What's made you grumpy today?

[The Picnic Wasp]

I'm fortunate to live in a quiet, leafy area where not much ever happens. A house seven doors down is having extensive building work done, and as the standard of work looks very good I decided to speak to the boss this afternoon about an idea I have for my place. I almost turned back as the usual vehicles weren't there, but there was a white van on the pavement with it's engine running so I approached the house. Weirdly, there was a woman in her late twenties in a long skirt frantically hauling cable from under a tarpaulin. She looked at me nervously but kept on throwing stuff around until she freed the cable and yanked out several more metres. I walked straight past and continued for about a hundred metres or so. When I looked back a guy had appeared and stood on the pavement looking in my direction. I decided that on my way back I would try to take a photo of the van. As I got nearer the van drove in my direction and as it passed me I tried to look as if I was texting. The van braked sharply and reversed back, the driver loudly asking me why I had photographed his van. I made my feigned surprised denial and kept going which thankfully he did too. Thinking it through it would be of no use reporting it. By the time he was stopped, the stolen gear would be well away, I had no evidence of them actually on the site, and the only person who stood to lose was me if I was recognised at a later date. Sickening and infuriating but just an everyday occurrence in today's world.

[Thenop]

I'm fortunate to live in a quiet, leafy area where not much ever happens. A house seven doors down is having extensive building work done, and as the standard of work looks very good I decided to speak to the boss this afternoon about an idea I have for my place. I almost turned back as the usual vehicles weren't there, but there was a white van on the pavement with it's engine running so I approached the house. Weirdly, there was a woman in her late twenties in a long skirt frantically hauling cable from under a tarpaulin. She looked at me nervously but kept on throwing stuff around until she freed the cable and yanked out several more metres. I walked straight past and continued for about a hundred metres or so. When I looked back a guy had appeared and stood on the pavement looking in my direction. I decided that on my way back I would try to take a photo of the van. As I got nearer the van drove in my direction and as it passed me I tried to look as if I was texting. The van braked sharply and reversed back, the driver loudly asking me why I had photographed his van. I made my feigned surprised denial and kept going which thankfully he did too. Thinking it through it would be of no use reporting it. By the time he was stopped, the stolen gear would be well away, I had no evidence of them actually on the site, and the only person who stood to lose was me if I was recognised at a later date. Sickening and infuriating but just an everyday occurrence in today's world.

Nasty, but hardly new to today's world.

[Fishy]

Ofsted boss at time of Ruth Perry's death to get peerage https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crknkkx21gvo

Why ffs?

[The Picnic Wasp]

I'm a bit worried about my short term memory at the moment.

[pxr5]

We are quite lucky where we live in that there are woods around us we can walk our dogs. The amount of dog poo bags slung into trees is getting ridiculous now and I suppose as dog walkers we notice it more. It really beggars belief why this happens. The council have provided numerous bins around the estate, yet people still pick up the dog crap then throw the bags into the trees. There are spots that are very bad, and hidden a little, so I suspect it's the same ones are doing it over and over. So I bought one of those grabbers and we headed out earlier with our dogs and some bin bags. We ended up filling 2 of those with the poo bags and many other items (bottle, cans, wrappers etc.). They'll likely come back, but next tine I'm tempted to gather them all up and put them in a pile with a sign of some sort.

[The Picnic Wasp]

We are quite lucky where we live in that there are woods around us we can walk our dogs. The amount of dog poo bags slung into trees is getting ridiculous now and I suppose as dog walkers we notice it more. It really beggars belief why this happens. The council have provided numerous bins around the estate, yet people still pick up the dog crap then throw the bags into the trees. There are spots that are very bad, and hidden a little, so I suspect it's the same ones are doing it over and over. So I bought one of those grabbers and we headed out earlier with our dogs and some bin bags. We ended up filling 2 of those with the poo bags and many other items (bottle, cans, wrappers etc.). They'll likely come back, but next tine I'm tempted to gather them all up and put them in a pile with a sign of some sort.

I too live beside a wood which is used regularly by dog walkers including me. The same kind of thing goes on here. Folk are just so lazy and inconsiderate. Recently when walking Freddie a young woman was walking her dog about 50 metres ahead of me. She was obviously unaware of my presence and allowed her dog to squat in the middle of the footpath to make its deposit.

As she began to walk on, she made a cursory glance over her shoulder and spotted me. She waited until I caught up and in a very educated voice asked me if I had a spare bag as she had forgotten hers. It really isn't something you forget to bring if you're a regular walker. She probably just usually gets away with not being seen. Makes me angry. Freddie's eleven stones now so I've always got about twenty bags in my pocket.

[R6GYY]

Royal Mail price hikes - way beyond inflation again.

Up to 100g large letter 1st class just jumped from £2.50 to £3.05.

That is a 22% increase.

In Nov 24 they hiked it from £2.10 to £2.50 which was in itself a 19% increase.

But overall, that is a 45.2% increase in 12 months.

Thieving b*stards.

[Fishy]

Graham Norton to star in Doctor Who-Eurovision crossover https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crldj0x9x9eo

Fucking hell.. as if the world needs this pile of shit..

[David L]

Graham Norton to star in Doctor Who-Eurovision crossover https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crldj0x9x9eo

Fucking hell.. as if the world needs this pile of shit..

It's always been a pile of shit. Only difference  is that now it's a woke pile of shit.

[Slim]

I'm on holiday in Montenegro, and I'm sick to death of it now.

I'm sick of:

Having to share a bathroom and wait 20 minutes for the wife to emerge from it just so I can go to the toilet.

Insect bites

No bath. I have to use a shower. No choice.

Having to use a little phone or android tablet instead of a computer

Oily restaurant food and having to go out somewhere just to eat

The fucking awful coffee in the hotel

No cycling

No guitars

No proper hifi, no UK telly

And that's before you consider hanging around in airports for hours, aeroplane food, having to buy travel insurance, arranging car parking near the airport and all the rest of that nonsense. And of course the expense.

I just do not understand holidays. I'm far more comfortable and happy at home and I've been counting the hours since our second day here. But it's a sacrifice I have to make.

Why do people spend the majority of their time working to pay for a house, furniture, hi-fi, telly and the rest of it only to abandon it and live out of a suitcase as soon as they get some time off? Sheer madness.

I have to go to Greece in the summer.

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[Matt2112]

I have to go to Greece in the summer.

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Excellent!   Joshing aside, whereabouts?

[Slim]

Excellent!   Joshing aside, whereabouts?

The wife did tell me but I've forgotten. I know it involves a day trip into Athens. I'd rather not think about it until I have to.

[Matt2112]

Excellent!   Joshing aside, whereabouts?

The wife did tell me but I've forgotten. I know it involves a day trip into Athens. I'd rather not think about it until I have to.

Fair enough.  Obviously I adore Athens, and nowadays have an annual pilgrimage there - but in late October, when everything's calmed down somewhat...

[Fishy]

Picking up a new car tomorrow and having to pay £25 to the insurer for changing the fucking details..

[Fishy]

Still want to know what knocked out the electricity in Spain/Portugal.. this solar  variations sounds like a load of bllx.. so wondering if it was a cyber hack and they just don't want to say so..