The grumpy thread

[artdjones]

13 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Apparently, banks don't/ won't give you bags of coins anymore.

Or at least, Nationwide doesn't - I was just after a bag or two of pound coins to use as a cash float for a car boot sale tomorrow morning.

But no, coins aren't a thing they keep on the premises anymore. I mean, it's been a couple of years since I last tried to flog a load of assorted tat, but I don't recall having difficulty in making a withdrawal in coin bags before.

I also had to wait in a queue for twenty minutes in order to make this discovery, which annoyed me even more.

I ended up in Tesco on one of their self-serve machines, buying individual bananas with a series of £10 notes in order to get some pound coins and a couple of 50ps in change.

If some twat rocks up early doors trying to buy a 10p comic with a £20 note, they may find themselves involuntarily eating it...

Ask your local window cleaner, or anyone who handles lots of small transactions. 

[New POD]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

But most people who use cheques don’t do apps.

Most people who do Apps, have older family who insist on sending money the old fashioned way. 

[New POD]

9 minutes ago, artdjones said:

Ask your local window cleaner, or anyone who handles lots of small transactions. 

You think any of the transactions in cash are going through the books ? 

[artdjones]

7 minutes ago, New POD said:

You think any of the transactions in cash are going through the books ? 

I don't know what that's got to do with the point, which was that these traders have lots of coins and would like to change them for notes.

[vulgalour]

Can the weather get its act together?  I've got welding I want to get done and it just won't stop raining.  It's supposed to be dry and clear this weekend, instead it's grey and threatening to rain, again.  I just need a couple of nice dry days to get shit done.  It's June, we should be out of Rain Complaining Season and well into Heat Complaining Season by now.

[myglaren]

8 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Banks really don’t want cheques either. That involves physical movement of bits of paper, a real pain. 
My mother still writes cheques for everything. When she runs out and needs a new cheque book, the bank is like “ what have you done with all those cheques? No one asks for a new cheque book any more”.

I still had two cheque books for our joint account when I advised the bank that she had died and to amend the account details.

They sent me another two books in my name only.

It is highly unlikely that any of them will be used.

Had a car tax refund for the C5 (I think) and took it to the bank.  I was there before 09:00 but they didn't open until 10:00.

I mentioned being far too early to the cashier (who accepted the cheque without comment, and she said I could have just use the ATM outside at any time.

I can't say that I have any complaints about treatment in the bank branches, the staff have invariably been helpful and friendly.

[ruffgeezer]

There's some cunt on this train having a ukulele sing-a-long.  He has an incredible ability to make almost any style of song sound bland and nasal.  

How is this anymore acceptable than getting on with a ghettoblaster?

[Rust Collector]

49 minutes ago, ruffgeezer said:

There's some cunt on this train having a ukulele sing-a-long.  He has an incredible ability to make almost any style of song sound bland and nasal.  

How is this anymore acceptable than getting on with a ghettoblaster?

 

Fairly* sure it’s a spoof. But goes through my mind every time 🤣

[Metal Guru]

58 minutes ago, 83C said:

I make a point of not using the self service machines in banks (same in supermarkets and petrol stations), even when directed to do so I’ll insist on going to the cashier. Quite often this involves the member of staff trying to guide me towards the self-service whilst saying “Let me show you how to use this machine/app/etc” as though I’m some sort of technophobe.

Nope, its not that I don’t understand them, I don’t want to use them. The more people use them, the more chance there is that the branch gets closed. 

Our local Asda sometimes has just one till open and about 3 people standing around the self service tills helping people / authorising drinks etc. If they just put them on the normal tills it would be faster for everyone. 
In fact our local Lidl did just that although being Lidl the till open and close every 30 seconds.

[BorniteIdentity]

Wife decided in 2022 to fuck me off and be a strong independent woman what don’t need no man. Basically that meant me running two houses ever since. 

Family home now SSTC and having to get my final stuff out of the loft. Heartbreaking all over again tbh; looking over stuff from a happy and carefree time in life and wondering - in the words of David Byrne - “How did I get here?”. 

