The grumpy thread

[anonymous user]

Petrol prices will vary also depending on the quantity that you buy. When my father was selling it years ago the refinery was less than three miles away, but because we had small tanks never bought that big a load. It used to cost us as much per gallon as the supermarket in town was selling it for. This meant that even though our price was slightly higher we probably made pennies in profit, if that, especially when you consider the additional insurance premiums for having the petrol on the premises. We did have customers, mostly who had monthly accounts, they were also the ones who expected a 24 hour service and would come and knock the door of the house if we were shut at night or on a Sunday.  My brother no longer sells fuel, but does have his own diesel tank for his own vehicles.

[Cavcraft]

3 hours ago, Kiltox said:

“Distress buying” tyres is such bullshit. They always try to rape you because you need to get moving again  

i10 had a puncture, went to National who I often use for tyres, oil changes etc. 

£65 for a 14” ditch finder?? Fuck off. Dropped to £49 quite quickly when I said to put the spare on so I could go elsewhere. Still overpriced. 

 

Honestly don't know how National are still going. The prices they quoted a year or so ago for a Mini (tyres and manifold, iirc) were just eye watering. Assume they've 'done a BP' and just left places where there isn't much opposition so can sort of charge what they like.

[Angrydicky]

Old giffer opposite my parents has scrapped his immaculate, 50k from new and the most perfect mot history I've ever seen, Mk2 Mondeo GLX estate. Yeah, I know its not the most exciting car ever but that's annoyed me as it seems like such a waste. I knew he didn't use it anymore, just noticed it missing from the driveway and DVLA say no record. RIP

[Zelandeth]

Where the heck have they hidden filters etc in YouTube these days?!?

There used to be an obvious way to apply anti shake filters and the like to uploaded videos... I'm absolutely at a loss as to where they are now.  Have they gone?  Or am I just blind...

 

[New POD]

11 hours ago, MikeR said:

Petrol.   ... I can buy shell near work for same price as the tesco shite near home .....  

How do they come up with regonial prices ?

Tesco in Litherland, Bootle. Is 3p cheaper than Tesco in Formby. Which is 4p cheaper than M&S\BP in Formby.  

Bootle ? Average house price £90k 

Formby ? £400k 

Is petrol price and affluence linked at all ? 

[Kiltox]

11 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

Honestly don't know how National are still going. The prices they quoted a year or so ago for a Mini (tyres and manifold, iirc) were just eye watering. Assume they've 'done a BP' and just left places where there isn't much opposition so can sort of charge what they like.

 

For tyres they can be very competitive if you order online. 2 day lead time of course. 

 

[clayts450]

WIth local banks closing left right and centre, why do they make it so damned hard to pay money in ? As I noted yday, I received a rather comically large cheque coz PPI.

TSB boast you can pay in at the Post Office but to do so the Post Office advise you need a pre-printed paying-in slip. Which of course, I don't have.

This hilarious Tweet by someone else rather neatly sums it up...

So I had to drag my sorry arse into Nottingham. On a Saturday afternoon. Where I had one car park entry fail due to stupidity on my part, then ended up miles away in the Victoria Centre which is currently being renovated and is almost impossible to escape from if you miss one turning. Which of course, I did.

The actual transaction in the branch itself was painless. Whilst in Nottingham, I thought I'd hit Primark, as I needed some short sleeved shirts for work. Jeez, that place is like a fucking jumble sale, and the people who frequent it are the rudest gannet-like sheep I have ever witnessed. Could I find short-sleeved shirts ? Nope. Ah well, nice pair of jeans for a tenner. They'll do. Where do I pay ? Fuck that, queue about a mile long round the store. I know, I'll go to Fopp and have an hour in there. Except the last time I went there it was in Queen Street. Long closed. Gave up and went home, and returned to my normality with a brake bleeding sesh on the 420.

TL:DR Town centres are for suckers - stay away. And banks that don't make it easy to pay money in can fuck off as well.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Feckin' alternator dead on CX, and new battery flatter than Flat Earth Society's credibility. Waiting now for AA Relay to truck the car home to London from this layby on eastbound A40 between Longford and Innsworth. Still, grand day out at CX Technical Day in Forest of Dean. At least 10 CXs turned up; never seen that many together before!

[myglaren]

3 hours ago, clayts450 said:

WIth local banks closing left right and centre, why do they make it so damned hard to pay money in ? As I noted yday, I received a rather comically large cheque coz PPI.

TSB boast you can pay in at the Post Office but to do so the Post Office advise you need a pre-printed paying-in slip. Which of course, I don't have.

