The grumpy thread

[MikeR]

dog grump or rather dog owners grump to be fair to dogs ,

went to the woods today for a walk , and found of all things,  2 tent pegs stuck in the ground  ready to be tripped over ... so I pulled them , one was a wire peg type  , and the other a right angle section one that was quite long ....  I stood there with it in my hand ..

seconds later massive thump behind me as this off the lead smaller alsatian type dog and its small mate come running down the hill at me , and with being attacked by dogs in the past .. ready 

yes , long pointy thing in my hand , the wife looked concerned about the dogs , so did my son  , bit of a stand off as the dogs looked at us .....

 then the dogs run off , no sign of the owner at all ...

obviously the owner was not concerned where the dogs had a shit ..... or what they got up to !

good thing we did not have our dog with us ..

[High Jetter]

8 hours ago, IronStar said:

The local big supermarket has new security staff standing by self-checkout. As usual here, they’re there for insurance reasons, like 60 and I can’t possibly imagine them stopping someone able-bodied from carrying out half the (painfully understaffed) store. Unlike the previous ones, who were aware of this and were super friendly and helpful towards (mostly older) people stuck with self-checkouts, new guys apparently aren’t and are taking it way too seriously. Standing half a meter behind you, breathing down your neck, laser-focused on what you’re doing, without even saying hello. I’m not a knuckledragger nor do I shoplift, but I’m torn between wanting to turn around and ask for some fucking breathing space, turning around and showing them out the way, and walking out with an entire shopping basket unscanned to see what happens and what’s the plan to stop someone twice their size. Judging by the tension in the air, reactions from other shoppers seem to be similar to mine.  
Is giving them some basic manners training if they obviously don’t have it, or using common sense to leave people a bit of personal space really all that complicated? 

Could you use a manned checkout instead? (Or womaned, obs)

[New POD]

9 hours ago, jakebullet said:

Mad Jean again:

DEAR LORD JESUS I AM PRAYING TO HAVE A MUCH MORE PEACEFUL LIFE SO I PRAY AND ASK YOU TO HELP ME TO FIND A AN PEACEFUL , HAPPIER AND BETTER PLACE TO LIVE SUCH AS TO LIVE IN LINDISFARNE KNOWN AS HOLY ISLAND, PLEASE LORD HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN YOUR DEAR NAMESAKE JESUS I ASK THIS.Amen.

I'm not a member of club Jesus, but surely this is wrong? Jesus isn't a magic lamp you can rub and get free wishes? Heal the sick, feed the starving, and I'd like to order a new washing machine Jesus, the one on page 342 of the argos catalogue. AMEN!

Even if THE LORD shouted GRANTED! and lo, mad Jean is transported to holy moly, isn't it going to have just a few tourists passing her door every day, just the same as her current house in Whitby? Plus currently driving 0.5 miles to co-op is an epic journey, so how's being on a tidal island going to work?

My parents are born again hippy Christians since the 60s. My dad's prayers usually have a hint of "please give me guidance as I don't know what you want me to do", or "If it's your plan that I move my family to the North East, show me how to make it happen" 

Once when our youngest was about 1 and 1/2 and we were moving house and he wouldn't sleep through the night, I asked my Dad for advise. He said he'd pray. The next day, he says "have you sat him.down and told him you are taking him and the cat with you and that he will have a new bedroom with his old toys? " 

I always think, the act of sitting down and describing a problem to someone often clears your mind, and relaxes you enough to find your own solution . 

[jakebullet]

Jesus must have said no to the house move, as Jean is taking it out on his representative:

MINISTER PAUL BURNET I COULD NOT CSRR YOU I AM NO LONGER IN SNY OF YOUR GROUPS THANK YOU. I CAN DO WITHOUT ANY OF YOUR GROUPS REJECTIONS. GOD WILL WANT ME EVEN IF I AM REJECTED BY YOUR GROUP, THANK GOD  THST HE HSS NO SELECTED GROUPS AND TURNS ILL PEOPLE OUTOF THEM. I HAVE JUST COME OUT OF BEINH ILL IN HOSPITAL AND I DON,T WISH TO BE MSDE TO FEEL FUTHER ILLER THROUGH CLIQUISH GROUPS. I AM OUT TO ACCEPT ANYONE , I DON,T LIKE GROUPS EHO THINK THAT THEY ARE MIGHTIER THAN GOD.

