The grumpy thread

[High Jetter]

Take 5, let DD have a look and a chat. Calm. 

[barefoot]

Chap across the road has a gardener in. Day one parked almost oposite my 75 - which lives on the street - just about in everybodies way & blocking another blokes drive. I had to nip out & when I got back he'd parked directly opposite so I had to park elsewhere. Day two the wife was out in the Rover all day, he parked opposite. This morning the 75 was back in its spot & he finally managed to run two wheels up the kerb. 'Sorted the parking' he announced cheerfully. I wonder if he thought of it himself or if he had to phone a friend.

[Fumbler]

WHY WON'T YOU START LIKE A NORMAL CAR?!?!

Vehicle may* be testing my patience.

Sensing crap fuel delivery, I've run the bowl down and stalled the engine... Once it's cooled down I can see if I can replicate the same issue.

[wuvvum]

Just found out that another team member has handed in his notice.  From a team of 11 we are now down to 5, of whom one is currently signed off sick, and I am the only full timer left.

The "solution" proposed by senior management - to move everything offshore - is not working at all because the people in the offshore team are f***ing useless.

And I forgot again to change my details following last night's AS Zoom call, so I logged into a meeting attended by my head of department with my name showing as "wuvvum", which made me look a twat.

FFS.  I used to like this job.

[New POD]

  On 30/06/2021 at 13:43, barefoot said:

Chap across the road has a gardener in. Day one parked almost oposite my 75 - which lives on the street - just about in everybodies way & blocking another blokes drive. I had to nip out & when I got back he'd parked directly opposite so I had to park elsewhere. Day two the wife was out in the Rover all day, he parked opposite. This morning the 75 was back in its spot & he finally managed to run two wheels up the kerb. 'Sorted the parking' he announced cheerfully. I wonder if he thought of it himself or if he had to phone a friend.

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I must be the only person, in our road that won't park with wheels on the pavement.  

It's not wide, but there's loads of space at the end of the cul de sac, and most people have off road parking, so there's no need. And yet people block the pavement to pedestrians. 

[Rocket88]

  On 28/06/2021 at 21:24, Crackers said:

Brain dump on the AS hive mind coming up.

I'm seriously thinking about saving some money up and just launching the P6 at the nearest garage. 

I want to do at least some of the work myself, but I'm not equipped to do a lot of the suspension work, and I seriously don't have enough time to focus on it until the winter. 

Just reading through the workshop book for it, as I was going to do the brakes soon: "Remove the front hub as described". Oh. Cack. Bollocks to that, I'm not pulling bearings out and setting end floats etc, just for the sake of changing the discs. 

One hand, I really need to learn this stuff and the only way to learn it is to do it, I feel like a bit of a cheat if I just chuck it at someone else. And it becomes a vicious cycle when I end up with the same feeling on the next job, and the one after that, etc, etc.

On the other hand, I can't dedicate the time, and I don't want the aggro from myself and dad when I inevitably make a total raging horlicks of it. It's only* money, I'd much rather be able to make proper use of the car than be sitting there finding excuses not to touch it. If I pay to get the car to a happier state, then when new jobs come up I can look to tackle them on my own at my own pace, rather than having a wall of work I definitely cannot do hanging over my shoulders. 

Sorry, I just needed to write that all down, I know it's not a grump per se but anyway. As you were. 

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You can actually get your discs skimmed whilst still “ in situ”…… 

[omegod]

My failbook feed has had an increasing number of adverts appear for gambling sites lately which was pissing me off, I clicked on one and ticked "hide ad", I was then asked to choose from a list of reasons why, I chose  " sensitive issue" which I guess someone who has had gambling issues ( I have not) would choose. I shit you not the feed has been machine gunning every possible gambling option known to man at me since, it must be X 5 what was coming through previously......what a fucking cunty thing to do 

[Merryck]

  On 30/06/2021 at 19:09, omegod said:

My failbook feed has had an increasing number of adverts appear for gambling sites lately which was pissing me off, I clicked on one and ticked "hide ad", I was then asked to choose from a list of reasons why, I chose  " sensitive issue" which I guess someone who has had gambling issues ( I have not) would choose. I shit you not the feed has been machine gunning every possible gambling option known to man at me since, it must be X 5 what was coming through previously......what a fucking cunty thing to do 

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Fuck Facebook. Not even a little bit, like fully fuck it. The shit they get up to is unreal.

Falsified their video view statistics, causing hundreds of companies to shift their business strategy, ultimately causing them to fail once it became clear people weren't actually watching their videos on Facebook. https://www.ccn.com/facebook-lied-about-video-metrics/

They manipulated what you were shown in your feed to test how it could affect you. They specifically targeted people they thought may be depressed in an attempt to make them more depressed. Seems like they may be doing that to you with the gambling ads. Likely you've been tagged as a gambler. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/30/facebook-sad-manipulating-emotions-socially-responsible-company

Zuckerberg helms a company he's shaped in his image. This isn't accidental, the man has no ethics.

