WAMT....what annoyed me today!

[Box Brownie]

My BiL has quite a few degrees, headed up education at a couple of RAF training stations, lectured and used to write courses for the Open University. However, my sister makes all the decisions.A funny tale. A salesman called at the house one day..I can't recall what he was selling...my sister answered the door. The chap said...lol..."Is the man of the house available" . Have you ever seen a rocket take off ?. My sister told him, in no uncertain terms, that she was the one who makes the decisions. My BiL is unable to do even minor DIY jobs. Of course in the RAF he just put a call in for an RAF tradesman if anything needed doing in the quarters. I recall my dad telling me that when he visited my BiL was having a problem changing the fuse in an electric plug. His son..ie my nephew..also has a shed load of degrees..he was once head-hunted by Porton Down but declined on moral grounds. He's a consultant now but dear oh dear.. anything outside his field of expertise and he's lost. I didn't go to Uni but Tbh,when I see people that like that I'd rather have my level of common-sense and ,for the most part, good decision-making than a drawer full of high level academic achievements.

Puts me in mind of a lad 1 year below me at my comprehensive school.

He was a brilliant mathematician and chess player i.e. brilliant analytical mind.

He went to Oxford university at age 15 and AFAIK became a lecturer there at 21 yo (might have been 23?)

He was then and still a Chess Grand Master. But as you say above he was academically poor in other subjects and if IIRC at school he never engaged in practical subjects.

This discussion line prompted me to look him up......he is a published academic and still quite highly ranked Chess Grand Master.

 

[Jelster]

Many years ago the company I was working at employed a university professor into the R&D team, he had only ever worked at University after getting his doctorate. We manufactured antenna systems, and while speaking to a customer with him in the meeting he claimed he could double an antennas performance. No, in theory, this is true, but it would need to be at least twice the length (so over 4 metres long) protuding at 90 degrees from an antenna tower. There is no way that you can make it that big and actually have it not break in winds of over 20mph.

Even me, a lowly salesman realised that, and he got really annoyed with me when I said we wouldn't be able to provide a practical version to the customer, and I ended up in front of the Tech Director and Sales Director. They both realised that I was right and it wasn't long after that he decided to go back to the Uni. You know that phrase "Those who can't, teach". he was the epitome of it, all the brains, no idea....

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

This discussion line prompted me to look him up......he is a published academic and still quite highly ranked Chess Grand Master.

This makes me wonder...

In the grand scheme of things, who does more for society: the academic and chess grand master or the bloke who gets up at 4 a.m. to empty the town's bins?

 

[Tulipone]

This makes me wonder...

In the grand scheme of things, who does more for society: the academic and chess grand master or the bloke who gets up at 4 a.m. to empty the town's bins?

But comrade, we are not all equal.

I agree, what use is a brain surgeon if he cannot get to the operating theatre through all the rubbish outside his door, or dies of starvation because the farmer gave up because no one could afford food?

I am currently having coffee in Cambridge after walking past a number of colleges thinking how my life could have been so different.

 

[Jelster]

Not today, but yesterday.....

We embarked on a 300 mile round visit from our home to see my wife's family in Kent as her eldest brother who lives in Turkey, and has just recovered from cancer was back for a few days. It was great to be with all of my wife's siblings (she's one of 5) for the first time since we said goodbye to her Mum.

The M3 & M25........ Living in deepest, darkest Wiltshire, we only ever use a bit of the M4/5 about once a month to see my son in Bristol, so I rarely use "busy" motorways these days. I had forgotten that when on the M3 & M25 that "breaking space" was invitation to pull out to the car on your left. I'm not sure if the laws have changed, but lanes 1 & 2 on the M25 seemed to be for HGV's only, cutting a 4 lane motorway down to 2, unless of course you wanted to undertake. I also forgot that van drivers need to try and get in your boot at 70mph, at times my left foot was dabbing the brake pedal more often than my right was hitting the gas..... People sitting up my backside is a real pet peev of mine, and no amount of flashing your headlamps will get me to move over if I am overtaking stuff myself.

