The grumpy thread

[jakebullet]

I thought things have been going well with Kinky Girl recently and we've been having a nice time. Wrong!

She messangers last night with "I hope you're happy we're going into lockdown again!! Fucking Boris and not banning all the Indians from coming here. TWAT!"

Er, sweetie, I'm not the conservative party headquarters, or on the SAGE committee. And your Nostradamus powers of hindsight are flawed, given this is another copy of the same we should have locked everyone out rant you've been using for a full year. 

She then goes on to say I'm constantly picking on her. Eh? Apparently saying there's a hole in your trousers is a personal attack now?

Which way is the single & sad thread?  I'm constantly on edge with trying to guess what OCD is going to kick off next, and if I've got to guess what random things will offend as well I may as well give up.

[PhilA]

  On 01/06/2021 at 08:51, goosey said:

When I spoke to my wife about 10 mins ago, she said the fire had all but gone out by 9ish. To be fair if we’d have asked him he probably would have put it out as he’s a sound bloke and it isn’t an everyday occurrence.

I don’t know why but it really really pissed me off this morning, beautiful day and someone having a burn 

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Used to be local ordinance that you couldn't burn any time other than between the hours of 6pm and 10pm - not including barbeques- because of "people having their washing out on the line to dry". That was Avon County Council (as-was) rules, so there may be similar bylaws where you at.

My grump is that the weather was really nice for the whole weekend, cool and dry and perfect outside weather. I got to spend it with my hermit children and their autistic cousin. Pleasant lad but can't be left by himself so instead of heading to the garage to work on the car I got to stay in the house and do laundry.

Now the weather's gone all hot, airless and muggy and in taking the dogs out this morning I got bitten 3 times through my clothes by skeeters. 

You just watch. Now the kids will complain they want to do outside activities.

[New POD]

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:06, jakebullet said:

I thought things have been going well with Kinky Girl recently and we've been having a nice time. Wrong!

She messangers last night with "I hope you're happy we're going into lockdown again!! Fucking Boris and not banning all the Indians from coming here. TWAT!"

Er, sweetie, I'm not the conservative party headquarters, or on the SAGE committee. And your Nostradamus powers of hindsight are flawed, given this is another copy of the same we should have locked everyone out rant you've been using for a full year. 

She then goes on to say I'm constantly picking on her. Eh? Apparently saying there's a hole in your trousers is a personal attack now?

Which way is the single & sad thread?  I'm constantly on edge with trying to guess what OCD is going to kick off next, and if I've got to guess what random things will offend as well I may as well give up.

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Jake. I feel your pain. Add in death of 2 parents and now imagine what shit can come your way. 

[jakebullet]

  On 01/06/2021 at 13:51, New POD said:

Jake. I feel your pain. Add in death of 2 parents and now imagine what shit can come your way. 

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I've only got the one parent left, and she's not in the best of health. So probably got my sister trying to make me homeless in the next few years to add to the list. 

Bonus grump: car insurance who take the piss. Last year £335, good news! this year only £317. Hmmmmmm. Gocompare says £187. Phone up to cancel, 10 mins on hold, they can do me a very special deal of £220. Er, no. But do they have this magic feature? Don't know, don't care, it's a C1 not a rolls royce. Oh look, I've found a magic extra discount, £190! Not today thank you. £3 is £3. Bye!

 

[Jerzy Woking]

  On 01/06/2021 at 12:38, PhilA said:

Used to be local ordinance that you couldn't burn any time other than between the hours of 6pm and 10pm - not including barbeques- because of "people having their washing out on the line to dry". That was Avon County Council (as-was) rules, so there may be similar bylaws where you at.

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Where I live you have to get a fire licence from the local council, which is free. I could only have a bonfire between sunrise and 13.30 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Other areas in the town have the same times, but different days.

I said could because no fires are allowed between 1st June and 16th October (which was extended to mid November last year due to the dry summer).

 

[PhilA]

  On 01/06/2021 at 14:53, Jerzy Woking said:

Where I live you have to get a fire licence from the local council, which is free. I could only have a bonfire between sunrise and 13.30 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Other areas in the town have the same times, but different days.

I said could because no fires are allowed between 1st June and 16th October (which was extended to mid November last year due to the dry summer).

 

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If you're going to have anything bigger than a 44 gallon drum on fire you need to let the fire department know here. They come by and make sure you've got enough on hand that you can control it.

[Jerzy Woking]

  On 01/06/2021 at 17:15, PhilA said:

If you're going to have anything bigger than a 44 gallon drum on fire you need to let the fire department know here. They come by and make sure you've got enough on hand that you can control it.

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The downside of living near a forest I suppose.

[artdjones]

  On 01/06/2021 at 14:53, Jerzy Woking said:

Where I live you have to get a fire licence from the local council, which is free. I could only have a bonfire between sunrise and 13.30 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Other areas in the town have the same times, but different days.

