W/r/t "The only downside, Virgin Media just do not send you enough stuff, or the right stuff to get the job done properly." (from the blog), I'd have to say ... sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I've done 2 separate self-installs this year (TV and BB), both times they sent everything I needed.
Some of their online self-install info is confusing, e.g. "Your
TV/computer should be within
3 metres of the connection point, so that the cables in your Quickstart Pack reach. Your
computer should be within
25 metres of the connection point."
Re: activation line hours, what time did they deliver the big cardboard box?