The grumpy thread

[Negative Creep]

I feel your pain about Vodafone, they're annoying as hell. I'm on PAYG and I noticed recently they have put texts up from 10p to 12p, doesn't sound like a lot but it adds up over the course of a £5 topup. However I have noticed their text packs still contain 70 texts for a fiver (even at the previous 10p it was 50 per top up). There is no point in me topping up with anything besides a text pack now, I still get my 50p per top up to bonus bank and I still get free weekend texts and calls as per a normal top up, so they've made little more on me. Well done Vodafone

 

 

Has anyone else found Vodafone 3g to be absolute shite lately? Although I have to say I've been on various contracts with them for about 10 years and never had a serious problem

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

eddy, I think Cypriot (as well as Greek) women are way overrated. The fact that they tend to spend a couple of hours in front of the mirror before going out to buy a packet of fags and a couple of steaks doesn't mean they actually look good.

 

Conversely, English women (at least the non-fat ones) tend to look alright but, more often than not, they either have the dress sense of an alcoholic male sociology professor from 1979 or mindlessly follow the latest celebrity fad and look all plastic and fake-tanned.

 

Personally, I'm a fan of the talent in the Czech and Slovak Republics! Of course, Venezuelans and Colombians also look GR9.

[jonathan_dyane]

Tapes are for WINNARS.

 

I removed the CD player from my 190, and fitted my old radio cassette from the 205, which was an excellent 'upgrade'.

 

The buttons were too small and of unnecessary number, and the screen was not only ridiculously bright and distracting in the dark, but it was a smug self satisfied bastard, which taunted me with shit like 'Welcome' when I turned it on, and 'Aiwa CD Tuner Demo' followed by a gloating 'Goodbye' when I turned the fucker off.

 

Anyone want it cheap?

[Rover414]

I feel your pain about Vodafone, they're annoying as hell. I'm on PAYG and I noticed recently they have put texts up from 10p to 12p, doesn't sound like a lot but it adds up over the course of a £5 topup. However I have noticed their text packs still contain 70 texts for a fiver (even at the previous 10p it was 50 per top up). There is no point in me topping up with anything besides a text pack now, I still get my 50p per top up to bonus bank and I still get free weekend texts and calls as per a normal top up, so they've made little more on me. Well done Vodafone

 

 

Has anyone else found Vodafone 3g to be absolute shite lately? Although I have to say I've been on various contracts with them for about 10 years and never had a serious problem

 

I've been with Vodafone PAYG for about 6 years or more now and never had any serious issues but in the past 6 months I've had issues sending texts where sometimes it would take hours to get through, over the past week this has been happening again, Vodafone blame my phone but using my O2 sim (which never gets used) to send a text sends right away, deflect the blame as they usually do though.

[Des]

Eastern European totty FTW. They are, as yet, unspoiled by decadent western values. In the past we had better, but no more. I live in Watford, used to be a horny tart centre of excellence, couldn't walk the high street without getting wood like the arse of a Moggie Traveller. No more. Near saturation of gnarly fat munters everywhere, whose vocabulary consists of the words 'basically,' 'like,' and 'course I'll have facking fries wiv it.' Lazy, greedy, miserable and zero self respect, a recipe for mingdom.

[RedSparrow]

Eastern European totty FTW. They are, as yet, unspoiled by decadent western values. In the past we had better, but no more. I live in Watford, used to be a horny tart centre of excellence, couldn't walk the high street without getting wood like the arse of a Moggie Traveller. No more. Near saturation of gnarly fat munters everywhere, whose vocabulary consists of the words 'basically,' 'like,' and 'course I'll have facking fries wiv it.' Lazy, greedy, miserable and zero self respect, a recipe for mingdom.

 

This x1000101

 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[eddyramrod]

It's like this, Ed. You either post some pics of your landlady or I am joining your CV chat room.

 

In order to join, you have to be approved by a Moderator, Norm. There will be no pics of Elena for the simple reason that I've never shot one! And since I'm asking her to rebuild the swimming pool, after negotiating 25% off the rent before we signed up, I don't think it's fair to ask her to pose too.

 

Cypriot women in general, Luxo? Maybe; I've seen enough that give dogs a bad name, but there are enough jewels too. You haven't seen Maria at the insurance office. Makes you want to go out and buy another car, just so you can watch her count your money!

