The grumpy thread

[New POD]

10 hours ago, Bren said:

Shoppers. If you knock something off a shelf please pick it up. Pick it up even if you didn't rather than the item being trodden on.

Saw an old lady slip on something (possibly a plum) that had fallen on the floor in Tesco once. Broke her hip. 

[RoverFolkUs]

7 hours ago, beko1987 said:

Prick

Had a lady with a Qashqai that brought her car in for one tyre around May this year. It was worn to a similar extent as that one. She had that tyre replaced but I noticed the one on the opposite corner was very close to the limit and worn smooth on the inner edge. Not illegal, but very close to showing cords so I recommended doing both. She just wanted the one illegal one doing. 

6 months or so pass and she phones up a couple of weeks ago saying "I need a new tyre because it's started showing the cords, it must be worn out" 

She knows what the cord structure is! But thinks that's the time to replace a tyre - when the cords are showing.. seriously! 🤣

[Remspoor]

Had to recently phone to a UK pension office. I had written to them twice. First time in Sept. The second letter as a chase up a month letter because there was no reply. Phoning the UK costs a far bit these days as it it is outside of the EU.

I had two questions. One of them was why I cannot have a means of secure contact with them electronically.

Upon answering the call centre man asked what was my query (I was chasing up a response to my letters) and after I told him he asked for my SS number.  He would not go any further to discus  matters until I answered a security question. He was a bit hard to hear because, as usual the line, was braking up in a typical Call Centre way. I did not hear him correctly when he asked for an old address.  As he was on speaker phone the wife understood the question and said "No he means the one in (X) town". She never gave the whole address  but even so my answer of the full address was not acceptable. That was a fail. I then answered two other "security" questions.

So we cleared that  hurdle. However, he then told me he could not see an answer to my letters in the system. In response I said  that means you failed to answer. He replied that is not what I said. He repeated that he could not see it in the system. Somehow that meant there could have been replied to my letter, just that there is no record. Both the wife and i are confused by that statement. Why not just admit that there was no reply?

I have a digital pass for interactions with Spanish government offices land registry, taxes, health car matters etc etc. My wife has one for here needs when contacting the Dutch government. Why cannot the UK get into the 21st century? I know they pass around my details via the Internet. Because I write to Wolverhampton. Every call centre person I have dealt with has a Northern Ireland accent and letters to me are sent from the Netherlands. I am informed that a secure electronic means of communicating with the UK government  offices, from outside of the Uk is not possible.

Oh if I have  a complaint I have to write to my MP. I cannot vote in the UK .

Cluck flusters.

[RoverFolkUs]

Fecking Facebook marketplace scammers. 

I'm on the lookout for a single alloy for my Focus as one of them is heavily distorted. Possibly repairable, but I could get a second hand straight alloy for less. 

Spotted a very poorly written listing on marketplace for the exact wheel I'm after, it's only £15 and a 20 minute or so drive away. Perfect! It was listed about 7 weeks ago, I sent a message saying I'd like to buy it if he's still got it and within seconds I get an automated message along the lines of "please contact (email address) for further details. Please mention vehicle model and year"

This seems slightly odd, because the advert definitely looks genuine, just poorly written, and so do his other listings for other various small ticket household objects. 

An hour or so later I look at his selling profile and it's now been taken over with those blatantly fake adverts, like a 2017 VW transporter for £3000 or something. All with the same description - like this; 

Reported the listings but I expect FB will do fuck all about it. Meanwhile I really just want to get in touch with the bloke and buy his wheel! 

I can only assume because the advert was so poorly written it wasn't coming up in my previous searches as it was listed 7 weeks ago, but the algorithm has boosted his listings after the surge of activity from the fraudsters...

[beko1987]

14 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Had a lady with a Qashqai that brought her car in for one tyre around May this year. It was worn to a similar extent as that one. She had that tyre replaced but I noticed the one on the opposite corner was very close to the limit and worn smooth on the inner edge. Not illegal, but very close to showing cords so I recommended doing both. She just wanted the one illegal one doing. 

6 months or so pass and she phones up a couple of weeks ago saying "I need a new tyre because it's started showing the cords, it must be worn out" 

She knows what the cord structure is! But thinks that's the time to replace a tyre - when the cords are showing.. seriously! 🤣

I can make it a bit worse as I was at the local indoor kids play building for a party my boy was at, was outside having a smoke. 

Kids happily bounded into it and off they went, been tipping it down for days here... 😡

And I shit myself and got my tyres changed when they were 24% better than these 

[New POD]

9 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

I can make it a bit worse as I was at the local indoor kids play building for a party my boy was at, was outside having a smoke. 

Kids happily bounded into it and off they went, been tipping it down for days here... 😡

And I shit myself and got my tyres changed when they were 24% better than these 

The tyres might not kill you, but what about the smoking? Give that up and you could afford the best tyres..

