The grumpy thread

[C1am]

15 hours ago, richardmorris said:

It was pronounced CHI-CHESTER by my gran and mum when the lived in Chichester street in chester. Is it pronounced that way down there too?

Small world! I rented a flat round the corner at Lorne Street. 

[Metal Guru]

13 hours ago, MikeR said:

holiday prices , just looked at Centre Parcs for the Feb break just out of sheer interest ..  and yes the prices go up for the school break .

Whinfell , 3 adults and 1 child for 4 nights , 1449 notes , sold out !!  , or go to 2 grand ....for a 4 bed .... 4 Fin nights , plus grub ,entertainment and booze on top of that !

thank F***  we have the tin van ..

 

I went there when it first opened in 1999 I think it was ( when it was Oasis) and again in 2014. Apart from a new ( very cheap) carpet being put in seconds before we arrived, the place hadn’t been touched in 15 years apart from cramming as many cabins as possible onto the site. The “showpiece “ swimming pool complex was dilapidated and could have done with re- tiling in most areas.

Cycling on site ( advertised as Mountain biking), consists of the paths between cabins with so many people on them you stop every 20 yards.

Apart from the pool, every activity is an expensive extra.

In it wasn’t for the trees, it would be a large housing estate with some expensive leisure facilities, and the prices they charge take the piss.

 

[cobblers]

Aye, horrific prices to stay on basically a council estate in the woods with a couple of harvester grade pubs and a swimming pool. I just don't get it. 

[tooSavvy]

13 hours ago, MikeR said:

Centre Parcs:

Whinfell , 3 adults and 1 child for 4 nights , 1449 notes , sold out !!  , or go to 2 grand ....for a 4 bed .... 4 Fin nights , plus grub ,entertainment and booze on top of that !

thank F***  we have the tin van ..

 

Ahh..... I used to go there (fixing cash registers/cash drawers/epos) and always thought *on the rainy days....

Butlins +added Mud 🤐

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, cobblers said:

Aye, horrific prices to stay on basically a council estate in the woods with a couple of harvester grade pubs and a swimming pool. I just don't get it. 

You summed it up better than I did!

[Bren]

2 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

I went there when it first opened in 1999 I think it was ( when it was Oasis) and again in 2014. Apart from a new ( very cheap) carpet being put in seconds before we arrived, the place hadn’t been touched in 15 years apart from cramming as many cabins as possible onto the site. The “showpiece “ swimming pool complex was dilapidated and could have done with re- tiling in most areas.

Cycling on site ( advertised as Mountain biking), consists of the paths between cabins with so many people on them you stop every 20 yards.

Apart from the pool, every activity is an expensive extra.

In it wasn’t for the trees, it would be a large housing estate with some expensive leisure facilities, and the prices they charge take the piss.

 

Every year I complain about the site fees for our static. But not now - given what two weeks holiday in the UK costs.

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Royal Mail are running up to 14 year old vans? Bloody nora. I'm sure they lasted four or five years a couple of decades ago. 

Yep, you're right there. Not even that long when I started, though that was 32 years ago. That's the difference between a private company as we are now or effectively an arm of government when I started. 

Having said that, I moan about my Pug quite a lot but I don't think a 1990s Sherpa, or probably  a Maestro is closer to what I have now, would fair anywhere near as well. The main problem is the 'risk of (DPF) filter clogging' message comes up at least twice a year but that is down to the duty I do (around seven miles in four hours) being totally unsuitable for a diesel. 

[Markeh]

Center Parcs has definitely gone downhill over the past 10 years. I believe they got bought by another company and cost cutting started big time.

My mother worked as a villa cleaner in the late 2000s at Sherwood. The perks were pretty decent back then, she could take people in for day visits to the facilities like the pool and spa, we could book unused chalets with a week or two's notice for something crazy like £50, any household stuff that was left behind could be kept - in 5 years we never had to buy toilet roll, washing up liquid or dishwasher tablets. Anything alcoholic or decent had to be handed in but if not claimed in x amount of time could be had. Big hampers of stuff at Christmas, invites in for events like fireworks shows and that sort of thing - Nothing like that now, I'm led to believe!

I stayed at the Woburn one which is reasonably new just before covid kicked off - it was nice, probably because it was still new, and they did bend over backwards to help two people with mobility issues in our party, but £600 for a 2 bed "executive" for a weekend in January seemed steep! The maths only works out if you're going off-peak with a group of adults and are splitting the cost I would say. It's mad the amount of local people who go there for a holiday as well - I don't understand how you can go on holiday somewhere that's a 15 minute drive from your house. For the money, I'd rather go abroad.