99% of it has gone in the tip. Keepsakes, memories, gifts, career stuff? Gone. The other 1% might yet get sold too to add a few pennies to the endless bonfire of money that separation is. 

Shed next where, again, the household recycling centre awaits for the majority of things that I just don’t have the space to store in a small house with no parking/garage. 

If it wasn’t for the kids I think I’d likely throw every single belonging away, donate the cat to my parents and go work overseas in a war zone. 

Doleful days. 

[Marshall2810]

On 01/06/2024 at 13:24, BorniteIdentity said:

Wife decided in 2022 to fuck me off and be a strong independent woman what don’t need no man. Basically that meant me running two houses ever since. 

Family home now SSTC and having to get my final stuff out of the loft. Heartbreaking all over again tbh; looking over stuff from a happy and carefree time in life and wondering - in the words of David Byrne - “How did I get here?”. 

99% of it has gone in the tip. Keepsakes, memories, gifts, career stuff? Gone. The other 1% might yet get sold too to add a few pennies to the endless bonfire of money that separation is. 

Shed next where, again, the household recycling centre awaits for the majority of things that I just don’t have the space to store in a small house with no parking/garage. 

If it wasn’t for the kids I think I’d likely throw every single belonging away, donate the cat to my parents and go work overseas in a war zone. 

Doleful days. 

Wasn't expecting to read this (even on the grumpy thread). Goes to show that behind every profile name, everyone's got plenty of shit they're dealing with.

Dad always says you get what you deserve (which is remarkable for a man who's three times divorced). I disagree with that and hope things improve and you can rebuild. I find animals better company generally so wouldn't be so hasty with the cat. Far less likely to fuck you over and much more grateful of your time. 

[myglaren]

2 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Wife decided in 2022 to fuck me off and be a strong independent woman what don’t need no man. Basically that meant me running two houses ever since. 

Family home now SSTC and having to get my final stuff out of the loft. Heartbreaking all over again tbh; looking over stuff from a happy and carefree time in life and wondering - in the words of David Byrne - “How did I get here?”. 

99% of it has gone in the tip. Keepsakes, memories, gifts, career stuff? Gone. The other 1% might yet get sold too to add a few pennies to the endless bonfire of money that separation is. 

Shed next where, again, the household recycling centre awaits for the majority of things that I just don’t have the space to store in a small house with no parking/garage. 

If it wasn’t for the kids I think I’d likely throw every single belonging away, donate the cat to my parents and go work overseas in a war zone. 

Doleful days. 

It is a sad tale and an all too common one.

When my wife decided to go and live with a former next door neighbour there was no drama, no acrimony and no disputing who's was what.

We remained close friends until the day she died, she visited regularly and I did DIY for her that he was incapable of and took her the 150 mile round trip to visit her parents every weekend.

Still miss her every day that passes.

Unlike the many tales of scatty behaviour, borderline insanity, irrational demands and radio silence that also seems to be commonplace, she was thankfully devoid of any such behaviour.  Very intelligent and smart she was completely rational, very calm and thoughtful.

We had disagreements, as all couples do, but never any arguments and certainly no shouting, screaming a throwing things about.

Seemingly quite unique.

[Zelandeth]

Surprised?  Not really.

Great.  Let's see how long it knocks me on my arse for this time round. 

Would be really nice if I could actually attend the couple of events a year which I really, really look forward to without feeling like I'm being hugely reckless because of the odds of bringing this back as a souvenir. 

[Kiltox]

I wanted a cordless car polisher, the DeWalt one is £200

Thought id be a clever cunt and buy a Ryobi one for £80 and an adaptor so it can take my dewalt batteries 

The adaptor is so shit it shakes the battery loose when you turn the speed up 😂 that’ll be going back then! 

[richardmorris]

11 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

I wanted a cordless car polisher, the DeWalt one is £200

Thought id be a clever cunt and buy a Ryobi one for £80 and an adaptor so it can take my dewalt batteries 

The adaptor is so shit it shakes the battery loose when you turn the speed up 😂 that’ll be going back then! 

Not cordless, but I’m happy with my meguiars one.

