The grumpy thread

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Me too, just box em in then go out for a bit. How could anyone seriously get annoyed about that? They'd just have to suck it up.

[Zelandeth]

Sadly they wouldn't - if they then got the coppers involved it would be me that would be committing the offence by blocking their access to the highway.  Seems that my options are basically physically blocking them from getting into the drive in the first place or...well, that's about it.

 

Seems that's once they're there there's sod all I can do...if I even raise my voice I'll probably get nicked for breach of the peace!

 

God I miss living in the arse end of nowhere in Aberdeenshire...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Sounds a bit 'internet legal advice' to me. I might be wrong, but if you 'had to go out' I would like to see a copper actually do you for that in the real world, especially if when you got back 3 hours later you were suitably 'apologetic' and happy to shift your car right away. Obv their day is shot to bits by then so you can afford to be extra friendly and offer the errant parker a cup of tea, biscuit etc.

[SiC]

You know the crazy thing about this driveway business? If you block 'em in you are denying them access to the highway which, apparently, is an offence! Had all this explained by a copper after I did exactly the same blocking manoeuvre when a fat git in a Rangey used my driveway to pick up a takeaway across the road. The only result from that was the twunt's Meal for Four got stone cold.

Hence...

Park your car over the drive. Pop the bonnet and disconnect the coil pack/remove fuel pump fuse/etc.

 

Soz officer I pulled up and my car broke down, so coasted onto my drive. Unfortunately blocking this inconsiderate person in. I had to go to the shops for half an hour and get a part to fix it of course.

If you've "broken down", surely it's not deliberately blocking access to the highway?

[Guest Hooli]

I'd block the cunts in & crack a beer. Sorry officer I can't move it as I'm over the limit.

 

They can get their car out tomorrow when I've sobered up though.

[Zelandeth]

The thing that gets me I think is that they don't realise (or care) that by doing this, that they've rendered *my* day shot to bits because of the effect it has on my state of mind for the rest of the day - or sometimes longer.  Hence the fact I'm seriously looking into a solid solution.

 

It's a stupid annoying thing - but with my mind being what it is, by parking on my property they may just as well have wandered in, made themselves a coffee, had a dig through my wardrobe for a change of clothes and wandered off with a copy of my PC hard drive.  That's how much it bothers me.  I know it's daft and irrational, but that doesn't stop me obsessing about it any less.

 

Tomorrow the 107 is getting parked across the entrance to the driveway as soon as everyone has gone out to work.  Weather permitting I'll hopefully be giving the Activa a once over and a clean before her voyage north at the weekend, so can keep my eye out for the idiots.

[wuvvum]

If someone parks in your drive and you block them in, you're not denying them access to the highway at all.  You're denying their car access to the highway, but they're free to toddle off on foot to wherever they please.  I'd be interested to know if anyone has ever been taken to court for doing this, and if so, what the outcome was.

 

Edit:  a quick Google suggests that it's bollocks - it only becomes an offence if, in blocking them in, you end up obstructing the highway yourself,  As long as you're not sticking out over the pavement or owt then you're fine.

 

Edit again:  looks like it could fall foul of the anti-clamping laws introduced in 2012, although if your driveway has gates and notices up warning people not to park there then you're entitled to close the gates on them as far as I can make out.

 

The one bit I'm not sure about is this:

 

 

intending to prevent or inhibit the removal of the vehicle by a person otherwise entitled to remove it.

If to remove the vehicle the owner has to come onto your private property, and you deny them access to said property (as is your legal right), does that then mean that they lose their entitlement to remove the vehicle?

[AlabamaShrimp]

^^it's in the same land as clearing the path of snow. People always say that shit about getting sued when of course it's total bollocks.

 

I'd just block them in its your drive and all that. It

Can't be easy living near a school though and really it can't be easy taking kids to a school with no parking. I know people say they should walk then but the majority don't have the time for that.

[wuvvum]

Making me grumpy is the fact that I'm getting riled up enough over something which doesn't directly affect me at all (and is unlikely to living in the arse end of Norfolk) to stay up until gone 1am on a school night trying to find out what the position is.  Which appears to be that, as usual, the law is on the side of the selfish, entitled little cunts who make up an ever-increasing proportion of this Godforsaken land.

[wuvvum]

@Datsuncog - Ouch!  Might have to wake someone up to drive you to A&E mind if the bleeding doesn't stop soon.

[Datsuncog]

Crikey moses, I've just chopped off the tip of my left index finger while cutting up veg for tomorrow night's dinner.

 

It's throbbing like a bastard and bleeding everywhere, despite pressure from multiple overlaid fabric plasters.

 

I don't want to wake the rest of the house yelling about it, so I'm posting here.

 

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck.

 

That's my bass-playing career* over.

 

Fuuuuck. Ow.

