The grumpy thread

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Doesn't Little Chef go out of business/almost go out of business every couple of years? I got a refreshing deja vu blast reading that article.

[autofive]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22673590

 

 

They shut loads of them a few years ago. I want to buy one not far from here and make it into a proper motorists café, I reckon I could make shit loads of money.

 

 

think again

 

the lease/ground rent on those places is astronomical. Thats why the food is so fecking expensive and poor quality, while their minimum wage staff usually share a house nearby, owned by the manager, or area-manager, thus giving the management more power over their helpless slave/employees.

[warren t claim]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22673590

 

 

They shut loads of them a few years ago. I want to buy one not far from here and make it into a proper motorists café, I reckon I could make shit loads of money.

 

Vicars Cross?

[SambaS]

Flickr has always frustrated me.

 

I am aware it has changed but it started out impossible and still is.

 

I'm experiencing WATANABE COURSE WORK MARKS levels of anger at Flickr now. I can't even share pictures on there anymore, the useless fuckers.

[Cavcraft]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22673590

 

 

They shut loads of them a few years ago. I want to buy one not far from here and make it into a proper motorists café, I reckon I could make shit loads of money.

 

 

think again

 

the lease/ground rent on those places is astronomical. Thats why the food is so fecking expensive and poor quality, while their minimum wage staff usually share a house nearby, owned by the manager, or area-manager, thus giving the management more power over their helpless slave/employees.

 

 

Oh aye, but I still reckon with a lot of hard graft, advertising and decent staff+right atmosphere it's do-able. I'd also be willing to own a nearby house and rent it out to loads of Polish dollybirds. Obviously their uniforms would all be wipe clean ones to keep the costs down, there's an Ann Summers shop in town too so it's a win-win situation. Especially as I could have the upstairs as a knocking shop. Not that I've thought about this of course.

 

Warren: Yeah, Vicars Cross, or Littleton to be exact. Whilst they never get round to putting a bypass in place, there is a metric shitload of slow moving passing traffic who'd all love to pop in for a Cavburger and LHM Juice. Everything would be fried and thus I'd have enough free fuel for my car I could collect all my staff from the docks.

[RedSparrow]

You just reminded me of Mikey 'lotto lout' Carrol who stated he used to get turned on when his girlfriend would come home in her Little Chef uniform smelling of chip fat.

[Pillock]

I quite liked Little Chef breakfasts, but they're like £85 now and extra for black pudding.

Still, you get a free lollipop for clearing your plate. In a strange trend, I know of at least two ex-LC buildings that have been turned into Sex Shops. I suppose they're out of the way, you're never going to get spotted leaving with your new Inflatable Tracy.

 

KFC on the other hand rule. I don't know what goes in to their secret recipe but I presume it's addictive in some way, either through MSG or Cocaine. Love it. Especially the really greasy bits at the bottom of the bucket. They've just changed their chips though, they used to be the only big name fast food place using actual chips (like, cut from potatoes) but they've changed to reformed mash, like McD's and Booger King. I've been known to be so starving hungry I thought a bucket to myself was a good idea, eventually finished it.

[autofive]

KFC on the other hand rule. I don't know what goes in to their secret recipe but I presume it's addictive in some way, either through MSG or Cocaine. Love it.

 

[Wilko220]

As someone who has kept hens in the past, this is what puts me off KFC: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sARewW_Po64

 

I gather that Little Chef uses free range!

[RedSparrow]

I like Little Chef, there's something comforting about it even though it is (was) a rip off. They did drop their prices massively a few years ago though.

 

Today: An endless stream of people asking me to do the 'favours' which usually fall under my job description. Must learn to say no more often.

[oman5]

As someone who has kept hens in the past, this is what puts me off KFC: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sARewW_Po64

 

I gather that Little Chef uses free range!

 

 

Yes, that's precisely why I don't go there. it sickens me

[Cavcraft]

SRS question: is there anyone out there who drives a black Mk4 Golf that isn't a complete and utter knob warbler? I swear I've been plagued by dickheads in them today from motorways to A roads and retail parks.

[Lacquer Peel]

Do they have no suspension and fake brittle BBS or Audi RS6 wheels?

[Cavcraft]

One had cleverly* painted his grille red. One tried to jump the queue for a car parking spec, but that was a battle they weren't going to win.

