The grumpy thread

[Zelandeth]

3 hours ago, Remspoor said:

Just been uploaded. Tips on how to tackle the resealing.

 

Same here sadly...You just cannot get tradesmen in around here for love nor money unless it's a dead simple in-and-out job they can just charge a fixed (most likely vastly inflated) price for to throw something straight out of a box from B&Q in and move on to the next one.

I have never in my life been anywhere that it seems to be so hard to give people my money as the Midlands.

The only one we've had any joy with was the mob we had in to deal with the bamboo infestation in the back garden...though they were a commercial lot who generally don't deal with the general public and I think we only really got them to play ball because most businesses premises were closed due to lockdown 1.0 when we had them in.  Cost us nearly eight grand mind you and left the back garden looking like a brownfield industrial site, but at least they arrived when they said they would, did the job they said they would and have actually followed up as they said they would.

Have I been able to get anyone in to service the boiler since we moved in here in 2014?  Nope.  I just gave up when we got into double digits failing to turn up to appointments.  When it eventually dies I imagine we're going to be utterly screwed as I bloody well can't fit a new one myself.

Have I been able to get anyone in to sort the conservatory roof?  Nope.  We did actually nearly get there with someone from on here, however then Covid happened instead and that went out the window.

Could I get anyone in to sort the shower (knackered valve) in the en suite?  Nope.  After nearly a year of kicking people for quotes we eventually got one guy to say that it was impossible to change just the parts in question, but they'd "do us a favour" and change the whole valve body for a grand...but we'd need to get someone else in to redo the tiling they would need to smash out.  I eventually sorted it for about £100 of parts and an hour of time.  Had to use an online parts finder though as none of the wholesalers would even *try* to ID the parts for us.

Can we get anyone in to sort the driveway and brownfield site that used to be the back garden?  Nope.  Had one guy turn up out of probably 50 requests for quotes sent out...They turned up, looked around for two minutes, sucked air through their teeth (WHY do they all do that?!?) and gave us the "It's a big job mate..." spiel - no shit Sherlock, that's why I'm looking for quotes to get it done...Then told us that for the budget we had in mind (which they wouldn't give us any information before we told them) that they could sort one bit of path that we hadn't even mentioned to them and half the driveway, not even touching anything we'd stated up front were our priorities.

 

Has just helped cement our decision as a family that we have zero interest in staying in this area long term and want to move north.

...Unfortunately before we can do that we'd need to get the house into a saleable state.  Which means we need to get all of the above issues sorted!  Ugh...

  

9 hours ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Why the fuck did I book the tip at 0930 on a fucking Sunday?  Thank you past me, now I  have to get up...

Well on the plus side, at least you didn't do what I did a few weeks ago and book an appointment first thing in the morning on a day when the tip wasn't even open.  Also...Thank you Milton Keynes Council for having such a wonderfully well coded website that it lets you do that.  Ten out of ten for attention to detail.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

@Zelandeth Yeah.  Half-emptying the shed, used engine oil, garden clippings and numerous boxes, shoving it in the car and then driving back with it to unload again might have resulted in some kind of psychotic episode...

[MikeR]

Just now, GrumpiusMaximus said:

@Zelandeth Yeah.  Half-emptying the shed, used engine oil, garden clippings and numerous boxes, shoving it in the car and then driving back with it to unload it again might have resulted in some kind of psychotic episode...

would not be the first time my car has been driven around with a pile of shit in it for a few days , ment to drop it off on the way to work but there was a F in big Q for the tip , car parked up for a few days at work to simmer in the sun , drop it off on the way home ,,  gag gag gag

[plumbertony]

1 hour ago, MikeR said:

2 L of Tesco oi; has gone back up to 13 squids from 6.5 spondolies .

thankfully I bought a few beforehand ...

and still on the hunt for the dam water hammer in our house , nothing is loose , just had the washing machine out and checked behind that .

all pipes seem secure , but the bog still makes them bang when the ballcock closes ...

but not every time !!! 

might just fit another ballcock , one that drips and drips till its full , it can keep me company in the morning when I go ..

