The grumpy thread

[New POD]

It's nothing to do with the police you need to call highways at the council.

 

(many) People have died, riding motorbikes (and driving cars) into unlit skips.  I would see it as my moral and civic duty to phone 999 and let them tell me it's not urgent. 

[beko1987]

I reckon you're a grade A cunt, sheefag.

 

I trust you'll understand that's intended to be nothing but a complement.

Bit harsh...

[New POD]

Glasgow airport looks odd tonight..

 

IMG_20171212_172143.jpg

 

Flight got diverted due to iced runway at Glasgow , then we had a fun* 1h30 sitting on the plane until a bus arrives to take us to the terminal.

 

No refreshments were offered, cabin crew invisible, but captain did inform us occasionally.

 

Their solution was to offer a coach in rush hour traffic.

 

I am now on a tram going east to get a train west.

 

Laughable.

 

 

I once (I'm thinking about 1993 ish) was on a Lufthansa Flight from Frankfurt to Birmingham, and ended up circling the midlands after the Captain announced "Nicht Birmingham Flughafen" and "Wir sind vielleicht bis in Glasgow Flughafen beenden" followed by "Es ist vielleicht nicht so schlimm, der Wind ist in Castle Donnington in der richtigen Richtung, was bedeutet, dass wir über die M1 bei Kegworth landen und in East Midlands enden können"

 

After an approach that involved skimming just over lorries on the M1 at Kegworth, we Landed into the wind at East Midlands, where we sat for 20 minutes and the Captain Announced, "Leider hat Lufthansa in den East Midlands keine guten Besatzungsverträge, und wir verhandeln gerade über Treppen" before saying in English "It might be a little time, before we get off the plane as we are currently negotiating for stairs" It was about an hour after that that the stairs arrived. And then we had to walk 1/3 mile to the terminal in pissing horizontal rain.

 

This was about 9:30 Pm and after waiting for coaches, I got back to Birmingham at about 12:30 am, before getting into a taxi to take me home to the other side of Birmingham (Near Longbridge).  Got home about 2am because slowest taxi ride ever. 

 

I hate travel.

[loserone]

Bit harsh...

He's compiling a list of cnutish things to do.. it's testament to his insight.

[New POD]

I have contract offer(s) today.

 

One in Wolverhampton for 6 months and one North of Nottingham for 3 months.

There is no reason why both won't be longer, the rate is the same.

Not quite as good a rate as current contract that's made me rich* and miserable, but more than enough for a man of my limited needs.  

One is easier to get to and more flexible on the hours of work.

Both in Aerospace.

Start on the 2nd Jan.

I shall therefore break up earlier than 22nd December from the current contract. Maybe 20th.

[Sheefag]

I reckon you're a grade A cunt, sheefag.

 

I trust you'll understand that's intended to be nothing but a complement.

 

Takes me right back, me Mother used to say that.

[warren t claim]

The thing is people who hire skips can be total dozy cunts. I drove a skip wagon and quite often I'd tell them that even though our trucks had extending arms ultimately you shouldn't move the skip once it's been dropped by the driver. On several occasions I've had to inform clueless punters that as they've moved the skip so far back in their driveway the only way to get it out is to fix chains onto it and drag the fucker forward over their nice block paved driveway.

[DodgeRover]

You wouldn't drop a skip on the road without the licences or leave it unlit though would you?

[warren t claim]

You wouldn't drop a skip on the road without the licences or leave it unlit though would you?

No company I drove for would allow that.

[Pillock]

A place I worked at filled a skip halfway with granite and marble sludge (scooped out of the beds of the drills and saws used to make headstones) and granite core plugs, 4" across. It was like concrete, but denser, and full of rock.

 

Guy came to pick the skip up and it just pinged all the hooks off. Told us to empty all the crap out by the time the welding bloke turned up to put hooks back on.

 

Thankfully it hadn't set, but if you want to ruin a skip I highly recommend months of cutting holes in granite.

[strangeangel]

The thing is people who hire skips can be total dozy cunts. I drove a skip wagon and quite often I'd tell them that even though our trucks had extending arms ultimately you shouldn't move the skip once it's been dropped by the driver. On several occasions I've had to inform clueless punters that as they've moved the skip so far back in their driveway the only way to get it out is to fix chains onto it and drag the fucker forward over their nice block paved driveway.

