The grumpy thread

[omegod]

1 minute ago, artdjones said:

This is the result of last week's grinder episode, done by the edge of a flap disc.

Ouch ! I'm a nob for running it without the guard tbh, slim discs are lethal and 3 of them let go on me ,  fecking rusty droplinks 

[BorniteIdentity]

23 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I don't think that Royal Mail should still be selling 24hr/48hr/ guaranteed delivery by a certain time services.

My experience is - face to face - they're not.

I tried to buy Special 9am last month and was told I COULD, but the promised delivery time was now 11am.  Or I could buy Special 12PM, with a promised delivery time of 12PM.  On the basis that they're clearly not going to do a run at 11 and a run at 12 out to a remote little village near Bath, I took the saving.

I reckon the automated systems will probably still take your money (shit) but the nice lady at the post office will tell you more.  She did in my case.

Hope it turns up ok.

[Tickman]

1 hour ago, omegod said:

Remember kids, grinders ain’t no toy , luckily had 2 pairs of thick gloves on but finger burnt a bit 😢

 

27 minutes ago, artdjones said:

This is the result of last week's grinder episode, done by the edge of a flap disc.

This is the result of a new flap disc through two pairs of thick gloves many months ago. 

It was still plenty warm enough to sit outside in the garden with a t shirt on when it happened. 

I bought some gloves that are knife proof after it.

[Datsuncog]

34 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

My experience is - face to face - they're not.

I tried to buy Special 9am last month and was told I COULD, but the promised delivery time was now 11am.  Or I could buy Special 12PM, with a promised delivery time of 12PM.  On the basis that they're clearly not going to do a run at 11 and a run at 12 out to a remote little village near Bath, I took the saving.

I reckon the automated systems will probably still take your money (shit) but the nice lady at the post office will tell you more.  She did in my case.

Hope it turns up ok.

Cheers, man!

Yeah, I reckon the actual Post Office staff probably would have been more candid about delivery timeframes - but I thought it'd be safer and easier to use the online click and drop service, than rock up and queue for the counter.

There was a message online stating that their Guaranteed 9am services had been extended to 11am, and that's fair enough - as you say, it's not really practical to have multiple runs in rural areas. But it didn't elaborate on the other timebound services.

I wouldn't have been all that bothered if the parcel had taken 48hrs or so to arrive, even though I paid for the 24hr service - there's certainly bigger worries right now. It was more for the tracking peace of mind, and it wasn't much more to spring for the 24hr service over the 48hr one.

But no delivery after 4 days, and no tracking updates to even tell me that it's in transit, gives me Teh Fearz.

Oh well, it's not like I'd be driving the Forester anywhere anyway... but I would quite like my Sega Megadrive out of the boot, is all.

[BorniteIdentity]

This has made me grumpy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814?fbclid=IwAR1MgYp1RSKkTXnM8qbNKqREX4lhymi0gx2X5ZcpN2O2P3LKaH8wr-d1glc

Soz, but spirit shouldn’t come into it. Either the legislation is clear, in which case please enforce it Mr Officer (as it’s written) or it’s not in which case you don’t start interpreting it as you so wish. 

If we’re not letting people travel 5 miles to exercise in quieter places, then fine. Fucking say so. Be explicit. Be crystal Fucking clear. 

But if we are - and sorry to sound all Karen - go catch some fucking crims. 

[Talbot]

6 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

This has made me grumpy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814?fbclid=IwAR1MgYp1RSKkTXnM8qbNKqREX4lhymi0gx2X5ZcpN2O2P3LKaH8wr-d1glc

Soz, but spirit shouldn’t come into it. Either the legislation is clear, in which case please enforce it Mr Officer (as it’s written) or it’s not in which case you don’t start interpreting it as you so wish. 

If we’re not letting people travel 5 miles to exercise in quieter places, then fine. Fucking say so. Be explicit. Be crystal Fucking clear. 

But if we are - and sorry to sound all Karen - go catch some fucking crims. 

Given some of the shit that other people are "getting away with" that does seem like the police made a massive error of judgement.  And a hot drink is a picnic?  Bog off.  It wouldn't surprise me if the Police cancel those two fixed penalties.

[wuvvum]

Derbyshire Police have form for going a bit OTT on enforcing Covid regs...

[Timewaster]

3 hours ago, Talbot said:

Grump of the day:  Speed Awareness Course.  