 

Think you have found your problem 😃

Worn washers in taps and float valves can cause all kind of hammer problems, could be as simple as a washer but a new valve is not a bad call.

[Unlucky Alf]

On 9/4/2021 at 10:14 AM, Chas4545 said:

Remember the days when pretty much all lorry drivers were knights of the road??

I get that its a shit job, stressful and all that, but so is being a nurse and they don't  drive many tons of metal 6 inches from your bumper on a two lane road , bullying you along until you are scared for your life.

Phill Preece haulage of Hereford needs to have a word with  the driver of  PE70 PRE  , on the A44 4th Sep  at 09.30 heading towards Leominster near Docklow.  This  driver needs help before he kills someone. The film is winging its way to H.M. Constabulary  because  I have now witnessed this loony 4 times and been his target twice, all on film and all while I was  doing the posted limit.   His yesterdays vital emergency destination?  Getting some fuel.....

Does anyone know where Phill Preece haulage operate from??

They keep a very low profile .

Meanwhile, a big personal thankyou to all those HGV drivers who prioritise other road users safety . Sincerely Thankyou.

I wonder if it’s the same complete moron that was driving a lorry on Saturday Morning through the Northampton section of the M1 - 50mph limit section. 
Watched the person drive inches in their (non articulated) lorry behind two separate vehicles in lane 2 - then overtake and swerve deliberately and aggressively into the side of the vehicle forcing them into the another lane.  It was a most deliberate act, and I watched it happen first in my mirrors from lane 1 and then again, infront of me.

 

hah! My Dashcam footage off to the old bill, for them to decide what to do ( I believe  this idiot needs their licence removing).  no matter how frustrated they may be with middle lane Hoggers…using a heavy goods vehicle to drive into someone deliberately…is bloody outrageous.

 

Except my sodding dashcam has died and recorded only odd bits of the journey.   <ARGHHHHHhH!>. That’s what this grump is actually about!

[maxxo]

don't even know if i should be this fuming

but let me tell you, i'm fuming

so theres this lad at work, somehow a shift manager (despite being a proper chav, really dodgy and a downright prick as well as unreliable)

he told me at 7pm on friday night he forgot his keys to the shop so he would pop home to get them

not happy about that

closed the shop as there has to be at least 2 of us

people properly kicking off

ended up standing outside and talking to the customers about this situation

oh he was over an hour too

and then he was a cocky little shit when he got back

oh i'm pissed let me tell you

very very likely to hand in my notice very shortly

[Zelandeth]

4 minutes ago, Unlucky Alf said:

I wonder if it’s the same complete moron that was driving a lorry on Saturday Morning through the Northampton section of the M1 - 50mph limit section. 
Watched the person drive inches in their (non articulated) lorry behind two separate vehicles in lane 2 - then overtake and swerve deliberately and aggressively into the side of the vehicle forcing them into the another lane.  It was a most deliberate act, and I watched it happen first in my mirrors from lane 1 and then again, infront of me.

 

hah! My Dashcam footage off to the old bill, for them to decide what to do ( I believe  this idiot needs their licence removing).  no matter how frustrated they may be with middle lane Hoggers…using a heavy goods vehicle to drive into someone deliberately…is bloody outrageous.

 

Except my sodding dashcam has died and recorded only odd bits of the journey.   <ARGHHHHHhH!>. That’s what this grump is actually about!

Had someone like this a few months back, I was in lane 1 doing 50 through roadworks in a 50mph average speed limit stretch.  Traffic was pretty quiet and there was no width restrictions on lane 2, so there was nothing to stop him just overtaking.

He spent a good ten minutes sitting inches off my dear bumper, then when that didn't work started flashing his headlights at me.  Then left them (and all the spotlights) on main beam and then spent the next five minutes leaning on the horn.

Eventually he actually moved out and overtook me - nearly running me off the road when he pulled back in.

About 300 yards from the end of the roadworks and the 50mph stretch.

