The grumpy thread

[dollywobbler]

1 hour ago, vulgalour said:

You should overtake a cyclist when it is safe to do so.  NOT WHEN THERE'S ME COMING THE OTHER WAY YOU DODDERY OLD BASTARD.  Don't then try to correct the mistake by SWERVING BACK AT THE CYCLIST.  OMFG.

On the plus side, after doing an emergency stop to prevent a collision, the handbrake on the BX works lovely now.

Ah yes. I remember that brake improvement technique. The whole 'overtaking cyclists' thing is a pain though. No, putting your indicator on does not give you freedom to drive into oncoming traffic!

[vulgalour]

It's cute that you assumed he gave me the courtesy of an indicator.

Parky's recent misadventure has perhaps made me a little more wary than I would have been (I hope you get well soon!), I'm keenly aware of how badly I'd fair in even a low speed accident in the BX, and drive accordingly.

[155V6]

5 hours ago, 155V6 said:

Loaded the Transit up at work this morning.Left the yard,and had done about a mile.A message came up,Fuel Filter Blocked,followed by Engine Service Needed Now.It then went into limp mode for about half a mile & has now died.

Stuck at the side of the road waiting for recovery,I hadn't even got to the shop to get a coffee ☹

Mechanic came out & changed the fuel filter,but no joy.He said there was some swarf in the fuel,so not looking good.Recovery was ordered at about 1.00,was on the way but got re-directed to an accident by the Police.Still waiting.....

 

[Fumbler]

Spent about an hour trying to start a fire in the woodstove. I think I mixed the green wood I split two months ago with the stuff I did at the beginning of the year! I is prawn.

[High Jetter]

I haz kindling, coal, logs and a chimney. And an anniversary of the silverish variety. When we woz on hol in the sun, obs. Bruising may soon be apparent. Cos card not bought, yet.

[brownnova]

I feel so sorry for those kids ?

 

[Cord Fourteener]

Well done, you have done the right thing. If you have genuine concerns about the safety of the child you have done the right thing by the child. You don't have to admit to the family who did the reporting,

It can be difficult to intervene, no one wants to have to remove kids from the parents ideally, but if the kid is being abused we have a duo to speak up.

[rainagain]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

I feel so sorry for those kids ?

 

It really is terrible how some people treat their kids.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

This arrived a few minutes ago

The grump is that it's for 2 sheds and their contents that have become infested with rats, so far so bad. But one 6'x4' shed is packed floor to ceiling with bundles of magazines and brochures that I've been collecting since I was 9?.

Thats 46 years of my life, they're wrapped in polythene to keep any damp at bay so there's a slim chance some packs in the middle may be salvageable, we'll see...

Just off to Wilcos for some storage boxes just in case things like my complete 75 to 90 run of Ford Cars is OK or all the matching 70's Vauxhall, Chrysler and BL ones- I'm starting to upset myself now!

 

[Parky]

Went back to work yesterday. Probably a bit too soon.  Drove to Peterborough and did a meeting which was fine, drove back after.  However forgot I had a second meeting in Huntingdon so managed to rearrange that but surprised I did that, first time in 20 years....

Went to office, felt odd, bit weak, sweaty, etc.  Got through the day, made it home.

Last night another flare up.  Been awake all night in agony, but have been sick (a lot) this morning and feel a lot better.  Still feel like I have been trampled by a load of cows so fucked today off as I am still not quite right.  Thank god it’s the weekend.  Should have taken yesterday off and returned for an easy transition today instead.  Really need to start facing the fact I am 46 not 26 and because the steroids make me feel invincible, I really am not!

Repair place did an initial assessment of the car and it’s actually not as bad as first thought.  The impact missed the key structural stuff and it doesn’t appear to be out of whack (laser jig will confirm but the guys are confident it’s actually alright).  Estimate of £7000 repair and three weeks to do it.  Assessor amazed I was unhurt, everyone seems to be.  I bloody am!  They have been really fastidious and identified a couple of parking dink’s I didn’t know about so they are being attributed as part of the damage and sorted for free.  Nice one.

Am gradually letting it go as have been driving myself insane reliving it over and over and considering “what ifs?” and that sort of thing.  I can now see exactly how the guy lost it, and why he overcorrected so much.  Basically he slid on a wet manhole cover and as he corrected the road surface changed to a dry one as it went under an underpass - his tyres suddenly had grip on the dry road explaining how it snapped back so violently.  I didn’t think of that at the time.  Little things help me make sense of it.  Poor sod wasn’t expecting the car to spin, just did what comes naturally (dab of oppo) and after that he could have gone anywhere.  He had his kid in the car, it could have been a high speed head on with something else, or a rollover.  Two fucked cars, three unfucked humans, I think we will call that a win and draw a line under it now.