[AnnoyingPentium]

5 minutes ago, Markeh said:

For the money, I'd rather go abroad.

It was cheaper for us to book a lakehouse down towards Windermere than what it is for Centre Parcs, mind you that was nearly 14 years ago. Cala Gran Haven nr. Blackpool wasn't bad for us, it's a holiday, and that's all it needs to be. The prices weren't too bad there the last time I checked. 

[artdjones]

44 minutes ago, Yoss said:

Yep, you're right there. Not even that long when I started, though that was 32 years ago. That's the difference between a private company as we are now or effectively an arm of government when I started. 

Having said that, I moan about my Pug quite a lot but I don't think a 1990s Sherpa, or probably  a Maestro is closer to what I have now, would fair anywhere near as well. The main problem is the 'risk of (DPF) filter clogging' message comes up at least twice a year but that is down to the duty I do (around seven miles in four hours) being totally unsuitable for a diesel. 

It was about 8 years back in 1988 when I worked there but an 8 year old GPO Sherpa was pretty  well finished off by then.

[Markeh]

20 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

It was cheaper for us to book a lakehouse down towards Windermere than what it is for Centre Parcs, mind you that was nearly 14 years ago. Cala Gran Haven nr. Blackpool wasn't bad for us, it's a holiday, and that's all it needs to be. The prices weren't too bad there the last time I checked. 

Even better if you can grab it on a S*n £9.50 deal like most of the big chain caravan sites. And even better than that if you find the codes posted on social media so you don't even have to buy the bloody paper in the first place!

[AnnoyingPentium]

41 minutes ago, Markeh said:

Even better if you can grab it on a S*n £9.50 deal like most of the big chain caravan sites. And even better than that if you find the codes posted on social media so you don't even have to buy the bloody paper in the first place!

That's fine because I think I'd spontaneously combust if I had to touch that newspaper.

[MikeR]

the phone gps is wank around Stoke on Trent ,

seems my car likes to block the signal with its heated screen , and this phone just struggles at times .....in Stoke on Trent !!

nothing worse than seeing the sat nav losing its arse , in a area you dont know , in the dark ........

must try a new position for it or change the car .

[Mally]

6 hours ago, Markeh said:

Center Parcs has definitely gone downhill over the past 10 years. I believe they got bought by another company and cost cutting started big time.

 - I don't understand how you can go on holiday somewhere that's a 15 minute drive from your house. For the money, I'd rather go abroad.

The problem with abroad is the constant rule changes in requirements, and peoples fear of being ill with Covid whilst abroad.

I flown several times. Some planes are half empty,

I've had rule changes whilst on holiday. curfews, return plane flight cancelled.

You often get 'pinged' because someone on the plane tested positive on day 2.

It's a bit easier now they have removed test before return, but the hassle and fear still puts many off.

Lots of people lost money in the early days, UK is seen as a safe bet.

I used to stay Sunday nights in Blackpool £25 bed breakfast. evening meal. Lately it's been £87. Just dropped to a more palatable £62.

No names, but it's a place you'd have Breakfast at ...

[Metal Guru]

10 hours ago, Markeh said:

Center Parcs has definitely gone downhill over the past 10 years. I believe they got bought by another company and cost cutting started big time.

My mother worked as a villa cleaner in the late 2000s at Sherwood. The perks were pretty decent back then, she could take people in for day visits to the facilities like the pool and spa, we could book unused chalets with a week or two's notice for something crazy like £50, any household stuff that was left behind could be kept - in 5 years we never had to buy toilet roll, washing up liquid or dishwasher tablets. Anything alcoholic or decent had to be handed in but if not claimed in x amount of time could be had. Big hampers of stuff at Christmas, invites in for events like fireworks shows and that sort of thing - Nothing like that now, I'm led to believe!

I stayed at the Woburn one which is reasonably new just before covid kicked off - it was nice, probably because it was still new, and they did bend over backwards to help two people with mobility issues in our party, but £600 for a 2 bed "executive" for a weekend in January seemed steep! The maths only works out if you're going off-peak with a group of adults and are splitting the cost I would say. It's mad the amount of local people who go there for a holiday as well - I don't understand how you can go on holiday somewhere that's a 15 minute drive from your house. For the money, I'd rather go abroad.

