The grumpy thread

20,615 · March 31

24 minutes ago, sdkrc said:

I got a modest bonus at work in December '22.

Off the back of that, in January '23 I promised to take the missus to Disneyland Paris for a holiday for her 40th.

Later that month I got a fucking huge tax bill because my employer had used the wrong tax code for several years. A couple months later I lost an even larger sum moving houses due to some fuckaboutery that wasn't my fault.

I have only just financially recovered from this and am looking at Disneyland holidays. First holiday of any kind in 7 years. Holy shit fuck it's expensive.

£3k for a 4 day trip staying in the cheapest hotels and doing packed lunches. Absolutely dreading it and know there's better value elsewhere but this isn't really for me.

That doesn't sound like a holiday at all to me, but I'm probably not the target audience.

20,672 · March 31

I ordered an alternator plug for the SD1 last friday. The packaging and carriage was almost 50% on top of the purchase price - DHL were delivering.

I also ordered a used copy of the psychopath test by Jon Ronson as I should read more instead of looking at my phone. £2.70 all in.

The book arrived ten minutes before the part.

17,419 · March 31

12 minutes ago, Yoss said:

That doesn't sound like a holiday at all to me, but I'm probably not the target audience.

Same.

If the missus and the boy have a good time then it's a success.

If they have a bad time then I get to gloat and I pick all the future holidays.

It's a win-win

2,559 · March 31

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

That doesn't sound like a holiday at all to me, but I'm probably not the target audience.

Swombo takes our youngest with our eldest to foreign climes once a year, eldest is a seasoned traveller.

Me? I stay at home and look after the dogs, house to myself for the week.

They show me pics on their return, everyone with their two square foot of beach.

My idea of hell 🙄

6,439 · March 31

23 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Swombo takes our youngest with our eldest to foreign climes once a year, eldest is a seasoned traveller.

Me? I stay at home and look after the dogs, house to myself for the week.

They show me pics on their return, everyone with their two square foot of beach.

My idea of hell 🙄

Same. I just don't see the appeal of spending a load on travel to go and sit on a beach doing fuck all for a week or more. I can sit doing fuck all at home for no cost.

20,615 · March 31

2 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

Swombo takes our youngest with our eldest to foreign climes once a year, eldest is a seasoned traveller.

Me? I stay at home and look after the dogs, house to myself for the week.

They show me pics on their return, everyone with their two square foot of beach.

My idea of hell 🙄

We are the same. We didn't really trust anybody else to look after Chieveley anyway but now he's classed as an XL Bully we definitely don't. So Lorraine goes off on holidays with her friends while I stay home with the dog and I go off on Eastern European railway jaunts while Lorraine stays home.

If we do go on holiday together the dog comes with us, so it somewhere in the UK.

Some people think I'm weird but I love going off on my own, I don't get lonely at all and it's great just being able to go where you want when you want. I can highly recommend.

3,692 · April 1

A quote from a member of the public in Camsuland regarding a fire in Cumbernauld reported on the Daily Record website......

One person said: "I can see the smoke from Cambuslang." Another added: "What is going on with all of this smoke? I am scared for my life."

"I am scared for ny life". Cambuslang is 13 miles from Cumbernauld. Over reacting arsehole. 😡

28,439 · April 1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30qlrl8vvpo

Well this is disturbingly close to home - does explain the seemingly random road closures and All The Sirens Ever earlier on though.

4,528 · April 1

It’s always good when I get home early from work and the wife has to spend over an hour on the phone dealing with her mother

11,671 · April 1

7 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30qlrl8vvpo

Well this is disturbingly close to home - does explain the seemingly random road closures and All The Sirens Ever earlier on though.

Just seen that and was wondering if you had been affected by it.

20,866 · April 2

15 hours ago, DavieW said:

A quote from a member of the public in Camsuland regarding a fire in Cumbernauld reported on the Daily Record website......

One person said: "I can see the smoke from Cambuslang." Another added: "What is going on with all of this smoke? I am scared for my life."

"I am scared for ny life". Cambuslang is 13 miles from Cumbernauld. Over reacting arsehole. 😡

I passed that by about a mile on my way home yesterday. At no point did I feel endangered by it.

The folks on the M80 randomly slowing to a crawl to stare at the smoke on the other hand did do their best to finish me off...

April 2

16 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30qlrl8vvpo

Well this is disturbingly close to home - does explain the seemingly random road closures and All The Sirens Ever earlier on though.

"Police shoot man dead at railway station"

"Officers said they did not believe there was further risk to the public "at this time"

That'll sort it ... but ... does that mean there's more of 'em ?

31,518 · April 2

Men at railway stations? Yes, usually.