[artdjones]

I had my a/c regassed about 3 weeks ago (it's €120 in Ireland). This week I noticed it had stopped working, although there was obvs. some gas in as the fan was working. I checked fuses, all ok, then took off the service port caps to see if there was actually gas in. Immediately I took of the lp cap I noticed gas hissing out before I touched anything. Bouncing the valve open and shut did nothing, so now the system is empty again, and that's 120 wasted. I know leaky valves dont show up during the refill, as the valve is held open for the new gas to go in, but shouldn't they check it after disconnecting? That was probably the original fault as well.

Are they special valves? They are the same size as a tyre valve, but is a tyre valve an adequate substitute?

[jakebullet]

Don't know which reality is the correct one.

Mad Jean messages the Mrs. that dad is losing his marbles and threw the phone at her and now refuses to speak. Also had cops phone up concerned for their welfare.

So sounds like a fairly big shit sandwich. But at the same time this is going on Jean is posting constantly on FB the usual Jesus drivel and cat pics.

The though occurs that maybe dad has finally snapped and can't take any more of her shit. Or she's got 2 happy pills out of the safe today. Or she's read about the boy who cried wolf and thought that's a good idea, I can use that to get the fuckers here.

Guess a trip to whitby of doom is in the near future.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

I had my a/c regassed about 3 weeks ago (it's €120 in Ireland). This week I noticed it had stopped working, although there was obvs. some gas in as the fan was working. I checked fuses, all ok, then took off the service port caps to see if there was actually gas in. Immediately I took of the lp cap I noticed gas hissing out before I touched anything. Bouncing the valve open and shut did nothing, so now the system is empty again, and that's 120 wasted. I know leaky valves dont show up during the refill, as the valve is held open for the new gas to go in, but shouldn't they check it after disconnecting? That was probably the original fault as well.

Are they special valves? They are the same size as a tyre valve, but is a tyre valve an adequate substitute?

I had the same problem at ATS. They checked* the system, said it was ok and refilled. It worked for 5 miles and then just blew ambient again. Took it back , “nothing to do with us , we checked it, must have happened afterwards. In 5 miles ? FRO.  ATS refused any refund but I’d bought it through Groupon and complained to them and they refunded me my money. Took it to a a/c specialist and it had a leaking pipe which they should have noticed.

[HillmanImp]

What do people do on holiday abroad? I don't get it. I'm not wanting to sit next to a pool, its boring and its too hot. I don't like the pubs as you can't talk to people as I don't know the lingo. Every British person I speak to is a total cunt. People fucking hassle me just walking down the street trying to sell me shit. Most of the staff at the bars and restaurants obviously fucking hate the forrins (see previous about British people). Everything is difficult, be it buses, buying stuff, etiquette in different situations, as I don't know how things work here. I don't get the appeal of any of it. Why do we pay money to just be totally stressed out all the time? 

I've always hated holidays abroad but I really, really just can't get into it now after managing to avoid it for a few years. 

I think I used to just drink my way through it but can't really do that the way I used to. 

I genuinely can't wait to go home.

On the plus side I did see a couple of Renault 9s but its not enough to take the edge off it. 

From what I've written above, it almost sounds like I need to go all inclusive but I've tried that and it was even worse (its the fucking British cunts that ruin it, cunting about being British cunts). Think part of my problem now is probably from some sort of PTSD from the time I went to Fuerteventura all inclusive for 2 weeks. 

I just want to be back in the UK where I feel comfortable and not on edge all the time. 

I'm off to France later this year but thats with some mates cycling and drinking, so is a bit different. I imagine that'll be bearable. Plus I can get by with the language 'Par le vue Anglais' and 'Jambon sandwich si vou plias' and 'Good moaning' or summink like that. 

Or Skiing, I love that, you're out doing stuff all day and the staff in the resorts are always cool in my experience, always out partying with them despite not understanding each other. 

Shitty foreign summer holidays just fucking ruin me. I really REALLY hate being abroad. 