No I'm not proud of it, but yes, he did get the finger out the sunroof when I overtook him again at that point.

Eddie Stobart wagon, so I'd assume there was onboard video.  Yes I did report it to them, sadly nothing to send to the bill as the car doesn't have a dash cam fitted yet...though wouldn't show much anyway as 99% of the nonsense was behind me.

[Agila]

The problem with hgv tailgating has a lot to do with the speedo.

A car reading 50mph is doing about 47mph in general. The hgv is showing 50mph and actually doing that.

Some hgv driver's are proper pricks unfortunately. I'm class 1 myself and don't get involved in that nonsense. I've really no idea why some are literally 2ft from a bumper.

It puts us all in a bad light and so does elephant racing and all the other stuff some do.

As for Stobart, they aren't the best in the industry(understatement) despite what the TV shows may want you to believe.

 

[155V6]

9 minutes ago, Agila said:

The problem with hgv tailgating has a lot to do with the speedo.

A car reading 50mph is doing about 47mph in general. The hgv is showing 50mph and actually doing that.

Some hgv driver's are proper pricks unfortunately. I'm class 1 myself and don't get involved in that nonsense. I've really no idea why some are literally 2ft from a bumper.

It puts us all in a bad light and so does elephant racing and all the other stuff some do.

As for Stobart, they aren't the best in the industry(understatement) despite what the TV shows may want you to believe.

 

That makes a lot of sense.I drive a van & spend a lot of time on motorways.I see HGVs on the back of cars quite a lot & it looks quite scary.But then I think to myself "why would you drive your car at 55 mph on the motorway,why not just stick to b roads?"

My pet hate at the moment is people in cars who slow down for their motorway exit as soon as the 1 mile markers come up,making everyone else slow down for no reason.It's not like you have to make a sharp turn to come off the motorway is it?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, 155V6 said:

....It's not like you have to make a sharp turn to come off the motorway is it?

...unless you're a Audi/BMW/Range Rover driver going from lane 3 or 4 to the exit slip at the last minute....

[dozeydustman]

Just got to bed and the duty phone is now ringing.

it’s gone 8pm at least I can claim double time and two-thirds while I’m sitting in my van waiting for a plumber to fix a public bog.

[captain_70s]

10 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

...unless you're a Audi/BMW/Range Rover driver going from lane 3 or 4 to the exit slip at the last minute....

They're not going slowly though, they're doing 120 and left foot braking their way through their suicide move onto the exit slip.

I saw a van make a dive last week from lane 3 and come to an almost complete stop across the chevrons trying to turn on to the exit slip at about 90 degrees. Madness.

[Low Horatio gearbox]

The lock on my backdoor failing and jamming thisafternoon. A delightful 4 hours getting it unjammed, open and trying to fix it (shoddy design 1 side is screwed together with tiny screws the other half just press  fit) a sterling 6 weeks  service from new 😒

[Lankytim]

On 9/5/2021 at 8:58 PM, Agila said:

 

As for Stobart, they aren't the best in the industry(understatement) despite what the TV shows may want you to believe.

 

I used to work for them and out of all the large operators they're by far the worst for drivers. Non-stop roll overs, bridge strikes, collisions with members of the public etc. 

[Leyland Worldmaster]

On 9/5/2021 at 8:58 PM, Agila said:

The problem with hgv tailgating has a lot to do with the speedo.

A car reading 50mph is doing about 47mph in general. The hgv is showing 50mph and actually doing that.

Some hgv driver's are proper pricks unfortunately. I'm class 1 myself and don't get involved in that nonsense. I've really no idea why some are literally 2ft from a bumper.

It puts us all in a bad light and so does elephant racing and all the other stuff some do.

As for Stobart, they aren't the best in the industry(understatement) despite what the TV shows may want you to believe.

 

I'm all for balance and stuff. Most LGV Drivers are cool. Like many here, I admire the skills needed to thread a big rig through our overcrowded and creaking infrastructure. 

