The grumpy thread

[scaryoldcortina]

I'm still at work and have done no shopping at all. We're even out of bread and milk.

[myglaren]

Plenty of time tomorrow.

I have found that shopping on Christmas Eve is far less traumatic, the shops are practically empty, more staff than customers and often lots of stuff marked down.

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, myglaren said:

Plenty of time tomorrow.

I have found that shopping on Christmas Eve is far less traumatic, the shops are practically empty, more staff than customers and often lots of stuff marked down.

This must be satire as on the one occasion I went to Tesco on Christmas eve I left with battle scars... Never ever again 😂

[Markeh]

I had to go to Poundland earlier for some more wrapping paper and a gift bag (I may not be a last minute shopper but I'm definitely a last minute wrapper!), and blimey, you wouldn't even know it's Christmas, they've virtually packed all the Christmas stuff away!

Fortunately they had a bag and wrapping paper that suited.

[myglaren]

23 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

This must be satire as on the one occasion I went to Tesco on Christmas eve I left with battle scars... Never ever again 😂

Not at all.  First time I had to go into Newcastle to collect some T-shirts I had made for my daughter.  Left the car in Asda Gosforth and took the metro.  Practically deserted.  Then to Fenwicks, hardly a soul in there,  Same with Debenhams.

Back to Gosforth, got most things in Asda then went to another Asda in Longbenton for some more odds and ends.

All done easily in the afternoon with no rushing around.

Have found much the same but most of my shopping done in Washington, Birtley, Stanley or Consett.

[maxxo]

i went to Asda today and it was absolute carnage

packed, huge queues and barely space to breathe

i suppose that's what happens when you're the largest supermarket in around 5-10 miles or so

the next closest big one is either Morrisons at Dalton Park in Murton or Morrisons/asda/tesco in Hartlepool

[High Jetter]

We have Sainsb, Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco, aldi all within about .5 mile. Sainsb busy yesterday, found a checkout with no queue, for some reason. Morrisons was quieter. Trolley helps with comparing pricing.

[wuvvum]

Went to the local Tesco just after 9pm to pick up a few bits.  It was busier than usual for a Monday evening but not manic at all, I went straight to a (self service) till and was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

[myglaren]

I've used the self checkout a few times, mainly without a great degree of success.

Last time in Aldi a couple of weeks ago I was too slow for it and constantly berated by the robovoice.

[somewhatfoolish]

I loathe self-service tills and the race to the bottom they represent but at this time of year I think I'd make an exception.

[HillmanImp]

Just been watching the Dr Who 'The war games' which has been colourised and re-edited to an hour and a half long film. 

It was absolutely brilliant, really enjoyed it...... but they ruined it with lots of silly CGI bits that were out of place and not in keeping. 

At the end (I'll sound like a pratt if this was in the original) there was a CGI close up of Worzel Gummidge Doctor in the tardis that looked like it was from a PS4. 

I didn't mind the joke where Box of Delights doctor was rejecting his new face and the recent doctors were on the screen but again, the effects were too good (feels odd saying that with Dr Who). 

It shouldn't bother me but it was such a contrast to the rest of the film, how hard is it to make shit CGI thats in keeping with the rest of it for continuity? 

[Rustybullethole]

Just now, somewhatfoolish said:

I loathe self-service tills and the race to the bottom they represent but at this time of year I think I'd make an exception.

Feel the same though in lots of places they seem all that's on offer. Often need to seek a member of staff so I can pay with my coins and paper but have found more that take cash of late. 

Had a bit of barney with the robovoice today as the third (free) bag broke and it kept going on about removing my shopping. Would of tipped me over the edge if id if paid for any of their shit bags. 

[andy18s]

11 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

I loathe self-service tills and the race to the bottom they represent but at this time of year I think I'd make an exception.

No one uses them here in Bg so it's always a quick in and out for me..

[GeordieInExile]

After a long day of getting packed and travelling to Dublin with the baby I was really looking forward to seeing what hire car they were gonna give me. I've had some great fun with hire cars previously in Ireland, the highlight being the basic Panda they gave me last time to hoon around the countryside in. 

