Grumpy old men - So what's pissed you off today?

[Blackpool Rock]

While we're on parking I was going to post this anyway but I turned up to a punt yesterday at a hotel only to find that I had to pay for parking and it was the ANPR cameras operated by the cunts that are Parking Eye 
 
Having previously had a run in with these shysters which cost me dearly I was not only put out but obviously mindful that I didn't get another fine 

This is after having looked on the hotel website and seeing that parking was free however clearly that was only for guests 

Quick read of the almost incomprehensible signage informed me that the only way to pay was with this fucking "Pay by phone" method, I mean FFS what's wrong with sticking a few coins or credit / debit card in a machine  OK so I know i'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to this shit but in my experience the technology never fucking works 
I went to my punt having read that it was possible to pay on exit so decided to sort it out afterwards

Back in my car post punt and I start to download the pay by phone app only to be informed that my phone doesn't support it 
So what the fuck now then 
I did fortunately have my laptop in the boot which is something i sometimes randomly do if i'm turning up to punt a new girl in case of being let down etc and I then have to sign up online
Turns out the cost was different to what the signs said, higher obviously  Only 60p higher but still it's another piss off and when I pay for 2 hours parking it starts the timer from when I click on pay to park rather than when I entered the car park so now i'm thinking i'm still likely to get a fine for the 50 minutes that i was there before I paid 

I stress about this all the way back home and go on the website again to try and speak to someone and check it's OK, try to use the "Contact us" feature but see it's one of those useless fucking chatbox things which i'm not sure anyone has ever managed to get an answer from that was worthwhile so give up on that.
Trying to find info and navigate the website does the usual taking me round in circles which is mega annoying but finally I find something that does inform me in some instances where you are allowed to pay on exit you need to pay for the right amount of time and apparently the parking company will tie it up but it's not possible to backdate the time at the point of paying, so much for having all this ANPR and technology 

I know I do get uber stressed out about this kind of shit sometimes but yet again it just reinforces to me that so much of this modern tech simply doesn't fucking work 50% of the time 

[Blackpool Rock]

Oh also the fucking prick who in an almost empty car park decided to come and park right next to my fucking car, what a wanker 

[Blackpool Rock]

And the fucking retard who a few days ago in some builders van decided not to stop at the give way but drive straight out in front of me meaning I had to jam my brakes on and stop to avoid a collision.
OK so the road markings are almost worn away to nothing but having used this road on an industrial estate for many years i'm always wary of people not stopping as i've had this before

What really pissed me off was how the prick gave me a shitty sideways look as he drove past as if I was in the wrong, CUNT 

As you may be able to tell i'm a bit stressed at the moment for various reasons but it's good to be able to vent 

[mr.bluesky]

Oh also the fucking prick who in an almost empty car park decided to come and park right next to my fucking car, what a wanker 

Yeah that's bloody annoying, you have a decent motor so you park well away from everyone else with an empty bay either side then some prick usually in a large 4x4 vehicle parks right next to you leaving you inches to get in and out of your car 
Often its a women driver with a car full of bloody kids ,that really makes my blood boil.

[Blackpool Rock]

Yeah that's bloody annoying, you have a decent motor so you park well away from everyone else with an empty bay either side then some prick usually in a large 4x4 vehicle parks right next to you leaving you inches to get in and out of your car 
Often its a women driver with a car full of bloody kids ,that really makes my blood boil.

Perhaps he had his mind on other things as he parked up just as I exited the hotel and went straight on his phone fiddling about, perhaps he was paying for the parking or then again perhaps he was texting a girl to say he'd arrived 

I often play "Spot the punter" while i'm waiting or just leaving somewhere, being one yourself perhaps makes you tune into it and i'm sure i've wrongly thought plenty of blokes were punters as a result but then again there are some tell tale signs too 

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Their all at it now trying to meke up for lost income back in the pandemic times!..

[standardpostage]

Empathy with you Mr Blackpool Rock   

[PilotMan]

Leeds / Bradford airport. Charge £6.50 just to drop off or pick up passengers. Only takes a couple of minutes. What a rip off 

Must be a goldmine for the airport. Card only, no cash.

