The grumpy thread

[barefoot]

Kick the dogs as well.

[Guest Hooli]

Go to your local TUI & kick the staff, the dogs have done nothing wrong.

[oldcars]

My wife was knocked down on holiday, in Crete, at the beginning of October

 

We had to pay extra to stay in the room a bit longer as she was in pain - it turned out she had a cracked rib, cracked elbow and damaged tendon - and reception showed no sympathy and charged us extra.

 

I've been dealing with TUI's 'complaints' procedure for over 2 months now - they get information sent to them and acknowledge it - and then a couple of weeks or so later I ask what is happening and they deny all knowledge and say I've given the wrong reference even though it's the one they quote.

 

I finally got through to a human being today who tells me it's being worked on by the 'level 2' team, whatever that means but can't explain why there are no updates or when I'm likely to get a reply. I'm sorry to say I lost it as it's not his fault - he'll just be working to a script.

 

If they'd apologised in a reasonable timeframe it'd be one thing but I am now totally pissed off with their attitude and all the time I've wasted. It's now become a matter of 'principle'.

 

Sorry for the rant - I've just got off the 'phone and it's either write this or kick the dogs and I can't do that

Have you had any form of written reply from them? They are a member of ABTA and have maximum 28 days from the day the acknowledgment was sent to you. If they have passed this with no written reply they are beaching ABTA code of conduct. Abta can be contacted here - https://www.abta.com/

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Fucking Hell.  Today is a bad one.

 

So, I often do tech for performance as part of my job.  We have an agreed procedure.  You send me a list of what you want, I rig, focus and program the lights, sort out any sound effects and music.  They give me a list of cues to work on.  We then do a technical rehearsal, usually a dress and away we go.  I'm a single-handed techie but I'm fine with that.  I'm bloody good at what I do.

 

Except this time.  The person running this event has extreme form on not following the procedure.  She asked me a week ago (red flag number 1, as I have a big event on Friday that is in rehearsal all day and performing up to 10PM (including me performing as well)) so I'm already pissed off.  I go over and focus and program some lights on vague instructions that were put on an email a week ago.  Which promised cues.  None have since arisen.

 

This morning, guilty party comes in, reveals to me that they're using a different stage layout (end on) so my hour focussing the lights was a waste of time, then tells me it's all a bit (using their words) 'YOLO' (they're in their 40s FFS) because they haven't really rehearsed or had any kind of run through.  Because it's kids performing, they have 85 seats claimed (in a space that should only take about 70 maximum due to fire regulations and the number of chairs we have).  Then asks me to grab a few bits from another department I work in because she wants to use them.

 

The straw that breaks my back is that now she wants me to be the 'Voice of God' over the PA.  

 

Until today, I was just going to put some lights up and down and fuck off home.  But oh no.

 

Their superior is leaving in a week (fair enough) but shares the same opinion of them as me.  He's not the line manager though - which is a shame because it's a really, really unfair way of doing things.

 

I'm seriously tempted to call their bluff and tell them what I think (then not turn up) but i) it's my job and ii) it would be letting the kids down.

 

There's a reason that most of the responsibility was taken away from this individual and I haven't done any shows for them in nearly two years.  When the new superior starts in January, I'm going to tell them exactly what's happened and why I won't be doing any more shows for them ever again.  Fortunately, the new person has also worked with the perpetrator before and they have a mutual dislike of each other, so that will help...

[loserone]

Get Siri or Alexa to say the lines for the voice of God

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Get Siri or Alexa to say the lines for the voice of God

 

 

Very fucking tempting.

[chadders]

Have you had any form of written reply from them? They are a member of ABTA and have maximum 28 days from the day the acknowledgment was sent to you. If they have passed this with no written reply they are beaching ABTA code of conduct. Abta can be contacted here - https://www.abta.com/

 

Thanks - I've just gone down the ABTA route - I've never complained about a holiday in the past and thought that TUI was a reputable firm that would deal with its complaints

[oldcars]

Thanks - I've just gone down the ABTA route - I've never complained about a holiday in the past and thought that TUI was a reputable firm that would deal with its complaints

They normally are. It seems there service has dropped in the last year or so. Lots of issues with the cruises etc.

[The Moog]

Just over a cold and now a stomach bug... That's what come from working with lots of students...

[Datsuncog]

Right, so - it turned out that Velux have now changed their blind designs, with the Duo-Blind now comprising a sort of push-me-pull-you affair, with blackout above and voile below... and this is then added afterwards, rather than inset during the glazing unit manufacture. So all's well that ends well on that!

