar coming in and also pollen from Ivy , I may have to feed on with sugar early in the New year. With prospects of bad winter forecast I am getting a bit worried.

Clive

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Just goes to show what dangerous people these gardeners are. Introduced Rhodedendrons, Dutch elm disease, asian hornets into France and so on. Leave the garden alone, something will grow, no doubt the butterflies will love you and you will have more time for the workshop.

Edited By duncan webster on 23/10/2015 22:20:52

Edited By duncan webster on 23/10/2015 22:21:11

[Anonymous]

And as if by magic "Killer Hornets from Hell" just started on Animal Planet +1

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I once walked into the volunteers toolshed in a wood. Heard a buzzing and turned round and I had walked under a hornets nest, my head missing it by about an inch.

At that time I had two suffered two nasty wasp attacks – one from treading on a nest, the other from putting a fence posts into one…

I could see the pond about thirty metres away, so my plan was, if they attached, to run for it, jump in and swim for it :-0.

I walked out very slowly, and they completely ignored me.

Since then I have had several queen hornets turn up in my workshop, all released safely (the queen wasps visit Mr Vac), and even taken bad photos of them eating plums in the garden, without a sting (so far!)

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Your Plums are not looking too good Neil

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

If you get a good clean shot Neil and post it on CambridgeInColour there is a man about that will id it. He's part of an insect survey but some buzzing things need a very clear photo to be entirely certain.

There standards of photography are rather high. There are a lot of tutorials on all sorts of things on there – probably the best on the web really. Very Photoshop though. They can be pretty helpful in that area. Not much use to me as I run Linux but I have fun finding out how to match it using entirely open source software.

John

–

Edited By John W1 on 24/10/2015 11:09:53

Edited By John W1 on 24/10/2015 11:10:58

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

In a previous existence 'down South' we used to get regular hornet visits. I did a bit of 'net' research and found that a). they weren't anything like as dangerous as supposed and b). they were a protected species!! … unreliable memory says that that may have only been in Germany??

rgds

Bill

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

German wife being stung to death by hornets, husband says 'Sorry, cannot help, they are protected species.'

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

The Hornets in question are different to European Hornets that are called Vespro Crabro and seemingly quite localized in areas and not widespread. Physically about 40mm long.

Then we have this new invader, from Japan or China and it is called Vespa Velutina. This is the one that is dangerous and is bigger and more formidable than the normal European type.

Just checked the web site and it seems it is NOT notifiable but beekeepers are recommend to report to the NBU and any commercial pest killer can do the job.

But I repeat it is a dangerous insect and multiple sting up to 10 can kill via anaphylactic shock! Identify this wasp as it is all brown with a velvety fur and yellow tipped feet, samples are needed for analysis. Length is approx 40mm. It's main food source is honey bees and therefore will nest close to Apiaries.

More info is on the web if you enquire about Vespa Velutina.

Clive

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

HI all, Hornets in the UK are quite mild and create no real problem…..Usually…..

the Asian bugger's are a whole different kettle of fish….have watched them hover outside a hive and take the bees in mid air……

I moved here 12 years ago with 25 hives……don't have any now it all got to heavy, Arthritus got the better of me….

2 stories of Hornet removal, here they are notifiable but the local authorities won't pay for the removal (like they are supposed to)

so to remove or destroy a nest on my property…the nest was a tad over 18m up a tree, about 750 long and 450 in dia…

1st attempt, at dusk, emptied both barrels (12gauge) of bird shot, no bloody difference at all…just a bit of extra buzzing around…..hahaha…..

2nd attempt, joined three 6m length of 19mm copper pipe, on the other end used a ball lever valve with an air line fitting….

put 2 litres 'ish of petrol in the pipe (propped up on the step ladder) coupled up the air line and went up the ladder….

poked the pipe in the nest bottom about 6" then let them have it…..that sorted the buggers out….did have a few loose hornets but they had no home to go to…..

the other job was in a very rotten dead tree……pushed it over with my JCB then kept driving over it until it was crushed….very satisfactory…….

have just found another nest on the property, that'll get the spray can treatment as it's get atable…..

loads of fun, " who said it was all quiet in the countryside" hahaha…..

just out of interest it's warm 17.c and sunny…..honey bees flying well….I do miss em……

just out of interest, there's is a high rate of African cross bred bees here., wild and in domestic use…helped a chap out but in the end we just killed the hive…unfortunately it was just to bad to re-queen it…..shame……

used my last Epi pen, that's it for me…Hanging up my bee suit….

oh happy days….English summers, cream "T's" yum, yum……

have fun, Clogs

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John W1 on 24/10/2015 11:07:21:

If you get a good clean shot Neil and post it on CambridgeInColour there is a man about that will id it. He's part of an insect survey but some buzzing things need a very clear photo to be entirely certain.

Was hard to get a clean shot using macron when there another 20-30 mixed drunken wasps and hornets buzzing around me…

But it's a plain old european hornet, plenty of them around here, but getting scarce in some parts.

Got several other photos from different times, oddly no good ones, although I have a video of one doing a poo on our front step.

Neil

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Here's one from the garden …

.. we were having face off

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 24/10/2015 22:22:50

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 24/10/2015 22:23:09

[Author]

Posts