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redtrummy
13-06-22, 12:49 PM
But its self regulating, Magpies reduce numbers of song birds so then not enough food to feed their chicks so then the magpie chicks starve and their numbers reduce. - different of course to a non native species such as the rat finding itself on an island that's a sea bird colony without any natural predators.
Which brings to mind 'Sea room' a book by Adam Nicholson after he inherited the Shiant Isles off the Outer Hebrides - there a successful culling of the brown rat has restored the status quo.

DJ123
13-06-22, 03:34 PM
BMW Vines Motorrad, Guildford.

I booked in to get a BikeTrac tracker fitted 2 weeks ago.

I paid for the tracker online - which includes fitting & 1 year subscription. It was sent to them directly (approved fitter on the website) & i called them directly to get it booked in for this service. I am told to arrive between 8-10 as they need the bike all day (even though it's <2 hours to install).

I arrive at 8am on the dot (which involved me getting up at 6.30, to load Bike on to the trailer, and sit in rush hour traffic). I speak to someone to book it in and the conversation goes something like;
Me; Hi, i'm here to drop off my bike to get a BikeTrac tracker fitted
Them; Oh, we'll fit a tracker but it'll be the BMW/Scorpion one
Me; no, i have paid for a BikeTrac one which has been delivered here last week - as per the notes/advise i gave when booking it in
Them; oh, let me go check - subsequently finds it and says there was no reference it was for me/this booking. Despite the package having my name on it and the reference number on a packing slip
Me; ok, so i get a call when its done.
Them; yes, then you'll need to pay the labour. Shouldn't be more than 2 hours.
Me; No. i've paid for installation as part of the package.
Them; i'm not sure how this works - but we'll call you later.

I get home and call BikeTrac to enlighten them about the incompetent service received, and they advised the dealer called them to ask how this all works regarding the tracker, installation & how they get paid. They advised them fairly bluntly how it works (and they should know being an approved installer - for which you need to apply for).

Get a call at 4pm (me thinking it was ready). Nope. Only just gone into the workshop.......and won't be ready today.

It's a dealer i've not used for years, because they were terrible before. Seems like that's not changed and i'll not be taking my services back there. And subsequently didn't order the parts i wanted for the Bike too - i'll get those from my regular dealer who understands customer service.

Adam Ef
13-06-22, 03:54 PM
I enquired about a bike that Vines had a while back and they then didn't leave me alone for months afterwards. Very aggressive sales techniques and the guy I spoke to just wanted to tell me that they are in competition with Marshall to be the top quantity BMW seller in the country. Sounds like it's quantity not quality with them.


I had a bad feeling when I spoke to them. Gave off a very aggressive vibe.


+ If you're fitting a tracker on a BMW then make sure you keep it on a battery tender. They are notorious for losing batteries to trackers even within a couple of weeks.

DJ123
13-06-22, 04:58 PM
I enquired about a bike that Vines had a while back and they then didn't leave me alone for months afterwards. Very aggressive sales techniques and the guy I spoke to just wanted to tell me that they are in competition with Marshall to be the top quantity BMW seller in the country. Sounds like it's quantity not quality with them.


I had a bad feeling when I spoke to them. Gave off a very aggressive vibe.


+ If you're fitting a tracker on a BMW then make sure you keep it on a battery tender. They are notorious for losing batteries to trackers even within a couple of weeks.

Yup. They're not my choice by any means.

The tracker i've gone for has an independent battery good for a while on its own. It will slightly draw from the main battery but only slightly -and it also updates on low battery warnings too (which i can set the parameter to.

"BikeTrac draws power from its own internal battery when the bike’s off, and when that drops by about 15% (the company says this can be as long as two weeks), we’re told it will draw just 4-8mA from your bike for only around 15 minutes."

Thankfully i ride my Bike at least once a week so it should be all ok from that perspective.

Seeker
14-06-22, 05:30 AM
A political gripe, sorry.

I am griping over our PM breaking a treaty that he negotiated. Is it breaking the law? Since he's cagey about where he got his legal advice it is unclear but if it is then the "lessons learned" from Partygate didn't last long. The opposition parties, the EU and Washington don't like it. (Putin might though).

The question is why did he sign a treaty when he was warned it would be detrimental to the UK's (trade) unity? It implies that he never intended to follow it anyway, perhaps. I still listen to people interviewed on tv saying that he "Got brexit done" and "got us through the pandemic" yet here we are. Brexit isn't done and we have had 170,000+ deaths from covid.