 

 

EDIT - sorry: posted the above, realised I was interjecting into the middle of a different convo like an attention-seeking numpty, deleted it, then realised Wuvvum had replied to the phantom post... daaah. I should just go to bed. Blood doesn't seem to be soaking through the fourth plaster, yet. Generally I tend to clot quite fast, so here's hoping...

 

EDIT EDIT - what are the chances of three people posting simultaneously at 01:12am? Greater than I'd thought...

[wuvvum]

I should go to bed too, but I can't get my brain to shut down.

 

Just had another thought:  if you have persistent problems with people parking on your drive, would it be possible to set up a parking charge system?  Have notices prominently displayed like NCP and Parking Eye do, saying that the charge for parking there is £10 an hour and that by parking their car there they are consenting to pay that charge.  Install CCTV overlooking the drive, then take them to court when they don't pay up.  If it works for the private car park operators there's no reason why it can't work for your drive, right?

[Zelandeth]

Ow!

 

Nasty place to do that...lots of nerve endings, and as you've found, bleeds like an utter bastard.

 

Stabbed myself with a craft knife sculpting foam last year and the workbench wound up looking like a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Had to chuck everything I'd been working on out - mercifully the fabric was a safe distance away as that stuff's expensive!

 

Hope you heal up soon.

 

Regarding the drive - just going to put a fence and gate up. It's the only real long term solution I reckon.

 

Just need to add it to the to do list, along with rebuilding the atrium roof, replacing the upstairs landing skylight, getting the pool table re-covered, fitting TRVs on all the radiators and a thousand other household tasks I've forgotten...

[Noel Tidybeard]

Am I just a grumpy old man, or am I right to be utterly livid to get home from running a few errands to find one of the parents who arrive every day by car to drive their little angels the 750 yards home had decided that because I was out that my drive was a valid place to park.

 

Not across my driveway, blocking my driveway...but actually parked IN my drive.  In such a way to occupy no less than three spaces, so I couldn't pull in.

 

Suffice to say, I boxed her in.

 

After leaving her to stew for about ten minutes I came out the house and asked if she'd like me to move my car. Apparently she only did it because there was nowhere else to park - the street 50m away with zero parking restrictions and about two cars on it didn't count apparently. Probably because she couldn't possibly make her little darling walk that far...

 

Now I get it - I live about 100m from a primary school, I'm going to see some distribution at the start and end of the day.  It's just how it works.  However I've had a car shunted on the road, a car in my drive reversed into (twice), and now this... it's bloody ridiculous. 

 

One big issue I have is that I'm autistic - as such it's very important to my being able to be a functioning human being that I can feel that I'm in control of my own space.  This latest escapade has very much left me feeling that I'm not, as apparently any bugger who wants to park there will do.

 

Oh...and I managed to forget to pick up my keys on the way out the door...so am typing this from the car as I'm now locked out of the house until someone else arrives home from work...

 

Idiots, the lot of them.  Especially given how tiny the catchment area is for that school.  No reason for at least 90% of them not to just walk.

 

someone did this to an old mate and he left her boxed in for hours rather than the paltry 10 minutes you did!

when she knocked the door she was told to FRO and so was her husband when he came round shouting his mouth off lol!

[eddyramrod]

Not strictly relevant as foreign country, but our second house in Cyprus was just down the road from a BIG church, and Cypriots love their Sunday services, and the big occasions like Easter.  They also have exactly no idea how or where to park.  Our house was fenced at the roadside, and originally had driveway gates which had been somewhat mauled.  I had them straightened out and refitted them further back, so that I had room to pull in before having to open them, thus not blocking the road.  Amazingly, I never had a problem with locals parking in/across my drive. 

I know, I couldn't believe it either.

Sorry, as you were...

 

Block 'em out or block 'em in, either will do.

[Zelandeth]

someone did this to an old mate and he left her boxed in for hours rather than the paltry 10 minutes you did!

when she knocked the door she was told to FRO and so was her husband when he came round shouting his mouth off lol!

 

While the idea of this may amuse me - would never happen.  Having someone coming and ranting and raving at my door would have me hiding barricaded in the loft in a blinding panic attack for days.  Hence the making my displeasure at the situation known but not going too far about it.

 

I have enough social anxieties and find dealing with the outside world enough of a challenge at the best of times.

[SiC]

Nick/copy one of those parking eye signs and slightly alter the text so its your details and that parking there at anytime is £80. So if they park there, take photos, then request their address from the DVLA and post off a letter there demanding payment.

[wuvvum]

Don't think DVLA would release that information these days due to "data protection innit".  You'd have to register yourself as a parking company somehow - then they'll tell you whatever you want to know.

[Fat_Pirate]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and suggest the person who parked in the drive was probably stressed and at the end of their tether - does nobody watch Motherland?

[adw1977]

Crikey moses, I've just chopped off the tip of my left index finger while cutting up veg for tomorrow night's dinner.