Finally, as we exited Fleet services on the way home, the car in front of me wouldn't go faster than 30mph.... The whole idea of the slip lane is to get you up to motorway speed. Luckily there was a big gap in traffic and I just accelerated around him. God the standards of driving on our motorways is bloody poor....

 

[boogie man]

My BiL has quite a few degrees, headed up education at a couple of RAF training stations, lectured and used to write courses for the Open University. However, my sister makes all the decisions.A funny tale. A salesman called at the house one day..I can't recall what he was selling...my sister answered the door. The chap said...lol..."Is the man of the house available" . Have you ever seen a rocket take off ?. My sister told him, in no uncertain terms, that she was the one who makes the decisions. My BiL is unable to do even minor DIY jobs. Of course in the RAF he just put a call in for an RAF tradesman if anything needed doing in the quarters. I recall my dad telling me that when he visited my BiL was having a problem changing the fuse in an electric plug. His son..ie my nephew..also has a shed load of degrees..he was once head-hunted by Porton Down but declined on moral grounds. He's a consultant now but dear oh dear.. anything outside his field of expertise and he's lost. I didn't go to Uni but Tbh,when I see people that like that I'd rather have my level of common-sense and ,for the most part, good decision-making than a drawer full of high level academic achievements.

Similar story of no practical skills with the university lecturer chap I mentioned earlier. We went to visit them once and he was rewiring a plug. I used to be a maintenance technician and did electrical work regularly so I had a look. He’d stripped all the outer insulation off the wire PLUS all the inner brown/blue/green insulation too, just leaving three bare wires inside the plug body. When I asked him why he said his ladybird guide to electrics said to “remove the insulation”. So I put him right and asked how many others he’d done like that? “All of them. Hmmm, and that might explain why the fuses keep blowing”.

 

[seaodyssey]

Not today, but yesterday.....

We embarked on a 300 mile round visit from our home to see my wife's family in Kent as her eldest brother who lives in Turkey, and has just recovered from cancer was back for a few days. It was great to be with all of my wife's siblings (she's one of 5) for the first time since we said goodbye to her Mum.

The M3 & M25........ Living in deepest, darkest Wiltshire, we only ever use a bit of the M4/5 about once a month to see my son in Bristol, so I rarely use "busy" motorways these days. I had forgotten that when on the M3 & M25 that "breaking space" was invitation to pull out to the car on your left. I'm not sure if the laws have changed, but lanes 1 & 2 on the M25 seemed to be for HGV's only, cutting a 4 lane motorway down to 2, unless of course you wanted to undertake. I also forgot that van drivers need to try and get in your boot at 70mph, at times my left foot was dabbing the brake pedal more often than my right was hitting the gas..... People sitting up my backside is a real pet peev of mine, and no amount of flashing your headlamps will get me to move over if I am overtaking stuff myself.

Finally, as we exited Fleet services on the way home, the car in front of me wouldn't go faster than 30mph.... The whole idea of the slip lane is to get you up to motorway speed. Luckily there was a big gap in traffic and I just accelerated around him. God the standards of driving on our motorways is bloody poor....

I was on the M25 and M1 yesterday.
You forgot the youngsters in lease scheme Mercs, Audi's and BMW who are practicing for the next F1 race using any lane to pass. I can see why people sit in 1 lane with cars swerving and passing all around.
I think a lot of people now use cruise control, so you end up with lanes of cars going at the same speed with not enough room between them.

Also saw several go from the fast lanes to slip road at the last second.

I much prefer the more scenic route if possible.

 

[Box Brownie]

I was on the M25 and M1 yesterday.
You forgot the youngsters in lease scheme Mercs, Audi's and BMW who are practicing for the next F1 race using any lane to pass. I can see why people sit in 1 lane with cars swerving and passing all around.
I think a lot of people now use cruise control, so you end up with lanes of cars going at the same speed with not enough room between them.

Also saw several go from the fast lanes to slip road at the last second.

I much prefer the more scenic route if possible.

Like you I will sometimes take the route 'less travelled '.

But as for motorways or 3 lane trunk A roads...... there is no such lane as "the fast lane(s)" as IIRC the Highway Code states "keep left unless overtaking"....there are no exceptions!

