The grumpy thread

[AnnoyingPentium]

On 3/29/2023 at 8:35 PM, eddyramrod said:

Last week my compact digital camera died.  Why is it so difficult to get a halfway decent replacement?   (ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

If it doesn't have to be new, then I'd recommend a Canon PowerShot A560 if you can get a hold of a good wee yin. Had mine since 2008 and it's done me well.

[barefoot]

2 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

.. my local butcher’s prices are just too high, (fillet steak £50/kg?) 

I buy from a local commercial butcher who delivers 16oz rump steaks for £6.95 and pork & chicken for what feels like pennies.

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

April fools "jokes."

If you're unlucky enough to have a brain wired like mine it just results in me getting 95% of the way through reading most of them - or indeed only when someone points it out in some cases - to clock it's a wind up.

Basically means I dare not reply to anything anywhere for at least the next 24 hours in case I end up just making myself look like a complete idiot.

 

[eddyramrod]

Thanks for the input, guys.  I will admit to being a bit* wary of buying used, having been bitten in the past.  Think I'll wait to see what @mitsisigma01 turns up...

[Zelandeth]

My other half had a day in the office (and as a result a 3-hour round trip on public transport) middle of last week.

Just tested positive for COVID.  Oh what deep fucking joy.

[mitsisigma01]

7 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Think I'll wait to see what @mitsisigma01 turns up

Sorry, been busy ...and the Mrs has moved them ...will find them in the morning 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

19 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

April fools "jokes."

If you're unlucky enough to have a brain wired like mine it just results in me getting 95% of the way through reading most of them - or indeed only when someone points it out in some cases - to clock it's a wind up.

Basically means I dare not reply to anything anywhere for at least the next 24 hours in case I end up just making myself look like a complete idiot.

A local estate agency created this advert* for our local, Grade 2 listed library. 

I thought it was quite amusing to be fair.

 

[cobblers]

The bloke next door to our new unit has been playing country music, quite loud, all weekend. 

I try not to judge peoples music taste, but... Country music? You're from Chesterfield FFS!

I can't take any more listening to a rich american bloke hamming up his hick accent and moaning about how his wife left him.

Anyway if it carries on much longer I'm getting the big speaker out and having a Baptazia Super Sunday!

 

[Zelandeth]

21 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

My other half had a day in the office (and as a result a 3-hour round trip on public transport) middle of last week.

Just tested positive for COVID.  Oh what deep fucking joy.

Yep...and I've just tested positive too.

Haven't got over the first round I got a year ago yet so really could have done without finding out what getting it a second time will do.

[Talbot]

It's just never ending shit at the moment:

Just got back from the second drive to scotland in as many weeks, only to find a PCN waiting for me.  ECP recon I was in one of their car parks for 1h16 mins a couple of weeks back.  In fact, I went in, came out, then went in again and came out, both visits for less than the 30mins free period that is allowed. They've used the first entry time and the second exit time.  Presumably the camera didn't get my plate on the first exit time and has just used the second exit time.

Go to appeal it online, and you have to provide documents to back up your claim, otherwise you can't appeal online, you have to appeal by post.  I was going to a pharmacy inside a Sainsbury's, so of course have no evidence of any sort.

Fucks sakes.  Another thing to go on my ever expanding list of shit to deal with.

[Zelandeth]

14 minutes ago, Talbot said:

It's just never ending shit at the moment:

Just got back from the second drive to scotland in as many weeks, only to find a PCN waiting for me.  ECP recon I was in one of their car parks for 1h16 mins a couple of weeks back.  In fact, I went in, came out, then went in again and came out, both visits for less than the 30mins free period that is allowed. They've used the first entry time and the second exit time.  Presumably the camera didn't get my plate on the first exit time and has just used the second exit time.

Go to appeal it online, and you have to provide documents to back up your claim, otherwise you can't appeal online, you have to appeal by post.  I was going to a pharmacy inside a Sainsbury's, so of course have no evidence of any sort.

Fucks sakes.  Another thing to go on my ever expanding list of shit to deal with.

Before you put too much time into it, do they have a "no return within n hours" condition as well?  It would be just like them to cancel the PCN for the overstay/non payment and then issue a new one for that!

I got tagged by one of those a month back - turned out to be a very expensive bag of penny washers...

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

Yep...and I've just tested positive too.

Haven't got over the first round I got a year ago yet so really could have done without finding out what getting it a second time will do.

Seems to be another mini-wave of it doing the rounds. I managed to escape all the madness of 20/21 and now at the start of the week's holiday I'd taken for my birthday I've tested positive for three days and my head feels like it's full of glue.
No bad cough or anything really debilitating it's just like a slightly mutant cold.

[Talbot]

13 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Before you put too much time into it, do they have a "no return within n hours" condition as well?

Nope.  I've checked on that quite carefully, and have gone in-and-out in quick succession a few times in the past, they just appear to have cocked up on this one.