There was a problem with their mobile card reader, so they phoned me back later when it was back online.

While I was in the shower.

[gm]

Just over a MASSIVE HANGOVER... That's what come from working with lots of students...

 

 

?

[dozeydustman]

Something in the back of my head thinks my stepdaughter's girlfriend is being abused at home. Something was mentioned the other day when she stayed over as she said her dad referred to her as a "dirty dyke" and looked close to tears when she said it. Also noticed a bruise on her arm.

 

No way to treat a 16 year old. Especially one who's really happy with my SD and vice versa.

 

Wife and I have been e-mailing a few child protection charities for advice on what to do. If she was 18 I'd just tell her to move in.

[barefoot]

Just over a Massive Hand-job... That's what come from working with lots of young, female students...

 

 

Apologies in advance.

[The Moog]

?

I wish !

[purplebargeken]

Funeral today was lovely, hugely sad but lovely if you know what I mean.

 

Good bye Bill, catch up with you in time mate.

[somewhatfoolish]

Something in the back of my head thinks my stepdaughter's girlfriend is being abused at home. Something was mentioned the other day when she stayed over as she said her dad referred to her as a "dirty dyke" and looked close to tears when she said it. Also noticed a bruise on her arm.

 

No way to treat a 16 year old. Especially one who's really happy with my SD and vice versa.

 

Wife and I have been e-mailing a few child protection charities for advice on what to do. If she was 18 I'd just tell her to move in.

Aren't you allowed to leave home at 16 any more? I know you're supposed to be in edumacation until 18.

[dozeydustman]

Aren't you allowed to leave home at 16 any more? I know you're supposed to be in edumacation until 18.

 

 

From what I can gather yes you can move out at 16, but the parents can get a court order for the child to be taken back home. If the girls were well established, not a couple of months together, then I'd certainly talk to the wife about her moving in.

 

I'm going to sit wife & stepdaughter down together and talk about it, hopefully before the weekend.

[purplebargeken]

There is a word to describe her removing herself from parental control. I just can't think what it is.

[purplebargeken]

Emancipation!

 

https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/ask-sam/your-feelings-asksam/moving-out-at-16/

[Floatylight]

£300 for new discs & pads on the daily that I only need because the garage wouldn't listen when I've said at least 5 times that the brakes were binding!!! Grrr!

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Guest Hooli]

£300 for new discs & pads on the daily that I only need because the garage wouldn't listen when I've said at least 5 times that the brakes were binding!!! Grrr!

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

 

They'll still bind if the calipers aren't sorted out at the same time. Might just be sticky sliders which need doing to change the discs if you're lucky.

[dozeydustman]

Emancipation!

 

https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/ask-sam/your-feelings-asksam/moving-out-at-16/

 

 

Cheers PBKen, I'll show this to stepdaughter tomorrow. As I said earlier if they were well established as a couple, I'd have spoken to wife about taking her in. Perhaps I still should.

[purplebargeken]

Wouldn't hurt to have a natter with wifey mate.

 

Childline will hopefully be able to guide you further.

 

Hope it goes well.

[dozeydustman]

Wifey has had her works xmas meal today and has imbibed, so not the best condition in which to discuss such matters at the moment!

 

I can try and get wifey and stepdaughter together for a few minutes tomorrow evening. I do feel madam knows something and isn't telling us.

[DeeJay]

They always do.

[Captain Furious]

Mildly annoyed that some cunt has broken into my caravan and nicked the gas bottles, at the same time slightly offended that they were deemed the only thing worthy of stealing.

[fairkens]

Mildly annoyed that some cunt has broken into my caravan and nicked the gas bottles, at the same time slightly offended that they were deemed the only thing worthy of stealing.

Funny that isnt it? I had my car broken into and they took all my CDs apart from an Erasure album, their critique of my musical taste still smarts a bit

[meshking]

Funny that isnt it? I had my car broken into and they took all my CDs apart from an Erasure album, their critique of my musical taste still smarts a bit

I've been there. They left my pink Floyd cd. I'm glad they weren't intelligent enough to get around the immobiliser.

[Captain Furious]

I’d have taken the erasure CD as a matter of priority (you know, if I was a thieving cunt breaking into your car)

 

Under GDPR everyone has the right to erasure

[Saabnut]

Many years ago, a good friend with no taste in music had his house broken into, and the usual stuff taken. Before they stole the stereo, they ejected the Bony M CD and placed it with all his other CDs and left them all behind!