 

Des, your assessment of Watford would stand equally well for most UK towns. Certainly the ones I've been in.

[ashmicro]

Eastern European totty FTW. They are, as yet, unspoiled by decadent western values. In the past we had better, but no more. I live in Watford, used to be a horny tart centre of excellence, couldn't walk the high street without getting wood like the arse of a Moggie Traveller. No more. Near saturation of gnarly fat munters everywhere, whose vocabulary consists of the words 'basically,' 'like,' and 'course I'll have facking fries wiv it.' Lazy, greedy, miserable and zero self respect, a recipe for mingdom.

 

 

While I'd agree that some Eastern European birds are hot stuff, I'd always have a nagging thought that the really fit ones might have a Russian-mafia type boyfriend/pimp who'd cut me into tiny pieces if I didn't give him 10 grand. Still, at least with my accent I'd have the option of pretending to be in the IRA.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Eastern European totty FTW. They are, as yet, unspoiled by decadent western values. In the past we had better, but no more. I live in Watford, used to be a horny tart centre of excellence, couldn't walk the high street without getting wood like the arse of a Moggie Traveller. No more. Near saturation of gnarly fat munters everywhere, whose vocabulary consists of the words 'basically,' 'like,' and 'course I'll have facking fries wiv it.' Lazy, greedy, miserable and zero self respect, a recipe for mingdom.

 

 

While I'd agree that some Eastern European birds are hot stuff, I'd always have a nagging thought that the really fit ones might have a Russian-mafia type boyfriend/pimp who'd cut me into tiny pieces if I didn't give him 10 grand. Still, at least with my accent I'd have the option of pretending to be in the IRA.

 

That's why you go to quaint places like Czech Republic and Poland. Russia, while very safe for the average visitor or resident, is a bit rough if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself up against the baddies.

[Guest]

Eastern European totty FTW. They are, as yet, unspoiled by decadent western values. In the past we had better, but no more. I live in Watford, used to be a horny tart centre of excellence, couldn't walk the high street without getting wood like the arse of a Moggie Traveller. No more. Near saturation of gnarly fat munters everywhere, whose vocabulary consists of the words 'basically,' 'like,' and 'course I'll have facking fries wiv it.' Lazy, greedy, miserable and zero self respect, a recipe for mingdom.

 

 

While I'd agree that some Eastern European birds are hot stuff, I'd always have a nagging thought that the really fit ones might have a Russian-mafia type boyfriend/pimp who'd cut me into tiny pieces if I didn't give him 10 grand. Still, at least with my accent I'd have the option of pretending to be in the IRA.

 

'Well, it is a very secretive organisation. We could be members and not know.'

 

[eddyramrod]

While I'd agree that some Eastern European birds are hot stuff, I'd always have a nagging thought that the really fit ones might have a Russian-mafia type boyfriend/pimp who'd cut me into tiny pieces if I didn't give him 10 grand. Still, at least with my accent I'd have the option of pretending to be in the IRA.

 

Guaranteed! However, as you say, at least you have an exit. Not all of us are so blessed...

[MrDuke]

Not sure quite what/who I'm moaning about here, but meh.

Despite always making disparaging remarks about my job, I actually could do a lot worse: I get on well with colleagues, there are no real tossers to deal with, and the work keeps you on your toes. Just over 3 months ago, I walked out of the office in the middle of the afternoon, telling them that I didn't feel well. I didn't tell them about the cold sweats, trembling hands, headrushes, violent mood swings, and inability to look at anyone's face. I haven't been back since.

I've had 'issues' for several years, and a long period of professional help left me fully dependant on some quite hard-core medication, which has done a good job of preventing me from behaving like a completely loose cannon. Unfortunately, it now seems that wasn't the answer, as I've spent most of the past 3 months sitting indoors like a cabbage. I can go shopping for short periods (as long as MrsDuke comes with me), I can meet up with one or two friends, but the thought of walking back into an office makes me feel physically sick. Just driving past the place puts a huge knot in my gut.