A comparative bargain.

Stansted is £7.50 for 15 minutes, that's measured when you drive through the barrier until you exit.

If you stay over 15 minutes it jumps to £25

[stampjones]

Might have mentioned this type of thing before but it boils my piss. Driving along a major A road at 30/35 and the stupid bitch in front of me for no reason decides to stop and let sone other car out. Hardly any traffic on the road so completely unnecessary but the guy in the side road is just sitting there - obviously doesnt want to come onto the main road for whatever reason but the dozy bitch is still stopped in the middle of an A road. Eventually after a good minute or two and me leaning on the horn she finally gets the message and starts off again.

[mr.bluesky]

Driving on the motorway today, lashing down with rain and spray everywhere meaning reduced visibility and you still get arseholes driving without their headlights on some without even sidelights on. It beggers belief 

[Punterperson1971]

Waiting to be served at local supermarket and someone decides to pay her bill all £290 of it but has to do it twice once at £200 next at £90,only one till on and the woman customer keeps looking back at me as if I’m going to rob her and no effort by shop to open another till as a que builds up.

[Doc Holliday]

Email from O2 today.

"You are currently on (RPI) terms which means each year, your tariff is adjusted by the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation. This rate is announced in February each year and your bill is adjusted by this amount in April. Your terms will be changing to (RPI plus 3.9%).

From April 2025, your Airtime Plan (that’s the cost of your inclusive minutes, texts, and data) will rise in line with the RPI rate of inflation announced in February plus 3.9%. If RPI is negative, we’ll only apply the 3.9%."

[lostandfound]

Email from O2 today.

"You are currently on (RPI) terms which means each year, your tariff is adjusted by the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation. This rate is announced in February each year and your bill is adjusted by this amount in April. Your terms will be changing to (RPI plus 3.9%).

From April 2025, your Airtime Plan (that’s the cost of your inclusive minutes, texts, and data) will rise in line with the RPI rate of inflation announced in February plus 3.9%. If RPI is negative, we’ll only apply the 3.9%."

Yes - most annoying, and many operators want to do this rpi+ or cpi+. For this reason I took out a 1 year contract last year so at least I wouldn't be locked in for 2.

Ofcom talked of banning inflation linked rises last December - haven't heard more from them?

When my contract runs out I'll be looking on uswitch and MSE for rates, and current provider will have to match them for me to renew.

[sir wanksalot]

Yes - most annoying, and many operators want to do this rpi+ or cpi+. For this reason I took out a 1 year contract last year so at least I wouldn't be locked in for 2.

Ofcom talked of banning inflation linked rises last December - haven't heard more from them?

When my contract runs out I'll be looking on uswitch and MSE for rates, and current provider will have to match them for me to renew.

When your contract runs out then get a SIM only contract. My £ 36 a month contract with Vodafone ended last year-now I pay £ 10 a month with more data

[PilotMan]

When your contract runs out then get a SIM only contract. My £ 36 a month contract with Vodafone ended last year-now I pay £ 10 a month with more data

I've been doing that for years. I worked out the cost Vs a deal that includes a phone, and a SIM only deal was marginally better.

I had to do a double check though when I bought my current Z Fold at £1,695!!

[Doc Holliday]

When your contract runs out then get a SIM only contract. My £ 36 a month contract with Vodafone ended last year-now I pay £ 10 a month with more data

Mine is SIM only. It was the principle of prices will rise each year by 3.9% on top of RPI.

[Hoping]

I have a SIM only deal with Lebara.  After the initial offer (very cheap for 3 months) it is £5pm which includes 3GB of data, 200 mins UK minutes, unlimited texts and 50 mins international minutes.  I use very little data as all usage at home is wifi.  Brilliant.

[Followyourdick]

So this may have already been mentioned, I recently sent an sms enquiry to a Brazilian sp who has some good reports on here who I really liked the look of her pics, looked faf and she was touring in a town I was staying overnight in on business.
Her reply began with “hi baby”.  FFS, baby, I’m a very mature bloke and not a fucking baby!
As it turned out her list of extras was too much, £30 for kissing so she missed out on my punting tokens.