I can perceive of the value in finening those that infringe by better placement and use of cameras akin to the speed cameras on the motorways to monitor the slip roads and catch the 't***s' that put other road users at risk by their cavalier late decisions!

 

[LCPete]

Not today, but yesterday.....

We embarked on a 300 mile round visit from our home to see my wife's family in Kent as her eldest brother who lives in Turkey, and has just recovered from cancer was back for a few days. It was great to be with all of my wife's siblings (she's one of 5) for the first time since we said goodbye to her Mum.

The M3 & M25........ Living in deepest, darkest Wiltshire, we only ever use a bit of the M4/5 about once a month to see my son in Bristol, so I rarely use "busy" motorways these days. I had forgotten that when on the M3 & M25 that "breaking space" was invitation to pull out to the car on your left. I'm not sure if the laws have changed, but lanes 1 & 2 on the M25 seemed to be for HGV's only, cutting a 4 lane motorway down to 2, unless of course you wanted to undertake. I also forgot that van drivers need to try and get in your boot at 70mph, at times my left foot was dabbing the brake pedal more often than my right was hitting the gas..... People sitting up my backside is a real pet peev of mine, and no amount of flashing your headlamps will get me to move over if I am overtaking stuff myself.

Finally, as we exited Fleet services on the way home, the car in front of me wouldn't go faster than 30mph.... The whole idea of the slip lane is to get you up to motorway speed. Luckily there was a big gap in traffic and I just accelerated around him. God the standards of driving on our motorways is bloody poor....

tailgaters absolutely my pet hate too , and I also flash my brake lights at them to make them back off , probably someone will say that you’re not supposed to do that but there’s not many options to getting morons who tailgate to back off

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

tailgaters absolutely my pet hate too , and I also flash my brake lights at them to make them back off , probably someone will say that you’re not supposed to do that but there’s not many options to getting morons who tailgate to back off

Tailgating is now classed as "careless driving" in UK law and attracts a fixed penalty of £100...

New penalties to tackle tailgating and middle lane hogging

Changes are being introduced to give the police powers to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving.

www.gov.uk

Personally, I'd rather they just took the car away and crushed it.

 

[Nod]

tailgaters absolutely my pet hate too , and I also flash my brake lights at them to make them back off , probably someone will say that you’re not supposed to do that but there’s not many options to getting morons who tailgate to back off

The late, great Stirling Moss had a switch or 2 on his dashboard so he could either switch off his brake lights or show them when he wasn't braking so the drivers following him didn't know where his braking points were. Not sure how advisable that is on the road but if it gives you a bit of space behind...

 

[Sky]

But as for motorways or 3 lane trunk A roads...... there is no such lane as "the fast lane(s)" as IIRC the Highway Code states "keep left unless overtaking"....there are no exceptions!

Indeed.

If only more people knew that . . .

 

[Humphrey]

In days gone by you used to have Traffic Police actually patrolling the road network, catching people like this. But now they leave it to the Highway Traffic Officers to pick up the pieces when their has been an accident.

Seeing the police patrolling and sitting in pull offs definitely calmed the traffic down. You used to see them sitting on the overbridges watching for the idiots and actually doing something about it.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

In days gone by you used to have Traffic Police actually patrolling the road network, catching people like this. But now they leave it to the Highway Traffic Officers to pick up the pieces when their has been an accident.

Seeing the police patrolling and sitting in pull offs definitely calmed the traffic down. You used to see them sitting on the overbridges watching for the idiots and actually doing something about it.

One of my close relatives is a Roads Policing Officer.

They don't "leave it to the Highway Traffic Officers to pick up the pieces". They are out all the time in both marked and unmarked vehicles, attempting to keep the idiots from killing others and themselves.

The people to complain at are the politicians, who ran down the police numbers over the last ten years to "save money" and are now making a song and dance about recruiting 20,000 new officers. Many of these recruits are leaving faster than others are being recruited, often because they find out that it takes years to get to the point where they are doing anything other than basic policing, despite what the recruiting posters implied.

There are many jobs that the Road Policing units do besides patrolling motorways and those jobs are just as important, such as providing a presence to persuade idiots not to kill themselves and others on rural A roads...

 

[Jelster]

One of my close relatives is a Roads Policing Officer.