[Mr Pastry]

26 minutes ago, HillmanImp said:

What do people do on holiday abroad? I don't get it. I'm not wanting to sit next to a pool, its boring and its too hot. I don't like the pubs as you can't talk to people as I don't know the lingo. Every British person I speak to is a total cunt. People fucking hassle me just walking down the street trying to sell me shit. Most of the staff at the bars and restaurants obviously fucking hate the forrins (see previous about British people). Everything is difficult, be it buses, buying stuff, etiquette in different situations, as I don't know how things work here. I don't get the appeal of any of it. Why do we pay money to just be totally stressed out all the time? 

I've always hated holidays abroad but I really, really just can't get into it now after managing to avoid it for a few years. 

I think I used to just drink my way through it but can't really do that the way I used to. 

I genuinely can't wait to go home.

On the plus side I did see a couple of Renault 9s but its not enough to take the edge off it. 

From what I've written above, it almost sounds like I need to go all inclusive but I've tried that and it was even worse (its the fucking British cunts that ruin it, cunting about being British cunts). Think part of my problem now is probably from some sort of PTSD from the time I went to Fuerteventura all inclusive for 2 weeks. 

I just want to be back in the UK where I feel comfortable and not on edge all the time. 

I'm off to France later this year but thats with some mates cycling and drinking, so is a bit different. I imagine that'll be bearable. Plus I can get by with the language 'Par le vue Anglais' and 'Jambon sandwich si vou plias' and 'Good moaning' or summink like that. 

Or Skiing, I love that, you're out doing stuff all day and the staff in the resorts are always cool in my experience, always out partying with them despite not understanding each other. 

Shitty foreign summer holidays just fucking ruin me. I really REALLY hate being abroad. 

Well said, sir.  I don't get it either.  Used to like seeing Renault 7s in Spain though.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, HillmanImp said:

What do people do on holiday abroad? I don't get it. I'm not wanting to sit next to a pool, its boring and its too hot. I don't like the pubs as you can't talk to people as I don't know the lingo. Every British person I speak to is a total cunt. People fucking hassle me just walking down the street trying to sell me shit. Most of the staff at the bars and restaurants obviously fucking hate the forrins (see previous about British people). Everything is difficult, be it buses, buying stuff, etiquette in different situations, as I don't know how things work here. I don't get the appeal of any of it. Why do we pay money to just be totally stressed out all the time? 

I've always hated holidays abroad but I really, really just can't get into it now after managing to avoid it for a few years. 

I think I used to just drink my way through it but can't really do that the way I used to. 

I genuinely can't wait to go home.

On the plus side I did see a couple of Renault 9s but its not enough to take the edge off it. 

From what I've written above, it almost sounds like I need to go all inclusive but I've tried that and it was even worse (its the fucking British cunts that ruin it, cunting about being British cunts). Think part of my problem now is probably from some sort of PTSD from the time I went to Fuerteventura all inclusive for 2 weeks. 

I just want to be back in the UK where I feel comfortable and not on edge all the time. 

I'm off to France later this year but thats with some mates cycling and drinking, so is a bit different. I imagine that'll be bearable. Plus I can get by with the language 'Par le vue Anglais' and 'Jambon sandwich si vou plias' and 'Good moaning' or summink like that. 

Or Skiing, I love that, you're out doing stuff all day and the staff in the resorts are always cool in my experience, always out partying with them despite not understanding each other. 

Shitty foreign summer holidays just fucking ruin me. I really REALLY hate being abroad. 

Why waste your ££££? Staycation's are the new....something!

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Why waste your ££££? Staycation's are the new....something!

I really have never understood the idea of two weeks sat by the swimming pool at some crappy Spanish hotel. I’ve had some great holidays in places like Canada, Iceland , Norway and the Alps as well as the UK, but these days I really can’t be arsed going away. Only been on UK holidays since Covid but even then I’m just wanting to get home.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

7 hours ago, HillmanImp said:

What do people do on holiday abroad? I don't get it. I'm not wanting to sit next to a pool, its boring and its too hot. I don't like the pubs as you can't talk to people as I don't know the lingo. Every British person I speak to is a total cunt. People fucking hassle me just walking down the street trying to sell me shit. Most of the staff at the bars and restaurants obviously fucking hate the forrins (see previous about British people). Everything is difficult, be it buses, buying stuff, etiquette in different situations, as I don't know how things work here. I don't get the appeal of any of it. Why do we pay money to just be totally stressed out all the time? 

