The grumpy thread

[Markeh]

Apparently someone upstairs didn't think we had enough on our plate with an uncle suddenly becoming terminally ill so now it's my gran's turn for a similar (albeit less unexpected/out of the blue) diagnosis. This becomes a problem as carrying on as normal albeit with a bit of dark humour is my coping mechanism, and that doesn't sit well with much of the family (although it at least does with my gran - very shortly after telling me she joked that I'd finally get her Kitchenaid mixer I called dibs on 10 years ago!) - so it's probably going to be a rather tense and unpleasant few months when dealing with other relatives. 

Nothing like going away for a week and being brought back down to earth with a thud not 12 hours after getting off the damn plane.

[brownnova]

2 hours ago, chadders said:

Have you tried the MGOC?

It may take longer but I suspect you won't get many X Box offers. They'll probably appreciate it more as well.

No, I hadn’t. Good idea. 

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

It's probably a sign to keep it for another summer 😅

I’m reckoning so. MoT has less than two months left now, so probably have to put a new one on anyway now. 

37 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Not raining in Wales; does not compute.

Been ok here today… soaking lots of other places  apparently! 

[Wack]

I can see why people PCP cars 

Had 4 tyres fitted to the abarth Saturday, drove it home, fine, got in it this morning and something is rubbing, badly, I bet it's snapped a spring overnight 

[Rustybullethole]

Three weeks into non smoking decided id start  couch 2 5 k. Been doing a fair bit of walking so figured the heal id got told at the hospital three and half weeks back was bruised would be fine.

Had this app in my phone for about four years though felt good today. Nice walk up the woods of about half hour to the spot id decided was suitable to flounder about it. Its the quietest spot around here this was key as i feel a bit self conscious having not really run in 30 years. Its also grass, my old knees ain't up for pounding pavement.

Warm up done time for the first run. Am on my toes as led to believe thats the way to do it plus a bit conscious of my heal. 90 seconds i think it is, run the walk. Must of been 88 seconds in and theres a pop from the front of said heal. The kind of pop that can't be walked off. Bollocks.

Sat on the wet grass for a bit. Am gutted was enjoying that and had been putting it off till I thought i was ready. Took half an hour to walk the five mins to the main road. Sat on wall and thought about phoning home and waking the mrs to pick me up.

After ten mins decided that was an option for the weak and feeble so started the limp home. 5 mins later have covered about 50 yards but happen upon a skip where I find half a curtain pole to use as a stick. 

I now look like a right cunt.

Five or ten mins along the road get past by the bus. Why the living fuck didn't i just get that it takes me more or less to my door from from where i came out onto the main road. 

Am nearly at the shop now decide to grab tea bags as we've run out then get the bus the one stop to my flat.

Mrs calls shes been woken by her mate who's just gone into labour. Tell here what happened and shes says shell come and get me. Sat in the curb like a hobo and she got the teabags too which was nice.

Am now foot up with ice and a cuppa. Don't think i can be arsed to go hospital. Spent far to many days there this year.

Arse.

[Rustybullethole]

1 hour ago, Wack said:

I can see why people PCP cars 

Had 4 tyres fitted to the abarth Saturday, drove it home, fine, got in it this morning and something is rubbing, badly, I bet it's snapped a spring overnight 

Noooo. To pcp and snapped springs. Both all to common these days. Hope it ain't wrecked the tyre.

[Wack]

41 minutes ago, Rustybullethole said:

Noooo. To pcp and snapped springs. Both all to common these days. Hope it ain't wrecked the tyre.

Chucking it down here, been out and looked at it and it's sitting level so I'm not sure what it is, strange it drove home OK, left for 24 hours and now something is rubbing 

[Rustybullethole]

19 minutes ago, Wack said:

Chucking it down here, been out and looked at it and it's sitting level so I'm not sure what it is, strange it drove home OK, left for 24 hours and now something is rubbing 

Hopefully just some plastic shite falling off then hey. 

 

[Wack]

1 hour ago, Rustybullethole said:

Hopefully just some plastic shite falling off then hey. 

 

sticky brake caliper, it sounded way worse that that but it's freed off now

[Rustybullethole]

Up the hospital just a three hour waiting time chalked up today was five last time. No seats mind so on the floor. Should of bought a camp bed could of made myself at home 😂 

[hairnet]

Fuck British airways

.100% aer Lingus the next time like.last time

[omegod]

13 minutes ago, hairnet said:

Fuck British airways

.100% aer Lingus the next time like.last time

I did Aer lingus Manchester to NYC + return, was faultless and £350 all in, would do again

[hairnet]

9 minutes ago, omegod said:

I did Aer lingus Manchester to NYC + return, was faultless and £350 all in, would do again

See my Frisco thread lol

[iainrcz]

The Mrs has talked a lot today.