It was a civil war within the Conservative Party that started the whole Brexit debacle and it looks like this war is set to continue to affect/ruin our lives. Seems a lot of strife for blue passports and more powerful vacuum cleaners. :( The state of the country is just collateral damage to their bickering.

The pound dropped to $1.21 yesterday (it was $1.36 a few months ago) because of the threat of recession and a trade war which will push up our oil/petrol prices further (on the plus side my pension is paid in dollars, so there is that, I suppose).

Craig380
14-06-22, 08:47 AM
"Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband." Cameron's words in 2015 have really aged well, haven't they?

Bibio
14-06-22, 08:49 AM
dont worry Seeker. if history tells us something then the tories are doomed at the next election. you/we can then blame the new party for all the problems :-)

i still think we are ALL better off than we were in the 70's, that was grim... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10832437/How-1970s-inflation-crisis-came-end-rates-hit-17-cent.html and we all had to get on with it without food banks and such like.

svenrico
14-06-22, 01:10 PM
A political gripe, sorry.

I am griping over our PM breaking a treaty that he negotiated. Is it breaking the law? Since he's cagey about where he got his legal advice it is unclear but if it is then the "lessons learned" from Partygate didn't last long. The opposition parties, the EU and Washington don't like it. (Putin might though).

The question is why did he sign a treaty when he was warned it would be detrimental to the UK's (trade) unity? It implies that he never intended to follow it anyway, perhaps. I still listen to people interviewed on tv saying that he "Got brexit done" and "got us through the pandemic" yet here we are. Brexit isn't done and we have had 170,000+ deaths from covid.

It was a civil war within the Conservative Party that started the whole Brexit debacle and it looks like this war is set to continue to affect/ruin our lives. Seems a lot of strife for blue passports and more powerful vacuum cleaners. :( The state of the country is just collateral damage to their bickering.

The pound dropped to $1.21 yesterday (it was $1.36 a few months ago) because of the threat of recession and a trade war which will push up our oil/petrol prices further (on the plus side my pension is paid in dollars, so there is that, I suppose).

What was the point of it all, 'taking back control' to then create a border within the uk ?! Bloody stupid, and what have we gained ? A lot of disruption,uncertainty and chaos more like.

svenrico
14-06-22, 01:13 PM
dont worry Seeker. if history tells us something then the tories are doomed at the next election. you/we can then blame the new party for all the problems :-)

i still think we are ALL better off than we were in the 70's, that was grim... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10832437/How-1970s-inflation-crisis-came-end-rates-hit-17-cent.html and we all had to get on with it without food banks and such like.

yes,the 70's weren't that good in a lot of ways as well as the stupid fashions !

redtrummy
14-06-22, 01:52 PM
But some great singer/songwriters

Ruffy
14-06-22, 02:11 PM
What was the point of it all, 'taking back control' to then create a border within the uk ?! Bloody stupid, and what have we gained ? A lot of disruption,uncertainty and chaos more like.
I wonder if that consideration has ever crossed Nicola Sturgeon's mind? :rolleyes: (Scotland/England and Scotland/Ireland borders required to support independence might have practical consequences too?! Tbh, I've always found the independence proposition quite ironic - complain at being led out of one union then actively campaign to do the same in another :confused:)

I think it's all ideology & values driven, with outcomes always subject to a large dose of luck. Our expectations of politicians are too high - no-one can predict the future. However the apparent lack of willingness to collaborate in politics and inability to collectively serve up consensus about the best for the whole country(/countries) is, for me, the key sign that our 'system' needs overhaul.

Ruffy
14-06-22, 02:14 PM
i still think we are ALL better off than we were in the 70's, that was grim... ... and we all had to get on with it without food banks and such like.
I agree except when it comes to homes - I suggest the housing options and costs were generally better (or at least more proportionate) in the 70s

Ruffy
14-06-22, 02:16 PM
But some great singer/songwriters
And the beginnings of the emergence of some great motorbikes!

svenrico
19-06-22, 12:21 AM
nuisance alarms from smoke detectors. continuous false alarm from mains operated interconnected smoke alarms in my house. removed both alarms and wiped clean and used vacuum cleaner to suck out any debris. reinstalled and still sounded false alarms. removed just the first floor landing alarm leaving the ground floor hall connected and false alarm stopped. must be something to do with landing alarm. need electrician if it starts nuisance alarm when connected again. wondered if it was to do with hot weather and humidity ! not ideal but left it off for now.
any suggestions ?