I wasn't so impressed when I was tailgated by a well known local recovery company with a penchant for American lorries. If I had Video Evidence, it would have shown one of their finest* drivers* tailgating me. In a 50mph section of the M25 that was reduced to two lanes. I was in the inside lane. 

In the end, I was passed in the outside lane. This happened some years ago when I used to fimish working at about 01:35...

I did call the operator. Oddly enough there was no recollection of this vehicle in that area at the time... 

As has already been said, the few spoil it for the many. Not to mention snobby toff cunts who like to look down at everyone else. 

[Rocket88]

Tortoise racing boils my piss…I just used to back off a bit and let someone by……

[155V6]

My Mum has been in hospital since Friday,after collapsing in town.She has a low heartbeat,they've been monitoring her & it looks like she may need a pacemaker.

We've been sharing looking after my Dad who has limited mobility,& walking their dog who is too much for them now.

This morning while I was loading my van at work,I misjudged the height when I got out of the back.I twisted my ankle which is now very painful & swelling up.

I managed to drive home,braking hurt a bit & climbing the two flights of stairs to my flat took a lot longer than usual.

I'm now lying on the sofa feeling totally useless & hoping I can get back to normal before my Mum comes home 🙁

[mercedade]

FFS

The CLK has the worst kind of electrical fault - a randomly occurring, intermittent cut out that I can't replicate or force, and doesn't appear to have any specific conditions associated with it.

I noticed a few weeks ago that it wouldn't always start when I got in it. The full selection of dashlights would light up when they key is in position 2, but turn it and absolutely nothing would happen. The dash lights would all go out except the SRS light. If I locked the car and then unlocked it, it seemed to work normally. I think at the time I convinced myself that it was an immobiliser.

Then was I driving a few days ago, doing a steady 30 mph, when it just totally, electrically died (apart from the radio and the dashlights). Just like someone had turned it off. I coasted for about 3 seconds, trying to signal that I was pulling over - but didn't even have any indicators. Hazards still worked. Whilst coasting, in gear, I didn't do anything - it just sprang back to life. Drove on as if nothing had happened.

Didn't happen again for a few days, then it happened yesterday. Only this time, it didn't restart. Coasted to a stop (same electrical systems - radio fine, hazards fine, everything else dead). Tried locking and unlocking the car, tried wiggling/shuffling through P/N/R/D, tried removing the key and retrying - but nothing. Sometimes I would get no dashlights at all except the SRS light, sometimes I would get all the lights as normal, but no start. The roof was down - which meant I looked PRETTY FUCKING COOL - and I thought I could hear the fuel pump running the times when the dashlights illuminated. Then, after about 90 seconds or so (which is a really long time) it just randomly started again.

Battery voltage is mega healthy, and the car - once it agrees to crank - starts beautifully. No struggles to fire or anything.

I hate random electrical faults.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

32 minutes ago, mercedade said:

FFS

The CLK has the worst kind of electrical fault - a randomly occurring, intermittent cut out that I can't replicate or force, and doesn't appear to have any specific conditions associated with it.....

Bad earth / contact somewhere? But if so, where?

[Dan the van]

1 hour ago, mercedade said:

FFS

The CLK has the worst kind of electrical fault - a randomly occurring, intermittent cut out that I can't replicate or force, and doesn't appear to have any specific conditions associated with it.

I noticed a few weeks ago that it wouldn't always start when I got in it. The full selection of dashlights would light up when they key is in position 2, but turn it and absolutely nothing would happen. The dash lights would all go out except the SRS light. If I locked the car and then unlocked it, it seemed to work normally. I think at the time I convinced myself that it was an immobiliser.

Then was I driving a few days ago, doing a steady 30 mph, when it just totally, electrically died (apart from the radio and the dashlights). Just like someone had turned it off. I coasted for about 3 seconds, trying to signal that I was pulling over - but didn't even have any indicators. Hazards still worked. Whilst coasting, in gear, I didn't do anything - it just sprang back to life. Drove on as if nothing had happened.