[Remspoor]

YouTubers.

What is with those time-lapses? even worse time-lapses with crap music....fillers for a short time line?

Some so called home mechanics have taken to bringing their cars to professionals. Why? I watch the vids for tips or not on how to attempt repairs. That is why they originally had a channel.

 

 

[jakebullet]

Cunt next door was walking past my car when I parked, so I enquired what he intends to do about my car he damaged. Big surprise he claims it wasn't him and it's pure coincidence that my car has white paint and his pikey truck has green paint on it.

On the bright side it looks like they're struggling financially, as instead of the slab of strongbow he had 4 3l bottles of tramps cider.

[Dyslexic Viking]

We have struggled with very poor telephone signal coverage in the area here and this has now had tragic consequences. 

500m down the road is the nearest permanent neighbour. He is an old bachelor living in a dilapidated house alone and has little contact with people so lives very isolated. The ambulance was there a few days ago and has now learned that he had a bad fall and was lying for a long time without getting in touch with help due to the bad phone signal coverage.

This is really bad, have been told that he will survive but can't live at home anymore. And as the nearest neighbour, I feel bad.

[MikeR]

Bought another spare wheel today for the car , I can leave one at the static then for when is needed , normally on a Sunday afternoon when the world is shut ... Gets home and decide to check tyres and yes we have a nail in the back offside , new spare gets fitted as it's to hand , back to tyre shop to part with more dosh ....

Then I can fit other spare and I have 2 new matching tyres on the back ... The part worm backs go on the front , and the worn fronts become decent spares.. that's the plan ... 

[Amelia]

For some reason fecking midges seem to love me nowadays. 🤬

 

[PicantoJon]

What a farking shitpile of a day... 

Spent way too much of it in A&E with the small brother, he's autistic and struggles talking to unfamiliar people so as a responsible older sibling I've been with him. Messaged my boss asking for tomorrow off, seeing as we're still sat in the waiting room with no sign of anything happening, and got told that I couldn't and I would be responsible for covering my shift. Erm, pardon? 

[RoverFolkUs]

29 minutes ago, PicantoJon said:

What a farking shitpile of a day... 

Spent way too much of it in A&E with the small brother, he's autistic and struggles talking to unfamiliar people so as a responsible older sibling I've been with him. Messaged my boss asking for tomorrow off, seeing as we're still sat in the waiting room with no sign of anything happening, and got told that I couldn't and I would be responsible for covering my shift. Erm, pardon? 

Never make the mistake of asking for time off (in the case of sickness/other unpaid leave) - tell them you won't be there instead. 

Huge difference between the two.. sounds silly but assert dominance and don't sound too passive or apologetic for "letting them down" 

Again, don't tell them you are going off work because you need to take your brother to an appointment, because they could twist that into misconduct if it means you didn't show up at short notice, then you won't have the inherently strong sickness defence. Say that your brother is unwell and you've had to take on additional family roles which has led you to feeling stressed/overwhelmed and you need a day or two to recuperate.

You don't have to be placed in intensive care to be deemed as "truly sick" !! 🙂

Depends on the sector but if it's an employee deficit sector, no employer will seriously want to lose an employee or indeed sack them over something like that so all you need to do is make them know who's boss when it comes to you deciding on your ability to go to work. 

If they can't account for staff sickness in the way they run their business/manage shifts then that's solely their problem and not yours. 

Maybe I'm just sheltered by having pretty much always worked for numerous very relaxed independent/family run businesses who are actually human, and treat their employees as humans as well 🤷

[New POD]

6 hours ago, Fennec said:

For some reason fecking midges seem to love me nowadays. 🤬

 

I say this with the greatest respect 

Welcome to being a woman. 

All the women in my life are attractive to things that bite and sting, and have skin reactions ranging from "bit bloody ugly" to "fuck, I think my arm. Might fall off"

None of the men in my family are similarly affected. 

I put it down to hormones sending off chemicals to attract them and said hormones making the immune system more sensitive. 

I could be wrong. 

 

[chaseracer]

7 hours ago, PicantoJon said:

What a farking shitpile of a day... 

Spent way too much of it in A&E with the small brother, he's autistic and struggles talking to unfamiliar people so as a responsible older sibling I've been with him. Messaged my boss asking for tomorrow off, seeing as we're still sat in the waiting room with no sign of anything happening, and got told that I couldn't and I would be responsible for covering my shift. Erm, pardon? 