2,960 · April 2

Quote

smart meters

A couple of years ago, I switched from a single-phase 16A power line to a 3-phase 32A one. Fees paid, new smart meter purchased from the utility company (just to be handed back over to them, duh). Cue a three-month wait for someone to come and bother wiring it up, just for them to do it by killing the power mid-meeting, but I digress.
Since then, I've yet to receive a bill that doesn't state my power usage is 0kw. I've complained multiple times and received all good in writing.

A few months ago, I got a knock on the door from chap working for the power company.

-Mr Star?
-Yes?
-Hi, I'm from the power utility company. Do you maybe know where your power meter is?
-Sure, downstairs, next to all the other meters. Why?
-Can you please show me which one it is? I can't seem to find it.
*walks down, points at the meter*
-This...this...doesn't match. The type and number are wrong, this serial is indicating an ancient single-phase meter!
-That was replaced years ago by your fucking company. Want a receipt?
-Are you getting the bills?
-Yes, with 0kw used. I've complained multiple times and received all good.
-Oh...

Cue a call to his boss.

-Well turns out that the company we subcontracted the installation to never updated the record and never reported it installed, so all the bills were pointing to the new plan, but the meter ID was the old one, so we never got the usage.
-Hardly my fault that, is it? What happens to the bill now?
-Er....um...uh.....I....er....we'll probably charge you for everything retroactively.
-No, no you won't because a) this is not my fault and b) your charges go stale after 2 years, and it's been more than that since this was installed.
-Er........emmmmm....I....er....you might be right. I'll update the ID on the record anyway, see what happens on the next bill and we'll adjust that.
-Don't worry, my lawyer will make sure you will. Thanks for getting this finally sorted anyway!

It's been months since this interaction, and I'm yet to receive a bill that's not 0kw used. 🤦‍♂️

Smart meters - only as smart as the person installing it.

2,559 · April 2

I get maybe 4-5 calls a week from the elec supplier, 'its time to upgrade your meter'

I've blocked every number they've called me from, and there's loads.

I can't be arsed with their fuckery, and since we live in an old farm, all the power goes to what we call 'the electricity cupboard ' which is an outhouse on the back of my barn, 50 metres from the house, from where all the power is distributed. It's absolutely full of massive old Cambridge meters, gauges, even some kind of gyroscope type thingy

I was told they couldn't do it because of that, and I don't have the time or energy to deal with the fuckwits they send round just to look at a telegraph pole in the front garden, never mind anything more technical.

It works, leave the fucker alone.

Tl:Dr I hate and mistrust electric companies

Edited April 2 by comfortablynumb
Spelllllling

2,960 · April 2

Bravo. Well, not the car itself, but rather the guy who's supposed to get it roadworthy.

After unceremoniously blowing up brake line #1 on my test drive, it also blew line #2 when he replaced #1 and went for a test drive. Okay, fine. New brake lines, oil, and filters. Another test drive, it's running like shit, ignition leads are perished. Fine, replace them, replace whatever's wrong with the car. No problem there.

But. Why, oh why is this all taking a week and a half? It takes 45 minutes to change oil and the filters, 5 minutes to swap the ignition leads, 10 minutes for a test drive on private* road, and maybe 3 hours to swap the brake lines as I'm told that the fittings didn't rust to fuckery. I keep getting told that it will be done today. I know it's part of the country where things are much slower than here, but I'm getting really impatient now. My patience and mood around this are not helped by the fact that the car is an hour away in a place that doesn't have regular bus lines, so I need to pester someone to drive me there.

Related indirectly, but - I can't possibly imagine how do normal, sane people with a single car, not a fleet, who live in even slightly remote locations with no proper public transport connections, and rely on a car to get to work live. What do they do while their car is stuck in a shop for a week, two, or three over something basic? Teleport to work?

12,847 · April 2

17 minutes ago, IronStar said:

What do they do while their car is stuck in a shop for a week, two, or three over something basic?

From the point of view of the garage they make themselves a complete nuisance. TBF, when I was in the trade, for common cars at least, we didn't have much problem with getting the job done quickly, as there are 5 motor factors who deliver to our village.

Garages need to underpromise and overdeliver. Unfortunately a lot get it the wrong way round.

2,960 · April 2

1 minute ago, artdjones said:

From the point of view of the garage they make themselves a complete nuisance. TBF, when I was in the trade, for common cars at least, we didn't have much problem with getting the job done quickly, as there are 5 motor factors who deliver to our village.

Garages need to underpromise and overdeliver. Unfortunately a lot get it the wrong way round.

I understand I'm being a bit of a nuisance to this guy, but if you tell me "it'll be done today, mate; I'll call you back" and then you don't, am I supposed not to call the next day and ask around? I'm not even in a rush, I just want to be able to plan my time - telling me he's swamped and can get to it in a week would be infinitely more appreciated than it'll be done today and then not done.

Am I being unreasonable here? Honest question to all the lovely folks in this lovely place?

