The grumpy thread

[Metal Guru]

34 minutes ago, cobblers said:

These wankers again!!!!!

I was *cycling* to work on Saturday morning, I stay mostly on tracks and trails but there was one stretch through Hassop where I was on road.

The whole bunch of about 20 of them decided to overtake me while we were going round a sharp left hand bend. The pack of them cut the corner and forced me up the fucking kerb, I very nearly copped for it!

Now I'm sure it probably "wasn't that close" from their perspective, but I don't spend every weekend riding in tightly packed groups with other bikes so when I've got a pair of handlebars less than a foot away from mine at 25mph, it's pretty jarring!

 

Stick a foot out and watch the whole “peloton” crash, and then post it in the “grin” thread.

[iainrcz]

Cancelled Shell phone and broadband using their online tools. Binned the landline, went to 4g internet with 3 last month.

Got an email saying it was all cool.

Got a full month's bill from Shell today.

Just called them, it hadn't cancelled. Cheers. 

[loserone]

That's their problem surely?

[iainrcz]

21 minutes ago, loserone said:

That's their problem surely?

Apparently not.

 

[chaseracer]

3 hours ago, iainrcz said:

Apparently not.

 

Bloody is, if you've got the email confirming the cancellation.

[vulgalour]

The malaise of the modern world.  I joined The Future today and got myself a smartphone for the first time ever.  It's also my first brand new mobile phone and my first contract phone.  I hate it.

The reason for getting it is part of my core income involves getting paid online and Mastercard has rolled out another bizarre rule for creators having to prove their age.  This time, you need a smart phone - or a webcam, but I tried that by buying a brand new webcam and part way through the process it says I need to now use my smartphone which is just... yeah - to prove you are as old as you say you are.  Simply scan the QR code (another first) with your smartphone, take a photo of your ID with the same, and then a selfie of your own face.  Fine, no bother.  Took a couple of attempts to get the hang of the phone's focusing lag and how to best hold it but that's normal.  Processing... sorry, we couldn't verify you are you.  Okay, no bother, let's do it again.  Great, that's my face and processing... "that's not a face."

Er, yes it is.  Repeat several times with the same result.  My face is, against all information to the contrary, not actually a face.  That means I can't prove I'm as old as I say I am (which is weird because they have my bank info and that says I'm old enough to have the kind of bank account I do and therefore old enough for this age verification thing) and if I can't fix this by the time the September deadline rolls around I won't get paid.

I absolutely despise this part of my job.  I went self employed precisely because my face doesn't fit in regular employment and now I'm being told my face isn't even a face by a device that isn't even a person.

[barefoot]

I'm only laughing at the absurdity of the modern world, not you.

[Remspoor]

15 hours ago, Lankytim said:

Is car insurance going up?

It is related to the war in the Ukraine. The insurance claims for tanks, buildings and bridges is sky high at the moment.😉

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Remspoor said:

It is related to the war in the Ukraine. The insurance claims for tanks, buildings and bridges is sky high at the moment.😉

Typical, blowing things up out of all proportions

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Migraines can get to fuck.

[chaseracer]

9 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Migraines can get to fuck.

Literally and figuratively, I feel your pain.

GWSm8.

[Noel Tidybeard]

1 hour ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Migraines can get to fuck.

migraines or renners in general?🤣

[Pieman]

On 7/16/2023 at 9:29 PM, Zelandeth said:

The pop and bang brigade can get in the sea please.

It's been like a near continual bloody artillery barrage for at least the last two hours from over by the train station.

Best part of a mile off yet it's still loud enough to both be properly grating in the house and is repeatedly setting the dogs off.

There's a couple of them appeared in my (usually quiet) home town recently, one in a Fiesta passed me a few weeks ago as I was out for a walk and gunned it for a short distance just so it would make the machine gun barrage noise as he lifted off.  As there were no other pedestrians about I shouted "WANKER!" after him but of course there was no chance he heard me as he sped off.

