That is all.

or that bloody Donald Duck.

Who calls that number any way these days?

I need to compose a "disappointed" letter

Angry of Middle England

Many years ago as a rookie techie at Broadcasting House, during a time when TIM was reportedly giving some trouble, I was given the task of monitoring it _all night_ on a pair of headphones. How I survived even the "dulcet tones" without going completely mad I'll never know. Maybe I did go completely mad. Pat Simmons never dropped a millisecond, but I learnt to recite TIM off line with astonishing accuracy.

Tinker Bell? What have we come to . . . .?

Paris 'cos she's got the time for anyone.

This isn't April, is it? Could BT be like the computerised Holly and be unable to wait the necessary months with a red hot jape like this under their belt?

</tpost>

Bloody Disney.

That is all.

I thought Christmas came next, then more chocolate in the shape of eggs.

Oh well..

ttfn

I needed to reset my clocks after a power outage, so phoned 123 and thought how nice the voice was, even with 'Accurest' attached to every 10 second call. I suppose Disney is just another form of advertising, but one wonders if anybody at BT takes any pride in their work any more, or if everything us up for sale.

Paris, because, next to BT, even she has her standards.

... Kenny Everett's version which had Cleo Rocos in Dominatrix gear doing the "At the third stroke" voice, then lashing KE three times to make him say "Bip, bip, bip!"

Now that the speaking clock is sponsored, does that mean the 30p cost will be reduced?

Didn't think so...

If we all say, together "I don't believe in Faries, I don't believe in Faries" over and over, will Tinker Bell fuck off and die?

Just a thought

Actually use it at least once a month. The last voice change I called it literally minutes after it had been switched, unaware there was any plan to.

Gets used to set physical clocks, or as an easy to dial line test number. Also to wind up coworkers by forwarding it on.

I was watching it last week - what on earth is all this fuss about Fiona Bruce anyway? - and they had some horologist chappie on with the old speaking clock which he claimed stopped on the day Pat Simmons died. Completely irrlevant I know but still almost interesting.

Anyway, Disney eh? Tsk, So let me get this straight. We have a cartoon fairy that we have to pay to listen to, and they expect us to believe every word they are saying.

Reminds me of Peter Mandelson.

Tinkerbell has spoken before - I distictly remember Julia roberts as Tinkerbell in Hook talking and trying to seduce Peter. I quick search on wikipedia suggests that she has spoken in several different film adaptations - just not in the original book.

You can guess why I'm posting this anonymously though. :)

Far from not speaking, Tinkerbell in the book is noted for her rudeness and foul language. Her first words are "You silly ass" and she doesn't get any politer. I salute any company bringing sweary fairies to the nation's telephones.

Paris, obviously, because she is the Tinkerbell of today!

I suspect your new colleagues got you good and proper on that one.

Scene: The Pub, somewhere close to Broadcasting House

Two experienced techies are on their third pints

Bob: Ere, you'll never guess what I've got that new kid doing.

Terry: What's that, then?

Bob: I've only got him listening to the speaking clock all night long.

Terry: Heh, heh...how'd you manage that then?

Bob: Told him it was giving "periodic, untraceable problems", didn't I?

Terry: One born every minute, innit? Another round?

Bob: Don't mind if I do...

And on topic - truly, the glories of privatization are many and wondrous.

Is there a website I can look at?

With that typically Brazilian name, she'd better be careful when taking the tube in London. Or something.

www.accurist123.com seems to be voiced by Catherine Tate.

"At ve fird stroke, ve time wiw be, yeah, innit, like..."