 

To be fair, even if you'd rounded up everyone in my 'hood I very much doubt we'd have had enough muscle to move that bastard by hand. I think it's safe to assume where I saw it is where it was dropped.

 

With regard to those who suggested contacting the Old Bill - I certainly would have done if Highways hadn't acted so quickly. Based on previous experiences I very much doubt they'd have got rid of it any quicker, if at all though.

[Parky]

I think the suggestion to set it on fire was a sensible strategy for road safety as then at least you would definitely see it at night

[AlabamaShrimp]

Rubbish, its a hazard isn't it? What do you want to do wait until someone crashes into it?

 

from the surrey police website...

 

Because the local highways authority deals with these issues, the police only need to be involved if there is a significant risk to others OR there has been a collision AND someone is injured - in this case call 999.

 

An unlit container in the road certainly presents a significant risk.

So you ring them. What are they going to do? Yeah it's in a stupid place and unlit but it's also unmarked so who do they rung to come shift it and who do they fine for leaving it there?

 

They don't have the manpower to stand a car with flashing lights near it all night nor do they have anything that can leave near it in the car.

 

Highways at the council do have equipment and they should also be working 24 hours so they can sort it.

 

As with everything like this where people automatically think about ringing the police first think, what are they actually able to do about the thing you're calling them with? Don't automatically assume it's 999 either as that's for ongoing life and death emergencys only. Ringing on 101 gets you through to exactly the same people in the same control room but they can take as long as you like and you aren't blocking one of the limited emergency lines.

 

I'm not trying to preach or start arguments but I did that job for a very long time and 90% of the calls that come in aren't anything to do with the police (more councils, courts and the like) while this is happening the people that really need emergency help as quick as possible don't get it.

[Craig the Princess]

So you ring them. What are they going to do? Yeah it's in a stupid place and unlit but it's also unmarked so who do they rung to come shift it and who do they fine for leaving it there?

 

They don't have the manpower to stand a car with flashing lights near it all night nor do they have anything that can leave near it in the car.

 

Highways at the council do have equipment and they should also be working 24 hours so they can sort it.

The police would be in a far better position to rouse the council into action than the residents out of hours.

[AlabamaShrimp]

The police would be in a far better position to rouse the council into action than the residents out of hours.

No they aren't they have exactly the same numbers as you do.

 

As always though do what you think is right at the time.

[DodgeRover]

Consider if it was a car abandoned with the no plates removed in a dangerous position, I would guess 99% of people would report it to the police?

 

When I have tried to contact highways directly before about a non dangerous obstruction to a footpath I've been told you have to log it with the call centre and they will pass the incident on.

[dollywobbler]

I called 999 last week for this.

 

I was a bit in too minds, as it wasn't actually on the road and there were no injuries. It was on a blind bend (both ways) though, and I wasn't sure how stable it was. There was also a bit of me wondering if the owner might try and get the car shifted and away before the landowner noticed that they'd smashed the shit out of his fence... 

[panhard65]

Took the 202 to have a new exhaust made this afternoon. First of all it slips off the trailer whilst loading it. Luckily no damage but half an hour of fucking about to get it back on. Then I get to the garage that are doing the exhaust and when reversing it off the trailer the old badly fitting exhaust gets caught on the trailer bed and snaps off one of the lugs on the manifold. Hopefully they can still build a new exhaust but won't know until the morning. Then on the way home some dim twats manage to crash on the M5 so the last 4 miles took me over 20 mins. Seiously pissed off by the time I got home but at least I have found a replacement manifold in France I just hope he will post it to me.

[richardmorris]

So you ring them. What are they going to do? Yeah it's in a stupid place and unlit but it's also unmarked so who do they rung to come shift it and who do they fine for leaving it there?

They don't have the manpower to stand a car with flashing lights near it all night nor do they have anything that can leave near it in the car.

Highways at the council do have equipment and they should also be working 24 hours so they can sort it.

As with everything like this where people automatically think about ringing the police first think what are they actually able to do about the thing you're calling them with. Don't automatically assume it's 999 either as that's for ongoing life and death emergencys only. Ringing on 101 gets you through to exactly the same people in the same control room but they can take as long as you like and you aren't blocking one of the limited emergency lines.

