The grumpy thread

[Mally]

13 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Ryanair sell flights, not packages. Aer Lingus are better, depending on routes. 

Tui sell packages which include Ryanair flights. Many flight departure/arrival times are middle of the night.

[Mally]

12 minutes ago, fairkens said:

Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday

There is truth in this, they have very  many reps who know what they are doing, and rain vouchers that you can use/buy/sell on ebay.

They also refuse to use below standard hotels, when Tui  just carry on regardless.

But for no  frills and cheap, I sometimes use Easyjet holidays, often  to the same hotel  at around £100 pp less than Jet2.

[artdjones]

4 minutes ago, Mally said:

Tui sell packages which include Ryanair flights. Many flight departure/arrival times are middle of the night.

I wouldn't be totally bothered about arriving late if there's a transfer. There's not much point of selling a "package" where the airport is thirty or forty miles from the hotel and there's no way to get to the hotel without hiring a taxi at 1 in the morning.

[EyesWeldedShut]

10 minutes ago, Mally said:

Tui sell packages which include Ryanair flights. Many flight departure/arrival times are middle of the night.

I have a friend* who booked a short stay on that there Continent last year via Tui (travelling to/from London). Didn't really check times and so on too much.
Left Gatwick at 0530.
Arrived Luton 0200.
We laughed.

  

Just now, artdjones said:

I wouldn't be totally bothered about arriving late if there's a transfer. There's not much point of selling a "package" where the airport is thirty or forty miles from the hotel and there's no way to get to the hotel without hiring a taxi at 1 in the morning.

^^ see above. They flew into either Milan or Turin, hotel was two hours away by public transport. No transfer

*daughter's boyfriend. They're not an item any more.
 

[rainagain]

I've decided to sell some of my watch collection as I never wear a lot of them. I've been asking for some advice on watch forums regarding repairing/cleaning some of them. I'd forgotten how many gate keeping arseholes live on those forums. I think I'm just going to go back to googling or just ask AI for answers. 

[New POD]

My grump is about the NHS. 

Without going into too many  details.

The care my wife had in Southport Hospital in the 12 days she was there was bordering on dangerous, and most staff were incompetent, lazy, unkind and unhelpful. 

She only got discharged last week because I intervened and phoned PALS and the matron and ward manager took some control, and things that needed to happen a week before started happening.

They still discharged her without all the medicines required and I had to go back to get them the next day. 

Shes on a liquid diet due to a Tumour in her intestine, and they also fucked up the protein drinks they sent her home.  And not enough for more than 7 days. 

AND we are now 3 days from running out of one particular tablet (out of a fucking long list, which are designed to run out at 7, 10, 21 and 28 days. Not consistent. 

I went to the GPs surgery.  

I was so charming and channeling all my inner assertiveness whilst trying to hold my rising anger back. I ended up having to phone 3 different departments in 2 hospital (Liverpool Royal are getting on involved in treating the tumour).  Woman in GP surgery was understanding only because I used the 2 C words and not the other C word

Cancer, concerned and Cunts.  Pick the 2 which gets any sympathy from doctors receptionists 

Finally 

I've filled in a triage Form because the only way for a follow for one drug is now via a phone appointment with GP as the hospital doctor picked no instead of yes (dickhead) 

They'd better phone today or I'm loosing my shit. 

I went to the pharmacist and they agreed to order everything in advance pending prescriptions coming direct from the surgery for them. 

At last one person who doesn't stonewall you. 

Update. GP decided that the nurse practitioner should phone. 

Turns out she's had to deal with this on multiple occasions every week. Shes immediately prescribed the one drug with 10 days supply (as an emergengy prescription)  and written to the hospital asking for 2 drugs to be changed to continuous repeat prescriptions. 

Shes also checked that the protein drinks prescription have gone to the pharmacy. 

So that's 2 people putting patients first. Imagine if every fucker in the NHS behaved in the same way.  My wife could have gone home a week earlier and someone wouldn't be in a trolley in a A&E instead of a ward 

Edited July 23 by New POD
Updated.

[fairkens]

1 hour ago, Mally said:

There is truth in this, they have very  many reps who know what they are doing, and rain vouchers that you can use/buy/sell on ebay.

They also refuse to use below standard hotels, when Tui  just carry on regardless.

But for no  frills and cheap, I sometimes use Easyjet holidays, often  to the same hotel  at around £100 pp less than Jet2.