They'll keep me on full pay for another 3 months, then they can either halve the money or cut me loose. I have no real desire to spend the next few years 'on the sick', and that's not really an option anyway as MrsDuke has (other) major health issues too and can't work full-time. I'd happily attempt a job with minimal social contact, but have yet to find one that I'm qualified to do. I'm long past the point of giving a toss about the money.

I'll be waiting at least 6 months to see another specialist (the local health board is still trying to employ one), my GP doesn't believe I have any real problems anyway, and I'm trying not to picture spending the next few years as a fat, balding misfit stuck in his own house.

More than anything, I REALLY F**KING WANT a nice shiny piece of shite. That Yugo from the other week would do. Or NC's Bluey. But I can't spend money keeping 2 cars on the road when I don't know if I'll be earning anything by the new year.

Anyway, regardless of whether anyone reads my pathetic whinges, it actually feels better having written it down. So there.

 

 

tl:dr:

Apparently I'm a mentalist who can't handle working with people, and it's sh1t. Also, I want an interesting car. Bo11ocks and toss-biscuits.

[eddyramrod]

my GP doesn't believe I have any real problems anyway,

You need a new GP, immediately!

Apparently I'm a mentalist who can't handle working with people, and it's sh1t. Also, I want an interesting car.

Been there. I know how you feel; wouldn't presume to say "exactly" as we all have different issues, but it sounds like you've been lucky with work and wife, and unlucky with GP. I had it the other way round...

Patience is the key. You have to accept that some things will change without your input, and may happen quite slowly. Try not to worry (easier said, I know). Every day of survival is an achievement, remember that when you're going to bed. When you get up: hey look, you got through another night! Good work! I'm sure you can see how a week of that will be good for your self-esteem, and it'll make a difference to life in general.

If money isn't an issue, how about going after a driving job? It's poorly-paid and stressful, but mostly you'll be on your own, which might be a good thing. I know it was for me, quite a lot. You soon learn to laugh at yourself for shouting obscenities through the windscreen...

 

Good luck.

[Des]

More than anything, I REALLY F**KING WANT a nice shiny piece of shite

 

Bugger the GP, you've just prescribed your own medicine there.

 

I can relate to a fair bit of what your saying, I regularly have to 'check' myself and question whether I'm turning into some kind of an arsehole, (not saying that's what you are) but Jesus dogbuggering Christ you have to be some kind of a saint to not get seriously pissed off with the mouth breathing sub human trash that's polluted the country in recent years. I've wondered if I've grown impatient, intolerant or just bloody minded, but I haven't. Never in history has the patience of the right-minded been so tested. It's not possible to go more than an hour without something causing annoyance, it all builds up and gets you down, between loud twats inane jabbering into phones, ignorant morons getting in your way on roads, pavements, shops, everywhere. any and every dealing with any commercial concern, authorities, the police, the dvla, NHS, councils, chuggers, smelly dogbreath twunts who don't wash, etc. etc. it's like a never ending stream of insult your intelligence scamming corrupt thieving lying noisy stinking filthy bastards assulting your every sense from every direction.

 

Get that shiny shite, it's an emergency, concentrate on getting yourself better by treating it as you would an illness, that shiny shite is a distraction, a therapy and a cause and if you should wind up completely fixated with it at least you're in a better place. Old shite can throw up plenty of frustration, but here's where you can fix it and the brain is working the way it's wired to. Everyday frustration can't be fixed, backs up and leads to despair and rage.

That deal with the sick pay is good, but the time will pass in a flash, you do need to get back to work, this recession thing is a big scam and there's a whole load of nastiness to come, it's important to keep your head out of the noose as it's going to get real bad.

 

The barrage of shit we encounter in life dwells on our minds and needs displacing with thoughts of shite.

 

Might I suggest a Daf? Pure medicine.

[warren t claim]

^^Post of the summer, Des, post of the summer. In the running for post of the year...

 

I agree. This is the true state of our once proud nation.

[ashmicro]

I know (kinda) what you mean Mr. D. I used to work in a huge office complex, with about 1300 others, and I just couldn't stick it anymore. The bus I used to take to work did a kind of circuit between my house and the office, and one morning I just stayed on the bus and came back home. I am fortunate enough to have a job now with minimal social contact, and as few people understand what it is I do, I tend to be left to work on my own (I can do 60-80% of my job at home anyway).