This hilarious Tweet by someone else rather neatly sums it up...

So I had to drag my sorry arse into Nottingham. On a Saturday afternoon. Where I had one car park entry fail due to stupidity on my part, then ended up miles away in the Victoria Centre which is currently being renovated and is almost impossible to escape from if you miss one turning. Which of course, I did.

The actual transaction in the branch itself was painless. Whilst in Nottingham, I thought I'd hit Primark, as I needed some short sleeved shirts for work. Jeez, that place is like a fucking jumble sale, and the people who frequent it are the rudest gannet-like sheep I have ever witnessed. Could I find short-sleeved shirts ? Nope. Ah well, nice pair of jeans for a tenner. They'll do. Where do I pay ? Fuck that, queue about a mile long round the store. I know, I'll go to Fopp and have an hour in there. Except the last time I went there it was in Queen Street. Long closed. Gave up and went home, and returned to my normality with a brake bleeding sesh on the 420.

TL:DR Town centres are for suckers - stay away. And banks that don't make it easy to pay money in can fuck off as well.

I'm astounded that they didn't just pay the money into your account directly.

[myglaren]

1 hour ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Feckin' alternator dead on CX, and new battery flatter than Flat Earth Society's credibility. Waiting now for AA Relay to truck the car home to London from this layby on eastbound A40 between Longford and Innsworth. Still, grand day out at CX Technical Day in Forest of Dean. At least 10 CXs turned up; never seen that many together before!

Liked for the CX's, not the breakdown.

I wish I dared buy one!

[Tadhg Tiogar]

6 minutes ago, myglaren said:

Liked for the CX's, not the breakdown.

I wish I dared buy one!

Go on and do it. One thing is certain: sure ye'll never be short of entertainment.…...

[Kiltox]

3 hours ago, clayts450 said:

WIth local banks closing left right and centre, why do they make it so damned hard to pay money in ? As I noted yday, I received a rather comically large cheque coz PPI.

TSB boast you can pay in at the Post Office but to do so the Post Office advise you need a pre-printed paying-in slip. Which of course, I don't have.

This hilarious Tweet by someone else rather neatly sums it up...

So I had to drag my sorry arse into Nottingham. On a Saturday afternoon. Where I had one car park entry fail due to stupidity on my part, then ended up miles away in the Victoria Centre which is currently being renovated and is almost impossible to escape from if you miss one turning. Which of course, I did.

The actual transaction in the branch itself was painless. Whilst in Nottingham, I thought I'd hit Primark, as I needed some short sleeved shirts for work. Jeez, that place is like a fucking jumble sale, and the people who frequent it are the rudest gannet-like sheep I have ever witnessed. Could I find short-sleeved shirts ? Nope. Ah well, nice pair of jeans for a tenner. They'll do. Where do I pay ? Fuck that, queue about a mile long round the store. I know, I'll go to Fopp and have an hour in there. Except the last time I went there it was in Queen Street. Long closed. Gave up and went home, and returned to my normality with a brake bleeding sesh on the 420.

TL:DR Town centres are for suckers - stay away. And banks that don't make it easy to pay money in can fuck off as well.

Halifax (and probably also the other LBG brands) do online cheque deposits - it has amount limits though. 

[clayts450]

1 hour ago, Kiltox said:

Halifax (and probably also the other LBG brands) do online cheque deposits - it has amount limits though. 

Think it's a £500 limit so wouldn't have worked for me (he boasted)

[Kiltox]

7 minutes ago, clayts450 said:

Think it's a £500 limit so wouldn't have worked for me (he boasted)

Aye nae bother billy big bollocks

(congrats though, fuck PPI)

[stonedagain]

3 hours ago, myglaren said:

I'm astounded that they didn't just pay the money into your account directly.

My ppi claim was paid to me by cheque. Mrs Stoned cashed an isa in a month ago, that was also paid by cheque.

[Inspector Morose]

3 hours ago, Nyphur said:

Is there a single thread left on here where I don't have to read about a fucking Invacar?

Meh, its just a fad this forum goes through and has ever been thus since the beginning. It was BXs once then 405s then Corsas etc etc etc. One day it’ll be Upton Snodsbury Basingstoke mk3s eventually when they become the “in” thing.

yeah, I don’t get it either but I’ll just hang around until the next in thing comes along to see if I get those. It will, eventually.

[brownnova]

49 minutes ago, FPB7 said:

Meh, its just a fad this forum goes through and has ever been thus since the beginning. It was BXs once then 405s then Corsas etc etc etc. One day it’ll be Upton Snodsbury Basingstoke mk3s eventually when they become the “in” thing.

yeah, I don’t get it either but I’ll just hang around until the next in thing comes along to see if I get those. It will, eventually.