Seeker
19-06-22, 06:34 AM
Smoke detectors have a 10 year life - how old are yours?

redtrummy
19-06-22, 08:05 PM
Screwfix sell and are pretty competitive

svenrico
19-06-22, 08:33 PM
Smoke detectors have a 10 year life - how old are yours?
installed 02/06/2015 so they are 7 years old.

svenrico
19-06-22, 08:36 PM
Screwfix sell and are pretty competitive
it's getting an electrician to install or fix them that is the problem,unless I just make a claim on my british gas cover for electrical if they still sound when I reconnect the landing detector.

garynortheast
20-06-22, 08:35 AM
Housing. Really am losing the will to continue with anything at all now. Don't know how long I've spent on the phone to the council listening to this hideous piece of musak, waiting for my call to be answered. They are seriously understaffed as far as the people who matter, and who do the proper work, are concerned.

It's just sucking all the joy out of life for me. After 20 months of it, I'm just about out of resources mentally.

Craig380
20-06-22, 12:38 PM
I'm sorry you're having all this crap to deal with, Gary. It isn't right.

garynortheast
20-06-22, 12:55 PM
I'm sorry you're having all this crap to deal with, Gary. It isn't right.

Feels like I'm swimming in treacle Craig.

If you ever fancied doing that story on the church and Section 21 evictions, I'm sure lots of media outlets would be interested. I suspect there are hundreds of people in the same position now.

admin
23-06-22, 08:07 PM
I'm sorry you're having all this crap to deal with, Gary. It isn't right.Ditto from me.

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garynortheast
23-06-22, 09:24 PM
Thanks John. There's a slight glimmer of hope showing over the last couple of days. However I shan't be counting any chickens!

Kenzie
27-06-22, 05:01 PM
Sigh... Luckily an easy fix at the side of the road. I may take it off again and add a dab of thread lock.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220627/8a67e44b16028a4fa24a3d66d1d594d5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220627/3b0f9812005b04e80f1e4ce0586de8ea.jpg




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embee
29-06-22, 01:28 PM
Rode back up from Portsmouth (ferry) last night, because of all the cr*p UK roads the M27 was shut so had to use an alternative route using cross country roads I didn't know at all.
2 gripes.
Why do reflective roadsigns have to be so ****ing bright? Can't see anything beyond them half the time with the headlight on. There was a time when highways painted brown gunge on them to tone it down but that seems to have gone.
Second. why do modern trucks have to cover the entire back face with intense red lights? ****ing stupid. I understand a couple on each side, in case of a failure (but aren't they all LED now?), but I counted 16 red lights on the back of one. Hey, a couple of red lights, I get it, I can see the truck, it's the ****ing big thing with red lights and reflective tape all over it, enough.

garynortheast
29-06-22, 03:05 PM
Rode back up from Portsmouth (ferry) last night, because of all the cr*p UK roads the M27 was shut so had to use an alternative route using cross country roads I didn't know at all.
2 gripes.
Why do reflective roadsigns have to be so ****ing bright? Can't see anything beyond them half the time with the headlight on. There was a time when highways painted brown gunge on them to tone it down but that seems to have gone.
Second. why do modern trucks have to cover the entire back face with intense red lights? ****ing stupid. I understand a couple on each side, in case of a failure (but aren't they all LED now?), but I counted 16 red lights on the back of one. Hey, a couple of red lights, I get it, I can see the truck, it's the ****ing big thing with red lights and reflective tape all over it, enough.

Yep and yep to both gripes. Glad it's not just me that thinks this.

