I had a letter from my utility provider today asking for an appointment to come and read my meter. "We have to read your meter every now and again so your bills are accurate". Well that sounded fine. I arranged a day for the bloke to come and I was surprised to hear the time frame that I had to stay at home for. "Someone will need to be in the property between the hours of 12pm and 8pm" she said. 8 goddam hours to have a meter reading which is a matter of writing down a five digit number. Thirty seconds maximum after a possibility of and eight our wait. That's ridiculous isn't it?
I should be able to say to them that I too will be in my house between the hours of 12 and 8 and I can't be more specific than that either. Since the invention and rise of the mobile phone surely a better level of communication has been reached. Even if they said "I'll be there in about two hours time", that would be a vast improvement. 
Absolutely mad.