The grumpy thread

[Zelandeth]

Why the actual hell am I so utterly incapable of ever keeping track of tools for more than 12 seconds?!?  It is so frustrating.

[Anthony]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

Why the actual hell am I so utterly incapable of ever keeping track of tools for more than 12 seconds?!?  It is so frustrating.

Quickest way to find any misplaced tool is to buy a replacement - upon doing so the old one will magically reappear.

Obviously you'll then put the spare somewhere safe* and when you inevitably misplace the replacement, you'll have to buy yet another...

[Zelandeth]

Just now, Anthony said:

Quickest way to find any misplaced tool is to buy a replacement - upon doing so the old one will magically reappear.

Obviously you'll then put the spare somewhere safe* and when you inevitably misplace the replacement, you'll have to buy yet another...

Exactly what I've done.  I was going to go out to Toolstation to get one but realised that I wasn't going to actually have time to DO anything now I'd wasted 2/3rds of the available time I had trying to find the damned driver part of the screwdriver (I have the box of bits!).  So have just ordered one for next day delivery - no point in wasting the fuel when I'm not going to have another chance until the middle of the week to get to the task in hand anyway!

[camryv6]

2 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Why the actual hell am I so utterly incapable of ever keeping track of tools for more than 12 seconds?!?  It is so frustrating.

10mm ?

[Zelandeth]

38 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

10mm ?

Driver handle that goes with these.

Or indeed any one of the three or four that I know exist within these walls.

[IronStar]

I’ve started ordering tool sets from Temu for a few quid each. They are shit quality, but at the rate of “where did I put X” and “if only I had a set of tools with me” I figured I might as well start leaving them in cars, at places I’m likely to need a tool etc. Can’t go wrong at less than a fiver per set. 

[artdjones]

The Lidl bit sets with screwdriver and ¼" drive socket sets are decent quality, and cheap enough to make it worth having 2 or 3.

[motorpunk]

Fat prick in leisurewear ina disabled spot 

[Matty]

16 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Fat prick in leisurewear ina disabled spot 

May his tea be cold and his Landrover do Landrover things.

[Boycie]

21 minutes ago, Matty said:

May his tea be cold and his Landrover do Landrover things.

Waitrose , Leisure wear , Range Rover ,  wank illegal private plate , I'm guessing reminants of white powder under the nose , I can't think of someone I'd want to hate more 

[Bren]

The mondeo is overdue for an oil change - yesterday the weather was cold and changeable so I elected to use my pela pump even though it's performance has been less than impressive and not justified it's price tag. I know a few on here like them but experience has been poor.

I took the car for a 8ish mile drive and got it up to temperature. Arrived home and got the pela going.

Overnight it has extracted a mighty two litres. Admittedly it got below freezing overnight but that is no excuse for such pathetic performance. I will have to drain from the sump now.

When I take the oil to the recyling the pela will be going with it.

[Dobloseven]

15 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Fat prick in leisurewear ina disabled spot 

Not all disabilities are visible!He could be constipated,or have a low self esteem.

[UltraWomble]

Mk 2 Daughter was supposed to have her driving test this morning in Preston....

The test was booked last Summer and the first available date was December  - this was cancelled due to the examiner being off sick and a further date some 4 weeks down the line given.

As advised on the email & text, my daughter tried to phone the test center before her pre-test lesson at 07.30 - there was no reply and no automated message saying "go back to bed, its cold out there and our examiners are poofters"

Her instructor collected her and took her to the test center, only to be told that (and I quote) "You should have known the test would be cancelled"
Quite rightly she responded to the examiner that had she not turned up (having not been advised that the test was cancelled) that Katie would have been charged for the test and forfeited her driving test slot.
Personally I felt that the condition on the roads was adequate and safe to undertake a test having been out at 0300 hrs to pick up Mk1 daughter from work, and again myself at 0700 for my commute to work  - the roads were gritted, traffic was moving sensibly and on my 25 mile commute to work I witnessed no accidents or hold ups. However I accept that my experience in driving as a district nurse is not the same as the experience of a driving examiner, my car was thoroughly de-iced with good visibility, and Im pretty sure her examiners car would have been properly defrosted too.

If, given that the icy weather was not a sudden surprise and it was expected by the DVSA that driving tests would be cancelled why then is there no automated messaging system in place (email, text message etc). Even an answerphone at the test center with an outgoing message would have avoided the frustration & upset that my daughter experienced this morning.
Some hours later we get an email - the next date is the 16th June

FUCKING JUNE

Nearly 12 months from the date it was initially booked online having passed her theory exam.  The theory exam pass is valid only for 2 years, yet she will have effectively wasted a year waiting for a test through circumstances which are not her fault.
Fucking WANKSPANGLES the lot of them.
 

[myglaren]

Several police cars and vans up the street, even lights and sirens. Don't know why.

Later, about 10pm another rather lost looking police car eventually parked outside next door but the thing that stood out was a lack of number plate illumination, just a pair of fireflies by the look of it.