It's a typical Jean nastygram that she sends to just about everyone, and then she wonders why nobody comes to visit. We're in Whitby in a few weeks, wonder if we're going to call?

[maxxo]

Another grump

the weather, it’s cold

my parents house which I’m looking after while they’re away is a cold old thing I’ll say that

been sat beside this since 1 o’clock, Christ knows how much gas I’ve used

 

the rest of the house is like an ice box, too late now to bother putting the heating on

might just sleep in the lounge to keep warm

no one seems to have gas fires anymore, this one’s from the late 90s and it’s bloody good I’ll say that

i guess one advantage is it’s warmed the chimney stack up enough so I can warm my hands on it in the bedroom upstairs

seasonal Depression season starting soon I suppose 

[paulplom]

I do all the gas fitting for a fireplace shop (https://camdenfires.co.uk/) in North Shields. I currently fit on average 5 gas fires a week. They're still very popular especially with the elderly.

[Split_Pin]

8 hours ago, maxxo said:

Another grump

the weather, it’s cold

my parents house which I’m looking after while they’re away is a cold old thing I’ll say that

been sat beside this since 1 o’clock, Christ knows how much gas I’ve used

 

the rest of the house is like an ice box, too late now to bother putting the heating on

might just sleep in the lounge to keep warm

no one seems to have gas fires anymore, this one’s from the late 90s and it’s bloody good I’ll say that

i guess one advantage is it’s warmed the chimney stack up enough so I can warm my hands on it in the bedroom upstairs

seasonal Depression season starting soon I suppose 

My first flat was a 105 year old top corner sandstone effort with huge and ill fitting windows. The only formal heating system was a living flame gas fire in the living room. I had a Glen electric heater in the bedroom which was on a timer during the night and worked great. Froze in the winter and boiled in the summer though 😂 

I made my own heat by going out for runs, hot bath and that was me set for the evening.

[maxxo]

22 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My first flat was a 105 year old top corner sandstone effort with huge and ill fitting windows. The only formal heating system was a living flame gas fire in the living room. I had a Glen electric heater in the bedroom which was on a timer during the night and worked great. Froze in the winter and boiled in the summer though 😂 

I made my own heat by going out for runs, hot bath and that was me set for the evening.

This place will be cracking on a 100 easily

theres 2 gas fires, this living flame and am outset glass fronted one with the back boiler for the central heating behind

it’s quite warm with the heating on, but it’s draughty so one of the fires are usually on

1 hour ago, paulplom said:

I do all the gas fitting for a fireplace shop (https://camdenfires.co.uk/) in North Shields. I currently fit on average 5 gas fires a week. They're still very popular especially with the elderly.

i must admit I do like a gas fire, never been too keen on electric ones as they just seem pants

[captain_70s]

Worth bearing in mind when these buildings were new 15C was considered a good warm indoor temperature. It's only since the 1980s we've been heating places above that on the regular.

[horriblemercedes]

20 minutes ago, captain_70s said:

Worth bearing in mind when these buildings were new 15C was considered a good warm indoor temperature. It's only since the 1980s we've been heating places above that on the regular.

I usually have my thermostat set to 16, unless I have people coming over or need to dry some washing or something.

 

The house heats up quickly and easily when needed, so insulation is good.

 

I think 16 should be sufficient for stopping mould and it's a pretty comfortable temperature, I find. Anything from about 15-34 seems pretty comfortable usually.

[24vdiamond]

10 hours ago, maxxo said:

Another grump

the weather, it’s cold

my parents house which I’m looking after while they’re away is a cold old thing I’ll say that

been sat beside this since 1 o’clock, Christ knows how much gas I’ve used

 

the rest of the house is like an ice box, too late now to bother putting the heating on

might just sleep in the lounge to keep warm

no one seems to have gas fires anymore, this one’s from the late 90s and it’s bloody good I’ll say that

i guess one advantage is it’s warmed the chimney stack up enough so I can warm my hands on it in the bedroom upstairs

seasonal Depression season starting soon I suppose 

 

21 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

I usually have my thermostat set to 16, unless I have people coming over or need to dry some washing or something.

 

The house heats up quickly and easily when needed, so insulation is good.