I've always hated holidays abroad but I really, really just can't get into it now after managing to avoid it for a few years. 

I think I used to just drink my way through it but can't really do that the way I used to. 

I genuinely can't wait to go home.

On the plus side I did see a couple of Renault 9s but its not enough to take the edge off it. 

From what I've written above, it almost sounds like I need to go all inclusive but I've tried that and it was even worse (its the fucking British cunts that ruin it, cunting about being British cunts). Think part of my problem now is probably from some sort of PTSD from the time I went to Fuerteventura all inclusive for 2 weeks. 

I just want to be back in the UK where I feel comfortable and not on edge all the time. 

I'm off to France later this year but thats with some mates cycling and drinking, so is a bit different. I imagine that'll be bearable. Plus I can get by with the language 'Par le vue Anglais' and 'Jambon sandwich si vou plias' and 'Good moaning' or summink like that. 

Or Skiing, I love that, you're out doing stuff all day and the staff in the resorts are always cool in my experience, always out partying with them despite not understanding each other. 

Shitty foreign summer holidays just fucking ruin me. I really REALLY hate being abroad. 

We've been to Gothenburg twice in the last year and it looks like we're going again in August.

No problems with etiquette, no real language barrier (my partner has been learning Swedish, I can say a few words), clean, comfortable, not too hot, beautiful countryside and coastline, good food, nice people, easy transport links and not as expensive as you might think.  Lots of Volvos to look at.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Twenty minutes on the tram from the city centre gets you here.

Fifteen minutes by taxi gets you here.

[EyesWeldedShut]

13 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Twenty minutes on the tram from the city centre gets you here.

Fifteen minutes by taxi gets you here.

Daily Torygraph were punting Sweden as viable  second home country away from the 'climate change, hot hellholes of southern Europe' last week (I see some irony in their thought process).
They were pushing Gotland for some reason (?) We have friends in a few places in Southern Sweden who have bought places with land v. cheap and really enjoy living there (full time). My wife recommend Umeå in the North East if you get up that far - Volvo Truck factory guided tours and a Moose farm tour with tasting sessions (smoked moose is lush)

We're off in thirty minutes to that there Hadrian's Wall ........

[artdjones]

9 hours ago, HillmanImp said:

What do people do on holiday abroad? I don't get it. I'm not wanting to sit next to a pool, its boring and its too hot. I don't like the pubs as you can't talk to people as I don't know the lingo. Every British person I speak to is a total cunt. People fucking hassle me just walking down the street trying to sell me shit. Most of the staff at the bars and restaurants obviously fucking hate the forrins (see previous about British people). Everything is difficult, be it buses, buying stuff, etiquette in different situations, as I don't know how things work here. I don't get the appeal of any of it. Why do we pay money to just be totally stressed out all the time? 

I've always hated holidays abroad but I really, really just can't get into it now after managing to avoid it for a few years. 

I think I used to just drink my way through it but can't really do that the way I used to. 

I genuinely can't wait to go home.

On the plus side I did see a couple of Renault 9s but its not enough to take the edge off it. 

From what I've written above, it almost sounds like I need to go all inclusive but I've tried that and it was even worse (its the fucking British cunts that ruin it, cunting about being British cunts). Think part of my problem now is probably from some sort of PTSD from the time I went to Fuerteventura all inclusive for 2 weeks. 

I just want to be back in the UK where I feel comfortable and not on edge all the time. 

I'm off to France later this year but thats with some mates cycling and drinking, so is a bit different. I imagine that'll be bearable. Plus I can get by with the language 'Par le vue Anglais' and 'Jambon sandwich si vou plias' and 'Good moaning' or summink like that. 

Or Skiing, I love that, you're out doing stuff all day and the staff in the resorts are always cool in my experience, always out partying with them despite not understanding each other. 

Shitty foreign summer holidays just fucking ruin me. I really REALLY hate being abroad. 

