WAMT....what annoyed me today!

[Gav.]

I agree it's annoying...

...but, many big supermarkets have a bag recycling box somewhere near their main entrance. We save ours up and drop them off when we nip in for something.

I know, I just found it odd they use plastic after being proud to use paper packaging

 

[mj4456]

Or sesquipedalianism.

Can you get cream for that?

 

[cambsno]

M&S pulls Christmas advert post after Palestinian flag criticism

M&S says sorry after a backlash claiming its advert depicted Palestinian flag colours in flames.

www.bbc.co.uk

Seriously... I am sure some people look to be offended!

 

[Dale.]

Cars, or a certain Renault to be exact.

Pushed myself today to get out for the colours at Loch Ard, conditions looked to be calm. Got about 15 miles from home, dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Long story short, an injector had failed (diesel). Home now, going back to bed.

This ain't going to be cheap.

 

[Cobra]

Pushed myself today to get out for the colours at Loch Ard, conditions looked to be calm. Got about 15 miles from home, dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Long story short, an injector had failed (diesel). Home now, going back to bed.

b****r sorry to hear that Dale, I know how much you were looking forward to your trip

This ain't going to be cheap.

Hopefully it won't be too bad if its just a straight supply and fit.

 

[Jelster]

Cars, or a certain Renault to be exact.

Pushed myself today to get out for the colours at Loch Ard, conditions looked to be calm. Got about 15 miles from home, dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Long story short, an injector had failed (diesel). Home now, going back to bed.

This ain't going to be cheap.

I have never liked French cars...... Mind you, I've had enough British failures in my lifetime too - Hillman, Vauxhall and Ford.

 

[Norkie]

Hillman??

 

[Jelster]

Hillman??

My first car was an Imp, and I had 3 Avengers in my early years too, 1300GL, 1500GT & a 1600GLS.

 

[Norkie]

Only kidding, my first car was an Imp also, KRY712E.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

My first car was an Imp, and I had 3 Avengers in my early years too, 1300GL, 1500GT & a 1600GLS.

I suffered under both of them.

The Imp was a pain until I realised that some idiot had over-skimmed the head, which was why I was replacing the gasket about once a week! A few years later, I was provided with an Avenger as a company car. Mine was one of a batch of 12 which were picked up from the Ryton on Dunsmore plant. Three never even got to the office, with one failing spectacularly, by having the drive shaft drop out, while the car was moving. The one assigned to me was better than most, although the headlights failed due to a wire with a break in the insulation.

 

[woof woof]

Mrs WW spotted a box of grapes in Poundland. You can't guarantee something in the £1 shop will be £1 these days so we checked the shelf and sure enough they're £1. We checked the receipt later as the charged amount seemed odd and we saw they'd charged £1.75 at the checkout. I didn't see any point in complaining. I did try that in ASDA once and the staff were not great.

The grapes weren't great either, slightly soft. Lesson learned.

 

[Jelster]

I suffered under both of them.

The Imp was a pain until I realised that some idiot had over-skimmed the head, which was why I was replacing the gasket about once a week! A few years later, I was provided with an Avenger as a company car. Mine was one of a batch of 12 which were picked up from the Ryton on Dunsmore plant. Three never even got to the office, with one failing spectacularly, by having the drive shaft drop out, while the car was moving. The one assigned to me was better than most, although the headlights failed due to a wire with a break in the insulation.

I did my apprenticeship in a Roots Group main dealer, I know how poor they were, but spares were easy to get at the time

 

[saltireblue]

I suffered under both of them.

The Imp was a pain until I realised that some idiot had over-skimmed the head, which was why I was replacing the gasket about once a week! A few years later, I was provided with an Avenger as a company car. Mine was one of a batch of 12 which were picked up from the Ryton on Dunsmore plant. Three never even got to the office, with one failing spectacularly, by having the drive shaft drop out, while the car was moving. The one assigned to me was better than most, although the headlights failed due to a wire with a break in the insulation.

I remember a bumper sticker back in the '80s, in the days of good old British Leyland: "Everything that falls off this car is a genuine British part"

 

[Dale.]

After my car problems this morning, I had a thought, a bit daft but bear with me.

My car has just over 85k miles on it. Assuming the average speed has been say 30 mph during those miles and if my math is right, that means that after just about 2800 hours running time, if costs spiral, my car is junk, as it could easily become uneconomical to repair.

2800 hours operating time is just about 17 weeks, or so. I know there's a lot of variables and suchlike but it's not long is it?

Assuming the list price of my car when new was £17k, that's £1000/week of running time.

 

[Mozthecat]

The last fuel injector I did on a petrol clio was £65ish for the part, and an around an hour total to change on a DIY basis.

(Most of that hour was working out which one had gone by comparing resistance levels with a multimeter).

 

[Box Brownie]

The last fuel injector I did on a petrol clio was £65ish for the part, and an around an hour total to change on a DIY basis.

(Most of that hour was working out which one had gone by comparing resistance levels with a multimeter).

AFAIK there are significant differences between a petrol FI and diesel FI.....not least being the injection pressurisation ~ HDI stands for high pressure diesel injection.