 

10 hours ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

It was cheaper for us to book a lakehouse down towards Windermere than what it is for Centre Parcs, mind you that was nearly 14 years ago. Cala Gran Haven nr. Blackpool wasn't bad for us, it's a holiday, and that's all it needs to be. The prices weren't too bad there the last time I checked. 

Crazy thing about Centre Parcs Whinfell, is that it’s 10 miles from the Lake District but 90%+ never leave the site once there. 

[Yoss]

11 hours ago, MikeR said:

the phone gps is wank around Stoke on Trent ,

seems my car likes to block the signal with its heated screen , and this phone just struggles at times .....in Stoke on Trent !!

nothing worse than seeing the sat nav losing its arse , in a area you dont know , in the dark ........

must try a new position for it or change the car .

Is it just me that can't help but hear the Homes Under The Hammer theme tune whenever I hear somebody say Stoke on Trent? Mrs Yoss started doing it, now it's a Pavlovian reaction. I know they go to other places but at least once in every program they seem to be in the Stoke/Derby area. Usually with Dion Dublin, he must live local. 

This post does not apply to anyone reading it in Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand etc... 

[anonymous user]

11 hours ago, Mally said:

 

No names, but it's a place you'd have Breakfast at ...

Wetherspoons?

 

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

Is 5 days without a working car now. Have talked to them and the coil has been ordered, so I hope it comes and is replaced quickly. I hate this not being in control of something, and not having a working car and most of all I hate phone calls. So this is a sign that I need more cars or a car transporter or both.

[Datsuncog]

37 minutes ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

I need more cars or a car transporter or both.

The true spirit of Autoshite , right there.

[Jazoli]

1 hour ago, anonymous user said:

Wetherspoons?

 

 

https://tiffanyshotel.co.uk/?utm_source=google-ads&utm_campaign=sem_brand_uk&utm_agid=91501631665&utm_term=tiffanys hotel blackpool&creative=504908257106&device=m&placement&gclid=CjwKCAiAz--OBhBIEiwAG1rIOozBftTx1yKJHjGPu8opGfD-8U21Vp05QCFipzTNziwUm3R6Tv14xRoCBRgQAvD_BwE

[sierraman]

I’ve stopped in the £25 type B&Bs before in Blackpool and they were grim, gloss paint over anaglypta and the fire doors propped open.

Center Parcs, we used to go regularly in the week when it was cheap but last time we went we found a pair of shitty knickers under sister in laws mattress (they weren’t hers by the way...). The reception didn’t seem fazed by this. 

[motorpunk]

I am really, really getting the pip with local garages. 

Garage 1 - BMW specialist, been using them for 10-20 years, he's now winding down for retirement, now they don't want to touch diesels. I've had a small electrical fault (parking sensor), nothing to do with engine... "no mate, sorry".  Last job he did he left an oily black bootprint on the cream-colour luggage cover "was there when you dropped it off", bollocks was it. 

Garage 2 - BMW specialist. Started using them after the bother above. Generally OK but took them 3 goes to fit discs for some reason, I had to keep taking it back, last time they finally got it right they gave the car a courtesy wash and left some weird stain on the paintwork where some cleaning agent dripped. I'm not too fussy as it's a workhorse, but c'mon. 

Garage 3 - BMW main dealer. I had a new BMW given to me (don't ask)... it was supposed to be full of fuel but wasn't, that cost me a few quid to fill and they gave my car a valet as an apology (not needed, but thanks anyway), they managed to pressure wash lacquer off (size of a beermat) off the plastic rear bumper. Again, it's not some garage queen, but it pissed me off. 

Garage 4 -  The village garage - Fiat needs a clutch slave fitting... "engine and gearbox out job mate"... is it bollocks. They've had it a week and the car hasn't moved. Just be honest! I am particularly narked at this as I occasionally drop off goodies for them as a thank you for other (paid) jobs. 

Garage 5 - VW specialist, GF has been taking her car there with an intermittent flat spot when cold. They've just been fitting parts and hoping it works. It never does. I went and gave them an earful for not attempting to diagnose it, and just charging her megabucks for parts it probably doesn't need - "not our fault mate, there's no codes on the code reader, what can we do?"... I fucked them off for that lazy nonsense. 

Garage 6 - welding place, went bust, lovely guy but clueless what to charge. I always tipped him. Made no difference it seems.

 

All I want to do is have a local place than can diagnose instead of bullshitting and then fitting parts and guessing, I don't much care what it costs as long as they're honest. I'm doing more work on the cars at home when time allows, but why can't I find somewhere to take my money and do a proper job?