 

So, as others have said, sack that current GP off, and take heed of Des' advice.

 

It will get better. Good luck Sir.

[Cheggers]

Fortunately (for me) I find it had to relate to what you're going through MrD, but can only admire the guts it must take to "come out" like that. I wish there was something I could say or do that would help you in some way, but I guess the fix lies in the same place as the problem. I'm not a regular contributor to the forum, but a long-time reader/ lurker and one of the most impressive things about this place is its ability to be unconditionally supportive & non-judgmental when it comes to the important stuff.

 

As has been said before, maybe the challenge of keeping an old nail on the road would be a welcome distraction. I also know that regular exercise can also lift the clouds a bit.

 

With you all the way

[Lord Sterling]

I can also kind of relate to what you are saying Mr D, I really understand whatyou ae sayig when you have knots just thinking about work. I would say you definiately need a second opinion, if not a thrid with regards to your troubles, not all GPs get it always right, so get out and see somone who understand you, sometimes it helps just to talk.

 

......you have to be some kind of a saint to not get seriously pissed off with the mouth breathing sub human trash that's polluted the country in recent years. I've wondered if I've grown impatient, intolerant or just bloody minded, but I haven't. Never in history has the patience of the right-minded been so tested. It's not possible to go more than an hour without something causing annoyance, it all builds up and gets you down, between loud twats inane jabbering into phones, ignorant morons getting in your way on roads, pavements, shops, everywhere. any and every dealing with any commercial concern, authorities, the police, the dvla, NHS, councils, chuggers, smelly dogbreath twunts who don't wash, etc. etc. it's like a never ending stream of insult your intelligence scamming corrupt thieving lying noisy stinking filthy bastards assulting your every sense from every direction.

 

I think all of this has made me rather intolerant of people over the past few years, seriously feel like I dont belong in this country anymore, I wonder what I am doing here sometimes. I guess theonly thing that keeps me going is knowing I have family abroad who are willing to help me out of my current position in life.

 

Mr Duke - I wish all best for you and hope you can get through this.

[Pete-M]

The grass is not greener on the other side. Sorry.

 

I've been on about moving to Czech for years now, but the language is a bloody killer and nobody in the rural bits speaks English. Lovely place, a bit similar to here in the 60's / 70's but with mobile phones and the interwebz. The rules and regulations though, fuxake, you think this country has problems? At least here it's easy to make money if you can be bothered getting off your fat arse and doing something.

 

As for the mouth-breathing gobshites that pollute and ruin the UK, I blame the do-gooder PC crowd from the '80s / '90s - they handed supreme power to those who least deserve it. Labour encouraged it for 13 years and now there's a whole generation who don't know any other way and who're immune to any kind of re-education. "Can't make me do that, I've got rights, what are you gonna do? I'll take you to court. I'm not doing that job, it's beneath me.".

 

Current government are doing the right thing and showing the little shits no mercy. Unfortunately the unions are fucking everything up again by wanting more for less.

 

My view? Go out there, keep your nose clean, take no prisoners, accept no excuses. Tell it like it is. If they don't like it, find someone who does.

[ashmicro]

I'd agree with that, Pete. Somehow, nothing is anyone's fault anymore. I'm not that old , but when I was a wayne we respected our teachers and the police. If I'd got a rap on the knucles with a ruler at school, that was fuck all compared to what I'd have got when I got home. It concentrates the mind at an early age. One local kid of 14 who was a right little shit was detained by soldiers from the UDR, and collected by the police and taken home. His folks didn't give a shit, but he never got up to his antics ever again. Years later I joined the same regiment, and I found out that the squaddies had told him they had orders to EAT errant teenagers.

 

A bit brutal perhaps, and legally a grey area* but they didn't touch him and it worked.

 

My family in NZ have been asking me for years to come and work in their family-owned large property firm to head their IT Dept (nepotism, much?) but while my IT skills are global, my fiancee's, as a solicitor, are not wholly transferrable.

 

 

 

*UDR weren't technically Army, legally speaking, but North Irish Militia. For example we could patrol alone, but guys from "over the water" had to have the peelers with them.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I've been on about moving to Czech for years now, but the language is a bloody killer and nobody in the rural bits speaks English.

