Not one to put a damper on your installation, but a few things that may help:
1. The telphone number of your local Trading Standards office might be useful.
2. Maybe the number of the Samaritans too if things go really bad!
3. Some of those plastic Hula Hoops kids play with would be useful too, you can practice jumping through them to get a feel of dealing with NTL when (not if) you get a problem
4. Repeatedly shutting down your PC, unplugging your Cable Modem, waiting 10 seconds then plugging it back in before rebooting your PC. This will prepare you for NTL's unique 'High Tech' approach to troubleshooting!!
5. Going outside and talking to the brick wall would be invaluable practice when you are making a call to report a fault, repeating the same thing over and over would be good practice too!
6. No, you have not rung the British Amnesia Society when calling NTL to find out why the promised Engineer has not contacted you to arrange a visit, or why no one seems to have any information about the problem you reported over a week ago!
7. A repeat prescription of Blood Pressure Tablets when you see how much it's cost you in telephone calls and time of work when trying to get your problem fixed.
8. Some Birthday cards and Christmas cards to send to the call center people because you'll be ringing them that often you'll think you're ringing one of the family!
Ok, so I'm pulling yer leg a bit! But you knew that already didn't you
You don't have to use plastic Hoola Hoops, you can use the wooden ones if you want
Welcome to NTL!!