Zuck: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard

Zuck: Just ask.

Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS

[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?

Zuck: People just submitted it.

Zuck: I don't know why.

Zuck: They "trust me"

Zuck: Dumb fucks.

[loserone]

  On 30/06/2021 at 15:31, wuvvum said:

The "solution" proposed by senior management - to move everything offshore - is not working at all because the people in the offshore team are f***ing useless.

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Get out 

 

Get out.

 

Get out now.

[Bren]

The 545 failed Its MOT.

I have lost weight.

Just under three hundred pounds.

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 30/06/2021 at 19:54, loserone said:

Get out 

 

Get out.

 

Get out now.

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I'd agree, but contingent on having somewhere to get in to first. Then very much fuck them off at speed.

[chadders]

I've been in this position.

You become the whipping boy as you're the only one physically there for them to take their frustrations out on.

I agree with getting out and would be working on finding a new job at warp speed. When it all finally falls apart, and it will, you don't want to be around when the witch hunt takes place.

Sorry for being so negative.

[New POD]

  On 01/07/2021 at 00:30, somewhatfoolish said:

I'd agree, but contingent on having somewhere to get in to first. Then very much fuck them off at speed.

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Beware that the everyday shit doesn't impact your mood, so that job searching and interviews become difficult. 

[New POD]

Talking of jobs. I had that teams interview last week. 9 days ago. This was my old boss asking me if I was interested in a job working for him.

Interview didn't go great as his boss, was working off a different job requirement. 

Spoke to him after and I got the impression, he was going to tell his boss, that he should be allowed to make his own decisions.  So 8 days later. Nothing. 

I was in 2 minds to put my CV forward anyway, so nothing lost. 

However it's got me thinking about my career.  Today I applied for a job at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, which looks interesting.  Pay is do-able.

It's local, although the commute would be into the centre of Liverpool, next to paddys wigwam, so a bit of a pain. 

[Talbot]

  On 30/06/2021 at 15:31, wuvvum said:

Just found out that another team member has handed in his notice.  From a team of 11 we are now down to 5, of whom one is currently signed off sick, and I am the only full timer left.  The "solution" proposed by senior management - to move everything offshore - is not working at all because the people in the offshore team are f***ing useless.

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How easy is it to speak to your senior management about this?  Is it possible to just knock on someone's door and have a 5/10 minute sensible chat about the issue, or are they completely invisible to you?

If the former, then they might appreciate your frank, reasonable and constructive comments.  If the latter, it sounds like you might need to get out as soon as you can.  You'll end up still being expected to do the work of the entire team, and get shit from management when you can't complete that absolutely impossible task.

[wuvvum]

  On 01/07/2021 at 10:00, Talbot said:

How easy is it to speak to your senior management about this?  Is it possible to just knock on someone's door and have a 5/10 minute sensible chat about the issue, or are they completely invisible to you?

If the former, then they might appreciate your frank, reasonable and constructive comments.  If the latter, it sounds like you might need to get out as soon as you can.  You'll end up still being expected to do the work of the entire team, and get shit from management when you can't complete that absolutely impossible task.

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The problem is that there is senior management and senior management.  The senior managers in the Norwich office are quite approachable, but unfortunately decisions on issues like staffing policies are made way up in the gods - it's a global firm with over 60,000 employees so the REALLY senior managers don't have time to listen to minnows like me.

Interestingly, one of our main competitors is pulling their operations back onshore, having tried the offshoring method some years ago and found that it didn't work.  Which is encouraging*.

Funnily enough, today is 10 years since I joined the company - it's traditional to have a small celebration at that point, but nobody is really in the mood...

[chadders]

Given the rate of staff attrition I would expect there's a red flashing light on some senior management information dashboard as well as concerns in HR. It doesn't reflect well on the latter if all the staff have disappeared and it also puts their nice comfy jobs at risk.

It may be that the problem has been identified and a search for a solution underway but you're too far down the food chain to be told it. I had this at times, my staff would complain bitterly about things but I couldn't tell them about the plans to fix them. I could hint but that was it.

[Talbot]

  On 01/07/2021 at 10:22, wuvvum said:

it's a global firm with over 60,000 employees

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Based on my previous experience, I'm very sorry to hear that.  Upper management will likely not give a fuck about the issues of one small team like that.  It shouldn't be that way, but reality says it is.

It's also staggering just how much of a fuck-up can be made by a company of that sort of size.  I've a story to tell there, but it'll have to wait.  Plus I'd have to name the company in question for it to make sense, and I probably shouldn't do that.

[sierraman]

  On 30/06/2021 at 20:42, Bren said:

The 545 failed Its MOT.

I have lost weight.

Just under three hundred pounds.

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£300 isn’t bad for another years motoring? 

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 01/07/2021 at 10:22, wuvvum said:

The problem is that there is senior management and senior management.  The senior managers in the Norwich office are quite approachable, but unfortunately decisions on issues like staffing policies are made way up in the gods - it's a global firm with over 60,000 employees so the REALLY senior managers don't have time to listen to minnows like me.