They don't "leave it to the Highway Traffic Officers to pick up the pieces". They are out all the time in both marked and unmarked vehicles, attempting to keep the idiots from killing others and themselves.

The people to complain at are the politicians, who ran down the police numbers over the last ten years to "save money" and are now making a song and dance about recruiting 20,000 new officers. Many of these recruits are leaving faster than others are being recruited, often because they find out that it takes years to get to the point where they are doing anything other than basic policing, despite what the recruiting posters implied.

There are many jobs that the Road Policing units do besides patrolling motorways and those jobs are just as important, such as providing a presence to persuade idiots not to kill themselves and others on rural A roads...

View attachment 402685

You only have to watch "Police Interceptors" (one of my vices) to know that they do a lot more than basic roads policing. However it is always strange how drug dealers and other criminals drive around in untaxed & uninsured vehicles. If I was doing something dodgy I'd have a basic daily driver which was all above board, and drive properly. so not to draw attention to myself. But as they say, you can't cure stupidity.....

 

[Gav.]

WAMT

14 large Mosquito bites, dam things are driving me mad got them while at the Hornet nest.

....Yet the Hornets didn't even look at me, but I'm not a food source for them..

 

[woof woof]

A zombie woman but this time not using a phone.

I was parking my car when a zombie woman walked in front of me whilst I was moving forward. I was just amazed as she could have chosen any of the parked cars to walk between so why on earth would she choose a place in which a car was manoeuvring? She even had to cross the grass to walk in front of me. It's as if she consciously decided to do the stupidest thing possible.

Sometimes the behaviour of people just seems utterly baffling.

 

[LCPete]

A zombie woman but this time not using a phone.

I was parking my car when a zombie woman walked in front of me whilst I was moving forward. I was just amazed as she could have chosen any of the parked cars to walk between so why on earth would she choose a place in which a car was manoeuvring? She even had to cross the grass to walk in front of me. It's as if she consciously decided to do the stupidest thing possible.

Sometimes the behaviour of people just seems utterly baffling.

yep I’ve had that someone walk directly in front of me while I was reversing, utterly stupid as it’s more awkward to see going backwards

 

[Jelster]

A zombie woman but this time not using a phone.

I was parking my car when a zombie woman walked in front of me whilst I was moving forward. I was just amazed as she could have chosen any of the parked cars to walk between so why on earth would she choose a place in which a car was manoeuvring? She even had to cross the grass to walk in front of me. It's as if she consciously decided to do the stupidest thing possible.

Sometimes the behaviour of people just seems utterly baffling.

yep I’ve had that someone walk directly in front of me while I was reversing, utterly stupid as it’s more awkward to see going backwards

A woman did this to me while I was reversing into a space at a supermarket. I asked her if she actually looked where she was going, to be greeted with "F*** off A55hole". What a lovely lady (or not).

 

[Brazo]

tailgaters absolutely my pet hate too , and I also flash my brake lights at them to make them back off , probably someone will say that you’re not supposed to do that but there’s not many options to getting morons who tailgate to back off

I could often be accused of tailgating as my vehicle is often wedged up the behind of the car in front and you could be forgiven for putting me into the above category.

What tends to happen though is someone pulls out on me (and I get this a lot) I have to brake hard to avoid piling into their car. This is normally the point they look in their rear view mirror and scowl at me for driving so close!!

 

[gjhill]

Made it through lockdowns , carried on with my job as a delivery driver for Asda

partner tested positive for coronavirus yesterday
I tested positive today

 

[LCPete]

I could often be accused of tailgating as my vehicle is often wedged up the behind of the car in front and you could be forgiven for putting me into the above category.