[Parky]

Can I also thank you all for your comments and sympathies, they all meant a lot at a very stressful time.  Just wanted you all to know it is thoroughly appreciated, every one of you.  

[Jazoli]

Thick people, my cousin asked me to find her a car, £500 max, must have service history and full mot with a warranty and be safe to run her kids 5 miles to school, oh and it MUST be a diesel, when I asked her why and she said it was because they were cheaper to run, when I pointed out that they may do better headline mpg but are a potential timebomb her eye's glazed over.

People are so blinkered that they don't realise a small petrol engine is far less hassle and just as economical for the 10 mile round trip, they have been brainwashed that a diesel costs less to run, my wife was the same, until I pointed out my 1.8 Avensis was the same cost per mile as her diesel Peugeot even though it did less mpg because diesel was 10p a litre more expensive. 

I politely declined and told her to ask someone else.

[Supernaut]

14 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Thick people, my cousin asked me to find her a car, £500 max, must have service history and full mot with a warranty and be safe to run her kids 5 miles to school, oh and it MUST be a diesel, when I asked her why and she said it was because they were cheaper to run, when I pointed out that they may do better headline mpg but are a potential timebomb her eye's glazed over.

People are so blinkered that they don't realise a small petrol engine is far less hassle and just as economical for the 10 mile round trip, they have been brainwashed that a diesel costs less to run, my wife was the same, until I pointed out my 1.8 Avensis was the same cost per mile as her diesel Peugeot even though it did less mpg because diesel was 10p a litre more expensive. 

I politely declined and told her to ask someone else.

[Parky]

29 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Thick people, my cousin asked me to find her a car, £500 max, must have service history and full mot with a warranty and be safe to run her kids 5 miles to school, oh and it MUST be a diesel, when I asked her why and she said it was because they were cheaper to run, when I pointed out that they may do better headline mpg but are a potential timebomb her eye's glazed over.

People are so blinkered that they don't realise a small petrol engine is far less hassle and just as economical for the 10 mile round trip, they have been brainwashed that a diesel costs less to run, my wife was the same, until I pointed out my 1.8 Avensis was the same cost per mile as her diesel Peugeot even though it did less mpg because diesel was 10p a litre more expensive. 

I politely declined and told her to ask someone else.

I was hell bent on buying a diesel Leon when I got mine in 2008 until I did the maths and realised I would need to do 30000 miles a year to justify the extra outlay.  Not an issue on a second hand but for £500 you are in 15 year old Astra and Focus territory with interstellar mileage as we all know.

Warranty? Service history?  Yeah, get someone else to find something as even if you did find a car that was a perfect fit you just know you will be responsible if a bulb blows six months down the track.  Well swerved

[Aston Martin]

Are you a boring bastard?

Do you have an anecdote about meeting Barry Chuckle or did you once chat to the postman of Brian Connelly?

Will you read out the phone book? 

Yes???

Then don't go on bastard popmaster.

 

"Can I have a quick hello? OK, my wife Maureen, Shiela, Mark and Paul. Tina and Greg, all the lads from The Red Bull darts team.... Alvin, Simon, Theodore. Mark 2, Pauline. If I don't mention Sarah Johnson she'll have me. My mum and dad, my kids Deborah and Terry and their partners John and Malcolm. The two grandkids Greta and Jessica. Everyone I work with at R.LB. Engineering here in Lowestoft... Oh and everyone else who knows me."

 

Nobody wants to know you, you fucking wank.

[Burnside]

Another week. Another bunch of car related misery.  The Punto that I previously mentioned. Is still at the garage awaiting the headgasket to be replaced. Which they can't do till next week. Can't afford to tax the Stilo instead as I'm skint, thanks to the Punto repair costs. An just to please me more. I've spent two miserable afternoons failing to get my Aunties BMW Mini to start. 

I'm suspecting a crank sensor which is a total bastard of a job. Which mean's it will have to go to a garage. An that's the last thing she needs at the minute.

So looks like I'll have to tow rope it back for her. Using my Dads van as there no breakdown cover. Joy.

Then my Brother had some idiot drive into the side of his Ford Focus this morning. 

I honest can't wait for this week to be over!

 

[myglaren]

Americans that don't know the difference between a wheel and a 'tire' ?

[dozeydustman]

6 minutes ago, myglaren said:

Americans that don't know the difference between a wheel and a 'tire' ?