Interestingly, one of our main competitors is pulling their operations back onshore, having tried the offshoring method some years ago and found that it didn't work.  Which is encouraging*.

Funnily enough, today is 10 years since I joined the company - it's traditional to have a small celebration at that point, but nobody is really in the mood...

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They will be recruiting then and might consider someone with relevant experience?

[wuvvum]

  On 01/07/2021 at 12:57, somewhatfoolish said:

They will be recruiting then and might consider someone with relevant experience?

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I did half-arsedly apply to them a few years ago but it didn't get very far as their office is in Ipswich and the time / cost of commuting was going to be prohibitive.  That might of course have changed though in these strange new remote-working times we find ourselves in.

[chadders]

  On 01/07/2021 at 11:36, Talbot said:

Based on my previous experience, I'm very sorry to hear that.  Upper management will likely not give a fuck about the issues of one small team like that.  It shouldn't be that way, but reality says it is.

It's also staggering just how much of a fuck-up can be made by a company of that sort of size.  I've a story to tell there, but it'll have to wait.  Plus I'd have to name the company in question for it to make sense, and I probably shouldn't do that.

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Sometimes it can make sense viewed through a prism of share options and the share price. Run it into the ground over, say, five years to boost the share price, exercise your options and leave a multi millionaire.

Shortly afterwards the firm is recognised as a smoking wreck but you've got your money. One of the worst aspects of capitalism.

 

[Zelandeth]

So I have confirmed that the plumber who wanted a grand to sort out shower was speaking complete nonsense when he claimed that the valve inserts couldn't be removed from the front.

However now I need to get new ones.  Three people had recommended a place over in Bedford so I went over there full of optimism.  Guy didn't even look up from his phone, claiming that without make and model that it would be impossible to find a replacement.

Tried three other specialists in the vicinity and got similar levels of enthusiasm.

The level of cannot be assedness that I keep running into whenever trying to give money to businesses around here just seems to defy belief...or is it really just me?

[somewhatfoolish]

What make of shower unit is it? Do the knobs not give a clue?

[Zelandeth]

  On 01/07/2021 at 13:48, somewhatfoolish said:

What make of shower unit is it? Do the knobs not give a clue?

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That's half the problem - there are absolutely zero markings on anything whatsoever.   Not even a H/C or on/off indicator.

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 01/07/2021 at 13:51, Zelandeth said:

That's half the problem - there are absolutely zero markings on anything whatsoever.   Not even a H/C or on/off indicator.

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Got a picture? I'm not an aficionado of 1980/90s shower knobs/fascias, but someone might have a clue.

[Talbot]

<rant>

Local HWRC (tip) now requires that you book in advance for a visit.  Shit to get rid of, so I book to pop over at lunchtime.  Load up the car, got my confirmation email, all good.

3 miles down the road to the tip at lunchtime, and it's all closed up.  Security guy wanders over:  Apparently there's been a covid incident on site this morning, so they've closed down the whole fucking site.  Despite the fact you can lob stuff in a bin while remaining outside and without touching ANYTHING there, they completely close the site.  No email sent out, no warning.. nothing.  For a service that now needs booking.  Fucking brilliant.  A complete and utter over-reaction.

2 options:  Re-book for saturday, or hot-foot it over to the next nearest one, which is 10 miles in the opposite direction to which I've come.  Well, I've a boot full of shit I need to get rid of pronto, so that leaves me with sod-all choice doesn't it.  Barrel over the 13 miles to the other tip, thankfully get let in to be able to drop off.  Lob it all out and then drive back the 10 miles to work at the speed of sound.  Get back late, hot, bothered and now with an empty fuel tank, so I need to fill up this evening, rather than at the weekend as I was planning.

All because some lazy arse who never actually assists with anything anyway at the local tip has had a positive lateral flow test.  The way they were reacting you'd think there had been a murder on site.  I know some people will say "well you can't be too careful".  Given the ridiculousness of some gatherings of people at the moment, there are bigger risks than standing in the outside air and touching nothing other than what you've brought on site yourself.

</rant>

[beko1987]

A large group of parents from my daughters year group and I stood in the car park behind the school field over lunchtime and watched their sports day. 

I think Eva cried less than when we were stood on the playground watching. But we're not allowed on site due to covid

[Zelandeth]

  On 01/07/2021 at 14:13, somewhatfoolish said:

Got a picture? I'm not an aficionado of 1980/90s shower knobs/fascias, but someone might have a clue.

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It'll be from 2006-12 as that's when the previous owners pulled out all the original good quality fixtures and fittings and had fancy tat installed by the lowest bidder.

After giving the valve inserts a dunking in some aggressive deacaler, this is what they look like.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 01/07/2021 at 13:35, Zelandeth said:

.....The level of cannot be assedness that I keep running into whenever trying to give money to businesses ...

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This is just a small taste of where society as a whole has been heading.