[cort16]

Funnily enough yesterday I spotted a guy in a black mk4 golf try to park his car the wrong way into spaces set aside for motorbikes while his Mrs was trying to get out the car as it was still moving, which means she nearly got knocked over by her own door. I was just standing gawping at them.

[TimothyClaypole]

Stupid "blustery" wind is ripping what's left of the cat piss car cover on my BMW to pieces.

 

(If I bought a new one then the two covers would be more than I paid for the car... ).

[dollywobbler]

No wind here, but I'm starting to think that the entire Atlantic Ocean has fallen on our village today. A ridiculous contrast to scorchio yesterday.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

The Learning Channel is showing Mad About You. I'm learning a lot about relationships in the 90s. Looking through the schedule today also offers opportunities to learn about looking after a British theatre producers children, and life as a Miami retiree.

[vulgalour]

Princess was due to be taxed on Saturday but it looks like this will not now be happening. Admiral, in their infinite wisdom, decided not to make a note of my instruction over the phone (I know, do everything by e-mail, you'd think I'd've learned by now) that I didn't want to renew as I was going with Adrian Flux and automatically renewed my insurance policy WITHOUT TELLING ME. So today I found I was £87 lighter and feeling both angry and relieved that I'd put the money aside and hadn't incurred any bank fees as a result. At least Admiral were reasonable and actioned an immediate refund, but only because I have a policy with Adrian Flux that takes over from theirs and they sent out my NCB declaration straight away for me too, which was welcome as AF need that. Now, I'm just waiting for AF to fuck up because it seems to be my lot that every insurer I'm with does something to screw me over in one way or another along the line.

 

The biggest gripe I have with this is what it does to my plans. I've been looking forward to taking the Princess to the next RR meet, particularly since we're now at a much nicer venue than we were, and seeing friends without having to rely on other people to get me there. If I'm very lucky the refund will be in my account on the day of the meet and I'll be able to tax the car, but I'm fully expecting that will not happen which in turn cocks up what was going to be a good night out. Oh well, maybe the road tax refund from the DVLA will clear in time (unlikely, obviously) and help me out, that would be nice.

[wuvvum]

Can you not write a cheque? They usually take a few days to clear, which should allow time for the refund to show up in your account.

[vulgalour]

I do not have a cheque book. Doesn't matter, I'm hoping that all these spanners that keep getting thrown into my works can be collected and used to supplement my tool kit.

[autofive]

engine for sale on ebay last week

 

I message the seller to ask if they would be willing to strap it to a pallet and drain the fluids

 

YES - says he

 

I win the auction, pay for the engine, send a message to the seller to ask what day would be best to send a courier

 

get a reply, two days later, saying as its half-term hes going away with his kids and could I arrange courier for thursday

 

I arrange, and pay for, pallet courier

 

9pm tonight I get a phone call from the seller saying that the courier company has contacted him with requirements needed and he says hes not sure if it will be ready, and he doesnt want to stay in all day waiting for courier then starts to moan at me - " you shouldnt bid on things you cant pick up"

i remind him of my message and his reply, he suddenly has to go

 

 

what an arsehole

[Danblez]

engine for sale on ebay last week

 

I message the seller to ask if they would be willing to strap it to a pallet and drain the fluids

 

YES - says he

 

I win the auction, pay for the engine, send a message to the seller to ask what day would be best to send a courier

 

get a reply, two days later, saying as its half-term hes going away with his kids and could I arrange courier for thursday

 

I arrange, and pay for, pallet courier

 

9pm tonight I get a phone call from the seller saying that the courier company has contacted him with requirements needed and he says hes not sure if it will be ready, and he doesnt want to stay in all day waiting for courier then starts to moan at me - " you shouldnt bid on things you cant pick up"

i remind him of my message and his reply, he suddenly has to go

 

 

what an arsehole

 

There are a lot I aresholes about. I would generally think the majority, but how nice is it when you deal with a like minded sole who goes the extra mile to make things right!

 

Hold on, not sure this is in the right thread!

[eddyramrod]

every insurer I'm with does something to screw me over in one way or another along the line.

 

Don't take it personally, they all do it, it seems to be the entire reason they exist.

 

Meanwhile, in a pub...