So you can imagine my disappointment when they gave me the keys to...An Opel Crossland. I feared the worst but first impressions were positive as the boot swallowed up all of our gear. 

But then I got into it and good lord. It is fucking *horrible*. Nasty, agricultural sounding, gutless engine. Vague steering. Cheap plastics everywhere. Uncomfortable seats. Rubbish headlights. 

The one thing I could find that I liked was the volume clicker for the stereo on the steering wheel, which is in perfect reach of your right thumb. But that's it. It's the worst car I've ever driven, taking the crown from... a Corsa hire car I've previously had. 

All Vauxhalls really might be shit, you know. 

[GeordieInExile]

Oh yeah and the lane assist thing is absolute bobbins. Extremely overzealous. I *hate* car features that nanny you like this anyway but they're even more contemptible when they don't actually work properly. This thing pings up even when you're nowhere near straying over a line. 

The suggestions for when to change gear are also laughable. Way too keen for you to shift up. I know better than you, you stupid Vauxhall, and you're staying in third. 

[Captain Mainwaring]

Been fine all year and today of all days I feel fucking shite.

That's it, that's the post.

[Spiny Norman]

Morrisons are really taking the piss with their store card.
Pie: Big yellow price ticket £1.25. Harder to read plain white price ticket without the card £2.

Bottle of nice whisky £23 with card, £35 without.

FRO, I went to Lidl instead.

[Remspoor]

2 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

All Vauxhalls  Opels really might be shit, you know. 

Corrected

[chaseracer]

It's basically a first-gen  2008,  which cannot be described as Peugeot's technical high point.

[gm]

i’ve just seen a new ford capri on the road - i’ve reserved judgement until seeing one in the flesh but i have to report that “fuck me, that’s an ugly bastard of a car” 

no pics as i was driving but imagine a very young child had built a car from yellow lego and you’re not far off 

[beko1987]

3 hours ago, Captain Mainwaring said:

Been fine all year and today of all days I feel fucking shite.

That's it, that's the post.

Same, I started feeling like shit yesterday and had an awful night. Not done alot today either. 

Need to be better tomorrow, I've got to drive to my dad's 😂

[tooSavvy]

4 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

The one thing I could find that I liked was the volume clicker for the stereo on the steering wheel, which is in perfect reach of your right thumb. But that's it... [Yep ✔️]

All Vauxhalls really might be shit, you know. [ha ha ha 👍]

Vroom, vroom m9

🚙💨

[artdjones]

1 hour ago, chaseracer said:

It's basically a first-gen  2008,  which cannot be described as Peugeot's technical high point.

I had two different 2008s as hire cars. The diesel one ok ish, the 1.2 petrol was horrible.

[GeordieInExile]

18 minutes ago, artdjones said:

I had two different 2008s as hire cars. The diesel one ok ish, the 1.2 petrol was horrible.

I have no idea what capacity engine this thing is but it's definitely bASe spec. Keep fit windows in the back and when trimz. I'm not sure if it even has air con. Only five forward gears as well. 

Oh yeah, another horrible thing about it. The pedals are really smooth and slippy. Dangerously so.

[Rustybullethole]

Popped into halfords to grab some oil, pretty decent price on the trade card. Grabbed some sidelight bulbs whilst there was pretty dazzled by the display and really should of taken my glasses.

ffs. 

[Yoss]

Can we add FedEx to the list of shit couriers? 

I ordered a big 16kg box of Škoda bits from Plzeň in Czech. I've been tracking it for the last week and it said it was due for delivery on Friday which is good because I'm off on Friday. Even at 6 o'clock this morning it still said Friday 27th.

Then at 7 o'clock, walking in to work i get a text saying it's going to be delivered today. We'll that's no bloody good is it. Oh well, I'll just have to wait and see what happens. 

About 10 o'clock, I'm sat in the office on my break and get another message which starts 'we have delivered your package...' So I open it to see who they've left it with. 

So they've just dumped £300 of engine parts on the wet doorstep. Shouldn't I have to sign for something that expensive? 