 

Come on, if someone who can't remove a stuck wheelnut is able to fluently speak three languages and more or less communicate in a fourth, it can't be THAT hard learning one. Look at how many people are learning Mandarin FFS. Take 3-4 months off to do some intensive classes and you'll have 90% of your communication needs covered.

[Pete-M]

Take 3-4 months off to do some intensive classes and you'll have 90% of your communication needs covered.

 

I can do the very basics. I cannot afford to take three or four months off to learn the bloody lingo.... and there's the rub.

[John F]

...and more or less communicate in a fourth...

 

Come on, Luxo... your English isn't that bad

 

What languages do you speak then?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

...and more or less communicate in a fourth...

 

Come on, Luxo... your English isn't that bad

 

What languages do you speak then?

 

I can speak Greek, English and Spanish properly...Italian not so well.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Take 3-4 months off to do some intensive classes and you'll have 90% of your communication needs covered.

 

I can do the very basics. I cannot afford to take three or four months off to learn the bloody lingo.... and there's the rub.

 

I guess evening classes over a couple of years would still work- that's how I learnt Italian (and German, but I don't remember much of that as I was in primary school and, unfortunately, didn't particularly enjoy learning it). Though I do appreciate that it won't be easy to find a place doing Czech evening classes- you'd probably require a private tutor.

[John F]

 

Come on, Luxo... your English isn't that bad

 

What languages do you speak then?

 

I can speak Greek, English and Spanish properly...Italian not so well.

 

Different ones to me then... I've lived in Germany & France and speak those languages fluently, can get by in Norwegian & Dutch, have the basics of Spanish and Russian and a smattering of words in a few other languages.

[MrDuke]

Thanks for the messages of support guys I'm not one to unburden myself like that on teh internetz as a rule, but last night even the Vodka wasn't working

I will be getting a new GP soon as I'm moving house, but in the grand scheme of things I'll still be waiting a long, long time for the right kind of help (or to find out that I officially can't be helped). I wish I could blame it all on the wrong kind of job, or the wrong drugs, whatever, but I've been sliding downhill since my teens so there's no easy cure. I think I've just always been able to wrestle it under control, up until now.

I'd actually love to have a driving job, as for some reason people in cars don't bother me like people standing in front of me do. There's just no work to be had here - all transport jobs need experience, etc etc. The reason I stuck with a less-than-perfect job for years was that I was lucky enough to have a permanent public-sector contract, and didn't want to lose the security - that might become a moot point soon though.

The whole 'society' thing doesn't help, I agree. I do count myself lucky to be living in a fairly remote corner of the country, where people still have proper communities and behave with something approaching decency, most of the time. If I still lived 'back home' in Herts, I'd probably be in a secure psych unit by now

 

Oh, and speaking of Dafs, it turns out that the house we're moving to has a couple of minty 33s at the end of the road. That could become a problem at some point Pics will follow at some point, fear not.

[Amazo]

My view? Go out there, keep your nose clean, take no prisoners, accept no excuses. Tell it like it is. If they don't like it, find someone who does.

Word. I've been on that train of thought the last few years, it works for me. i would also add to that: use 'the system' to your advantage; if someone does wrong by you, it can fuck people up a lot better than a baseball bat ever could.

[ashmicro]

People in Northern Ireland bleating about the cost of car insurance - STOP YOUR FUCKING SPURIOUS CLAIMS, THEN. The personal injury industry here is crazy. People in Northern Ireland cannot stay on their feet for a start, and it's nowt to do with us Paddys having a fondness for strong drink. The amount of people who "fall over broken paving" is a disgrace. The pavements here are in good nick. This has spread to alleged RTA injuries too, with every fucker and his dog claiming for whiplash. Las year, I was a passenger in a new model Mondeo that got smacked up the ARRSE hard enough to write it off instantly, there were bits of it all over the road. The driver and I were checked out, given a clean bill of health and that was that. Honestly, this bloody country is like a massive version of Shameless.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I think that, for some reason (something historical related to the Troubles? Different regulatory mechanisms from GB?), a lot of British insurers don't bother with offering motor insurance for NI residents, which results in less competition therefore even higher premia than if you only accounted for the volume/value of claims.