 

I think 16 should be sufficient for stopping mould and it's a pretty comfortable temperature, I find. Anything from about 15-34 seems pretty comfortable usually.

Our place is 250 years old, so no footings, solid walls etc instant damp magnet but this year we bought a couple of dehumidifiers, amazed at the difference in temperature as the house feels warmer without any heating/fires on and they are pulling out about 6+ ltrs of water over a 24hr period!

[vulgalour]

15 hours ago, jakebullet said:

We're in Whitby in a few weeks, wonder if we're going to call?

Be sure to swing by and leave a Sorry You Were In card.

[maxxo]

Just been to collect my parents from Newcastle airport

£4 for a minute pickup is extortion 

Peterlee to the airport, 2 hours

airport to my parents house 2.5 hours

parents house in Teesside back up to Peterlee, an hour

My parents live 15 miles away

if you know any geography about the north east, you know that Newcastle airport shouldn’t be 2 hours drive from peterlee

i am fucking sick of the sight of the A1, especially around team valley

what a shithow 

oh after dropping them off there was a bump just off the A19 bear hartlepool so that was a good 45 minutes worth of crawling along

im so glad the fans in the XM work, no sign of overheating at all so that’s a bonus

[JMotor]

Some silly grumps. But I wanna write it down and see if it makes any difference reading it in text. Maybe it'll be not as bad if I do.

Work the last couple of weeks has been "a bit how ya going" most of the problems have mostly been down to things out of my control.

But hey! That's work innit! 

Then I've ordered front shockers for the Maestro. I've now waited a week, due to the supplier loosing one of them! Today they were meant to arrive. Nope! More chasing there. Worried as the test is due on the car at the end of November, I'd like it done before then.

Just appears to be one mishap after another causing more bother than it should. 

So to use my favourite word. 

Am jist a wee bit scunnered at the minute.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, maxxo said:

Just been to collect my parents from Newcastle airport

£4 for a minute pickup is extortion 

Peterlee to the airport, 2 hours

airport to my parents house 2.5 hours

parents house in Teesside back up to Peterlee, an hour

My parents live 15 miles away

if you know any geography about the north east, you know that Newcastle airport shouldn’t be 2 hours drive from peterlee

So not Peters & Lee Welcome home?

[maxxo]

23 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

So not Peters & Lee Welcome home?

Was a fun welcome home for them after a flight sitting in traffic that never seemed to end

[High Jetter]

3 minutes ago, maxxo said:

Was a fun welcome home for them after a flight sitting in traffic that never seemed to end

You had the worst of it tho

[Spiny Norman]

4 hours ago, JMotor said:

Am jist a wee bit scunnered at the minute.

Scunnered also one of my favourite non sweary words, along with jings.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Spiny Norman said:

Scunnered also one of my favourite non sweary words, along with jings.

Are you Oor Wullie?

[brownnova]

Due to a manhole cover malfunction on the M56 it took me 6 1/2 hours to get from North Wales to Newcastle… 

Tonight we have inconsiderately loud rooms around us in the hotel playing music and shouting at each other, and the room is hotter than the hobs of Hell… 

It’s going to be a fun drive back to Wales! 

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, brownnova said:

Tonight we have inconsiderately loud rooms around us in the hotel

Unless it's an absolute hole, surely security can have these people warned once and then removed for being a nuisance?

I've had this too many times but it's only going to be so long before these people have a room next to some kind of psycho!

[New POD]

2 hours ago, brownnova said:

Due to a manhole cover malfunction on the M56 it took me 6 1/2 hours to get from North Wales to Newcastle… 

Tonight we have inconsiderately loud rooms around us in the hotel playing music and shouting at each other, and the room is hotter than the hobs of Hell… 

It’s going to be a fun drive back to Wales! 

In the summer we went to Scarborough to see Paul Weller play at the open Air Theatre.  Thought we'd make a weekend of it and stay the night before too, in what the reviews told us was a small family run, but tasteful hotel (The Crescent) 

Now my wife has ME so getting a good night's sleep is absolutely paramount. 

We were on the 3rd Floor so some distance from their function room.  Which had an Acid Trance Rave music night.  Supposed to finish at 11. We complained at 11.30, the base seemed to get louder. We complained at 12.00 ...they will be finishing soon sir. Lots of people have complained. 