Remember when it was Laguna IIs... 

This is better than then, but it could be better than it is! 

[Pillock]

Hang on a fucking minute, it's *never* been Corsas.

[The Moog]

Meh, its just a fad this forum goes through and has ever been thus since the beginning. It was BXs once then 405s then Corsas etc etc etc. One day it’ll be Upton Snodsbury Basingstoke mk3s eventually when they become the “in” thing.
yeah, I don’t get it either but I’ll just hang around until the next in thing comes along to see if I get those. It will, eventually.

I don't think it is a fad really, just one person who makes every post about them

[Zelandeth]

Further to my grumble about not being able to track down the antishake function in the YouTube video editor I actually properly investigated it this evening.

The reason I can't find it is that it's no longer there.  Great...the one feature I actually used on a few occasions is gone.  Looks like I'll be needing to hunt for video editing software then.  Oh joy.

[myglaren]

6 hours ago, stonedagain said:

My ppi claim was paid to me by cheque. Mrs Stoned cashed an isa in a month ago, that was also paid by cheque.

I suppose things have changed.  It is around fifteen years since I last had a cheque.

That would have been for about £55,000.  Posted to the bank.

Since then all payments have been electronic bank transfers.

[Cavcraft]

6 hours ago, Pillock said:

Hang on a fucking minute, it's *never* been Corsas.

Car park, 8.00 M8. Winner takes all.

[LightBulbFun]

11 hours ago, Nyphur said:

Is there a single thread left on here where I don't have to read about a fucking Invacar?

See registration plate

[dollywobbler]

6 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Further to my grumble about not being able to track down the antishake function in the YouTube video editor I actually properly investigated it this evening.

The reason I can't find it is that it's no longer there.  Great...the one feature I actually used on a few occasions is gone.  Looks like I'll be needing to hunt for video editing software then.  Oh joy.

To be fair, it was utterly crap. Made videos look like a transition used in the 1980s.

[shedenvy]

Yeah i'm sorry everyone, we nearly had the grumpy thread off the end of page 2.

My sister.

She's self employed /single /45 / renting / no kids - this isn't a dating ad, just context.

The nature of her work (home/pet/horse sitting) means she's often away from home.  We helped her find a new flat 15 mins up the road and she moved in November.  However she's spent a total of about 4 nights there since.  She's spent about 3 weeks with us though which means turfing out my eldest boy into his brothers room in bunk beds - no real hardship - and in general spending every waking second in her presence from 6am to 10pm if i'm not at work.  Now of course she's helping with the three kids and also when they're at school she's doing a bit of decorating and gardening.  But at the same time I and the wife need our space and alone time, and alone time with kids.  I understood that with a flat so close we'd see her more but not her actually move in for any free time she gets.  She's free for 3 weeks this time and I can't see any intention to stay any time in her own flat - infact she stated she's only go there to re-pack her car.  Last night she said 'I see this as a you scratch my back type of deal' - meaning she'd help with the kids and the house so that I can help her:

- Sort out an electronic version of invoicing her clients (excel)

- Some sort of quoting system for potential new clients

- help choose an account to earn her the best interest rate on some money she's accrued.

- help her make a decision about moving to France and getting a UK loan to buy a property circa €40K in Brittany where my Mum & Dad live.  This is the only option she'll ever have to 'own' a property

 

I should mention that i'm an Engineer and have no experience on any of the above.  I also had no idea that this 'deal' was coming my way and I certainly wouldn't have agreed to it.

 

Anyway all this is interspersed with silent / tactful ways to pass judgement on the way we live our lives (how clean the toilet is, how messy the house is, how often the bed linen is washed etc etc) along with her f***ing opinion on everything that me and the Missus have to make a decison on.  She's only doing decorating because she's decided that we need to sort it out, and so Sunday was spent in B&Q chosing paint etc and spending money on stuff I had no bloody plans on.  Basically i'm 34 and I plan on having the house finished when I retire.

 

I'm no martyr but the wife and I both work, and have three children under 8.  It's busy but we cope.  In the words of  that Steve Coogan character 'no one died'.

 

This is like having a second wife - only I don't really like this one.

 

Anyway, does anyone have any advice on how to tactfully say FO.  Or any free templates on how to invoice or prepare a quote for people - she only had about 6 clients a year so I guess quickbooks or similar wouldn't be practical.  Oh and her MS office subscription has run out so if anyone can point me to a cheaper version than £5.99 a month i'd also appreciate it.