So the base cost may be somewhat higher let alone the possible DIY complexity???

Having said that fingers crossed that it will not be too expensive a fix

 

[Dale.]

The last fuel injector I did on a petrol clio was £65ish for the part, and an around an hour total to change on a DIY basis.

(Most of that hour was working out which one had gone by comparing resistance levels with a multimeter).

I have a code reader and got code P0202 as well as P0380. The 380 is a glow plug, which I knew about and not a problem unless it's sub zero overnight.

I'm going to get a quote and get it all done in one hit, glow plugs, injector(s), timing belt and pump, as well as a squeaky pulley when cold. New injectors are over £300 each, so refurbs on this age of car might make more sense.

We'll see, my car is probably worth around £3.5k privately, so if costs remain sensible, I may just get it all done in one hit.

 

[Earley Man]

I have never liked French cars...... Mind you, I've had enough British failures in my lifetime too - Hillman, Vauxhall and Ford.

During company car days, over thirty years, my first two were Ford Escorts, one petrol and one diesel, both very unreliable. After that it was Vauxhall Astras, the three /four year mileages ranged from over 40,000 to over 90,000 and the only problem, on one of the early ones, was due to a failed exhaust.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...my first two were Ford Escorts, one petrol and one diesel,

It's interesting how variable car production was in those days.

I was issued with an Escort estate and then an Escort saloon. Both were completely reliable and the estate survived a side impact from a lorry, which took out all the offside body panels from front to back. I was lucky twice in that case: no one was injured and I had three witnesses to the incident!

 

[Pixbarmy]

The last fuel injector I did on a petrol clio was £65ish for the part, and an around an hour total to change on a DIY basis.

(Most of that hour was working out which one had gone by comparing resistance levels with a multimeter).

I remember changing injectors on trucks. One pipe nut, two injector nuts and a crow bar. Three minutes tops! No coding. No hassle. Just bleed it and off you go! Always had a spare in the toolbox (Justin Case). If you got caught short you just disconnected it, attached a bit of rubber hose to the end of the injector pipe (to let it run out!!!) and drove home on 5 cylinders!!! That's where all the slippy tarmac originated! Oops! Don't tell Greta Thunberg!

 

[Cockney]

I had a 1300 Avenger estate company car when I was at 3M.
I was lucky, it was a good one. I quite enjoyed it.

 

[Cobra]

Mrs WW spotted a box of grapes in Poundland. You can't guarantee something in the £1 shop will be £1 these days so we checked the shelf and sure enough they're £1. We checked the receipt later as the charged amount seemed odd and we saw they'd charged £1.75 at the checkout. I didn't see any point in complaining. I did try that in ASDA once and the staff were not great.

The grapes weren't great either, slightly soft. Lesson learned.

I remember when pound shops really were pound shops.
I used to spend ages wandering around, picking stuff taking it to the till and asking how much is this.
(there were no price tags on anything at the time.)

 

[Cockney]

It's ok, 2nd bottom carries the same reward

I want a draw from your lads today.

 

[Marc]

I want a draw from your lads today.

There's time yet but we're 1-0 up at the moment. Good win for your lot last week.

 

[Marc]

I want a draw from your lads today.

1-1 now,

 

[woof woof]

I nearly had a crash today in ASDA car park.

The parking spaces are two deep with the little thoroughfare road between each two deep row of parking spaces. So, you either reverse out of your space or if there's no one in front of you you pull forward one space and then turn either left or right depending on the direction allowed depending on where you are on the one way system through the car park. Hope that makes sense.

Today I started to pull forward and was then to turn left so I looked right to check for traffic and then my windscreen was filled with a car the driver of which had decided not to drive on the one way route but instead take a straight line route through the parking spaces. Again, hope that makes sense. I've seen people do this before and it really is asking for trouble as other people just might not expect it. Like me today.

We must have missed each other by just inches and in fact I don't think she saw me at all.

 

[Cobra]

I nearly had a crash today in ASDA car park.

The joys of supermarket car parks, it seem that most peoples head are full of other stuff as they pull away, not on the task in hand!

 

[Pixbarmy]

I nearly had a crash today in ASDA car park.

The parking spaces are two deep with the little thoroughfare road between each two deep row of parking spaces. So, you either reverse out of your space or if there's no one in front of you you pull forward one space and then turn either left or right depending on the direction allowed depending on where you are on the one way system through the car park. Hope that makes sense.

Today I started to pull forward and was then to turn left so I looked right to check for traffic and then my windscreen was filled with a car the driver of which had decided not to drive on the one way route but instead take a straight line route through the parking spaces. Again, hope that makes sense. I've seen people do this before and it really is asking for trouble as other people just might not expect it. Like me today.

We must have missed each other by just inches and in fact I don't think she saw me at all.

The "disabled" parking spots right next to the store door, where folks (not always disabled!) just drive in, shop, then reverse straight out later, paying no attention whatever as they seem incapable of reversing, turning round to check or look in their mirrors at the same time.