I think these idiots are the new generation of Barries - if any more start appearing round here I think I'll try and buy one of the Broadmoor sirens and tow it behind my car, that'll scare them off!

[beko1987]

My journey home was impeded by some 60 plate focus with a popping and banging exhaust... I thought those things made the driver fast?

He didn't seem to like me undertaking him onto the bypass (both lanes go straight ahead etc) as I could hear him drop a gear ready to 'Ave me, then change back up as he realised I was being followed by 97 other people leaving the business park onto the bypass and we don't take kindly to people pissing around at home time! Didn't see him again

[somewhatfoolish]

2 hours ago, Pieman said:

There's a couple of them appeared in my (usually quiet) home town recently, one in a Fiesta passed me a few weeks ago as I was out for a walk and gunned it for a short distance just so it would make the machine gun barrage noise as he lifted off.  As there were no other pedestrians about I shouted "WANKER!" after him but of course there was no chance he heard me as he sped off.

I think these idiots are the new generation of Barries - if any more start appearing round here I think I'll try and buy one of the Broadmoor sirens and tow it behind my car, that'll scare them off!

Find out where they live and visit late at night with a potato.

[Datsuncog]

From the diameter of the exhausts I've seen round here, you'd need at least a marrow, possibly a turnip.

[alcyonecorporation]

On 7/17/2023 at 7:40 PM, vulgalour said:

The malaise of the modern world.  I joined The Future today and got myself a smartphone for the first time ever.  It's also my first brand new mobile phone and my first contract phone.  I hate it.

The reason for getting it is part of my core income involves getting paid online and Mastercard has rolled out another bizarre rule for creators having to prove their age.  This time, you need a smart phone - or a webcam, but I tried that by buying a brand new webcam and part way through the process it says I need to now use my smartphone which is just... yeah - to prove you are as old as you say you are.  Simply scan the QR code (another first) with your smartphone, take a photo of your ID with the same, and then a selfie of your own face.  Fine, no bother.  Took a couple of attempts to get the hang of the phone's focusing lag and how to best hold it but that's normal.  Processing... sorry, we couldn't verify you are you.  Okay, no bother, let's do it again.  Great, that's my face and processing... "that's not a face."

Er, yes it is.  Repeat several times with the same result.  My face is, against all information to the contrary, not actually a face.  That means I can't prove I'm as old as I say I am (which is weird because they have my bank info and that says I'm old enough to have the kind of bank account I do and therefore old enough for this age verification thing) and if I can't fix this by the time the September deadline rolls around I won't get paid.

I absolutely despise this part of my job.  I went self employed precisely because my face doesn't fit in regular employment and now I'm being told my face isn't even a face by a device that isn't even a person.

Gotta admit, this reads like the first draft of that Billy Joel song. 

Also, they're the cunts and I'm sorry, that's well shit. I don't suppose there's a way of verifying it via the customer service phone line or by email to take manual submissions? There must be a way of doing it in case the verification process fails? 

TL;DR Otherwise you're slenderman AICMFP (then get stabbed). 

[vulgalour]

I'm waiting on a response from an e-mail sent to see if there's an alternative.  Honestly, I'm not even that surprised, touch screens, fingerprint scanners, and automatic doors seem to believe I don't exist sometimes too so I'm beginning to suspect I'm some sort of cryptid.

[alcyonecorporation]

12 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

I'm waiting on a response from an e-mail sent to see if there's an alternative.  Honestly, I'm not even that surprised, touch screens, fingerprint scanners, and automatic doors seem to believe I don't exist sometimes too so I'm beginning to suspect I'm some sort of cryptid.

FWIW electronic doors in shops and lifts often close in front of me, but that's probably because I'm a loud belming fat cunt and the fuckers close up out of sheer disdain. 