Plenty of brits don't know either.  I've seen "4 wills with good tiers" before on Facebook marketplace.

And now the trackpad on my laptop has decided that it's getting constant 2-fingertip left swipes, so is trying to go back, back, back and so on through my browser.

[anonymous user]

21 minutes ago, dozeydustman said:

 

And now the trackpad on my laptop has decided that it's getting constant 2-fingertip left swipes, so is trying to go back, back, back and so on through my browser.

Ruining your chances on Tinder?

[dozeydustman]

43 minutes ago, anonymous user said:

Ruining your chances on Tinder?

Those days are well and truly over with

[xtriple]

For this one post only, I am renaming the thread : 'Things that make yur heart skip a beat'.

Last night I took the dogs out for a wee and parked behing my Merc was my wifes Colt.

It was a proper nono-second while my brain computed that I last saw my wife or her car 6 years ago and so have a proper look. It wasnt her car. I know, cool story bro and all that but it really did make me go all unnecessary for a moment or two.

It's still about today so it could be my friends new car which will be a tad weird. But it has reminded me what cool little cars those late mdels Colts are, I quite fanc one to be honest, wonder what they are worth these days. I think my wife spent about twelve or thirteen thousand new?

[Angrydicky]

Another bad driving rant. No, putting stupid "Child on board" and "Grandad's taxi" signs in the back of your pointless SUV does not make it ok for you to pull out from a side road, in front of me when I'm doing 40 in a 40 zone, causing me to brake sharply, then proceed to dawdle along at 30 you stupid old bastard.

[Supernaut]

I witnessed a doddery beige micra hold up a dump truck earlier. They were utterly oblivious.

Luckily the dump truck turned and I got an overtaking opportunity shortly after.

[Cord Fourteener]

8 hours ago, Parky said:

Can I also thank you all for your comments and sympathies, they all meant a lot at a very stressful time.  Just wanted you all to know it is thoroughly appreciated, every one of you.  

It's been fascinating reading about your experiences post-crash, thank you for sharing. 

[Kiltox]

Halfords/Yuasa batteries can get in the sea. Massive, expensive one from my van is dead after about 18 months. Took it back today and they won’t do anything until they charge it (aparrently going to do so tonight) and test it. 

Sounds like the 5 year warranty isn’t worth the paper and they’re going to say “it’s fucked m8 but it’s not our fault”. 

[chaseracer]

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/9/enacted

[Andyrew]

As long As you remind them that you DO loads of miles daily and long trips it should be fine.

It's battery season now too,  so months of people getting shirty because we won't fit a battery (as a free favour if we can) in the pissing rain or snow. 

 

[xtriple]

Does anyone else get days where/when they are convincd their car is falling to bits? I do and today was one of them - not as fast as usual, rattle from the roof, decided to panic a bit more so put the temp gauge up on the screen and then spent the rest of the day wondering/worrying if it had moved, was to high in the first place (about 92-93 degrees, is that okay?) oh yes and it's got a dent that I can see, but it's not there really and I can't see it if I look for it. Sort of an imaginary dent/Shrodingers dent if you will.

Oh yes and I feel guilty if I press the throttle to far as that is abusing the thing and could damage it. When I pressed the brakes did I feel a wobble? I put the 'box in sport mode and I swear it slurred a gearchange....

I have been outside in the pouring rain three times trying to catch a glimpse of Shrodingers dent, it isn't there so someone must have let the bloody cat out...

[richardmorris]

13 minutes ago, xtriple said:

Does anyone else get days where/when they are convincd their car is falling to bits? I do and today was one of them - not as fast as usual, rattle from the roof, decided to panic a bit more so put the temp gauge up on the screen and then spent the rest of the day wondering/worrying if it had moved, was to high in the first place (about 92-93 degrees, is that okay?) oh yes and it's got a dent that I can see, but it's not there really and I can't see it if I look for it. Sort of an imaginary dent/Shrodingers dent if you will.

Oh yes and I feel guilty if I press the throttle to far as that is abusing the thing and could damage it. When I pressed the brakes did I feel a wobble? I put the 'box in sport mode and I swear it slurred a gearchange....

I have been outside in the pouring rain three times trying to catch a glimpse of Shrodingers dent, it isn't there so someone must have let the bloody cat out...

 

All the time

what’s that clunck? Is that a new rattle? Are the brakes squealing worse? Is that the right temperature? Where the hell is that water coming from?

[Supernaut]

I drove 200 fucking miles today after swapping the rocker cover gasket and the radiator yesterday! Imagine how I felt!

 

 

...yeah, didn't give a shit. It still works.