Tbf I was mainly just doing the meme. But we've had some nice holidays with them and useful to be able to fly from Leeds Bradford

[Markeh]

I generally stick with Jet2 because:

• Decent routes available from East Midlands which is accessible via taxi/public transport quite easily for me.
• As a larger chap I found their seat pitch better and I've never had to ask for an extender for the belt, which means I'm free to book extra legroom seats - not something I can say about Ryanair (although oddly I've only had the issue on the 737 MAXs, the older 800s are fine) or TUI. Having said that, they have reduced the seat pitch on the new A321neos.
• One of the few companies where their discount codes are available for solo travellers - most have minimum spend/minimum of two people requirements.
• As above, they seem to pick decent hotels and will give them an honest star rating. The holiday packages also generally have luggage included.

Having said that, there are very few airlines out there I wouldn't consider travelling with. I think my main one to avoid is Pegasus - bad experiences in the past plus don't particularly rate their safety record!

[barefoot]

5 hours ago, Pieman said:

When they finally get a new advert without that fucking song I'll consider it.

I've muted commercials for longer than I care to remember and didn't know that there WAS a song.

[artdjones]

4 hours ago, New POD said:

My grump is about the NHS. 

Without going into too many  details.

The care my wife had in Southport Hospital in the 12 days she was there was bordering on dangerous, and most staff were incompetent, lazy, unkind and unhelpful. 

She only got discharged last week because I intervened and phoned PALS and the matron and ward manager took some control, and things that needed to happen a week before started happening.

They still discharged her without all the medicines required and I had to go back to get them the next day. 

Shes on a liquid diet due to a Tumour in her intestine, and they also fucked up the protein drinks they sent her home.  And not enough for more than 7 days. 

AND we are now 3 days from running out of one particular tablet (out of a fucking long list, which are designed to run out at 7, 10, 21 and 28 days. Not consistent. 

I went to the GPs surgery.  

I was so charming and channeling all my inner assertiveness whilst trying to hold my rising anger back. I ended up having to phone 3 different departments in 2 hospital (Liverpool Royal are getting on involved in treating the tumour).  Woman in GP surgery was understanding only because I used the 2 C words and not the other C word

Cancer, concerned and Cunts.  Pick the 2 which gets any sympathy from doctors receptionists 

Finally 

I've filled in a triage Form because the only way for a follow for one drug is now via a phone appointment with GP as the hospital doctor picked no instead of yes (dickhead) 

They'd better phone today or I'm loosing my shit. 

I went to the pharmacist and they agreed to order everything in advance pending prescriptions coming direct from the surgery for them. 

At last one person who doesn't stonewall you. 

Update. GP decided that the nurse practitioner should phone. 

Turns out she's had to deal with this on multiple occasions every week. Shes immediately prescribed the one drug with 10 days supply (as an emergengy prescription)  and written to the hospital asking for 2 drugs to be changed to continuous repeat prescriptions. 

Shes also checked that the protein drinks prescription have gone to the pharmacy. 

So that's 2 people putting patients first. Imagine if every fucker in the NHS behaved in the same way.  My wife could have gone home a week earlier and someone wouldn't be in a trolley in a A&E instead of a ward 

Pharmacists are among the most care focused amongst medical professionals, in my opinion. 

[New POD]

3 hours ago, artdjones said:

Pharmacists are among the most care focused amongst medical professionals, in my opinion. 

I'd agree. Daughter is one. Although she's in columbia at the moment.  Back the week after next I think. Goes back to work in October. 

[Metal Guru]

9 hours ago, Mally said:

There is truth in this, they have very  many reps who know what they are doing, and rain vouchers that you can use/buy/sell on ebay.

They also refuse to use below standard hotels, when Tui  just carry on regardless.

But for no  frills and cheap, I sometimes use Easyjet holidays, often  to the same hotel  at around £100 pp less than Jet2.

I was watching a YouTube video about how old some planes still flying are, and according to that Jet2 operate the oldest commercial plane in the UK.

[Mally]

9 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

I was watching a YouTube video about how old some planes still flying are, and according to that Jet2 operate the oldest commercial plane in the UK.

AI at the moment disputes this, seems it was retired age 37. 😀

When I built planes we were told the expected life span was a minimum 20 years, but this extended due to type of use, and many other factors.

Airbus now say expected 30 years,

Like me, the idea is to retire before they fall down due to age.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Mally said:

AI at the moment disputes this, seems it was retired age 37. 😀

When I built planes we were told the expected life span was a minimum 20 years, but this extended due to type of use, and many other factors.

Airbus now say expected 30 years,

Like me, the idea is to retire before they fall down due to age.

I didn’t notice when the video was made, but I think it was recent because I’m sure it said the plane was made in 1988, which would be 37. Looks like they must have retired it quite recently.