Stupid thing is that they (sainsbury's) changed from a barrier-type payment system where it wasn't possible to get a PCN (you paid at exit if you'd over-stayed) to this system about 6 months ago.  Just another way to extort money IMO.  I think it's time for a set of false plates.  Turns out that having the wrong plate on your car isn't even an endorseable offence, just a smallish fine.  If I got two PCNs, it would be cheaper to get caught for the number plate offence.

[RayMK]

56 minutes ago, Talbot said:

Nope.  I've checked on that quite carefully, and have gone in-and-out in quick succession a few times in the past, they just appear to have cocked up on this one.

Stupid thing is that they (sainsbury's) changed from a barrier-type payment system where it wasn't possible to get a PCN (you paid at exit if you'd over-stayed) to this system about 6 months ago.  Just another way to extort money IMO.  I think it's time for a set of false plates.  Turns out that having the wrong plate on your car isn't even an endorseable offence, just a smallish fine.  If I got two PCNs, it would be cheaper to get caught for the number plate offence.

Parking fines made me really grumpy a few years ago.  On the Isle of Wight they'd put skips in all of the blue badge spaces and I'd booked an expensive 'round the island' trip on the Waverley.  Eventually I found a peculiarly shaped marked space and squeezed my tiny Mitsubishi i on to it. One tyre had half its tread width outside the space.  A few hours later I returned to find an £80 penalty ticket. Have not been back to the Isle of Wight since.  Northampton was next.  They changed my regular 30 minutes free parking street near the shopping centre to a pay machine.  The new machine and the only visible sign showing the change were mounted in an alcove not visible from the end of the street.  £40 parking ticket because I did not have one.  I have not been shopping in Northampton since.  I was fuming but the fines still had to be paid - I think the IOW one was cut by 50% if I paid right away, which I did.  

I hope you manage to get a reprieve or a reduction.

[Noel Tidybeard]

go and speak to sainsbugs manager

[mitsisigma01]

On 4/1/2023 at 6:59 PM, eddyramrod said:

Thanks for the input, guys.  I will admit to being a bit* wary of buying used, having been bitten in the past.  Think I'll wait to see what @mitsisigma01 turns up...

Sorry,took me forever to even find the link this was in ....

Good news, bad news ...

I've 2 boxes of camera stuff...

I've found one box....

Not the right box🤬🤬🤬

Other news .. I'm sure it is an Olympus.... just not sure what model ...

Had a fkin shit weekend caring for my elderly neighbour, I'm sure the "carers" supplied by the SS are trying their best to kill her off , absolute incompetent 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

I'm still looking for the other box , Mrs says she hasn't touched it ....bs 

🤞🤞

[RoverFolkUs]

3 hours ago, Talbot said:

Nope.  I've checked on that quite carefully, and have gone in-and-out in quick succession a few times in the past, they just appear to have cocked up on this one.

Stupid thing is that they (sainsbury's) changed from a barrier-type payment system where it wasn't possible to get a PCN (you paid at exit if you'd over-stayed) to this system about 6 months ago.  Just another way to extort money IMO.  I think it's time for a set of false plates.  Turns out that having the wrong plate on your car isn't even an endorseable offence, just a smallish fine.  If I got two PCNs, it would be cheaper to get caught for the number plate offence.

This happened to me in a Tesco during lockdown 1, I went there to pick up a prescription for someone and it wasn't ready. Pharmacist took my number and called me 20 minutes later just as I'd got home to apologize for the cockup and it was in fact ready on the shelf as it should have been. Not to worry, off I went again, not thinking about the car park. 

Bang, PCN through the post. Contested it with the store manager and he "dealt with it" and I never heard a peep afterwards 🤔🤔

Don't know if it's a combination of a lack of enforcement action during lockdown, and the fact the "appeal" was that I was collecting a prescription for a vulnerable person during lockdown and the second visit was due to the store's cockup and not my personal gain... Does make you wonder if the stores always have back door access to contest the fines for people, because that must be what happened in my case 🤔

[artdjones]

I'm glad I don't live in the UK anymore. They do this stuff in Ireland in the cities, but not so heavy handed, and of course there aren't many cities here. In our local town you get 2 hours, and the warden only seems to come around every 6 weeks anyway.

[High Jetter]

Is that why they don't bother to park, just stop?

[sdkrc]

On 28/03/2023 at 15:09, sdkrc said:

What the fuck is wrong with the tradesmen in Scotland? Is there a single one who's not a feckless, unreliable cunt?  I'm convinced that all trades are stocked with the lowest common denominators with not even the remotest shred of pride in their work. I've had perhaps 2 positive experiences in 9yrs in Scotland and countless shit ones. 

Trying to get a boiler fixed. Had to call 8 or 9 engineers now. Most don't want the work unless they're fitting a new boiler. I've had 2 who did want the work, 1 turned up hours late, asked to go for a piss and spent almost zero time diagnosing the fucking issue. "Need a new PCB, might not fix it though. The office will call with a quote". The office didn't call though, I had to call them a week later. £320 for the part alone. He took loads of the screws that hold the boiler cover and he broke some of the plastics inside the boiler as well. Sound. 

