The grumpy thread

[Slartibartfast]

Fucking car insurance. Got a text today at ten past nine (which I read at lunch time) from Co-op saying, essentially, "your car insurance expired yesterday, thanks for your custom, now fuck off". Called them and apparently something has changed in the last year that means they can't insure me any more. Last year I paid £800ish, this year the cheapest quote I can get is £1022. Tried all the comparison websites. Direct Line continue to deny my car exists for some reason. It's my modern. 2013 Ford Tourneo Custom Limited, 9 seats. Tried Adrian of the Flux capacitor, they couldn't get anywhere near that. Have submitted my details for Chris Knott but haven't heard back yet. Drove to work unknowingly uninsured. Not co-op's responsibility to remind me I know, but a text a few days before would have been nice, rather than the day after it expired. Arseholes.

 

Edit: oh yeah, I've got one more year no claims, now been driving for over four years, one no other car involved accident in 2012, and yet my premium has gone up, not down. I mean, just arg.

[anonymous user]

That sounds like the living embodiment of Hell.

 

Why, when told about this, didn't you just say "Sorry, but you can FRO with that idea" ?

 

 

I mean, what the fuck? Corporate-enforced joviality but it's a THREE HOUR drive away from where you normally work, with mandatory Christmas jumpers? I'm cringing just at the thought of it.

Forced Christmas jollity is one of the many reasons why I chose to write off over a third of my pension so that I could retire early.

[oldcars]

Xmas works parties are my idea of hell. I turned down one job because one of the perks* was a (forced) weekend away Christmas thing. No thanks, they were stunned the party was my reason for saying no to the position.

[Parky]

I avoid Christmas do's like the plague. Think I only ever attended two in my whole career. It's all the "supposed" traditions that I can't stand, such as:

 

"You gotta have Turkey, it's Christmas!"

"You gotta have a drink, it's Christmas!"

"Where's your funny jumper and elf hat? It's Christmas!"

"Cheer up, it's Christmas!"

 

Dunno if it's just me or not but rather than shell out for a hire suit and spend all night buying rounds of shots (and a coke for myself) before being forced to get a cab home because the trains have stopped, I would rather chuck a few quid to Shelter or chuck a homeless guy some money to get a hostel for the night.

 

Funnily enough none of my work colleagues have ever said "come on, let's help someone less fortunate, it's Christmas!!"

[M'coli]

Fucking car insurance. Got a text today at ten past nine (which I read at lunch time) from Co-op saying, essentially, "your car insurance expired yesterday, thanks for your custom, now fuck off". Called them and apparently something has changed in the last year that means they can't insure me any more. Last year I paid £800ish, this year the cheapest quote I can get is £1022. Tried all the comparison websites. Direct Line continue to deny my car exists for some reason. It's my modern. 2013 Ford Tourneo Custom Limited, 9 seats. Tried Adrian of the Flux capacitor, they couldn't get anywhere near that. Have submitted my details for Chris Knott but haven't heard back yet. Drove to work unknowingly uninsured. Not co-op's responsibility to remind me I know, but a text a few days before would have been nice, rather than the day after it expired. Arseholes.

 

Edit: oh yeah, I've got one more year no claims, now been driving for over four years, one no other car involved accident in 2012, and yet my premium has gone up, not down. I mean, just arg.

A renewal (or non-renewal) notice should have come through the post in the last 3-4 weeks, so if they haven't done that it's proper snide.

[Slartibartfast]

They claim to have sent me a letter. If so I never got it.

[Bobthebeard]

I avoid Christmas do's like the plague. Think I only ever attended two in my whole career. It's all the "supposed" traditions that I can't stand, such as:

"You gotta have Turkey, it's Christmas!"

"You gotta have a drink, it's Christmas!"

"Where's your funny jumper and elf hat? It's Christmas!"

"Cheer up, it's Christmas!"

Dunno if it's just me or not but rather than shell out for a hire suit and spend all night buying rounds of shots (and a coke for myself) before being forced to get a cab home because the trains have stopped, I would rather chuck a few quid to Shelter or chuck a homeless guy some money to get a hostel for the night.

Funnily enough none of my work colleagues have ever said "come on, let's help someone less fortunate, it's Christmas!!"

Just this... My thoughts exactly!

[jakebullet]

Packing orders all day fried my brain, and I fell for a phishing message, so some twat pretending to be amazon support now has my mobile number. It's not really going to do them any good mind, as there's maybe 5 people's calls I'll take and everyone else gets ignored.

[Pillock]

It gets better. There's a lip sync battle for the hi jinks.

 

I'm currently having a quick half hour chill in my car, I've offered to "support" the dancing thing, dinner is at 8 and as people will start to get shitfaced then, I'm off home as nobody will even notice.

 

I'll also make sure I start planning in conference calls from about 9am tomorrow.

[Mr A Lawrence]

Any of those 5 people tell you to move out??

[oldcars]

It gets better. There's a lip sync battle for the hi jinks.

 

I'm currently having a quick half hour chill in my car, I've offered to "support" the dancing thing, dinner is at 8 and as people will start to get shitfaced then, I'm off home as nobody will even notice.

 

I'll also make sure I start planning in conference calls from about 9am tomorrow.

You have my sympathy. I have no idea what lip sync battle is, but at a guess it must be worse than the dancing thing if your doing that.

[saucedoctor]

Karaoke, I imagine.

[Slartibartfast]

It's more like miming along to a song.

[Craig the Princess]

You have my sympathy. I have no idea what lip sync battle is, but at a guess it must be worse than the dancing thing if your doing that.