Seriously, you should try Germany.

Loads of people speak English, but Union-Jack-underpants-on- head British don't go there. 

Königssee in Bavaria.

There's lots of things to see to stop getting bored.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

32 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Daily Torygraph were punting Sweden as viable  second home country away from the 'climate change, hot hellholes of southern Europe' last week (I see some irony in their thought process).
They were pushing Gotland for some reason (?) We have friends in a few places in Southern Sweden who have bought places with land v. cheap and really enjoy living there (full time). My wife recommend Umeå in the North East if you get up that far - Volvo Truck factory guided tours and a Moose farm tour with tasting sessions (smoked moose is lush)

We're off in thirty minutes to that there Hadrian's Wall ........

We were actually looking at Umeå yesterday and specifically the moose feeding.  We were trying to roll it all into the same trip with Gothenburg and it just didn't work but we'll go for it another time.  There is a moose feeding place about 2 hours North of Gothenburg that we booked into last time we were there but didn't make it on the day due to train cancellations - it was a bit marginal on the transport anyway and we didn't really want to hire a car.

Originally we were going to be going Bergen-Oslo-Gothenburg but we'd spend so much time on trains (admittedly, pretty trains) and then getting to and back from the same airport was challenging and potentially expensive.  Then it was Stockholm, Umeå, Gothenburg or Gothenburg, Umeå, back to Gothenburg but it got very complicated!  If we're going somewhere I think we're best off just going to one place rather than trying to bend public transport to our will.  And we love Gothenburg... so....

We did Hadrian's Wall, etc. a number of years ago (pre-dog) and had a lovely few days pottering about up there.

[Dyslexic Viking]

1 hour ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

We've been to Gothenburg twice in the last year and it looks like we're going again in August.

No problems with etiquette, no real language barrier (my partner has been learning Swedish, I can say a few words), clean, comfortable, not too hot, beautiful countryside and coastline, good food, nice people, easy transport links and not as expensive as you might think.  Lots of Volvos to look at.

Sweden is a great country and I have traveled a lot there. Karlsborg is one of my favorite places, it is a small town by a large lake and has a large fortress that was meant to be a reserve capital in case of war. Gøtakanal also runs through the place and it is possible to sitt and eat and watch the boats that go by.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsborg_Fortress

On the other side of the lake is Motala, where the Motala motor museum is located.

There are also opportunities for boat trips on the canal with food etc. on board.

[jakebullet]

I've been on 3 buses recently. The poor end of society are clearly suffering.

Bus #1, woman gets on and tries 5 different contactless cards, none work. Gets off without a word. Suspect they're not her cards, nobody has 5 current accounts.
#2, lad gets on, card has no money. Can he pay at the other end, someone is going to transfer him money honest. Nope!
#3, drug addled looking couple get on. He has a bus pass. She asks for the night rover ticket (At 9:30 am). Tries her card which doesn't work. Tells driver she's his carer, and they have to go to hospital now. Off the bus plz! He gets off at morrisons which is nowhere near the hospital.

[Rust Collector]

5 minutes ago, jakebullet said:

I've been on 3 buses recently. The poor end of society are clearly suffering.

Bus #1, woman gets on and tries 5 different contactless cards, none work. Gets off without a word. Suspect they're not her cards, nobody has 5 current accounts.
#2, lad gets on, card has no money. Can he pay at the other end, someone is going to transfer him money honest. Nope!
#3, drug addled looking couple get on. He has a bus pass. She asks for the night rover ticket (At 9:30 am). Tries her card which doesn't work. Tells driver she's his carer, and they have to go to hospital now. Off the bus plz! He gets off at morrisons which is nowhere near the hospital.

Having been completely broke myself before, I can confirm that having numerous cards that don’t work doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve nicked them.

I still have 4 debit cards as it helps me with budgeting to keep money in completely separate accounts. I used to have several credit cards but that has been knocked on the head thankfully.

Knowing how shit it is to not have a penny to your name, I paid the last time I was standing in line and I saw someone’s card get declined for a few bits of shopping in the local Tesco Express.