[Talbot]

1 minute ago, New POD said:

The tyres might not kill you, but what about the smoking? Give that up and you could afford the best tyres..

[EyesWeldedShut]

3 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

I can make it a bit worse as I was at the local indoor kids play building for a party my boy was at, was outside having a smoke. 

Kids happily bounded into it and off they went, been tipping it down for days here... 😡

And I shit myself and got my tyres changed when they were 24% better than these 

Certain family relative was here recently in their car with a newly minted MoT - "only needed two tyres to pass"
Being a nosy fecker, I squinted at the thing: two new fronts, two (mixed) shite on the rears.
Stuck the plate through the MoT checker:
It failed 2023 on both fronts (cords exposed) and it has advisory on both rears (one is ancient and cracking, the other is just legal on tread. ).
Every.single.fucking.year since 2015 that car has had at least one advisory/fail on tyres.
So this year's cracked rear advisory is the original (2009) spare that they flung on last year as there was a nail in the one fitted.
It is on 185/60 R15 H - £50 fitted for ditchfinders - all four for the same price as the annual car tax.

It really makes me spit

[Talbot]

It would make SO MUCH MORE SENSE for safety partnerships to be set up as a roadblock somewhere on road, and just did a cursory check on every single vehicle's tyres as they go past rather than SCamera partnerships running speed cameras.

It would take about 5 seconds to have a look at the state of the tyres.  Every vehicle that is OK is sent on their way.  Even slightly questionable ones get moved on.  Anything with fuck-all-tread or cords showing gets pulled to the side of the road and points/fine issued.  And you're not allowed to go any further in a defective vehicle so have to call up for mobile tyre fitting there and then.

Gets dangerous cars off the road, prosecutes twats for driving on dangerous tyres and makes the local tyre place a mint.  Win-Win.

I'd much rather have someone driving at 35 in a 30 on decent tyres than someone doing 25 in a 30 on cords-showing-fuck-all-tread in the rain.

[MrsJuular]

10 hours ago, chaseracer said:

It's all the fault of @MrsJuular but I have acquired a taste for the products of SCTSH brewers Innis & Gunn.  But can I find them in the depths of the West Midlands?

Other than a brief (and since passed) window of availability in certain Tesco branches, apparently not.

Do not fear! I will bring you some down @chaseracer along with some sweet treats..

[Spiny Norman]

DRLs are dangerous.
It's been noted before but the number of fannies driving round in the dark in cars with no rear lights has never been greater than it is now.  Every time I'm out in the dark I see a couple, including one on the M6 in the pissing rain last night.

[Metal Guru]

7 minutes ago, Spiny Norman said:

DRLs are dangerous.
It's been noted before but the number of fannies driving round in the dark in cars with no rear lights has never been greater than it is now.  Every time I'm out in the dark I see a couple, including one on the M6 in the pissing rain last night.

This pm it was dark here before 3 pm. I’m swearing at people not signalling and then notice a tiny yellow slit completely masked by stupid patterns of over bright LED DRLs. 
Do we really need every light surrounded by a pattern of LEDs?. They look really naff anyway.

[timolloyd]

3 hours ago, Talbot said:

It would make SO MUCH MORE SENSE for safety partnerships to be set up as a roadblock somewhere on road, and just did a cursory check on every single vehicle's tyres as they go past rather than SCamera partnerships running speed cameras.

It would take about 5 seconds to have a look at the state of the tyres.  Every vehicle that is OK is sent on their way.  Even slightly questionable ones get moved on.  Anything with fuck-all-tread or cords showing gets pulled to the side of the road and points/fine issued.  And you're not allowed to go any further in a defective vehicle so have to call up for mobile tyre fitting there and then.

Gets dangerous cars off the road, prosecutes twats for driving on dangerous tyres and makes the local tyre place a mint.  Win-Win.

I'd much rather have someone driving at 35 in a 30 on decent tyres than someone doing 25 in a 30 on cords-showing-fuck-all-tread in the rain.

I like this idea. Particularly because I feel sure the people who take chances with tyres are often the same people who still think there’s a week’s grace with MOT expiry dates, insurance etc.

[Metal Guru]

2 minutes ago, timolloyd said:

I like this idea. Particularly because I feel sure the people who take chances with tyres are often the same people who still think there’s a week’s grace with MOT expiry dates, insurance etc.

I think you’re preaching to the choir here. If people aren’t interested in cars ( or only interested in the badge), they treat them as domestic appliances. It’s there to do a job at minimum cost and only do any maintenance if it breaks down. They don’t understand ( nor want to) the difference between good tyres and those with cords showing and any weird noises are dealt with by turning up the stereo.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Road side tyre checks aren't cost effective several staff (wages,etc), scameras need one or no personal (wages).