[Morris 63]

22 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Driver handle that goes with these.

Or indeed any one of the three or four that I know exist within these walls.

Weirdly, I've got a driver handle but can't find the box of bits!

[ruffgeezer]

1 hour ago, UltraWomble said:

Mk 2 Daughter was supposed to have her driving test this morning in Preston....

The test was booked last Summer and the first available date was December  - this was cancelled due to the examiner being off sick and a further date some 4 weeks down the line given.

As advised on the email & text, my daughter tried to phone the test center before her pre-test lesson at 07.30 - there was no reply and no automated message saying "go back to bed, its cold out there and our examiners are poofters"

Her instructor collected her and took her to the test center, only to be told that (and I quote) "You should have known the test would be cancelled"
Quite rightly she responded to the examiner that had she not turned up (having not been advised that the test was cancelled) that Katie would have been charged for the test and forfeited her driving test slot.
Personally I felt that the condition on the roads was adequate and safe to undertake a test having been out at 0300 hrs to pick up Mk1 daughter from work, and again myself at 0700 for my commute to work  - the roads were gritted, traffic was moving sensibly and on my 25 mile commute to work I witnessed no accidents or hold ups. However I accept that my experience in driving as a district nurse is not the same as the experience of a driving examiner, my car was thoroughly de-iced with good visibility, and Im pretty sure her examiners car would have been properly defrosted too.

If, given that the icy weather was not a sudden surprise and it was expected by the DVSA that driving tests would be cancelled why then is there no automated messaging system in place (email, text message etc). Even an answerphone at the test center with an outgoing message would have avoided the frustration & upset that my daughter experienced this morning.
Some hours later we get an email - the next date is the 16th June

FUCKING JUNE

Nearly 12 months from the date it was initially booked online having passed her theory exam.  The theory exam pass is valid only for 2 years, yet she will have effectively wasted a year waiting for a test through circumstances which are not her fault.
Fucking WANKSPANGLES the lot of them.
 

We used an app called Testi to get my eldest daughter's test booked, it is a one off fee of a tenner and you use it as many times as required - it automatically tells you when any slots become available at your chosen test centres. You've still to be quick booking them, mind!

[Dan29]

12 minutes ago, Morris 63 said:

Weirdly, I've got a driver handle but can't find the box of bits!

You and @Zelandeth should swap.

[Tickman]

1 hour ago, UltraWomble said:

Mk 2 Daughter was supposed to have her driving test this morning in Preston....

The test was booked last Summer and the first available date was December  - this was cancelled due to the examiner being off sick and a further date some 4 weeks down the line given.

As advised on the email & text, my daughter tried to phone the test center before her pre-test lesson at 07.30 - there was no reply and no automated message saying "go back to bed, its cold out there and our examiners are poofters"

Her instructor collected her and took her to the test center, only to be told that (and I quote) "You should have known the test would be cancelled"
Quite rightly she responded to the examiner that had she not turned up (having not been advised that the test was cancelled) that Katie would have been charged for the test and forfeited her driving test slot.
Personally I felt that the condition on the roads was adequate and safe to undertake a test having been out at 0300 hrs to pick up Mk1 daughter from work, and again myself at 0700 for my commute to work  - the roads were gritted, traffic was moving sensibly and on my 25 mile commute to work I witnessed no accidents or hold ups. However I accept that my experience in driving as a district nurse is not the same as the experience of a driving examiner, my car was thoroughly de-iced with good visibility, and Im pretty sure her examiners car would have been properly defrosted too.

If, given that the icy weather was not a sudden surprise and it was expected by the DVSA that driving tests would be cancelled why then is there no automated messaging system in place (email, text message etc). Even an answerphone at the test center with an outgoing message would have avoided the frustration & upset that my daughter experienced this morning.
Some hours later we get an email - the next date is the 16th June

FUCKING JUNE

Nearly 12 months from the date it was initially booked online having passed her theory exam.  The theory exam pass is valid only for 2 years, yet she will have effectively wasted a year waiting for a test through circumstances which are not her fault.
Fucking WANKSPANGLES the lot of them.
 

That is really shit.

My sister used a company that obviously is part of the problem but they got a test within 3 weeks.

[Knotty Ash Towers]

3 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

Mk 2 Daughter was supposed to have her driving test this morning in Preston....

The test was booked last Summer and the first available date was December  - this was cancelled due to the examiner being off sick and a further date some 4 weeks down the line given.

As advised on the email & text, my daughter tried to phone the test center before her pre-test lesson at 07.30 - there was no reply and no automated message saying "go back to bed, its cold out there and our examiners are poofters"

Her instructor collected her and took her to the test center, only to be told that (and I quote) "You should have known the test would be cancelled"
Quite rightly she responded to the examiner that had she not turned up (having not been advised that the test was cancelled) that Katie would have been charged for the test and forfeited her driving test slot.
Personally I felt that the condition on the roads was adequate and safe to undertake a test having been out at 0300 hrs to pick up Mk1 daughter from work, and again myself at 0700 for my commute to work  - the roads were gritted, traffic was moving sensibly and on my 25 mile commute to work I witnessed no accidents or hold ups. However I accept that my experience in driving as a district nurse is not the same as the experience of a driving examiner, my car was thoroughly de-iced with good visibility, and Im pretty sure her examiners car would have been properly defrosted too.