 

"Alright mate?"

 

Call me old-fashioned if you like (I'll take it as a compliment) but is that any way for a spotty teenage bartender to greet a total stranger, clearly old enough to be his dad, who has just walked into the pub for the first time ever?

 

No, of course it isn't, and I really should have taken summary action at that point. But I didn't. We stayed, ordered a meal and (soft) drinks, and waited.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand waited.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand waited.

 

Finally, with no attempt at an apology, the meals arrived. Mrs R had ordered a steak, medium. We'd been waiting long enough for her to have eaten a well-done one by the time this arrived, but it wasn't even medium, it was rare, to say the least. My gammon, on the other hand, had clearly been ready for the last half-hour, sitting on the pass waiting for Mrs R's meal to accompany it out. If I hadn't pre-paid, we would have been out of there before the meals came out, and that would have been the most sensible course of action by a long long way.

 

I spotted the pub on Streetview while we were still in Cyprus, taking virtual tours of Barrow to familiarise ourselves with the town. It looked clean and modern, if maybe a bit soulless. One of those places that's all about the grub, with a playbarn for the kiddies, you know the sort of thing. Driving around Barrow in the flesh, I found it again, and it looked closed. The windows and signs were dirty, the shrubbery was unkempt even allowing for the season (autumn). I assumed it was closed. A couple of weeks ago a workmate was telling me it was no such thing, it was open, meals were two-for-one and he generally enjoyed it. So last Wednesday we decided to give it a try, as we were out and it seemed the right time.

Last Thursday I went into work and made sure we had been to the same place he was talking about. We had. I told him.

We won't be going there again.

 

How much does "Good evening sir" cost a company? How much does the lack of it cost?

[Spiny Norman]

You should pop up to a Scotoshite meet at the Broadwater Farm carvery. Dinner fit for a king for £3.99, served up by the lovely* Helga.

[autofive]

every insurer I'm with does something to screw me over in one way or another along the line.

 

Don't take it personally, they all do it, it seems to be the entire reason they exist.

 

Meanwhile, in a pub...

 

"Alright mate?"

 

Call me old-fashioned if you like (I'll take it as a compliment) but is that any way for a spotty teenage bartender to greet a total stranger, clearly old enough to be his dad, who has just walked into the pub for the first time ever?

 

No, of course it isn't, and I really should have taken summary action at that point. But I didn't. We stayed, ordered a meal and (soft) drinks, and waited.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand waited.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand waited.

 

Finally, with no attempt at an apology, the meals arrived. Mrs R had ordered a steak, medium. We'd been waiting long enough for her to have eaten a well-done one by the time this arrived, but it wasn't even medium, it was rare, to say the least. My gammon, on the other hand, had clearly been ready for the last half-hour, sitting on the pass waiting for Mrs R's meal to accompany it out. If I hadn't pre-paid, we would have been out of there before the meals came out, and that would have been the most sensible course of action by a long long way.

 

I spotted the pub on Streetview while we were still in Cyprus, taking virtual tours of Barrow to familiarise ourselves with the town. It looked clean and modern, if maybe a bit soulless. One of those places that's all about the grub, with a playbarn for the kiddies, you know the sort of thing. Driving around Barrow in the flesh, I found it again, and it looked closed. The windows and signs were dirty, the shrubbery was unkempt even allowing for the season (autumn). I assumed it was closed. A couple of weeks ago a workmate was telling me it was no such thing, it was open, meals were two-for-one and he generally enjoyed it. So last Wednesday we decided to give it a try, as we were out and it seemed the right time.

Last Thursday I went into work and made sure we had been to the same place he was talking about. We had. I told him.

We won't be going there again.

 

How much does "Good evening sir" cost a company? How much does the lack of it cost?

 

 

write a google review naming and shaming

[RedSparrow]

^^ +1

Also, go on tripadvisor.

[retrogeezer]

I've complained for far less than that at restaurants, usually get an apology and maybe free puds or something. Only when a complaint is necessary though.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I have found these dismal levels of service are spreading, in fact I have even encountered them at home on occasion. I usually write a stiffly worded letter of complaint to Ms_ba11s demanding an apology, which has so far TOTALLY FAILED TO MATERIALISE

[cort16]

You should post your complaints on wifeadvisor.com