svenrico
30-06-22, 10:59 PM
Need to get this off my chest. There was a programme on tv tonight about call centre chaos which was exactly what I have experienced.
There was a £35 cashback offer on my chromebook I bought in april from Currys store in York- salesman said they wait a while before paying it in case people take product back. waited and waited and then noticed other day somebody had handwritten on careplan brochure chromebook.cashback .com or similar - I went on to this website and it said offer had now closed- claim had to be made within 14 days of purchase . went into clifton moor store to complain -they just fobbed me off and gave me a number to ring . rang number and held on- was passed on through numerous departments , each with several options to choose from - eventually spoke to a person who said he would put me through to appropriate department - didn't do any good - finally was asked if I wanted a text message sending to my mobile giving the correct department to contact which turned out to be a webchat address ( which I had previously used a few days ago when they had promised to get somebody to telephone or email me regarding my £35 cashback claim,which they never did !)
My point all along was that it was never explained to me or written down anywhere that I had to make the claim. I assumed it would be done automatically by Currys. Bloody infuriating, and why can't the store sort these things out for you instead of acting as if it is nothing to do with them ?! ps there was a suggestion on the tv programme that some of these systems might be designed to fob people off ! surely not!

keith_d
01-07-22, 12:05 PM
<snip> Bloody infuriating, and why can't the store sort these things out for you instead of acting as if it is nothing to do with them ?! ps there was a suggestion on the tv programme that some of these systems might be designed to fob people off ! surely not!

That's the whole point. They want you to buy the product for £30 more than their competitors not £5 less. So they offer you £35 cashback on the assumption that only a tiny percentage of customers will struggle through the morass of phone lines, forms, and stupid conditions to actually claim their £35.

This sort of thing has been going on in America for years. Unfortunately, they're trying the came $h!t over here now. The only way to stop it is for everyone to make the effort and claim their cashback, or refuse to buy products where they make you jump through hoops to get a fair price. After all, if they want to sell it for £35 less, why not reduce the price.

Just my thoughts,

Keith.

DJ123
01-07-22, 04:49 PM
Never had any issues doing it myself. Usually it's clear the dates from/to the claim is valid for and how to process it.
Sounds like the wrong information was given to you at the time of purchase.

svenrico
01-07-22, 11:41 PM
Never had any issues doing it myself. Usually it's clear the dates from/to the claim is valid for and how to process it.
Sounds like the wrong information was given to you at the time of purchase.
That is my whole point, it was never made clear to me that I had to make a claim to get the cashback.I assumed the cashback would be paid automatically after purchasing the item ( the salesman said it would take a while to receive the cashback to allow for people possibly returning the goods )

Sir Trev
02-07-22, 05:00 PM
Had that on a mobile deal once - onus was on me to remember to make a claim in the right window every x months. I did but it was a hassle and I avoid such schemes now whenever possible.

admin
04-07-22, 02:38 PM
Never had any issues doing it myself. Usually it's clear the dates from/to the claim is valid for and how to process it.
Sounds like the wrong information was given to you at the time of purchase.You get a lot of this with the major camera brands in our store. We make sure customers know it's a Canon/Nikon/Sony incentive and give them a flyer from that company explaining how to claim. Panasonic have a 30 day grace period to stop people returning a camera a day after the bought it for refund.

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Sir Trev
04-07-22, 05:07 PM
You get a lot of this with the major camera brands in our store.

They're worth getting. I've had cashback from Sony twice in that way as its often the only way to get a better price.

svenrico
04-07-22, 08:07 PM
You get a lot of this with the major camera brands in our store. We make sure customers know it's a Canon/Nikon/Sony incentive and give them a flyer from that company explaining how to claim. Panasonic have a 30 day grace period to stop people returning a camera a day after the bought it for refund.

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That is fine, pity Currys hadn't explained it to me.I had nothing explaining about the cashback offer /claim procedure on my chromebook..

yokohama
04-07-22, 08:45 PM
That is fine, pity Currys hadn't explained it to me.I had nothing explaining about the cashback offer /claim procedure on my chromebook..

Don't trust the salespeople to explain. They probably haven't a clue about the cashback offers themselves and their focus is making the sale. Go onto the website or promo material and check for yourself.
I've successfully managed to get cash back on similar offers before, cameras and coffee machines. All it takes is a photo of the receipt to be uploaded but there are strict time limits. Remember, the deal promoters are relying on the customer to mess up or forget in order to profit.

ethariel
05-07-22, 12:00 AM
You get a lot of this with the major camera brands in our store. We make sure customers know it's a Canon/Nikon/Sony incentive and give them a flyer from that company explaining how to claim. Panasonic have a 30 day grace period to stop people returning a camera a day after the bought it for refund.

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Funny you should mention camera's, I went thru hell getting a £150 cashback back on a Sony lens I bought, you would have thought I was asking for a metric ton of gold.