What tends to happen though is someone pulls out on me (and I get this a lot) I have to brake hard to avoid piling into their car. This is normally the point they look in their rear view mirror and scowl at me for driving so close!!

yes good point and it’s so frustrating when someone pulls out and causes you to brake hard especially dangerous when I’m on my motorbike and they look at you then pull out

 

[gjhill]

yes good point and it’s so frustrating when someone pulls out and causes you to brake hard especially dangerous when I’m on my motorbike and they look at you then pull out

Yes that happened to me on my way to work one morning, the driver stated he thought he could get out before I got there. Trouble was I was only about 10 feet away when he went for it

 

[LCPete]

Yes that happened to me on my way to work one morning, the driver stated he thought he could get out before I got there. Trouble was I was only about 10 feet away when he went for it

hope you was ok I got knocked off my bike when the same happened to me , I was ok but the bike wasn’t, woman looked and just pulled out

 

[Cobra]

hope you was ok I got knocked off my bike when the same happened to me , I was ok but the bike wasn’t, woman looked and just pulled out

A lot of people just aren't capable of judging speed and distance, or just don't care.
When I had a bad one on a M/bike some years ago, the guy that pulled across me, told the attending officer that I was speeding ( I wasn't)
He replied I don't care if he was, it was your incompetence that caused this.

 

[Brazo]

yes good point and it’s so frustrating when someone pulls out and causes you to brake hard especially dangerous when I’m on my motorbike and they look at you then pull out

And there’s never anyone behind me!! It’s almost like they see me, panic and pull out!

 

[LCPete]

And there’s never anyone behind me!! It’s almost like they see me, panic and pull out!

Yep exactly I never get why they just don’t wait for a moment they just have to be in front

 

[Brazo]

Yep exactly I never get why they just don’t wait for a moment they just have to be in front

Only to drive at 20mph……

In England

 

[Box Brownie]

On many occasions it is not so much pulling out late but pulling out and not getting a wiggle on!

In such situations I have had to brake lightly to markedly simply because of such a lack of haste on the part of the driver joining the traffic.

So yes, all too many drivers seem to lack the appreciation of time, distance & approach speed and how that will affect their actions!

PS in the case of me being the one joining. .......why on earth do people approaching on the main road leave their signalling way too late or indeed omit signalling at all. NB I don't take their signal to mean it is safe to pull out but it is a good, courteous & mutually beneficial action to aid both parties in the decision to manoeuvre!

 

[woof woof]

Maybe I'm getting old and cranky but it just seems hard to find quality these days.

I've just been into town to buy some good quality outdoor walking shoes (my old ones have lasted about 15 years!!!! and have been all over the world but the soles are smooth now and they're generally falling off my feet) and some of them looked and felt like they'd last about a month. The salesman in the outdoor/camping shop was very nice and after asking what I wanted them for steered me away from most of the shoes on display and towards just three brands. I tried all on in my size and none of them fitted as they were all tight across the top of my feet and the next size up was way too big and my heel was in danger of coming out. My pet theory is that they're all made in China and nobody does any sort of size or quality check. So, I came away empty handed but paid £135 for some shoes that did fit in another outdoor shop.

I've had the same issue with outdoor trousers. The old ones lasted for yonks but the new ones of the same make either fell apart or shrunk. In T shirts I've gone from a small to a large but the small I have from years back still fit.

There just doesn't seem to be any link between price and quality these days and brands that used to be good now seem as likely to be tat as some cheapo thing you've never heard of.

I did buy some cheap trainers for £17 off the local market and they lasted about a year.

 

[Jelster]

hope you was ok I got knocked off my bike when the same happened to me , I was ok but the bike wasn’t, woman looked and just pulled out

A van driver did that to me, changed lanes at the last minute then had to immediately stop at a red light. I went up the side of the van asked what he thought he was doing "Who gives a sh1t, you're only on a bike". His right hand mirror was forcibly removed by my left fist as I left him for dust at the green light......

 

[Jelster]

Maybe I'm getting old and cranky but it just seems hard to find quality these days.

I've just been into town to buy some good quality outdoor walking shoes (my old ones have lasted about 15 years!!!! and have been all over the world but the soles are smooth now and they're generally falling off my feet) and some of them looked and felt like they'd last about a month. The salesman in the outdoor/camping shop was very nice and after asking what I wanted them for steered me away from most of the shoes on display and towards just three brands. I tried all on in my size and none of them fitted as they were all tight across the top of my feet and the next size up was way too big and my heel was in danger of coming out. My pet theory is that they're all made in China and nobody does any sort of size or quality check. So, I came away empty handed but paid £135 for some shoes that did fit in another outdoor shop.