[New POD]

2 hours ago, Mally said:

AI at the moment disputes this, seems it was retired age 37. 😀

When I built planes we were told the expected life span was a minimum 20 years, but this extended due to type of use, and many other factors.

Airbus now say expected 30 years,

Like me, the idea is to retire before they fall down due to age.

Most are like triggers broom.  Typically they know exactly how many flying hours (or take off and landing cycles) are allowed before an assembly needs overhaul and because everything has a serial number they have all the history of everything.  They probably can tell you on what day the titanium was dug up out of the ground and what batch of paint was used on the wheel trims. 

Big items like engines are often leased separately "Power by the hour" and Rolls Royce have constant data streams coming from thier engines so they can plan replacement. 

So I wonder how much is actually original? 

[chadders]

B52s are expected to last about 100 years, I imagine some C130s will be pretty old as well.

They get far less usage than airliners but if I remember correctly it's much less important design factor.

[artdjones]

Nolinor, who are a charter airline operating in Canada, still have some 737-200s operating. That model ceased production in 1988. One of the Nolinor fleet is supposed to be a 1974 plane.

[Dyslexic Viking]

There is still Douglas DC3 and military versions of them working around the world, that is impressive for an aircraft that first flew 90 years ago and went out of production over 70 years ago.

Buffaloairways In Canada they still use them and have 4 listed on their website as still in use.

https://buffaloairways.com/

[barefoot]

It's the fact that a well maintained aircraft can continue ad infinitum that keeps me running and spending money on vehicles which are well past their design life.

[Metal Guru]

51 minutes ago, barefoot said:

It's the fact that a well maintained aircraft can continue ad infinitum that keeps me running and spending money on vehicles which are well past their design life.

It’s the newer ones that seem to crash.

[richardmorris]

Sister has just whatsapped that they’re going to Belize on Saturday and will I take the, to Heathrow. I’ve not said no, but honestly I’m not a taxi ( which is £80+ from here) and I have plans .

[LightBulbFun]

37 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Sister has just whatsapped that they’re going to Belize on Saturday and will I take the, to Heathrow. I’ve not said no, but honestly I’m not a taxi ( which is £80+ from here) and I have plans .

wonder when the last time someone was dropped off or picked up at Heathrow by a 2CV tho?  (especially if its someone returning from Madagascar) 

[richardmorris]

9 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

wonder when the last time someone was dropped off or picked up at Heathrow by a 2CV tho?  (especially if its someone returning from Madagascar) 

2cv gearbox not well. There are four of them plus me. And their luggage. I am hoping to go to box hill on Saturday to welcome back a guy back from cycling round the world. Honestly , she knew ages ago what the plans were.

 

when I lived in Hayes and colnbrook it wasn’t  a problem, it was basically on the Heathrow perimeter road. And it didn’t charge for dropping off !

 

[Remspoor]

On 23/07/2025 at 15:32, New POD said:

which are designed to run out at 7, 10, 21 and 28 days. Not consistent. 

That all sounds horrible.

The quote above is what I want to pick up on. Meds are packaged in varying amounts. I have to take one lot which I have to have a stomach protector tabs. However, these are never for the same time period. I suppose the stomach protector amounts will match another med and cover the same time perod

[artdjones]

9 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

2cv gearbox not well. There are four of them plus me. And their luggage. I am hoping to go to box hill on Saturday to welcome back a guy back from cycling round the world. Honestly , she knew ages ago what the plans were.

 

when I lived in Hayes and colnbrook it wasn’t  a problem, it was basically on the Heathrow perimeter road. And it didn’t charge for dropping off !

 

If she can afford Belize she can afford £80 for a taxi.

[hairnet]

3 minutes ago, artdjones said:

If she can afford Belize she can afford £80 for a taxi.

this

polite no

[Wibble]

A definite sorry but I can’t from me.

[High Jetter]

58 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

. I am hoping to go to box hill on Saturday

Say Hi to Bruce from me

[Morris 63]

On 23/07/2025 at 21:54, New POD said:

I'd agree. Daughter is one. Although she's in columbia at the moment.  Back the week after next I think. Goes back to work in October. 

Hang on, pharmacist daughter currently in Colombia?

New series of Breaking Bad UK coming soon?

[EyesWeldedShut]

9 hours ago, richardmorris said:

colnbrook

Oooh - I got run over/knocked off my pedal bike there by a driving instructor commuting to their place of work in sunny Poyle. Mind you, that was all pre-T5  so both were still leafy* suburbs.