I said could because no fires are allowed between 1st June and 16th October (which was extended to mid November last year due to the dry summer).

 

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I was on the Costa Blanca a few years ago in May when someone in the country decided he needed to burn rubbish. Later that day we watched from about 4 miles away as fires burned across a cast area of hillsides. According to my brother, the perpetrator could expect jail time.

[Bren]

In the gym on Thursday - felt a twinge at the bottom of my back. Stopped what I was doing.

I am in a lot of discomfort - painful back and hips and numbness in left leg.

I have a good mind to stop doing all my exercise - once you approach your fifties it seems tk do as much harm as good.

[PhilA]

Nuts.

I had to special order these. They came in, 2000-odd miles from Brooklyn.

I could understand something specialty but 5-40 brass nuts? Sheesh. Nowhere locally carried them. Everybody has 6-32 or 4-40. 

 

I was cheered up slightly by the appearance of a single sunshine mimosa by my mailbox, which the mail van promptly ran over.

 

That and it's too bloody hot

 

[Jerzy Woking]

  On 01/06/2021 at 18:34, artdjones said:

I was on the Costa Blanca a few years ago in May when someone in the country decided he needed to burn rubbish. Later that day we watched from about 4 miles away as fires burned across a cast area of hillsides. According to my brother, the perpetrator could expect jail time.

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Although I had a lot to burn, all tree and shrub cuttings, I keep the fire small and just keep adding to it bit by bit from the cuttings heap about 10 yards away. I have the pool backwash hose close by.

I do this exactly because of what your brother said. I'm was not going to take the risk of ending up in the slammer over an out of control bonfire.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 01/06/2021 at 18:34, artdjones said:

I was on the Costa Blanca a few years ago in May when someone in the country decided he needed to burn rubbish. Later that day we watched from about 4 miles away as fires burned across a cast area of hillsides. According to my brother, the perpetrator could expect jail time.

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Did that not depend on the Guardia Civil actually finding the fella?

[artdjones]

  On 01/06/2021 at 22:24, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Did that not depend on the Guardia Civil actually finding the fella?

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I seem to remember my brother saying that the info was known. In Ireland in Kerry and Cork there's huge illegal hillside fires every year, which get started under the mistaken belief that it improves the grazing.  No-one ever seems to get caught for them, though the pool of suspects must be fairly small. That is, people who have commonage rights in the affected area.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 02/06/2021 at 07:45, artdjones said:

I seem to remember my brother saying that the info was known. In Ireland in Kerry and Cork there's huge illegal hillside fires every year, which get started under the mistaken belief that it improves the grazing.  No-one ever seems to get caught for them, though the pool of suspects must be fairly small. That is, people who have commonage rights in the affected area.

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I know people will continue to cut peat in the boglands, despite any environmental bans!

[artdjones]

Yes, but again people have cutting rights on the bog from a long time back. It's like Germany, somehow they keep their enormous opencast brown coal mines operating, while every black coal mine in the UK shuts down.

[artdjones]

Who's doing the most environmental damage?

[High Jetter]

Turf wins on aroma every time though! I really miss that when visiting.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 02/06/2021 at 07:58, High Jetter said:

Turf wins on aroma every time though! I really miss that when visiting.

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Yes, it's a bit like trying to imagine Amsterdam without the smell of weed....

[cort1977]

  On 02/06/2021 at 07:45, artdjones said:

I seem to remember my brother saying that the info was known. In Ireland in Kerry and Cork there's huge illegal hillside fires every year, which get started under the mistaken belief that it improves the grazing.  No-one ever seems to get caught for them, though the pool of suspects must be fairly small. That is, people who have commonage rights in the affected area.

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In Scotland it's legal because it may make slightly better habitat for game birds.  For people to shoot.  Never mind the rest of the environment being an effective desert.

I would love to see Scotland properly rewilded with bears and wolves controlling the deer population and the forests allowed to regrow.  Would make going for a hike much more interesting...

[artdjones]

  On 02/06/2021 at 08:16, cort1977 said:

In Scotland it's legal because it may make slightly better habitat for game birds.  For people to shoot.  Never mind the rest of the environment being an effective desert.

I would love to see Scotland properly rewilded with bears and wolves controlling the deer population and the forests allowed to regrow.  Would make going for a hike much more interesting...

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Yeah, sounds like great fun.

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

  On 02/06/2021 at 08:16, cort1977 said:

In Scotland it's legal because it may make slightly better habitat for game birds.  For people to shoot.  Never mind the rest of the environment being an effective desert.

I would love to see Scotland properly rewilded with bears and wolves controlling the deer population and the forests allowed to regrow.  Would make going for a hike much more interesting...

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May also help control the endemic of posh people going North of the border to shoot every year.

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 02/06/2021 at 08:16, cort1977 said:

In Scotland it's legal because it may make slightly better habitat for game birds.  For people to shoot.  Never mind the rest of the environment being an effective desert.