I guess the battle is keeping the will to live through it.

[Pillock]

It's enforced, and stupid is what it is.

 

The fantastic thing is that it feels a lot like bullying, everyone is strongly urged to get involved and perform on stage. Strongly urged.

 

Did I mention this is an HR department?

 

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[beko1987]

I don't get all the gate for Xmas do's.

 

We have a department one, and it helps that I like my colleagues I know, but we chose our own place, got £30 each from the company, plus alot of drinks will be expensed. I'm looking forward to ours.

 

It is a good excuse to call people cunts though after a few, but tbh we are the sort of place where we call each other that on a normal working day.

[DodgeRover]

I'm looking forwards to our works do, I did suggest it would be cheaper and less distructive if we all got taken somewhere sunny to go surfing but the boss has booked a table and drinks in a restaurant in a very posh town....I'm thinking a week surfing would have been cheaper.

[chaseracer]

It's enforced, and stupid is what it is.

 

The fantastic thing is that it feels a lot like bullying, everyone is strongly urged to get involved and perform on stage. Strongly urged.

 

Did I mention this is an HR department?

 

My strongest urge would be to invite them to FRO, stat.

[crapcarcollector]

Prick.

Request on another forum for a hard to find part. Yours truly has this part. I offer part but it's still on the car.

Other member is desperate, so Mr nice guy here drives 15 miles to where car is stored, removes said part in the dark by phone torch and drives home again. Post on other form picture of part complete with part number.

 

Silence.

 

Wait a day then ask if he still wants it/where to post.

 

Nothing. Radio silence.

 

If you don't fucking want it, fine, no bother. Just say FFS, but don't pester, send me on a wild goose chase then ignore me.

 

Prick.

 

 

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[mercrocker]

Won't go anywhere with anybody I work with, forced, work related or not.   I go to work at my desk which is where I am paid to be.   I get there when I am supposed to and often leave after I am supposed to.   That, as far as I am concerned is more than enough to be getting on with.   Any other suggestion falls into the FRO basket.    Got offered a free "corporate" night out last Saturday - hotel, 3 course dinner, comedian* and it was hinted possibly a stripper.   All in a village 5 miles away.   I chose to drive 65 miles in the other direction to be in a pub with 12 mates and a five piece band.   All fully clothed.  Fuck work "bonding" bollocks.

[gordonbennet]

Nor me, it's bad enough the short time i'm in the yard seeing and hearing the bleeders kiss each others arses and arrange everything to suit their agendas and back pockets, i'm buggered if i'm going to spend a bloody minute of my time seeing them cosying up to each other in their little cliques.

[Pillock]

I've really enjoyed Christmas parties when I was in a large team, had mates there, and everyone was normal.

 

Now I work with people who are so faux-upper class, all out to prove their worth to each other, that it's unbearable. It's all posh wine and small talk.

 

I've spent the last half hour making a playlist to stick on for the journey home.

[richardmorris]

I spent last night at an "informal" drinks do up at the big hoooose with Prince Edward and family. Not my idea of relaxing! Nibbles were very nice, but I stuck to mineral water over the punch. His Royal highness was polite and friendly ( he'd lost my card, ha, ha) and his daughter very polite and dutifully going round each group saying hello etc. I did enjoy standing on a very nice white rug in front of the open fire until I realised it was a polar bear skin. Complete with head even!

 

Also got stopped by the police on the way up the drive as I always walk ( drivers get stopped at the main entrance but I use the gardener's gate ) . Excuse me sir, what's your name etc, then "have you been to the estate before ?" . Yes I've lived here for seven years!!

[richardmorris]

My 17 year old jvc TV just died. Turned on just now and all it has to show is some horizontal lines at the top of the screen before turning itself off again. Why now and not last Friday for the special deals!!

I have tried banging on the top- - lesson learned from the early 80s of my parents dodgy tv, but all it did was make more lines!

New one is a bit bigger than I was expecting. Anyone need a freeview box free with just postage costs?

[Snipes]

I;m dodging the work do this year, too. Last year it was a curry, really very nice curry at a restaurant my girlfriend and I now frequent, but watching a bunch of drunk 20-odd year olds act like teenagers isn't very appealing at all. I don't mind a drink but I'd much rather be drinking a nice little something while having a snazzy meal or out in a forest smashing down trails with mountain bike buddies.

 

They seem to think I'm being anti-social. Maybe, and I do feel like I'm possibly being misanthropic, but fuck it I've spent enough of my life pandering to the demands of "friends" I never even liked.

[richardmorris]

My 17 year old jvc TV just died. Turned on just now and all it has to show is some horizontal lines at the top of the screen before turning itself off again. Why now and not last Friday for the special deals!!

I have tried banging on the top- - lesson learned from the early 80s of my parents dodgy tv, but all it did was make more lines!

New one is a bit bigger than I was expecting.

 

No idea why there are two posts, anyway. Pics.

 

Digibix has remote, instructions and possibly box if I can find it.

[Cavcraft]

I can't choose who I work with, but I can choose who I drink with.

[Tamworthbay]

Ah shit, turns out the MiL isn't busy at Christmas after all.............

[Supernaut]

I just want to move to the Highlands, get a simple job, and live on my own while telling the rest of the world to FRO after reading the last page and a bit.

[DeeJay]

I'm looking forward to my works night out.

I wasn't when I thought it was going to be held in Kirkby (local to work) but it's in the City centre so plenty of other places to go if I fancy a change.