Jon, are you your brother's carer, formally or otherwise?  The relevant sections of this may be of interest...

https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/discrimination-against-parents-and-carers-in-the-workplace/

[PicantoJon]

46 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Jon, are you your brother's carer, formally or otherwise?  The relevant sections of this may be of interest...

https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/discrimination-against-parents-and-carers-in-the-workplace/

I am aye, and while I don't get carers allowance I do get paid for it through direct payments. Going into work tomorrow is going to be fun... 

[Noel Tidybeard]

18 hours ago, Fennec said:

For some reason fecking midges seem to love me nowadays. 🤬

 

well if you will wear such a short skirt...😁

[Bobthebeard]

A frequent user of eBay but not a seller. With good reason it turns out. Had my Triumph Dolomite 1850 HL Auto project with the Sprint engine and running gear on there and....

The lunatics homed in.  🙄 Needless to say I removed it from sale and still have it. Never again. 

[warren t claim]

On 5/10/2023 at 6:27 PM, New POD said:

I say this with the greatest respect 

Welcome to being a woman. 

All the women in my life are attractive to things that bite and sting, and have skin reactions ranging from "bit bloody ugly" to "fuck, I think my arm. Might fall off"

None of the men in my family are similarly affected. 

I put it down to hormones sending off chemicals to attract them and said hormones making the immune system more sensitive. 

I could be wrong. 

 

[Amelia]

6 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Kinda wish they were, maybe they'd leave me alone. 🤣 

Rubbed myself in clove oil this week to deter the little twats, it seems to have worked.  😊

[warren t claim]

12 hours ago, Fennec said:

Kinda wish they were, maybe they'd leave me alone. 🤣 

Rubbed myself in clove oil this week to deter the little twats, it seems to have worked.  😊

Back in 1988 I was celebrating getting my XR3i company car by going out for a night time thrash around the local lanes with a couple of mates. I took a wrong turn down a dead end and was forced to do a three point turn. I reversed a lottle to far and got stuck in a ditch that was also home to a wasps nest. All three of us got out to try and free the beached Escort and despite the other two getting dozens of stings each, the wasps totally left me alone. One of my mates was acting like he'd been attacked by rattlesnakes and the other thought that the wasp stings hurt no more than a nettle sting. 

It took me until 2011 to finally get a wasp sting and that was caused by me squashing one on my arm while I was driving a wagon through Telford. I thought it was a fly and the sting made me feel nauseous with a badly swollen arm. 

In conclusion. I offer the theory that wasps only sting the humans that are the least affected.

And the XR3i? A bunch of stoners driving a Maxi turned up and towed me out for a fiver.

[Spiny Norman]

Had my first FTP for donkey's years on Sunday night coming home after watching the F1 at my mate's house. I'd just pulled onto the straight bit of slip road onto the motorway and gave it a bit of a poke to wind it up to 70 and POOOF!!
EML of doom and drastically reduced power. I managed to limp along the hard shoulder at 10mph with it sounding rough as fuck and luckily the next slip road off was less than a mile away and downhill so at least I wasn't going to get shafted for a tow off the M8.
Called the RAC from the side of the road and was given an ETA of 4:30. Fuck. Right. Off. So I managed to chug back to my mate's place and reschedule the RAC for the next day, so £40 down for two taxis and I joined the RAC man who confidently said, 'Misfire Cylinder #4 and cam sensor'

Notwithstanding the later Saab 9-5s don't actually have a cam sensor I suggested it had felt like a vac pipe somewhere blowing off, such was the suddenness of the fault but he was sure his diagnosis was correct so I had to go with it.
My RAC basic membership is free with the insurance and only covers a tow up to 10 miles so I was relieved of £90 to get towed the 11.2 miles back to the wee garage round the corner from me.

They only looked at it yesterday and found the fault almost instantly, the clip holding on the intercooler pipe had failed and the pipe had indeed blown off causing sudden massive extra bonus free air for the engine.

I don't grudge the garage charging me an hour's labour, the bill for £70-odd including a new hose clip was much less than I had feared might be the case but I can't help wondering if they spotted the rushing air sound within minutes, why the hell didn't the RAC man?

Think I'll go with Auto Aid, despite the price increase.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

@Spiny Norman I had a very similar fault last year with my Golf.  Intercooler pipe into the EGR came off (worn lugs in this instance) on my way back from Brighton - around 80 miles from home.  I limped it into Pease Pottage.

Imagine my joy* when the AA informed my that my MOT had expired and they wouldn't come out to fix it.  In the end I paid £450 for the recovery.  For a £20ish part that took around 15 minutes to fit.  I can't begrudge the AA, they were absolutely correct but it did rather sting the wallet.