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

This pm it was dark here before 3 pm. I’m swearing at people not signalling and then notice a tiny yellow slit completely masked by stupid patterns of over bright LED DRLs. 
Do we really need every light surrounded by a pattern of LEDs?. They look really naff anyway.

All my driving life I've been on the wrong end of 'headlamp wars'. First cars I had were fitted with feeble tungsten bulbs when all the newer stuff had halogena. Then when I started getting more up to date old shitters with halogen lights all the BMWs and Aldis had upgraded to Xenon which were pretty blinding in the mirror or worse, coming towards you,  and when I got my first car with weapons grade xenons a couple of years ago everyone else on the road has graduated to billion watt LEDs which automatically home in on my retinas when they're coming towards me.
I can't win.
 

[New POD]

3 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

DRLs are dangerous.
It's been noted before but the number of fannies driving round in the dark in cars with no rear lights has never been greater than it is now.  Every time I'm out in the dark I see a couple, including one on the M6 in the pissing rain last night.

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

[Christine]

2 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

How does your good lady feel about that? You having a better spec car , and hers just a basic ?  They get touchy about trivial things ,do women ! 

[beko1987]

10 hours ago, New POD said:

The tyres might not kill you, but what about the smoking? Give that up and you could afford the best tyres..

[beko1987]

3 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

I've done it too! Couple of years ago I left dad by the concert venue and fetched the car (his car). Got in, dash lit up, the road front and back lit up and I drove a few miles back to shepherd's bush green. 

To dad franticly waving at me from the side of the road saying the headlights weren't on... He turns the switch manually off and on as he doesn't like the auto lights... 😂 Turned the stalk and everything got even brighter! The drl's and front sidelights on his ioniq are as good/slightly better than the main beams on the Xsara and tbh I didn't notice

[EyesWeldedShut]

5 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

o everyone else on the road has graduated to billion watt LEDs which automatically home in on my retinas

I thought it was just me?
On a wet night, sat down in the Bini (or the 940), unlit country road I can see feck all when there's an oncoming SUV towering over me. At narrow points I'm almost at a halt like some old giffer.

Oh, hang on, now I mention giffer....
 

[New POD]

1 hour ago, Christine said:

How does your good lady feel about that? You having a better spec car , and hers just a basic ?  They get touchy about trivial things ,do women ! 

Hers has an electric handbrake. That's what mine hasn't got. 

[Rocket88]

4 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

I’m staggered that car manufacturers get away it. It should a legislative thing that front AND rear lights are on

[beko1987]

47 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

I thought it was just me?
On a wet night, sat down in the Bini (or the 940), unlit country road I can see feck all when there's an oncoming SUV towering over me. At narrow points I'm almost at a halt like some old giffer.

Oh, hang on, now I mention giffer....
 

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

[Metal Guru]

5 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

While bright lights maybe better than no lights, being dazzled hides other things, which is just as dangerous. The other night , I was on a city centre motorway, needed to change lanes but looking in the mirror all I could see was a wall of lights. Had little idea of how far away the were and could have easily missed a close up car with normal but much dimmer lights.

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 hours ago, beko1987 said:

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

No idea - in theory they filter out blue so should diminish LED dazzle. Google suggests mixed opinions on them though - ditto the ant glare yellow coloured ones.
White lines by the side of the road help but, around here, there's no middle line in places as two cars won't fit - if you both follow the sidelines it could be interesting

In the van/lorry I'm fine as I'm above the dipped beam level of the oncoming stuff - I'm guessing SUV drivers get the same road view so see no problems?

[horriblemercedes]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

While bright lights maybe better than no lights, being dazzled hides other things, which is just as dangerous. The other night , I was on a city centre motorway, needed to change lanes but looking in the mirror all I could see was a wall of lights. Had little idea of how far away the were and could have easily missed a close up car with normal but much dimmer lights.

I'm with you there. Given the choice, I wouldn't allow LED headlights. I regularly find myself dazzled by them and really having no vision until the oncoming car has passed

[captain_70s]

4 hours ago, beko1987 said:

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

I had some fetching yellow aviators that seemed to take the edge off while making me look even more like a serial rapist.

I am also completely blinded by headlights. My go to tactic is aim to the left of the oncoming supernova and hope I don't end up in the ditch.

It's fine in my van, and presumably in crossovers/SUVs that ride higher but in my older cars it's quite hellish.

The Acclaim doesn't even have tinted mirrors/glass so a car behind me will usually blind me via the door mirror unless I drive with my right eye closed...

[SiC]

I'm ever so slightly long sighted. My optician said to me that those that are long sighted are more likely to be dazzled by on coming headlights at night. Iirc its to do with how the light in the eye is focused slightly off centre and ends up reflecting around the inside the eye more. 

[GeordieInExile]

The C6 coolant hose is on back order from Citroen. I asked the garage when I'll have the car back. "Could be this week, could be next." Mmmm...hmmm.