I'm not trying to preach or start arguments but I did that job for a very long time and 90% of the calls that come in aren't anything to do with the police (more councils, courts and the like) while this is happening the people that really need emergency help as quick as possible don't get it.

I said ring 101.

I’ve rung the council before now at 6am for 50m of fly tipping blocking the entire road, yes 50! It was in the National press. They have a recorded message line. The 101number I assume would actually be answered given that it’s a danger to traffic.

 

They know the right people to call to get things moving, I don’t. As far as I can tell this is why the 101 number was introduced.

 

 

I called the council line when a tree was down a few months ago. Asked me to leave my number if I wanted to be informed of the outcome. I’m still waiting.

[strangeangel]

I said ring 101.

 

 

 

 

So get up get, get get down

101 is a joke in yo town

Get up, get, get, get down

Late 101 wears the late crown

So get up get, get get down

101 is a joke in yo town

Get up, get, get, get down

Late 101 wears the late crown

 

[adw1977]

They don't have the manpower to stand a car with flashing lights near it all night nor do they have anything that can leave near it in the car.

 

 

Surrey Police have flashing lamps, a bit like the ones that should be on a skip, but blue instead of yellow. I've seen them left around fallen trees partially blocking the road.

[AlabamaShrimp]

They know the right people to call to get things moving, I don’t. As far as I can tell this is why the 101 number was introduced.

 

101 was introduced to give a unified number for all the police forces as it was a nightmare of confusing local numbers before.

 

To the above post about the lights. I can't say anything about other forces but I know that West Yorkshire Police do not have anything like that or the manpower to sit with it all night. If there were details on the side of the skip then yes they could and would have don't something.

 

As I said above and as with everything no matter what it is you decided for yourself what you deem to be the right thing to do. Weather that is or isn't the right* thing doesn't matter so long as you're happy with your decision.

[Parky]

Well I thought that skip was positioned horrendously and presented a real danger to road users. Unlit and on a blind bend? That's a recipe for disaster. Throw some wet or icy conditions into the mix and you have a serious fatality risk. I would have reported it to the fuzz and the council at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

Yes I know the Police have better things to do but once reported they can decide if it's a priority or not

[loserone]

Bonnet on the k11c kissed the windscreen round a bend on mrs_l1's way to work. Back down to one car

[Kiltox]

Oh shit - dodgy catch?

 

She OK?

[loserone]

The catch has always been a bit dodgy as her dad (prev. owner) used to do bumper parking in London.  It did seem to be properly shut last night though, but 60MPH disagreed it seems.

 

She's fine, tiny_l1 is fine.  She's possibly a bit more shaken than prepared to reveal when 6 months pregnant.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Took the 202 to have a new exhaust made this afternoon. First of all it slips off the trailer whilst loading it. Luckily no damage but half an hour of fucking about to get it back on. Then I get to the garage that are doing the exhaust and when reversing it off the trailer the old badly fitting exhaust gets caught on the trailer bed and snaps off one of the lugs on the manifold. Hopefully they can still build a new exhaust but won't know until the morning. Then on the way home some dim twats manage to crash on the M5 so the last 4 miles took me over 20 mins. Seiously pissed off by the time I got home but at least I have found a replacement manifold in France I just hope he will post it to me.

 

Dude - if he won't post outside France - he can send it to GF's parents and I can forward it.......... just let me know if you get stuck.

[gm]

karma is such a cruel thing - I was enjoying a moment of smugness this morning as I drove my newly acquired Honda crv to the tyre centre to have winter tyres fitted, just as the first flakes were starting to fall - I got as far as the end of my street and the bugger conked out on me

 

initial investigations show the battery to be ok (I swapped it over with the known good battery on my civic, the civic started no problem but the Crv just turns over)

 

the fuel pump has power but doesn't appear to be pumping any fuel - I took the outlet hose off and squeezed the priming bulb, fuel flowed no problem but turning the engine over didn't produce any flow at all.

 

I called the rac and they are sending someone along, thankfully I don't have to wait with the car so came home to put the kettle on. I'll make sure to have a cuppa ready for the rac man when he arrives.

[Tickman]

Liked for the instant karma description

[gm]

the bugger is that the insurance on the civic runs out tomorrow and the mazda is off the road for the winter - I hope this is an easy fix