[New POD]

7 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

FWIW electronic doors in shops and lifts often close in front of me, but that's probably because I'm a loud belming fat cunt and the fuckers close up out of sheer disdain. 

https://genius.com/Half-man-half-biscuit-corgi-registered-friends-lyrics

That reminds me of a song 

In the kingdom of the blind
It's said the one-eyed man is king
And in the kingdom of the bland
It's nine o'clock on ITV
I believe I've seen holograms
With more substance than you
Automatic doors don't open for you

7 hours ago, vulgalour said:

I'm waiting on a response from an e-mail sent to see if there's an alternative.  Honestly, I'm not even that surprised, touch screens, fingerprint scanners, and automatic doors seem to believe I don't exist sometimes too so I'm beginning to suspect I'm some sort of cryptid.

 

[Angrydicky]

On 7/17/2023 at 9:58 AM, cobblers said:

These wankers again!!!!!

I was *cycling* to work on Saturday morning, I stay mostly on tracks and trails but there was one stretch through Hassop where I was on road.

The whole bunch of about 20 of them decided to overtake me while we were going round a sharp left hand bend. The pack of them cut the corner and forced me up the fucking kerb, I very nearly copped for it!

Now I'm sure it probably "wasn't that close" from their perspective, but I don't spend every weekend riding in tightly packed groups with other bikes so when I've got a pair of handlebars less than a foot away from mine at 25mph, it's pretty jarring!

 

Derbyshire has to be the worst place I’ve ever driven for Lycra warriors. Every time I’ve been there I’ve encountered the cycling clubs cluttering up the road. They are so difficult to overtake, especially in a slow car at a busy weekend when you’ve got all the tourist traffic as well. A complete pain in the arse and I understand your frustrations!

[Angrydicky]

On 7/16/2023 at 9:29 PM, Zelandeth said:

The pop and bang brigade can get in the sea please.

It's been like a near continual bloody artillery barrage for at least the last two hours from over by the train station.

Best part of a mile off yet it's still loud enough to both be properly grating in the house and is repeatedly setting the dogs off.

These antisocial cunts are something we used to have to suffer on a daily basis when we lived in Essex. The poor dogs were petrified (all the neighbours ones as well) and it was literally the same three or four cars bombing down the road then letting go of the throttle so it would bang on the overrun. 
One particular twat in a Fiesta I actually moaned at because he was the noisiest and most prevalent of the lot. He laughed and bombed it away, but…I never heard/saw him again, so maybe he started going a different route to avoid me? 

[Angrydicky]

On 7/13/2023 at 10:42 PM, Wibble said:

As will Glasgow no doubt. Lots of places we often visit and now can’t as my current car is not compliant. It’s not just an extra charge of £10 or £12 pounds either, it’ £60 for the first time and keeps doubling, as far as I can see. 
 

As for public transport, the last time I got a train out of Glasgow central, I sat down to discover someone had pissed on the seat and I had to sit in it and then sit on a plastic bag in the car home. Won’t be doing that again!

Boss asked yesterday if we’d be going out for day trips when we’re up and I told him, many places we’d like to visit we can’t, because of the car being non compliant. Maybe he’ll think again about replacing it now, especially as I’d just told him about Mrs W’s latest health news🤞

 

The problem is that these local authorities get away with introducing this anti-motorist bullshit because people just bend over and take it. You’ve got to fight it! 
These councils have clearly been watching London to see how it goes there so they can gauge if they can get away with it or not. 
Vote out the anti-car councillors. Vote out the anti-car parties (SNP, Labour, Green). 
Join protest movements. Cut down cameras.

This is our hobby and passion under threat from this pseudo-green excuse to raise revenue.

[Metal Guru]

32 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

The problem is that these local authorities get away with introducing this anti-motorist bullshit because people just bend over and take it. You’ve got to fight it! 
These councils have clearly been watching London to see how it goes there so they can gauge if they can get away with it or not. 
Vote out the anti-car councillors. Vote out the anti-car parties (SNP, Labour, Green). 
Join protest movements. Cut down cameras.

This is our hobby and passion under threat from this pseudo-green excuse to raise revenue.