I've had the same issue with outdoor trousers. The old ones lasted for yonks but the new ones of the same make either fell apart or shrunk. In T shirts I've gone from a small to a large but the small I have from years back still fit.

There just doesn't seem to be any link between price and quality these days and brands that used to be good now seem as likely to be tat as some cheapo thing you've never heard of.

I did buy some cheap trainers for £17 off the local market and they lasted about a year.

All my walking clothing is from Rohan. I'm actually wearing a Rohan top that I bought 5 years ago. I have 3 pairs of their walking trousers, all over 4 years old and all still perfect. It's not cheap, but I tend to buy it when they have sales & offers. Mrs J also wears the same brand. My walking shoes are from Ecco.

 

[woof woof]

A van driver did that to me, changed lanes at the last minute then had to immediately stop at a red light. I went up the side of the van asked what he thought he was doing "Who gives a sh1t, you're only on a bike". His right hand mirror was forcibly removed by my left fist as I left him for dust at the green light......

Very naught of you.

A motorcyclist once knocked a wing mirror off my Lotus Elan for no reason that I could see (he'd been behind me on a slip road and as he overtook me he just reached out and caused over £100 worth of damage.) He didn't realise how fast my Lotus was and if I'd got hold of him I'd have... Little coward went through two red lights to get away.

Not sorry that I have no respect and only contempt for anyone who pulls road rage / vandalism sh*t like this. IMO you should be ashamed of yourself. There is (again IMO) just no justification for what you did.

 

[Cobra]

His right hand mirror was forcibly removed by my left fist as I left him for dust at the green light......

I did the same, when I was cut up on a roundabout by a car while riding a M/bike
I also know quite a few people that have bollocked car drivers in this way when they have been total t***ts.
Well its obvious they don't use, them, so what use are they?

 

[Jelster]

Very naught of you.

A motorcyclist once knocked a wing mirror off my Lotus Elan for no reason that I could see (he'd been behind me on a slip road and as he overtook me he just reached out and caused over £100 worth of damage.) He didn't realise how fast my Lotus was and if I'd got hold of him I'd have... Little coward went through two red lights to get away.

Not sorry that I have no respect and only contempt for anyone who pulls road rage / vandalism sh*t like this. IMO you should be ashamed of yourself. There is (again IMO) just no justification for what you did.

Have you ever been on a bike that's being sandwiched between a transit van and the armco barrier? I guess not, and I bet he didn't do it again. Even with a Lotus you would need something special to out accelerate a bike, I was on a FireBlade, he was in a long wheelbase diesel van. No contest.

 

[Jelster]

I did the same, when I was cut up on a roundabout by a car while riding a M/bike
I also know quite a few people that have bollocked car drivers in this way when they have been total t***ts.
Well its obvious they don't use, them, so what use are they?

One friday evening I pulled up at the lights just before home and some guy thought it was funny to gently roll into my back wheel. Side stand down, off I get, and he jumped out of the car with a bat in his hand. Have you seen the damage a crash helmet can cause when you head-butt somebody?

 

[Cobra]

Have you seen the damage a crash helmet can cause when you head-butt somebody?

Some people just don't think what maybe under that helmet and leather gear.

 

[Jelster]

Some people just don't think what maybe under that helmet and leather gear.

Not much under it, but the armour was worth every penny. I mean, what was he thinking, rolling into the back of a bike on purpose? Did he think I was just going to ignore him when he put my life and an £8k bike at risk? I have to ask, WTF was under his hair? As their certainly wasn't much of a brain (or much of nose after encounter either).

 

[Nod]

I did the same, when I was cut up on a roundabout by a car while riding a M/bike
I also know quite a few people that have bollocked car drivers in this way when they have been total t***ts.
Well its obvious they don't use, them, so what use are they?

Some BMW door mirrors pop off when they hit you - or are hit by you...

 

[Suvv]

Not much under it, but the armour was worth every penny. I mean, what was he thinking, rolling into the back of a bike on purpose? Did he think I was just going to ignore him when he put my life and an £8k bike at risk? I have to ask, WTF was under his hair? As their certainly wasn't much of a brain (or much of nose after encounter either).

and I hope that you got done for assault.
You should not be on the road with an attitude like that.