Dear Bike Shed:

I am writing to discuss the poor bicycle repair service I received from your shop this week. I have been living in Cardiff for nearly a year, and on several occasions had reason to use your shop for purchases or quick repairs. On these occasions, I have been very happy with the level of service and professionalism at the Bike Shed. I am also aware that your organisation works with the community to promote cycling, which encourages me to use your shop.

Unfortunately, this week was different. Last Monday, August 4, I brought my bicycle into your shop to discuss possible repairs. Your staff was friendly and helpful, and acted as though these repairs would be no trouble at all. Because your services are in high demand, your mechanic told me, I would need to wait seven to ten days for the repairs to be completed. I agreed to this time frame, and we scheduled an appointment for me to bring in my bicycle on Tuesday, August 12. At that point, I was told that the bicycle would be done in two or three days, probably Thursday or Friday. On Thursday, August 14, I stopped in to ask if the repairs were completed. The mechanic I spoke with said they were not, but he expected to finish by the end of the day. Friday morning I phoned and was told not only that my bicycle was not finished, but it had not yet been looked at. The mechanic assured me it would be done by the end of the day. But when I phoned again, Friday afternoon, I was told that staff would not get to the bicycle until Sunday. Sunday will be thirteen days after the initial request for repairs and five days after my scheduled appointment.

Regrettably, during Friday afternoon’s phone conversation, I lost my temper with the mechanic, and I apologise for that. But I still do not understand why your staff would lie to me about the time frame of these repairs. The bicycle waiting in your shop is my only bicycle, and I do not have a car. Because of this, I rely heavily on the use of my bicycle for transportation. In addition, I am moving house in less than two weeks, and I am also trying to finish a master’s dissertation by the end of the month. I realise that my personal issues are not your problem, but these details may give you some context as to why several unplanned days without transportation are a huge difficulty for me. If I had been told on Tuesday that no one could repair my bicycle until Sunday, I would have kept it and brought it back on Sunday. I also realise that life sometimes brings unexpected events, but it seems that employees of the Bike Shed were deliberately deceiving me by not contacting me to explain the situation.

I am not asking for anything in return for this letter, but as a previously loyal customer, I wanted to explain the situation. I hope your future customers receive the better treatment that the Bike Shed normally offers, and that my bad experience was simply an unintentional one-off.

Thank you for your time.

Cozy Saturday

Sometimes I wonder what the internet thinks about me. Today my Google Reader suggested I might like a site called "Polyamory Weekly." Tevs, Google Reader, tevs.

Just spent a lovely afternoon at Sinead's place, eating bacon toasties and cheese toasties and biscuits and drinking tea and talking about boys and classmates and schoolwork and THE FUTURE. It is rainy here, though I suppose I don't even need to mention that most days, given that I live in Wales. Because I was all wet when I arrived at her house, she made me wear her pajama pants and slippers. Now to get back to work. Perhaps followed by leftover pizza and Alias...as a reward for doing a few hours of work, of course.

What a wonderful day.

panic, followed by no panic

Hours of panic last night when I was told that the new post-study visas have changed so much that I can't work anything but "casual hourly" employment (like Burger King or part-time bookshop) until I get the new visa in January. Found out today that contract work is ok, which is good, because most jobs I'm checking out are contract work anyway. Apparently the new visa regulations will be a huge hassle in January, when we can't apply for them until we are officially awarded certificates, just weeks after student visas run out...

But will worry about that later. All is ok here. Will not have to pick fruit for a living for four months. May even find something journalism-ish or editing-y!

Back to dissertation, after wasting several hours checking out the new regulations and trying to learn how to change a bike tube after popping it last night and vacuuming because the place was a mess. Not a total wash of a day after all...maybe I shouldn't say that at 1:30 in the afternoon. A lot of potential hours to waste yet today. Back to it.