 

It's throbbing like a bastard and bleeding everywhere, despite pressure from multiple overlaid fabric plasters.

 

I don't want to wake the rest of the house yelling about it, so I'm posting here.

 

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck.

 

That's my bass-playing career* over.

 

Fuuuuck. Ow.

 

 

I did that with a pair of secateurs two months ago while pruning plants.  Seemed pretty bad at the time and got rather painful when I cleaned it with antiseptic, but stopped hurting after about a week and my finger and fingernail have now resumed their previous shape.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and suggest the person who parked in the drive was probably stressed and at the end of their tether - does nobody watch Motherland?

 

Nothing like a walk in the fresh air to de-stress then ........... not devils advocate here, sorry, but another that enables the 'poor dears'. Apologies - not usually the argumentative sort but she could find a 'proper' parking spot and hoof it - not mess with a persons private property in any way shape or form.

 

To extrapolate - sorry fella, my child/partner/friend only robbed/burgled/trashed/stabbed xxxx because they were stressed/left alone too long/bored etc....

 

It's the same thing, concern yourself with the cause and stop it small and you'll avoid the longer term harsher situations. Goes for almost everything in life..... 'I got away with that - so I'll probably get away with the next thing, and next, and next.......'

 

 

apologies - too much coffee this morning I think

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

DAB radio... why? Whats worse is that I got a new one for xmas and it could be switched to FM so I took the older one to work which you can't and now all my fave toons are scrambled today.

[Bren]

Weatherspoons take steak off the menu in 900 pubs.

 

Do us all a favour and just take off the menu...

[hennabm]

NTAs

 

Looks like the British general public can be entertained by anything.

 

17th time in a row Ant and Dec voted as best presenters on TV. REALLY?????????

 

The race to the bottom is almost complete.....

[andy18s]

While the idea of this may amuse me - would never happen. Having someone coming and ranting and raving at my door would have me hiding barricaded in the loft in a blinding panic attack for days. Hence the making my displeasure at the situation known but not going too far about it.

 

I have enough social anxieties and find dealing with the outside world enough of a challenge at the best of times.

Maybe have a word with her and sort something out where you allow her to park there in return for a small fee?

You can relax knowing only she will park there,get a takeaway once a week or similar and she can brag about her private parking spot at the local Mumsnet meet...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^^^^ really? Sounds like the worst idea ever to me. Why would you want to have an ongoing relationship with this person for like £2/week. Come on!

[Junkman]

I'm on a fucking train to that Lundun.

 

Nuff sed?

[Zelandeth]

I'm on a fucking train to that Lundun.

 

Nuff sed?

 

Oh there are worse places.  Luton immediately springs to mind...Can't say I've seen many redeeming qualities in Leicester - though I may just be biased because that's where my dentist is and that's the only reason I'm ever up there...so my brain just associates the place with pain.

 

Granted, 99% of the time I'm heading into London it's to meet up with a bunch of folks who never fail to make me smile, so I associate the place with happy memories.

 

London's an interesting city and one I don't mind visiting.  Wouldn't want to live there though.  Or drive there - I flat out refuse to drive anywhere inside the M25.  Just not worth the stress when there's a train every 15 minutes from here and when public transport around the city works as well as it does in London.

[Parky]

Job interview tomorrow. A friend told me he had resigned from his role so I threw my hat in the ring and am seeing the boss tomorrow. Role hasn't been advertised so I might be able to secure it without the company having to go through the costs and expense of going public with it.

 

What I should be doing is revising, practicing answers, and prepping. Instead I used my morning to send out five more job applications, drink tea, and I am now watching Wheeler Dealers while eating a sandwich. And posting on here. Am starting to think that claiming I am diligent and organised might be a bit of a stretch....

[Datsuncog]

DAB radio... why? Whats worse is that I got a new one for xmas and it could be switched to FM so I took the older one to work which you can't and now all my fave toons are scrambled today.

 

I bought a Pure DAB radio in 2006. It was expensive, it was sleek, and everything sounded like a Dalek trapped in a wheelie bin calling for help using a bust walkie-talkie. Then it broke.

 

I bought another one last year for Radio 6 (Currys own-brand) and while it's marginally less awful it is still nowhere near the pure, perfect sound promised well over a decade ago.

 

I think I read an article once that basically stated the UK had backed the wrong horse with DAB. The rest of the world shopped around, considered their options and chose various digital formats but the UK govt threw their weight fully behind DAB early on, anticipating shutting down FM and selling off all that lovely waveband to private operators - but it never fucking worked right, and we've now been left with the digital equivalent of Betamax.

 

EDIT: that's not even fair on Betamax - I was trying to get across that we've ended up with a digital audio service that's been outclassed and left behind by other developments. I gather that Betamax offered far superior video recording and playback to VHS (as well as reliability); but VHS made videocassettes of more than an hour possible, which was all that mattered when the home movie rental market took off in the early '80s.