I would love to see Scotland properly rewilded with bears and wolves controlling the deer population and the forests allowed to regrow.  Would make going for a hike much more interesting...

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Only if open carry is allowed for protection! Nae chance under Nanny Knows Best.

[Zelandeth]

Finally got around to properly investigating the siezed up valve on the shower in the en suite bathroom.  It's been knackered for ages so we've just used the shower in the main bathroom - but we're about to have a friend staying with us for several weeks while their house is being renovated...and five people to one shower doesn't sound like good math.

After the best part of an hour of swearing got the faceplate off.  Oh look, they installed it and then tiled over everything.  Wonderful!

Hoping that - if it can even be removed given the amount of scale present - replacing the cartridge in both valves will solve the problem without having to disturb the actual valve body.  Not holding my breath though.

Also there seem to be a plethora of different types...and they're expensive. 

Seriously considering just calling a plumber for this one - if I can find one who doesn't declare the job "Not worth getting out the van for" like last time anyway...

[brownnova]

My garden is in two halves, the half beside the house which we use, and the half behind which this year I left to go meadow-like to promote pollination.  But as my little one has had a cold go to her chest, resulting in a covid test  (it’s not covid, but because it’s a cough the doctor won’t do anything until covid is ruled out) and therefore isolating I decided to get mowing.

The grump is that my self propelled petrol mower will not run. It’ll start on the primer but won’t stay running for more than 3 seconds. Much fiddling and I still can’t get it going. Which means I’ve been mowing for several hours now with the electric mower... which is becoming very tired of this job. (It’s past my knees in places.) 

I really need a ride on mower, but bloody hell they’re expensive!! 

[Stanky]

  On 03/06/2021 at 14:42, brownnova said:

My garden is in two halves, the half beside the house which we use, and the half behind which this year I left to go meadow-like to promote pollination.  But as my little one has had a cold go to her chest, resulting in a covid test  (it’s not covid, but because it’s a cough the doctor won’t do anything until covid is ruled out) and therefore isolating I decided to get mowing.

The grump is that my self propelled petrol mower will not run. It’ll start on the primer but won’t stay running for more than 3 seconds. Much fiddling and I still can’t get it going. Which means I’ve been mowing for several hours now with the electric mower... which is becoming very tired of this job. (It’s past my knees in places.) 

I really need a ride on mower, but bloody hell they’re expensive!! 

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Briggs & Stratton engine? Replace the carb diaphragm and it'll be good as new. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333993936746?hash=item4dc397076a:g:UBwAAOSwCa9glqhd

[Sham]

Sounds like you need a brush cutter and not a mower.

But, what 'e said about the carb. 

[brownnova]

  On 03/06/2021 at 14:52, Stanky said:

Briggs & Stratton engine? Replace the carb diaphragm and it'll be good as new. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333993936746?hash=item4dc397076a:g:UBwAAOSwCa9glqhd

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It’s a Ryobi, not sure what engine. I’ll do some research. Thanks for the tip! 

  On 03/06/2021 at 15:47, Sham said:

Sounds like you need a brush cutter and not a mower.

But, what 'e said about the carb. 

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I do have one of those! No petrol in it, and not allowed out to get any... 

Mes_brownnova thinks we really need a 1950s/60s tractor to pull some kind of mowing attachment around... I’m not inclined to argue. 

[3VOM]

  On 02/06/2021 at 17:24, Zelandeth said:

Finally got around to properly investigating the siezed up valve on the shower in the en suite bathroom.  It's been knackered for ages so we've just used the shower in the main bathroom - but we're about to have a friend staying with us for several weeks while their house is being renovated...and five people to one shower doesn't sound like good math.

After the best part of an hour of swearing got the faceplate off.  Oh look, they installed it and then tiled over everything.  Wonderful!

Hoping that - if it can even be removed given the amount of scale present - replacing the cartridge in both valves will solve the problem without having to disturb the actual valve body.  Not holding my breath though.

Also there seem to be a plethora of different types...and they're expensive. 

Seriously considering just calling a plumber for this one - if I can find one who doesn't declare the job "Not worth getting out the van for" like last time anyway...

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You would normally tile over it and just leave a small gap for the shower taps. Try https://www.showerdoc.com/ for spare parts if you just want to try swapping the insides.

[High Jetter]

  On 03/06/2021 at 16:47, brownnova said:

Mes_brownnova thinks we really need a 1950s/60s tractor to pull some kind of mowing attachment around... I’m not inclined to argue.

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Funnily enough, I just re-watched the Car Sausage with the Fergie tractor that ended up with a mowing deck.

[Remspoor]

  On 02/06/2021 at 08:09, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Yes, it's a bit like trying to imagine Amsterdam without the smell of weed....

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Or in London,  the Smell of Diesel form an old RT