If, given that the icy weather was not a sudden surprise and it was expected by the DVSA that driving tests would be cancelled why then is there no automated messaging system in place (email, text message etc). Even an answerphone at the test center with an outgoing message would have avoided the frustration & upset that my daughter experienced this morning.
Some hours later we get an email - the next date is the 16th June

FUCKING JUNE

Nearly 12 months from the date it was initially booked online having passed her theory exam.  The theory exam pass is valid only for 2 years, yet she will have effectively wasted a year waiting for a test through circumstances which are not her fault.
Fucking WANKSPANGLES the lot of them.
 

I feel your pain/annoyance.

My first driving test was cancelled twice, the first time because it snowed, the second time because the examiner was ill and they didn't have a replacement. In the meantime, my driving instructor changed his car from a brilliant Mazda 323 to a poser-mobile Suzuki Vitara, which was a pain to drive. I then failed my test twice, due to a combination of a miserable examiner and difficulty remembering the answers to Highway Code questions. The theory test was then invented (10 minutes of my life I'll never get back). I finally passed my test 8 months later than planned, with a different, nicer examiner and found out that the miserable sod who failed me had been given a £50000 golden handshake.

Hope your daughter passes as soon as possible and doesn't get messed around again!

[Boycie]

18 hours ago, ianb Sierra said:

Probably just lobbed out the window on route into London.

 

7 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

Not all disabilities are visible!He could be constipated,or have a low self esteem.

Could be , more likely he's a wanker though

[artdjones]

7 hours ago, Bren said:

The mondeo is overdue for an oil change - yesterday the weather was cold and changeable so I elected to use my pela pump even though it's performance has been less than impressive and not justified it's price tag. I know a few on here like them but experience has been poor.

I took the car for a 8ish mile drive and got it up to temperature. Arrived home and got the pela going.

Overnight it has extracted a mighty two litres. Admittedly it got below freezing overnight but that is no excuse for such pathetic performance. I will have to drain from the sump now.

When I take the oil to the recyling the pela will be going with it.

The cheapest one I could find on eBay has worked great for 5 or 6 years. When it eventually expires I thought I might buy a Pela. 'Always buy good tools, etc.'

This may influence a rethink. Although the old one shows no signs of wearing out.

[DavieW]

Yesterday sitting in the car in a local retail park waiting for my wife, an MG SUV draws into the disabled space in front of me. Car door opens, an arm comes out and chucks a takeaway coffee cup under his car. I was tempted to retrieve it for him and put it under his rear wiper. At least him and his wife were both pretty bad at walking when they got out so not a complete c*unt. 🤬

[UltraWomble]

2 hours ago, Knotty Ash Towers said:

daughter passes as soon as possible and doesn't get messed around again!

Signed up to that Testi app - we will see if we can get anything sooner than June.
Mk2 hates my car, but does drive it, loves her instructors Kia soft roader thing.

[myglaren]

Another police car outside with insufficient number plate illumination, only one bulb working and the other very dim.

Edit:  The same one just went past again, turned around, stopped outside my house and did a couple of screeches on the siren then drove slowly away.

[High Jetter]

56 minutes ago, myglaren said:

Another police car outside with insufficient number plate illumination, only one bulb working and the other very dim.

Edit:  The same one just went past again, turned around, stopped outside my house and did a couple of screeches on the siren then drove slowly away.

I'd be worried, maybe they know where you are? 😀

[Wibble]

Mrs W was turning the Yeti around this morning when there was a “twang” noise, followed by the airbag light coming on and steering wheel controls not working. FFS! Guessing that’s the clock spring gone then. Just what we need.

[myglaren]

11 hours ago, High Jetter said:

I'd be worried, maybe they know where you are? 😀

They'll never take me alive!

[Markeh]

On 04/01/2026 at 18:51, Boycie said:

Waitrose , Leisure wear , Range Rover ,  wank illegal private plate ,

We didn't start the fire

[goosey]

The Dyson Airblade 9KJ for when you want to taste the water you’ve just washed your hands in 

[reb]

I took a couple of weeks off from my usual work over Christmas, because I didn't feel like dealing with Christmas public transport. I picked up a couple of small projects for other clients that I could do from home but otherwise just sat around doing jack shit.

I'm supposed to be going into the office today to pick up where I left off, I even went to bed early last night in preparation. Woke up today at 11, way later than I meant to, and I feel like I'd rather do anything but work today, but I've got to.

It's looking like it'll be nearly 3 by the time I get to the office, so it'll be a case of eating my dinner there and probably getting a taxi home because there is nothing more miserable than waiting for a bus home at 8pm in winter.