We complained at 12.30 and at 1am. 

The beat was at a frequency that it disturbed your heart rhythm. 

At 1.30 it went quiet. 

In the morning I went to see the manager. My wife was absolutely not able to function.  I got breakfast brought up for her at 11am just before the breakfast staff finished.  She managed a little walk outside and then had a late Sunday lunch in in our rooms, because there was no way she could sit in a restaurant.  We managed to get to the show, but the lack of sleep wiped out the whole day for her. 

When we got into bed on the Sunday it was blissfully quiet despite the hotel being full of other couples who had been to the show. Mind you they all looked older than us and we are old enough. 

When it came to paying the bill, we were given the Sunday Lunch for free. Which was a reasonable compromise. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

5 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Are you Oor Wullie?

Nope he's my Granny (born in Ayr circa 1910) - one of her 'naughty' words was scunner. Never heard her swear or curse. Ever.
'Scunneration' is our more modern take - got one right now with an pump from eBay, 2-3 days delivery from a last Sunday order is now scheduled for 6th November  
Bollocks (I did not inherit the lack of effing and blinding).

[Split_Pin]

5 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Are you Oor Wullie?

Yes and we both live in Edinburgh Castle, our dad is Euan McGregor and Papa Sean Connery bought us new kilts for our birthdays.

[Merryck]

28 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Yes and we both live in Edinburgh Castle, our dad is Euan McGregor and Papa Sean Connery bought us new kilts for our birthdays.

I was talking about this yesterday. When Americans find out you're English they always ask "Oh! Have you met Prince Harry?". I was in France skiing in the Alps and got chatting to some Americans. One of them goes "Oh! You're English? Do you know..." and in my mind I'm like "Oh yeah, of course, me and the Queen we go way fucking back."

Then gives me the very unique name of my best friend. Same person, she'd met him the year before. 

I'm now always tempted to ask other people if they know someone I know from their country just on the off chance, but I can't quite bring myself to be that person.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Merryck said:

I was talking about this yesterday. When Americans find out you're English they always ask "Oh! Have you met Prince Harry?". I was in France skiing in the Alps and got chatting to some Americans. One of them goes "Oh! You're English? Do you know..." and in my mind I'm like "Oh yeah, of course, me and the Queen we go way fucking back."

Then gives me the very unique name of my best friend. Same person, she'd met him the year before. 

I'm now always tempted to ask other people if they know someone I know from their country just on the off chance, but I can't quite bring myself to be that person.

I don’t know how it is these days , but how the fuck do Americans still think that “England” is really a big village and everyone knows everyone else.? (“England  = U.K.).

Are they really so stupid not to realise there’s 70m people even if we are crammed onto an island 800  x 150 miles ?

 

[Merryck]

2 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

I don’t know how it is these days , but how the fuck do Americans still think that “England” is really a big village and everyone knows everyone else.? (“England  = U.K.).

Are they really so stupid not to realise there’s 70m people even if we are crammed onto an island 800  x 150 miles ?

 

No idea, but that interaction did nothing to change that opinion!

[Zelandeth]

Why the heck have E27 lamp holders apparently become an endangered species?

Eventually found some in B&Q (and bought all four they had, I'll just scavenge one from something else I guess), but that was after trying Toolstation, Screwfix, a supposed lighting specialist and an electrical wholesaler.  Hate having to use B&Q (understatement), but I needed them today, so just gritted my teeth and got on with it.

[JMotor]

How my experience with the supplier for my Maestro shocks is going.

It's a minor issue in the grand scheme.

But faaaaccckkkiinn hell! I ordered the fucking things on the 22nd! 

So it's wait for these or pay another £100 for another pair! 

Edit - Correction! It'll cost me £100 over the price I was already paying for the first pair!

[Stinkwheel]

The aging Sevel Nord van failed its MOT, booo hisss !!

Only on two lower balljoint gaiters disintegrated  and headlight aim. Yay !!

Havent got time to do it myself at the moment, boo hiss again !!   (so have fetched it back and rebooked in with the garage for next friday for them to just bung on two new lower arms complete as balljoints not available seperately for them and at least the other bushes are all changed then as well)

Boss at the garage said how these were good vans and nice to see one still being used at 226k and counting, they are a great bunch of lads and its a real shite-ers garage, yay !!