 

[sierraman]

First one sounds like most Village garages, I’m sure there’s some bloody good ones but a lot are out of times. A BMW specialist that doesn’t deal with diesels really ought to pack up, 60% of the cars they’ve sold in last 25 years will have been diesels. The village garage down road is one of these set ups that really only wants to do brake pads on old ladies cars.

[New POD]

15 hours ago, MikeR said:

the phone gps is wank around Stoke on Trent ,

seems my car likes to block the signal with its heated screen , and this phone just struggles at times .....in Stoke on Trent !!

nothing worse than seeing the sat nav losing its arse , in a area you dont know , in the dark ........

must try a new position for it or change the car .

It's not like your route home needed a sat nav.  A50 West. A500 (EITHER WAY left or Right) M6 North, M62 west, M57 North. 

[Remspoor]

7 hours ago, Yoss said:

Is it just me that can't help but hear the Homes Under The Hammer theme tune whenever I hear somebody say Stoke on Trent? Mrs Yoss started doing it, now it's a Pavlovian reaction. I know they go to other places but at least once in every program they seem to be in the Stoke/Derby area. Usually with Dion Dublin, he must live local. 

This post does not apply to anyone reading it in Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand etc... 

Good, I live in Spain, so it applies to me? BTW The Dutch get BBC TV via the cable service so they could know all about HUTH.

[Remspoor]

YouTube with vids on reactions to something like food, watching a film, listen to music. As if these people have never seen or heard the subject before. Do they not use the internet?

Oh and car valeting vids too. All that work, take it outside and........

[Bren]

4 hours ago, motorpunk said:

I am really, really getting the pip with local garages. 

Garage 1 - BMW specialist, been using them for 10-20 years, he's now winding down for retirement, now they don't want to touch diesels. I've had a small electrical fault (parking sensor), nothing to do with engine... "no mate, sorry".  Last job he did he left an oily black bootprint on the cream-colour luggage cover "was there when you dropped it off", bollocks was it. 

Garage 2 - BMW specialist. Started using them after the bother above. Generally OK but took them 3 goes to fit discs for some reason, I had to keep taking it back, last time they finally got it right they gave the car a courtesy wash and left some weird stain on the paintwork where some cleaning agent dripped. I'm not too fussy as it's a workhorse, but c'mon. 

Garage 3 - BMW main dealer. I had a new BMW given to me (don't ask)... it was supposed to be full of fuel but wasn't, that cost me a few quid to fill and they gave my car a valet as an apology (not needed, but thanks anyway), they managed to pressure wash lacquer off (size of a beermat) off the plastic rear bumper. Again, it's not some garage queen, but it pissed me off. 

Garage 4 -  The village garage - Fiat needs a clutch slave fitting... "engine and gearbox out job mate"... is it bollocks. They've had it a week and the car hasn't moved. Just be honest! I am particularly narked at this as I occasionally drop off goodies for them as a thank you for other (paid) jobs. 

Garage 5 - VW specialist, GF has been taking her car there with an intermittent flat spot when cold. They've just been fitting parts and hoping it works. It never does. I went and gave them an earful for not attempting to diagnose it, and just charging her megabucks for parts it probably doesn't need - "not our fault mate, there's no codes on the code reader, what can we do?"... I fucked them off for that lazy nonsense. 

Garage 6 - welding place, went bust, lovely guy but clueless what to charge. I always tipped him. Made no difference it seems.

 

All I want to do is have a local place than can diagnose instead of bullshitting and then fitting parts and guessing, I don't much care what it costs as long as they're honest. I'm doing more work on the cars at home when time allows, but why can't I find somewhere to take my money and do a proper job?

 

Some of it is cant be arsed.

I think the rest of it is a lack of the requisite skills. There has been a brain drain from the motor trade.

[Pieman]

1 hour ago, Remspoor said:

Oh and car valeting vids too. All that work, take it outside and........

I like Autoshine Cars on YT - he cleans cars that are so fucking filthy you can barely see any of the interior or work out what colour they are supposed to be, and it's oddly satisfying to watch.

[purplebargeken]

Mate just sent me the 2022/2023 VED rates.

Not good reading...

 

[motorpunk]

5 minutes ago, purplebargeken said:

Mate just sent me the 2022/2023 VED rates.

Not good reading...

 

I’m binning off my DPF in protest 😁