2nd guy spoke well, replied quickly and turned up on time. Seemed decent until he left and nothing fucking worked. He was supposed to install a Nest thermostat but he fucked that up. He was supposed to turn up at 10am this morning and he's AWOL. 

Turn up when you've said you would? Nah

Answer a call or text? Nah

3min test of your work to make sure you don't need to come back out again? Nah

 

The first boiler broke down because of a flood caused by shitty, uninsulated pipework. The second boiler was installed by a guy who left 2 gas leaks and tried to blame me, he also never hooked up the thermostat. 

I'd gladly pay @paulplom through the nose just to come up and sort this out but he's left the sodding site. 

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:

 

got a recommendation through a carpenter the missus knows and holy shit... boiler works, the smart thermostat is now hooked up, the flue was barely attached and was held together with duct tape, they fixed that. All sorted in sub-2hours.

They explained everything they did and why they did it. They explained everything they tested. They cleaned up after themselves. Their price was very reasonable. 

11/10 - Polska Gurom 

[eddyramrod]

@mitsisigma01 Don't feel pressured on my behalf!  I know you're on the job, that's good enough for me.  Visiting carers?  That's a whole new can of worms!  Been there, done it.

[mitsisigma01]

2 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Visiting carers? 

🤬🤬🤬 

They set me off in a grump for working on my b2500 pick up .... Trying to change front discs ....fkbme seems like a 🤬 of a job , looks like I've got to split/press the hub apart and all the ball joints to get the disc retaining bolts .... Unless someone knows different 🤬🤬 , any ideas 🤞🤞

[MrGTI6]

A colleague really pissed me off today. He's a racist, homophobic, etc. We keep out of one another's way and don't speak to each other, an arrangement that I'm very happy with. Most other people treat him the same way, as he really is an unpleasant individual. Everyone at work gets on with each other apart from this prick, and no doubt he thinks everyone else is the problem. 

There's a lady who started on reception today and she was being shown around and introduced to people. She is Latvian but speaks very good English. I've got the utmost of respect for anyone who has taken the time to learn a second language, something which I've never bothered to do. 

A few minutes later I overheard her being introduced to the bell end and someone else. Matey was repeatedly taking the piss out of her accent and laughing the whole time. The conversation looked very awkward and he was the only one finding it funny. What an appalling way to behave towards someone who is starting a new job. He then said something about her coming over on a dinghy.

I'm the last person to cause a scene, but suddenly found myself shouting out "her English is better than yours, you fat cunt" or words to that effect. I think he was just as taken aback as me, and didn't have anything to say in response. It was very out of character for me as I tend to avoid confrontation. A couple of others in the vicinity who overheard also piped up, including a lad built like a brick shit house who walked over to him and said "I dare you to talk to me like that". 

Later spoke to the manager who was showing her around and apologised for my outburst and bad language. She was pleased something was said and is keen to escalate things over his discrimination, something which I'm more than happy to get on board with. I've had a word with a few other colleagues who also expressed a keen interest in throwing him under the bus.

It really angered me at how unwelcome the poor lady at the centre of all this must have been made to feel. There's a fair few of us who are determined to use this opportunity to fuck him off once and for all. 

[Pieman]

Good for you - I hope he gets the sack.  What a cunt!

[Rust Collector]

@MrGTI6 Good on you mate, I bet everyone in the room was thinking that same thing but you had the balls to call him out. Sounds like it would be a better place without him.

[High Jetter]

Yep, well said. I hope Matey is soon on the dole.

[somewhatfoolish]

I'm as guilty as the next man of not speaking up against ignorant bigotry like that in the selfish interest of a quiet life, well done for saying that. 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I can only echo the above.

I've heard of a case recently where somebody was asked to leave a job they'd been in for over 25 years for precisely that kind of behaviour.  It took one colleague to put in a grievance, which then resulted in several others doing the same.  It takes one person like you to be brave and stand up to people like that and others to speak out.  Good on you.

[MrGTI6]

I really appreciate the comments, though it seems I've made myself out to be some sort of caped crusader which is very much not the case!

I tend to shy away from confrontation and in this situation for whatever reason I couldn't bite my tongue. The words just sort of came out! I'm looking back on it now and thinking about how I could have got my point across more eloquently. 

And I'm sure others would have got involved regardless as it really was unpleasant to witness. He's always very vocal about migrants/foreigners/etc. but today was on another level. He certainly wouldn't have behaved in the same way if the five-foot Lithuanian lady was a six-foot Lithuanian bloke. 

We're desperate to see the back of him, and despite his lack of self-awareness, even he must realise that after today. If he does get handed his P45, no doubt he'll blame "migrants".

[High Jetter]

Pronounce it 'my grants'. Maybe he'll get it, one day.