[sir wanksalot]

Coffee machines!

Spent around £ 500 on a Delonghi model about 2.5 yrs ago. In that time it's been in for warranty repairs twice and now third time I either send it in to them and pay extortionate repair bills or chuck it in the bin.

[PilotMan]

Coffee machines!

Spent around £ 500 on a Delonghi model about 2.5 yrs ago. In that time it's been in for warranty repairs twice and now third time I either send it in to them and pay extortionate repair bills or chuck it in the bin.

I've been using the Dolce Gusto pod system for many years.

You can buy the machine from Tesco on offer at about £35.  Pods are about 25p each, no fuss, no drama, instant Coffee whenever you need one.

[Private Parts]

SMEG Nespresso system, works wonders, I have an account and pods arrive monthly.
Have had Nespresso systems since2010.
Brilliant

[sir wanksalot]

I've had pods previously but they work out more expensive especially if you're a coffee drinker.

The coffee definitely tastes better (in my opinion) from a pod-less coffee machine but that benefit is offset by the extra price and longevity of the bloody machine

[Jonestown]

Nescafe Gold Blend, intensity 7, £5 ish for 200g + electric kettle.

Only improved by use of a milk frother but the 2 minutes to froth + 30 minutes to clean is a bit of a downer.

[David1970]

I have a DeLonghi Nespresso coffee machine, uses fresh milk, can take supermarket own brand pods of coffee. I clean it once a week.
Makes great coffee and easy to use.

[PilotMan]

Nescafe Gold Blend, intensity 7, £5 ish for 200g + electric kettle.

Only improved by use of a milk frother but the 2 minutes to froth + 30 minutes to clean is a bit of a downer.

I used to be a Gold Blend drinker, I wouldn't touch anything else. But I longed for a proper coffee at home, especially after having a professional coffee made in a restaurant / bar.

Then the plethora of Coffee shops springing up in London started the quest for a decent Coffee at home (anyone remember The Seattle Coffee Co?). I stopped drinking Gold Blend as it just tasted naff in comparison.

A friend had a Nespresso pod machine and I was converted to the pod system. I bought a Dolce Gusto and I've never looked back. I've been to friends houses who often have some fancy looking professional looking machine that works on ground coffee or is bean to cup, they are no better IMHO and seem like a ball ache to deal with.

You can get a capsule adapter that let's you put your own ground coffee in to most pods machines. I occasionally use mine with ground coffee, they taste is good, but then you have to deal with the grinds, which can be a bit messy and takes time to deal with.

[lostandfound]

Since first visits abroad and experiencing fresh ground coffee I could not face instant.

Had an electric bean grinder which stopped working, must get around to sourcing a replacement. In the meantime ground coffee in a cafetiere does me.

[RandomGuy99]

Nescafe Gold Blend, intensity 7, £5 ish for 200g + electric kettle.

Only improved by use of a milk frother but the 2 minutes to froth + 30 minutes to clean is a bit of a downer.

+1 111 servings for £5 

[mr.bluesky]

Every time I go to one of my local supermarkets to put my lottery on there is always a long queue at the customer service counter always caused by a woman returning an item of clothing, why is this  is it a woman thing. There should be a separate kiosk just for women returning things 

[timsussex]

Every time I go to one of my local supermarkets to put my lottery on there is always a long queue at the customer service counter always caused by a woman returning an item of clothing, why is this  is it a woman thing. There should be a separate kiosk just for women returning things 

I went to my customer service desk as local Tesco yesterday because I had been overcharged and had to queue behind 3 people buying lottery tickets/scratchcards, one buying lunch, and one women returning clothing
You are half right a separate till is needed but for people buying things -including lottery -  thats not a customer service

[PilotMan]

+1 111 servings for £5 

I couldn't drink instant now, even if it were free.

[Blackpool Rock]

Went shopping earlier and on exiting the store with my trolley needed to turn left and use the path which runs alongside where the trolleys are kept, the path is wide enough for 2 people with trolleys to pass each other so no problem but there are then cars parked right next to it so you can't actually go around any blockage.