Didn't happen again for a few days, then it happened yesterday. Only this time, it didn't restart. Coasted to a stop (same electrical systems - radio fine, hazards fine, everything else dead). Tried locking and unlocking the car, tried wiggling/shuffling through P/N/R/D, tried removing the key and retrying - but nothing. Sometimes I would get no dashlights at all except the SRS light, sometimes I would get all the lights as normal, but no start. The roof was down - which meant I looked PRETTY FUCKING COOL - and I thought I could hear the fuel pump running the times when the dashlights illuminated. Then, after about 90 seconds or so (which is a really long time) it just randomly started again.

Battery voltage is mega healthy, and the car - once it agrees to crank - starts beautifully. No struggles to fire or anything.

I hate random electrical faults.

First signs of the Electronic Ignition Switch failing I fear.It controls all the cars systems and when it eventually goes it won't even unlock the column making it a bit*difficult to move.My E class did this and is still mouldering in a corner of the yard.

[artdjones]

14 hours ago, Lankytim said:

I used to work for them and out of all the large operators they're by far the worst for drivers. Non-stop roll overs, bridge strikes, collisions with members of the public etc. 

Do they still have to keep their tie on at all times?

[mercedade]

1 hour ago, Dan the van said:

First signs of the Electronic Ignition Switch failing I fear.It controls all the cars systems and when it eventually goes it won't even unlock the column making it a bit*difficult to move.My E class did this and is still mouldering in a corner of the yard.

I reject this answer and demand you come up with a more palatable one immediately.

[Dan the van]

Sorry,ok,check your key battery is ok.Does the little tiny light come on when you press a button?.If so change battery.EIS can be refurbed for<200 quid I've been told.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

31 minutes ago, mercedade said:

I reject this answer and demand you come up with a more palatable cheaper one immediately.

EFA

[mercedade]

1 hour ago, Dan the van said:

Sorry,ok,check your key battery is ok.Does the little tiny light come on when you press a button?.If so change battery.EIS can be refurbed for<200 quid I've been told.

This has (genuinely) been instructive. As soon as I can definitively confirm that the EIS is toast, I can send it off for (seemingly) sub £180.

I mean, still OUCH, but only the price of, say, tyres, rather than a whole new exhaust.

[Dan the van]

A few years ago refurb wasn't an option,£450 from Merc,coded at the factory then 90mins on Star for data transfer.Not an economical repair on my rusty E320.Btw,if the EIS starts clicking but not unlocking the column,even just a couple of times,that's pretty much conclusive.

[Lankytim]

6 hours ago, artdjones said:

Do they still have to keep their tie on at all times?

No, I don't think ties have been part of the uniform for decades now. 

[Spiny Norman]

Includes video:  https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/east-kilbride-lorry-crash-dramatic-21505504

The sheer vicious cuntery of some people never fails to amaze me. Don't know if this has hit the national news media but in East Kilbride last night some deranged fucker in a Stobart wagon tried knocking down a house while a family with kids were in it.

 

[Supernaut]

8 hours ago, Dan the van said:

First signs of the Electronic Ignition Switch failing I fear.It controls all the cars systems and when it eventually goes it won't even unlock the column making it a bit*difficult to move.My E class did this and is still mouldering in a corner of the yard.

Any other expensive maladies to look for on E-classes, such as air con issues?

[Minimad5]

12 hours ago, 155V6 said:

My Mum has been in hospital since Friday,after collapsing in town.She has a low heartbeat,they've been monitoring her & it looks like she may need a pacemaker.

We've been sharing looking after my Dad who has limited mobility,& walking their dog who is too much for them now.

This morning while I was loading my van at work,I misjudged the height when I got out of the back.I twisted my ankle which is now very painful & swelling up.

I managed to drive home,braking hurt a bit & climbing the two flights of stairs to my flat took a lot longer than usual.

I'm now lying on the sofa feeling totally useless & hoping I can get back to normal before my Mum comes home 🙁

Don't beat yourself up, these things unfortunately happen at the shittest times.

Get your foot / ankle looked at by the local A&E or walk in, get it mended and then you'll be able to get back to looking after folk, your health is important too.