A lot of people in city centres don’t have cars. If a councillor stands on an anti car ticket , they will get votes,  especially if they “promise” better public transport and turning the roads over to cyclists. 

[horriblemercedes]

Are SNP and Labour anti-car?

 

I can see how Green could be, but I don't really see it from SNP and Labour

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I think as a society we need to be grown-up and realistic about the impact cars have on city centres.  That's not to say they should be banned but alternative methods of transport should be encouraged and available.  Sadly, most city centres are keen on making things as difficult as they can for the motorist without offering decent alternatives or taking into account edge cases like those with disabilities.

Canterbury is a good example of this.  Terrible place to drive around but they've closed one of the park and rides to save money without significantly investing in the bus services, whilst simultaneously raising the prices of all the car parks.  Then complain that the High Street is dying.

[Remspoor]

For those who have expressed their displeasure of having to pay more for their car insurance.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-66236110

Quote

increase in claims and more expensive repairs have led to the record rise in costs.

 

Quote

Car insurance now costs an average of £776 a year, up £222 compared to last year and the highest on record.

 

[Merryck]

3 hours ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Canterbury is a good example of this.  Terrible place to drive around but they've closed one of the park and rides to save money without significantly investing in the bus services, whilst simultaneously raising the prices of all the car parks.  Then complain that the High Street is dying.

Don't forget their stellar plan to segment the city and fine you if you drive into any other part of the city. They were going to couple this with a bypass. Where they were going to get the money for that I have no idea. It would have been fought tooth and nail by everyone to the north-west of the city in any of the surrounding villages (all the people with money). It would never have ended up happening in my lifetime. Obviously the segmented city plan entirely relied upon the bypass and was going to be implemented either way to try and force the situation. Thankfully the new Labour/Lib Dem council immediately scrapped all these plans.

The previous council also closed a number of the car parks, one in the center of town that was always packed has been empty since COVID and is now for sale as a 'development opportunity'. The multi-storey they built next to Canterbury West stands empty. They have zero clue how to deal with the city, none at all.

I once heard an anecdote in the pub from someone who worked for the Highways Agency. They were running a survey of traffic coming off the Wincheap roundabout onto the A28. They had previously run a number of surveys and the number of vehicles was steadily growing, until the last one where the number of cars counted dropped through the floor. The council were absolutely chuffed with these results and took it that all their plans were working, refusing to listen to the Highways Agency who were trying to explain that they'd finally hit critical mass and the traffic was so bad that it was just gridlocked.

A great start to improving things would be to actually build usable on/off ramps for the A2. Wincheap only has three out of four. Due to a new housing estate one of these off ramps now has two-way traffic on it. The other places you can enter/exit the A2 aren't even in the city. One is in Bridge (which again is a bastardised junction) and the other is in Harbledown. In the mean-time they've allowed development of the city to grow so much along Wincheap to Thanington that it is now bisected by the A2, which is meant to be a bypass. So now you've got a massive (and quickly growing) number of people who live on the 'wrong' side of a four-lane road and have to either cross it at the junction or walk along the river to get into town. The route along the river, while lovely, floods for three months a year and only has two access points between Canterbury and Chartham.

I live just outside Wincheap and I avoid going into Canterbury whenever I can. I drive to Folkestone to go to places like Wickes/Homebase as driving across town to B&Q will usually take me twice as long.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

@Merryck I'm in Aylesham (for my sins) and used to work in the town centre.  To drive in, I'd go via Adisham, park at the top of St. Martin's Hill and walk in to avoid the City Centre.  Getting into and out of Canterbury at rush hour is an absolute disaster and the new housing estate at Thanington is going to put a lot of pressure on Wincheap, which is probably the worst bottleneck of them all. 

Usually, I skip around the back of Morrison's and through the industrial estate to avoid Wincheap but when it's bad, it's really bad...

[Zelandeth]

Our loft is full of wasps.  What fun.  There's a huge nest in the shed as well.  That's two item retrieval missions in three days I've had to abort because of the buggers.