A bloke and a woman decided to stop on the path for some fucking reason, couple of ignorant fuckers made worse by the fact that the silly bitch had her trolley at 90 degrees across the path and was then stood behind it so it was taking up 2/3 of the width of the walkway 
A woman and 2 kids were coming the other way so I stopped and waited for them to pass very slowly while the kids pissed about and I watched as Mr & Mrs Fuckwit just carried on standing there watching everyone struggle to get around them while both puffing on fags 

As I walked past I got a cloud of their smoke and remember how i've only been forced to breath that shit in a few times since the ban came in, couple of ignorant cunts 

[Squire Haggard]

I went to my customer service desk as local Tesco yesterday because I had been overcharged and had to queue behind 3 people buying lottery tickets/scratchcards, one buying lunch, and one women returning clothing
You are half right a separate till is needed but for people buying things -including lottery -  thats not a customer service

I hate waiting on people buying lottery tickets. Why cant they do it online?
I would never be seen buying a lottery ticket in public, lest I be thought of as a peasant.
I do sometimes buy one in the privacy of my own home, without anyone knowing. 

[sir wanksalot]

Since first visits abroad and experiencing fresh ground coffee I could not face instant.

Had an electric bean grinder which stopped working, must get around to sourcing a replacement. In the meantime ground coffee in a cafetiere does me.

The best bang for buck is the Aeropress coffee plunger. Makes incredible coffee. I paid around £ 25 for mine.

[WASA38]

I couldn't drink instant now, even if it were free.

Nor I. Happy with a neat little Melitta grinder , filter funnel and papers and  electric kettle. Grinder purchased many years ago for a pittance  at a car boot sale. German made so unsurprisingly totally reliable. Next to no cleaning up  - just a quick rinse of cups, funnel and spoon.

But nice as the resultant coffee is I prefer to get my caffeine fix with numerous cups of builder's tea. Coffee is for when I have visitors and most of them certainly wouldn't appreciate instant.

[mr.bluesky]

I hate waiting on people buying lottery tickets. Why cant they do it online?
I would never be seen buying a lottery ticket in public, lest I be thought of as a peasant.
I do sometimes buy one in the privacy of my own home, without anyone knowing. 

Some of us are "old school" and sometimes buy lotto tickets or scratch cards on the spur of the moment. A lot of older folks don't have access to tinternet and you don't get the satisfaction of screwing it up and throwing it in the bin when you don't win anything 

[Stevelondon]

Came back from the West End recently on the tube.
I had to smile at the sheer number of people looking at their mobiles.

I remember when it was a book or the paper folk looked at.

[stampjones]

Came back from the West End recently on the tube.
I had to smile at the sheer number of people looking at their mobiles.

I remember when it was a book or the paper folk looked at.

Well I always read a book on the tube but its on kindle on my phone so not sure what side of your dividing line I fall 

[Stevelondon]

Well I always read a book on the tube but its on kindle on my phone so not sure what side of your dividing line I fall 

Was a rather silly statement of mine to be honest.
I think what I was trying to get at was the fact an awful lot of people USE their mobiles as everyday tools. As you say, people reading books, playing games, social media, checking messages on various platforms. The list is endless. Mobile phones becoming such an incredibly important part of our lives.

I use mine for all sorts of stuff and of course wouldn’t be without it. But I can get by on a journey without having to stare at it. Maybe I just enjoy looking at other people 

I’ve been without my phone a few times and can honestly say I did not die or break out in convulsions because of it. But didn’t I read somewhere there is a condition that has affected some if they have no access to their device. It’s probably an ism of some sort 

[mr.bluesky]

Well I always read a book on the tube but its on kindle on my phone so not sure what side of your dividing line I fall 

I prefer reading a proper paperback book then if it's rubbish you can always swat flys with it    (or donate it to a charity shop)

[stampjones]

Was a rather silly statement of mine to be honest.
I think what I was trying to get at was the fact an awful lot of people USE their mobiles as everyday tools. As you say, people reading books, playing games, social media, checking messages on various platforms. The list is endless. Mobile phones becoming such an incredibly important part of our lives.