/rant

Our company ran an internal awareness course once for everyone who had an  incident claim on a company vehicle. 

(some did point out the risks of getting all our unsafe drivers to go to the same place at the same time but still..) 

My workmate had to go as he had reversed into a post 6 months earlier. 

He said it was really heavy going, graphic pictures of crash injuries, videos of crying widows, interviews with fire fighters describing accidents and the impact on everyone's lives. 

He turned to the guy next to him who was looking a bit pale and  queasy  and said "this is a bit much isn't it?!" 

Queasy man replied "I'm only here because my wheel trims got stolen!" 

 

Our company never bothered again. 

[Agila]

What's that burning smell?🔥 🔥 🔥 🤔

[Angrydicky]

5 hours ago, Talbot said:

Grump of the day:  Speed Awareness Course.  I've heard people say good things about them in the past, both on here and elsewhere.

Had one this morning after taking a calculated risk by driving at +10%+7,  (speed awareness courses generally being offered up to +10%+9) and my luck ran out.  No surprise, it was going to happen some time, and I knew I was in SAC territory rather than points+fine.  I went into it with an open mind, expecting and hoping to have the same positive experience others have had.  And?

Utterly fucking useless.  It taught me absolutely nothing at all.  Complete and utter waste of 3hrs of my life.  I could have *run* the damn course.  Not only that, but the trainer was demonstrably wrong on a couple of points, which, when gently challenged on them, she basically said "I'm the trainer, you're not, I know what I'm talking about, you don't.  Shut up and listen".  No point arguing, so I just sat in basic silence for the rest of the course.  A couple of other people seemed to nod in agreement when I made my point, one even said so, but then also just remained silent for the rest of the course, presumably also just thinking "bollocks to it.  just be quiet and it'll be over soon", rather than risk being identified as someone who has not engaged with the course.

I even got accused of cheating, just because I knew the answers to several of her questions.  Seriously?  JFO.

Maybe it was just this trainer, but the entire course seemed to be full of detritus and waffle.  About as effective as a fart in a tornado.  I *almost* wish I'd taken the points and fine now.

/rant

Couldn't agree more. I've had the misfortune to do two, both a complete waste of time and money. 

I'm a lot more careful these days, but if I do get caught by another sneaky scamera van I think I'll just take the points, as I really can't be arsed to go through that rigmarole again.

[High Jetter]

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

[Jerzy Woking]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Derbyshire Police have form for going a bit OTT on enforcing Covid regs...

Probably took Covid lessons from the Spanish police. If they say white is black, its black, not a sort of shade of grey.

[Talbot]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

Where's the fun* in that?

I definitely think it's worth doing the course to avoid the points, I just wish it had been aimed at someone with more understanding of road law than a squashed melon.  Some of the stuff they were discussing was unbelievably basic shit.

[Angrydicky]

15 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

Well done.

The first time was fair enough, I was flying along and not concentrating.

The second time was a bloody piss take, I was slowing down from 50 in an NSL as I saw a 30 sign in the distance, and as I drew level with the sign, just round a gentle bend was the bloody scamera van. 34 in a bloody 30. I've never been one for slamming on the brakes when I hit a 30. Pissed off was an understatement.

[High Jetter]

I wasn't meaning to preach, have been guilty of it myself (though never caught, yet). Highway Code says, and IAM 'tutors' were insistant, that you should slow to 30 (or whatever) by the time you reach the sign - conversely not going to a higher speed until after the 40/50/NSL sign.

[sdkrc]

Spot my tyre tracks...

I did try turn and to brake but nope. Front left wheel now off-centre. 

BUY WINTER TYRES PEOPLE and don't drive big cats in the snow

[Talbot]

1 minute ago, Angrydicky said:

The second time was a bloody piss take, I was slowing down from 50 in an NSL as I saw a 30 sign in the distance, and as I drew level with the sign, just round a gentle bend was the bloody scamera van. 34 in a bloody 30. I've never been one for slamming on the brakes when I hit a 30. Pissed off was an understatement.

This sort of "conviction" seems counter-productive at best, and a complete piss-take at worst.  Had that been a Police officer who pulled you over for said 34 in a 30, there's every good chance you would have had "words of advice" and been let on your way.  Said officer would have seen that you were slowing from 50 to get to the limit, but just hadn't quite managed to reach said arbitrary limit at exactly the point needed.  A very minor error.  Also odd that you were prosecuted for that speed:  34 in a 30 is usually not prosecuted.  ACPO guidelines currently indicate that the lowest speed for prosecution should be limit+10%+2, which would be 35.