 

[Dave Canon]

In my local Morrison's there is a one way system but recently a man drove the wrong way ( a short cut for him) and I only avoided a head on collision by an emergency stop and leaning on my horn. As he pulled around me I waved m fist. He then stopped further on blocking the traffic and got out of his car to walk towards me yelling abuse. I pulled out my phone and pretended to take a picture so he stopped and went back. Unfortunately this is not an isolated event but what can you do with such selfish people.

Dave

 

[Dale.]

Rain.

It can be a good thing or a bad thing. Tonight, I think it's bad, as I can't light the bonfire now and it's been dry all day.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Interesting convo about cars yesterday - Our first was a Hillman Imp followed by an Avenger 1300 estate.


Tonights moan is about drivers, not just those that go slowly and then race you when you overtake, but the ones that drive at 30mph on national speed limit country lanes, and stop when a car comes the other way to let it pass. Todays prize went to someone doing the following plus actually driving off the road at one point to let another (ordinary) car pass in the opposite direction. There is absolutely no need to do this on these roads.

 

[Cobra]

Rain.

It's been dry here all day, bloody chilly, though.

 

[Jelster]

Interesting convo about cars yesterday - Our first was a Hillman Imp followed by an Avenger 1300 estate.


Tonights moan is about drivers, not just those that go slowly and then race you when you overtake, but the ones that drive at 30mph on national speed limit country lanes, and stop when a car comes the other way to let it pass. Todays prize went to someone doing the following plus actually driving off the road at one point to let another (ordinary) car pass in the opposite direction. There is absolutely no need to do this on these roads.

I get frustrated with the locals who drive on the NSL roads at 30-35mph. Had one struggling to do 25 last week, and flashed their lights at me when I overtook them. I'm sorry, but if you can't drive at 40-45 on a straight NSL road, you shouldn't be driving at all.

 

[woof woof]

My whinge for today is about Solicitors.

We're still dealing with things that need to be dealt with after my mams death and one thing which has struck me is the efficiency and quality of the solicitor, or rather the lack of. I suppose I possibly have unrealistic expectations but the number of cockups and repeated required contacts on the same issue seem to be just too many considering the cost and the presumably well qualified solicitor I'm dealing with.

Years ago when I first started in field service one of the older hands told me that lawyers and solicitors are the worst customers as (in their opinion) they were arrogant and not half as bright as they thought themselves to be. I have to say that that conversation from knocking on 40 years ago popped into my head today and seems to sum up my recent experiences.

The only thing I can think of in the solicitors defence is that they're possibly juggling many customers requirements but even so I don't think that's any great excuse.

 

[Cobra]

they were arrogant and not half as bright as they thought themselves to be.

I've dealt with 2 on the same personal matter,
the older one ( must have been getting near retirement) was all that and worse.

The younger one, ( possibly just start out) sorted everything in a week, where as the older one, it was still on going after 2 years.
Sacked the older one, obviously.

 

[Box Brownie]

My whinge for today is about Solicitors.

We're still dealing with things that need to be dealt with after my mams death and one thing which has struck me is the efficiency and quality of the solicitor, or rather the lack of. I suppose I possibly have unrealistic expectations but the number of cockups and repeated required contacts on the same issue seem to be just too many considering the cost and the presumably well qualified solicitor I'm dealing with.

Years ago when I first started in field service one of the older hands told me that lawyers and solicitors are the worst customers as (in their opinion) they were arrogant and not half as bright as they thought themselves to be. I have to say that that conversation from knocking on 40 years ago popped into my head today and seems to sum up my recent experiences.

The only thing I can think of in the solicitors defence is that they're possibly juggling many customers requirements but even so I don't think that's any great excuse.

I've dealt with 2 on the same personal matter,
the older one ( must have been getting near retirement) was all that and worse.

The younger one, ( possibly just start out) sorted everything in a week, where as the older one, it was still on going after 2 years.
Sacked the older one, obviously.

I think depending on the size of the solicitor firm, though your liaison is with the principal it is not uncommon for the grunt work to be done by a clerk.....so yes, the principal will have many files crossing their desk (including ones that they are directly involved with) but IMO that is no excuse for poor level of service

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...but IMO that is no excuse for poor level of service

Lawyers were among the first groups to realise that a closed shop never harms take home pay.

The other side of that is that it always harms the customer's pocket, if not otherwise...

 

[Cobra]

I think depending on the size of the solicitor firm,

Both were small local firms with offices in the high street.
And the meetings were carried out face to face with the solicitor concerned.
As per Alans comments, the older was very arrogant, the younger one very pleasant.

 

[Cobra]

WAMT?
Royal mail.
I was expecting a delivery this morning,
I heard the garage door being opened and closed, (no one rang the bell) that's not unusual as they leave anything in there, if there is no answer.
I went shortly after to collect it, no parcel and a missed call card through the door

 

[woof woof]

My sister, after cutting all contact with our mother for the last years of her life, now wont sign the probate documents and wants an inventory of mams possessions in the house.

I did expect this so it's not really that much of a shock but how someone can cut all contact with their mother and then act like this after her death is still a bit... surprising, to some degree.