I use mine for all sorts of stuff and of course wouldn’t be without it. But I can get by on a journey without having to stare at it. Maybe I just enjoy looking at other people 

I’ve been without my phone a few times and can honestly say I did not die or break out in convulsions because of it. But didn’t I read somewhere there is a condition that has affected some if they have no access to their device. It’s probably an ism of some sort 

No I knew what you meant and I agree with you I just couldnt resist the opportunity to be a smartass   

[Squire Haggard]

Went shopping earlier and on exiting the store with my trolley needed to turn left and use the path which runs alongside where the trolleys are kept, the path is wide enough for 2 people with trolleys to pass each other so no problem but there are then cars parked right next to it so you can't actually go around any blockage.

A bloke and a woman decided to stop on the path for some fucking reason, couple of ignorant fuckers made worse by the fact that the silly bitch had her trolley at 90 degrees across the path and was then stood behind it so it was taking up 2/3 of the width of the walkway 

They sound thick and dont know what is going on around them.

I avoid the busy times at supermarkets, as it reduces the chance of this sort of thing. Its either early in the morning or late in the evening for me. My local one opens at 9am, and I'm just about to go to it soon.

[Squire Haggard]

Some of us are "old school" and sometimes buy lotto tickets or scratch cards on the spur of the moment. A lot of older folks don't have access to tinternet and you don't get the satisfaction of screwing it up and throwing it in the bin when you don't win anything 

True.

I limit my lottery tickets to the multi UK millionaire Euromillions draws or the ''must be won'' lottery jackpot ones. Its money straight down the drain but its small enough for me not to miss.

[Blackpool Rock]

True.

I limit my lottery tickets to the multi UK millionaire Euromillions draws or the ''must be won'' lottery jackpot ones. Its money straight down the drain but its small enough for me not to miss.

Yeah I buy a few extra ones whenever it's a must be won or bonus jackpot "Roll down" draw as the prize pot is boosted, got about £150 for 3 numbers once 

[Dr Talueng]

A comparative bargain.

Stansted is £7.50 for 15 minutes, that's measured when you drive through the barrier until you exit.

If you stay over 15 minutes it jumps to £25

Luton has something similar ... but there is a solution ... works for both drop-offs and pick-ups. The Long Term carpark is past the terminal area and down at the eastern end of the airfield. There is a free coach transfer service from the car-park direct to the terminal and vice-versa. But, the Long Term car-park is free for the first hour, so if you can plan your times you can do it all for free.

[lostandfound]

The best bang for buck is the Aeropress coffee plunger. Makes incredible coffee. I paid around £ 25 for mine.

Thanks - that's a great suggestion. 

[webpunter]

Thanks - that's a great suggestion. 

Nowt wrong with plunging [the clunge]
Might be a plan to goggle nespresso

[lostandfound]

Nowt wrong with plunging [the clunge]
Might be a plan to goggle nespresso

I think I prefer the freedom to use any ground coffee, including fresh ground I will make from coffee beans.

[Harry Monk]

This weekend I visited Windsor , whilst walking by the river I saw a guy racing up and down on a jet ski.
He was travelling at great speed (what the machine is intended for) but surely not on a crowded river.
He carved up pleasure boats and swans, I wanted to do something but was powerless.

I reported it to the police later on . Not sure what they can do after the event given he remains unidentified but thought it best to a least make them aware.

Thought there would be river police along that stretch .

[lostandfound]

This weekend I visited Windsor , whilst walking by the river I saw a guy racing up and down on a jet ski.
He was travelling at great speed (what the machine is intended for) but surely not on a crowded river.
He carved up pleasure boats and swans, I wanted to do something but was powerless.

I reported it to the police later on . Not sure what they can do after the event given he remains unidentified but thought it best to a least make them aware.

Thought there would be river police along that stretch .

Least you made them aware, so if he makes a habit of it, they could catch him.

Running on a crowded waterside an electric bike rider tore through the crowd and missed me by inches. I pointed him out to the watching locals. I run that route all the time and never saw him again.