[LightBulbFun]

I really wish I could help

but sadly im in a similar situation with my brother and his spouse having taken over most of the house and making mine and my mums life pretty damn miserable in that regard

I hope it helps that at least you know your not alone in this sort of issue

[myglaren]

What does she use MS Office for?

A free option is either Google Docs or Libre Office.

[BorniteIdentity]

1 hour ago, shedenvy said:

Yeah i'm sorry everyone, we nearly had the grumpy thread off the end of page 2.

My sister.

She's self employed /single /45 / renting / no kids - this isn't a dating ad, just context.

The nature of her work (home/pet/horse sitting) means she's often away from home.  We helped her find a new flat 15 mins up the road and she moved in November.  However she's spent a total of about 4 nights there since.  She's spent about 3 weeks with us though which means turfing out my eldest boy into his brothers room in bunk beds - no real hardship - and in general spending every waking second in her presence from 6am to 10pm if i'm not at work.  Now of course she's helping with the three kids and also when they're at school she's doing a bit of decorating and gardening.  But at the same time I and the wife need our space and alone time, and alone time with kids.  I understood that with a flat so close we'd see her more but not her actually move in for any free time she gets.  She's free for 3 weeks this time and I can't see any intention to stay any time in her own flat - infact she stated she's only go there to re-pack her car.  Last night she said 'I see this as a you scratch my back type of deal' - meaning she'd help with the kids and the house so that I can help her:

- Sort out an electronic version of invoicing her clients (excel)

- Some sort of quoting system for potential new clients

- help choose an account to earn her the best interest rate on some money she's accrued.

- help her make a decision about moving to France and getting a UK loan to buy a property circa €40K in Brittany where my Mum & Dad live.  This is the only option she'll ever have to 'own' a property

 

I should mention that i'm an Engineer and have no experience on any of the above.  I also had no idea that this 'deal' was coming my way and I certainly wouldn't have agreed to it.

 

Anyway all this is interspersed with silent / tactful ways to pass judgement on the way we live our lives (how clean the toilet is, how messy the house is, how often the bed linen is washed etc etc) along with her f***ing opinion on everything that me and the Missus have to make a decison on.  She's only doing decorating because she's decided that we need to sort it out, and so Sunday was spent in B&Q chosing paint etc and spending money on stuff I had no bloody plans on.  Basically i'm 34 and I plan on having the house finished when I retire.

 

I'm no martyr but the wife and I both work, and have three children under 8.  It's busy but we cope.  In the words of  that Steve Coogan character 'no one died'.

 

This is like having a second wife - only I don't really like this one.

 

Anyway, does anyone have any advice on how to tactfully say FO.  Or any free templates on how to invoice or prepare a quote for people - she only had about 6 clients a year so I guess quickbooks or similar wouldn't be practical.  Oh and her MS office subscription has run out so if anyone can point me to a cheaper version than £5.99 a month i'd also appreciate it.

You can buy office licences on eBay for under £10.

Why not ask someone here to write an automated FRO letter to her? It’ll save embarrassment and help her with her business. 

Jokes* aside, I tend to either be blunt or use humour to make that person feel a level of discomfort.

[shedenvy]

39 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

You can buy office licences on eBay for under £10.

 

Thanks for this - is it legit or what?  One cheap ad says 'This is NOT cheap key!!!  cheap key will expired after few weeks' 

That just makes me suspicious of every ad being 'cheap and expiring'

[shedenvy]

1 hour ago, myglaren said:

What does she use MS Office for?

A free option is either Google Docs or Libre Office.

A year or so back I gave her a basic excel template so that she could *easily quote for a new job.  The frame work was a series of questions which then gave a ball park figure of how much to charge per day and how much she'd be earning per Hr.  If the numbers weren't right then she could tell potential client to FRO or pay more.  Eg.  Client A:

How many days: 8

How many dogs:

How many chickens etc:

how many horses:  Kept inside or outside:

Are you responsible for security of the house:

Then you had a factor for each line item (eg. a cat is £12 a day, a horse inside is £40 a day)

Then that would give out a total for the job and a total for the £/hr.

 

It sounds simple and it was, but she had nothing and was pretty much guessing an amount to charge.  Sometimes she would charge expenses (mileage) to a job to bump up a total and sometimes we would find out she had broken her back for £2 an hr.  Either scenario didn't seem right to me and from my outsider perspective the Horsey community seems to have the grafters in the gutter and  the  aristocracy paying peanuts.