My course today was completely reasonable:  I was pinged at 73 in a 60, which (as I mentioned above) is limit+10%+7, so right in SAC territory.  It was still basically bullshit, as the road I was on is an excellent quality dual carriageway, the 60 limit being due to an accident that happened years ago quite a bit further up that stretch, so a 60 limit was slapped on several miles of it.  I just wish the course had been more along the lines of what others have reported, rather than just Mr. Mackey from south park going "speed is bad, M'kay?"

[Angrydicky]

1 minute ago, Talbot said:

This sort of "conviction" seems counter-productive at best, and a complete piss-take at worst.  Had that been a Police officer who pulled you over for said 34 in a 30, there's every good chance you would have had "words of advice" and been let on your way.  Said officer would have seen that you were slowing from 50 to get to the limit, but just hadn't quite managed to reach said arbitrary limit at exactly the point needed.  A very minor error.  Also odd that you were prosecuted for that speed:  34 in a 30 is usually not prosecuted.  ACPO guidelines currently indicate that the lowest speed for prosecution should be limit+10%+2, which would be 35.

My course today was completely reasonable:  I was pinged at 73 in a 60, which (as I mentioned above) is limit+10%+7, so right in SAC territory.  It was still basically bullshit, as the road I was on is an excellent quality dual carriageway, the 60 limit being due to an accident that happened years ago quite a bit further up that stretch, so a 60 limit was slapped on several miles of it.  I just wish the course had been more along the lines of what others have reported, rather than just Mr. Mackey from south park going "speed is bad, M'kay?"

It was Hampshire Cunstabulary who were the culprits in this case, only about the fourth time I've ever visited the county in my life, and certainly won't be rushing back there. Definitely 34. Had the "evidence" photos from them and everything. Just pure revenue raising, positioning the van like that. 

[cort1977]

I thought it was '10% + 2'?  So up to 79 on a motorway you're generally OK if the slightly optimistic speedo shows 80?

10% + 7 is 84mph.

[Talbot]

Just now, cort1977 said:

I thought it was '10% + 2'?  So up to 79 on a motorway you're generally OK if the slightly optimistic speedo shows 80?

10% + 7 is 84mph.

+10%+2 is the start of conviction, +10%+9 is the limit for SAC.  So in a 70 limit you're OK* up to 78.  79 would be a speed awareness course.  87 would be the fastest for a SAC, 88 would take you back to the future into points/fine territory.

I was in a 60 limit doing 73, hence +10%+7.  75 would still have been SAC, 76 would be points.

Hence why I was doing less than 75. 

[Craig the Princess]

6 minutes ago, Talbot said:

+10%+2 is the start of conviction, +10%+9 is the limit for SAC.  So in a 70 limit you're OK* up to 78.  79 would be a speed awareness course.  87 would be the fastest for a SAC, 88 would take you back to the future into points/fine territory.

I was in a 60 limit doing 73, hence +10%+7.  75 would still have been SAC, 76 would be points.

Hence why I was doing less than 75. 

So you knew the speed you were doing would get you a SAC and yet you seem to be complaining you got a SAC.

I got one for doing 34 in a 30 a few years back, fair cop. Did it piss me off? Yes. Was it anyone elses fault? No.

[Talbot]

1 minute ago, Craig the Princess said:

So you knew the speed you were doing would get you a SAC and yet you seem to be complaining you got a SAC.

I got one for doing 34 in a 30 a few years back, fair cop. Did it piss me off? Yes. Was it anyone elses fault? No.

No, I knew I would get a SAC and am not complaining about getting it.  My point is that the SAC itself was a steaming pile of shit.  I was at least hoping it would be active and useful driver training.  It wasn't.

[Craig the Princess]

1 minute ago, Talbot said:

No, I knew I would get a SAC and am not complaining about getting it.  My point is that the SAC itself was a steaming pile of shit.  I was at least hoping it would be active and useful driver training.  It wasn't.

Maybe the one I had was better, I though it had some useful information.

 

[GeorgeB]

7 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

The Forester's slightly sticky and temperamental remote locking key finally gave up on Boxing Day morning, failing to unlock the car even after careful cleaning and installation of a new battery. Looks like the microswitch has gone in it.