Anyway I was halfway through my sausage roll and had to go home. There's no way I was going to leave that on the doorstep for three hours. Luckily it wasn't too busy a day so I had time to nip home and back. 

[gm]

doing the christmas drinks shop this afternoon at aldis and i managed to smash a full bottle of wine all over the conveyor belt at the till !

i can’t recall my reaction but have a suspicion that i may have just said “fuck” really loudly.

the cashier was sound and got another till open for the amused / horrified queue behind me while we cleaned up the mess. you’d be amazed just how far one bottle of red can spread in a flat surface. 

i apologised profusely and offered to pay for the broken bottle but was told not to worry,  apparently this happens more often than you’d think. 

i still felt like a total tit, but the staff were great. might avoid the store for a few weeks though  

 

[richardmorris]

58 minutes ago, gm said:

doing the christmas drinks shop this afternoon at aldis and i managed to smash a full bottle of wine all over the conveyor belt at the till !

i can’t recall my reaction but have a suspicion that i may have just said “fuck” really loudly.

the cashier was sound and got another till open for the amused / horrified queue behind me while we cleaned up the mess. you’d be amazed just how far one bottle of red can spread in a flat surface. 

i apologised profusely and offered to pay for the broken bottle but was told not to worry,  apparently this happens more often than you’d think. 

i still felt like a total tit, but the staff were great. might avoid the store for a few weeks though  

 

I’ve always found the checkout staff at Aldi to be great. You just need to be ready to catch the shopping as it flies past their scanner.

[RoverFolkUs]

3 pin light bulbs 

Fecking building regulations about 20 years ago stipulated the use of 3 pin light bulbs 

Well, what happens on Xmas eve? One of the sodding things decides not to illuminate any more. 

Never fear, says I, I carefully retrieve the spare fluorescent bulb I had in the cupboard for such an occasion 

*Dimly illuminates*

*Strong electrical burning smell*

Lovely. That one's fucked too. 

[LightBulbFun]

39 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

3 pin light bulbs 

Fecking building regulations about 20 years ago stipulated the use of 3 pin light bulbs 

Well, what happens on Xmas eve? One of the sodding things decides not to illuminate any more. 

Never fear, says I, I carefully retrieve the spare fluorescent bulb I had in the cupboard for such an occasion 

*Dimly illuminates*

*Strong electrical burning smell*

Lovely. That one's fucked too. 

 

I have got some 300W sun-tanning lamps which have 3 pin bayonet bases, if the winter blues are getting you down?  

I once took the piss somewhat and fired up all 3 of mine together at the same time  (the middle one was kindly saved from a skip for me by @Andyrew and the other 2 where off eBay because they came with matching 3 pin lamp holders, which are like rocking horse shit, so really the lightbulbs where just a free bonus LOL)

 

 

on a slightly more serious note, assuming you dont just rip the lamp holder out for a regular 2 pin jobby, do be careful when ordering replacement 3 pin CFL's/LED's for it because there are two types of 3 pin Bayonet lamp holder standard 

 

the original/standard 3 pin bayonet cap (which goes back to the year dot) has its pins spaced like so, historically this has been used where you want your lightbulb to have a bayonet base, but you want to stop the user from being able to plug it into a normal 2 pin mains connected socket, so you found this old mercury vapour lamps and low voltage lamps, as well on lamps that had to be installed in a certain orientation for optical purposes (and some electric fire/heater companies used 3 pin bulbs to try and lock the customer in to buying *their* bulbs, the very original ones use lamps with a 2 prong 5 amp plug base! but I digress massively)

 

but when the building regulation nonsense was introduced, one of the main produces of 3 pin Bayonet cap CFLs for that regulation, by the name of MEM

introduced a new type of 3 pin bayonet cap for those CFL's was introduced, notice the much wider spacing of the pins

but the other competing company, Lyvia, just re-used the existing British standard 3 pin bayonet lamp cap like so

and so where im going with this, is do double check the pin spacing, and if you do end up just ripping out the lamp holder, if it is of the narrower original British standard type, then please save the pendent/lamp holder for me  as above proper 3 pin bayonet lamp holders are rare and sought after by us in the lighting community