What's made you grumpy today?

[The Picnic Wasp]

I've just spent the best part of two business hours days on the phone, mostly on hold or answering automated devices, to the DWP and my private pension provider. Fortunately my decision never to type profanity on here still holds. Just! Something has to be done about our ability to speak to government services. It just can't go on like this surely. The private pension communications were thankfully more accessible but the total reliance on technology is frustrating and worrying.

Admittedly although I enjoy computers I'm not the greatest at keeping up with advances. A bit lazy perhaps but I've never had a network of savvy folk around me to go to for guidance or tuition. However, even as I became more and more frustrated by my failure to get through a process with them I didn't give up on the gut feeling that on this occasion it wasn't me, it was them.

Eventually I got through to someone who listened (he was older) and after being transferred to their Mumbai IT service and speaking to a couple of guys I got past the encryption system which was preventing me receiving documents. My iPad had been blamed up until this point which the Mumbai office scoffed at. Although I eventually got there it's difficult to feel good about the achievement due to the gut churning moments and blood pressure increases. I say I've got there but I haven't seen my money yet. Fingers crossed.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Was driving along a rural road today. A van was broken down on the side of the road, my side. The car in front stopped, waited for the road to clear, indicated and went around the van. I did the same, waited a second or two as my car is very low and pulled out to pass the van. This two or three second manoeuvre clearly wasn't quick enough for the Chinese hybrid (vehicle) behind me who flashed his headlights in anger or disgust. A few hundred yards (sorry, Slim) later I reached a 30mph zone. He tailgated me for the next quarter mile until we reached a traffic light junction.

Through the junction is a flashing light 20mph school zone which I observed. The tailgating became much closer which I'm guessing was totally down to his complete ignorance of the Highway Code. After this zone I accelerated away and took the Y junction to my left. He screamed up behind me lights on full beam. I really hope these types meet up with similarly deranged road ragers from time to time and comeuppances are exchanged.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Co-presenter (Rachel Brown-Finnis) on Football Focus today. Described Celtic as playing RB Leipzig at Hampden Park. She wasn't corrected as her mate Alex Scott probably didn't know either. I'll wager that Martin Keown knew and had to keep quiet in case ilt sounded like bullying. She then went on to praise Nicolas Khan for his performance. The player's name is Kuhn and this was obviously her best unprepared stab at a foreign sounding surname. Scottish folk are well used to the BBC's slapdash approach to subjects from this northern region of Britain, but it doesn't come with a reduction in licence fee. Where's the bloke, love?

https://youtu.be/Tv0ueEI4OBQ?si=nY3d54KoUaBoPi0q

[Nickslikk2112]

Scottish folk are well used to the BBC's slapdash approach to subjects from this northern region of Britain,

No. It's just the BBC being slapdash full stop. They'd rather tick equality boxes than employ anybody with knowledge and insight.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Just noticed my lovely neighbours have installed anti-bird spikes along the top of their ten foot high fence. Nice touch! I think a couple of fast growing hybrid poplars should counteract their defences. A bit of luck that we've just entered tree planting season.

[David L]

Welby. Feels he has a right to lecture us all on issues of morality whilst allowing horrendous abuse within the church. The hypocrisy of those in powerful positions knows no bounds.

[Fishy]

Lineker.. just fuck off will ya mate..

[Slim]

I hadn't seen my Sandisk MP3 player for a few days. But I found it in the zip pocket of one of my fleeces. Why is this in the grumpy thread? Because it had been through the washing machine.

[Thenop]

Postnl wants to me to pay VAT over something I already paid VAT over. In the end I know how this works, you either pay or they return the package.
Package coming from UK, seller moans The Netherlands and Ireland are always being difficult, tells me HE did everything right.

Leaving me, the customer, in the middle and getting screwed.

[Nickslikk2112]

Coming down with the cold Mrs S and the boy have had.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Depth of snow predicted for tomorrow stated in centimetres. Impossible to visualise. Use millimetres if you have to be all metric.

[David L]

Depth of snow predicted for tomorrow stated in centimetres. Impossible to visualise. Use millimetres if you have to be all metric.

x 10
You're welcome 

[The Picnic Wasp]

Depth of snow predicted for tomorrow stated in centimetres. Impossible to visualise. Use millimetres if you have to be all metric.

x 10
You're welcome 

Nah, centimetres is Blue Peter speak. If it's going to be 3" of snow, say that, or 75mm. Timber, building materials, tools, plumbing, etc etc etc, all millimetres. No fractions of centimetres necessary. Then you go on Amazon and you're multiplying by ten again. Totally unnecessary. 25 is the new magic unit these days be it relating to dimensions, weight or volume. Centimetres should be banned.

[Nick]

Jetlag

[Fishy]

A bit of snow and the country grinds to a halt as usual..