2,559 · April 2

1 hour ago, IronStar said:

What do they do while their car is stuck in a shop for a week, two, or three over something basic? Teleport to work?

This is autoshite.

BUY MORE CARS!!!! 🤣

9,178 · April 2

9 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

This is autoshite.

BUY MORE CARS!!!! 🤣

That sounds like the Bad Idea Bears - excellent advice

12,847 · April 2

49 minutes ago, IronStar said:

I understand I'm being a bit of a nuisance to this guy, but if you tell me "it'll be done today, mate; I'll call you back" and then you don't, am I supposed not to call the next day and ask around? I'm not even in a rush, I just want to be able to plan my time - telling me he's swamped and can get to it in a week would be infinitely more appreciated than it'll be done today and then not done.

Am I being unreasonable here? Honest question to all the lovely folks in this lovely place?

No, you're not being unreasonable. Do Fiats sell well there? It doesn't sound very difficult to do.

2,960 · April 2

52 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

This is autoshite.

BUY MORE CARS!!!! 🤣

Of course, I have 16. That's why I said sensible people. 🤣

40 minutes ago, artdjones said:

No, you're not being unreasonable. Do Fiats sell well there? It doesn't sound very difficult to do.

Yeah, there are tons of them. Previous info was yesterday - HT leads have arrived. I'll swap them tonight and test it. I'll call you back when it's done. Today's update was that someone needed a car urgently, and that was slotted in before mine. He's done with it, so he'll swap the leads, test drive it, and call me back. It's 8:45PM here, and there's no call yet.

As I said, I understand not being a priority as a random punter you've first seen then with car worth fuckall. But I've already paid the work done so far prior to HT leads and provisionally authorised spending if it needs anything else to get it through the inspection, so obviously, I'm going to pay for your work. I'm not even in a rush and need it all done today, I just want a timeframe so I can plan my day/week/month.

20,866 · April 3

13 hours ago, IronStar said:

Am I being unreasonable here? Honest question to all the lovely folks in this lovely place?

Not unreasonable, but that's simply how most garages operate. Too much work booked in and not enough time to do it.

I once made the mistake of telling a garage I wasn't in a rush to have the car back and they kept it for multiple months until I collected it and did the work myself in a couple of hours at the side of the road! Worked in my favour though as it was free off-road storage over winter for a car that wasn't quite MOT exempt yet...

6,084 · April 3

Currently stuck on the M5 near Oldbury due to an accident, I hate motorways when they go wrong.

People are now driving the wrong way up the hard shoulder in an attempt to get to freedom.

Actually they have been instructed to do it so hopefully I will out of here soon.

20,615 · April 3

22 minutes ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

Currently stuck on the M5 near Oldbury due to an accident, I hate motorways when they go wrong.

People are now driving the wrong way up the hard shoulder in an attempt to get to freedom.

Actually they have been instructed to do it so hopefully I will out of here soon.

Yeah, that doesn't look fun.

3,692 · April 3

1 hour ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

I hate motorways when they go wrong.

A motor factors near here tells their drivers to avoid the M8 in case there's an accident and it closes and to use the A89 which more or less runs alongside it.

2,960 · April 3

17 hours ago, IronStar said:

Bravo bollocks

It's done. Except it isn't really, as the technical inspection says it has no brakes. The car was promptly taken back to the garage.
What the actual fucking fuck are they doing? 🤯 If I knew it was going to be a PITA I would've towed it to my trusted tame mechanic. He's getting the car anyway, I just wanted it registered instead of paying a third of the yearly tax+registration fee in towing. Fucksake.

Pissed off, who, me? Never. 🙄

11,671 · April 3

Just spent ages cleaning my wheelie bin and wondering why it was so dirty and stinky as I never put any stinky stuff in it, mostly just non recyclable plastic packaging and only need to put it out every six to eight weeks. Any food waste, of which there is very little, goes in the compost bin.

I generally take in the bins for three neighbours and it was only when I was finishing cleaning the outside that I spotted that it was next door's bin. Was just about to put a load of Jeyes Fluid in it.

6,439 · April 3

On a similar note, on Tuesday was helping a good mate of mine do some gardening as the weather was decent, she asked me to go and fetch the green bin to put the rubbish in, so I went and grabbed it from the side of the house. It was only after we'd filled it up that I noticed I'd grabbed the neighbour's bin from the shared driveway to the garages at the back of the houses - I just put it back and hoped they wouldn't notice!

4,642 · April 3

9 hours ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

Currently stuck on the M5 near Oldbury due to an accident, I hate motorways when they go wrong.

People are now driving the wrong way up the hard shoulder in an attempt to get to freedom.

Actually they have been instructed to do it so hopefully I will out of here soon.

A body was found between J2 and J3.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k4nyjwxp2o

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