Not the grump.

The car only came with one key, as per usual in Autoshite territory, but early plans to simply buy a new spare key fell through as this car (an ex-Subaru UK demo car with a few features I'm told are very unusual) has a strange single-button key shell that no-one seems able to supply as a replacement, including the main dealer.

 

This may help: https://www.scoobynet.com/security-16/862988-sigma-alarm-fob.html

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, sdkrc said:

Spot my tyre tracks...

I did try turn and to brake but nope. Front left wheel now off-centre. 

BUY WINTER TYRES PEOPLE and don't drive big cats in the snow

Should have turned off the traction control and floored it - then it would be your back wheel which was out of alignment you would have drifted round the corner like a boss and everyone would have thought you were really cool.

[Jerzy Woking]

I was "offered" a place on a Driver Awareness Course, but don't know what I had done. I just got a letter, stating that at a particular time on a particular date, and between two junctions of a motorway, I had performed careless riding. No idea what careless riding I had done to get this letter.

And the only way to find out was to attend court, and three weeks they would disclose details of the offence. Or I could plead guilty and take 3 points and a fine. Or attend a course at the price of £1 less than the fine would be.

Took the course, quite interesting as all it did was to let us look at our attitudes to other road users, and see how they saw us. 

[beko1987]

59 minutes ago, Craig the Princess said:

So you knew the speed you were doing would get you a SAC and yet you seem to be complaining you got a SAC.

I got one for doing 34 in a 30 a few years back, fair cop. Did it piss me off? Yes. Was it anyone elses fault? No.

On my SAC (for 33 in a 30) there was a guy on my table who was there for 75 on the m1. Said he's done tens of thousands of miles with the cruise set at 75 and he's only now been caught, reckoned it balanced out with the time saved etc. 

Sort of made sense, hope he knocked it down to 74!

Im still on 6 points (3 barely there I think now) so I drive like miss daisy if I'm unsure of the roads. On my 33 in a 30 I do still swear the speedo needle on the xantia was reading 30, but I'd never prove it and it just made me slap myself and pay attention. My blue laguna with a speed limiter was amazing, if I did actual miles I'd insist on it on a car over cruise control (but I guess they all come together now) 

[New POD]

I think the speed limiter is an "upgrade" to the cruise control. I dont think you get it without cruise, but you can definately get cruise without the speed limiter function. 

Speed limiter more useful in a 50 motorway section, as you are forever having to reduce your speed to 46 or 47, so it allows you to drive normally, but never go over 50. Whereas if you set the cruise to 50, you are forever, knocking it off and adjusting the speed and pressing resume. 

[New POD]

1 hour ago, Talbot said:

No, I knew I would get a SAC and am not complaining about getting it.  My point is that the SAC itself was a steaming pile of shit.  I was at least hoping it would be active and useful driver training.  It wasn't.

The one I did was useful.   I was the only smart arse who knew the speed limits, on NSL roads.  There was a bit of propaganda, but the guy was pragmatic. Look it's the law. If you want to go above the speed limit it's at your risk of getting points. But at least understand where it's foolish to try to drive at the speed limit.  The best bit was the hazard awareness video.  The road was a 60, but there were 2 or 3 points where you'd not want to do 40. 

The one thing I learnt, was that unless there are repeaters, it's either 30 or 60. Any other limit has repeater signs. And if you don't know the limit, you can sometimes guess as you go past a side road. So if the side road says 30, and the road you are on has no repeaters it's a 60. 

[Talbot]

50 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

On my SAC (for 33 in a 30) there was a guy on my table who was there for 75 on the m1. Said he's done tens of thousands of miles with the cruise set at 75 and he's only now been caught, reckoned it balanced out with the time saved etc. 

Again, both of those are outside of  ACPO guidelines for action to be taken.  I do wonder what special/different circumstances were in force when those were put forward for action to be taken.

50 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

My blue laguna with a speed limiter was amazing, if I did actual miles I'd insist on it on a car over cruise control (but I guess they all come together now) 

Cruse and limit drive seem to go hand-in-hand these days.  I say "these days", my 23 year-old S210 has cruise and limit drive, and I use both all the time.

Also, you can fit cruise to your Xsara.  You just need the left-hand lower "stalk" that comes out of the steering column (mirror image of the radio controls one on the right) and then to enable it with Lexia.  The earlier XUD engines couldn't do it, but the DW10 ones can.