Photo of receipt - nope a number is missing
Copy of the invoice sent over - nope has to be a receipt
Sent receipt again - no good
Got a copy receipt from shop - nope still no good and window has closed for cashback have a nice day - click

Took starting off a small claim case online to get a resolution from them, Sigma all the way now!

yokohama
05-07-22, 08:00 PM
You get a lot of this with the major camera brands in our store. We make sure customers know it's a Canon/Nikon/Sony incentive and give them a flyer from that company explaining how to claim. Panasonic have a 30 day grace period to stop people returning a camera a day after the bought it for refund.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

I got a really good deal with Olympus a few years ago, combined with an AMEX cashback deal. With Olympus, the cashback claim could be submitted immediately but they didn't pay out for 30 days, when the return period had expired. Sensible and worked well.

svenrico
05-07-22, 11:40 PM
Don't trust the salespeople to explain. They probably haven't a clue about the cashback offers themselves and their focus is making the sale. Go onto the website or promo material and check for yourself.
I've successfully managed to get cash back on similar offers before, cameras and coffee machines. All it takes is a photo of the receipt to be uploaded but there are strict time limits. Remember, the deal promoters are relying on the customer to mess up or forget in order to profit.
website says offer is now closed.-had to be claimed within 14 days of purchase. there was no promo material apart from sticker on item description in store saying £35 cashback. salesman just said they would take a while to pay it allowing for people possibly taking item back. I will have another go on Currys webchat but -------------

admin
06-07-22, 11:55 AM
When I visit the local Sainsbury's I buy some tinned food or similar to leave in the donations bin on the way out. I've noticed lately that people are leaving newspapers in the donations bin, why? How's that going to feed anyone. To make it worse it's usually the Daily Heil.

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yokohama
12-07-22, 07:14 PM
Scottish B roads. First time on the B709 in two years and in places it's still a pothole and gravel slalom.
Ditto the 6318. It's OK heading north from Gilsland but as soon as it crosses the B6357 at Harelaw, it starts falling to pieces.

maviczap
13-07-22, 05:12 PM
When I visit the local Sainsbury's I buy some tinned food or similar to leave in the donations bin on the way out. I've noticed lately that people are leaving newspapers in the donations bin, why? How's that going to feed anyone. To make it worse it's usually the Daily Heil.

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Its bog roll John, cheaper than the real stuff

rowdy
13-07-22, 06:01 PM
Got a bill from sse for electric for our shop. Quarterly bill for 3 months, bear in mind we only use electric for lights (led) and a fridge and a card machine. £9631!!!! They can **** off

garynortheast
14-07-22, 11:19 AM
Sneezed while stood awkwardly yesterday, and felt a bottom rib pop. Ouch!

admin
14-07-22, 06:15 PM
Its bog roll John, cheaper than the real stuffHa ha. Perfect use for it.

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Craig380
14-07-22, 07:18 PM
Sneezed while stood awkwardly yesterday, and felt a bottom rib pop. Ouch!

That's one hell of a sneeze, Gary, you OK?

garynortheast
14-07-22, 08:14 PM
It's because I was twisted at an awkward angle in full bike kit Craig, with my bottom rib on the right pressed against the top of my leather bike trousers. No room for the rib to move freely when I sneezed!
It's a bit painful when I cough or sneeze but otherwise it's not as bad as it could have been.

Seeker
16-07-22, 07:14 AM
Esso. My local petrol station has caught up with head office and now it's helmet (and all face coverings) off before fuelling. I have to drive past a (3p per litre cheaper) Tesco station to get to the Esso so I won't be going back.

Their timing is a bit off too with covid cases climing rapidly thanks, in part, to the new "Centaurus" strain (BA 2.75 variant)

redtrummy
16-07-22, 09:59 AM
I wonder how it would stand up to a legal challenge. Certain ethnic groups wear full head gear but then thinking about it Sikh's are helmet exempt

Seeker
22-07-22, 10:38 AM
Getting questions answered via email. (I resist phoning).

I am contemplating upgrading the suspension on the XSR700 so I contacted several UK suspension manufacturers asking them whether their products fit the 2022 model and whether the rear shock was length adjustable.
Maxton are the only ones to respond telling me all the failings of the standard Yam suspension in their detailed 2018-2020 XSR guide. So, I emailed back and asked again. Yes, they fit the 2022 model but still no answer on length adjustability of rear shock.
These days I tend to number my questions so they don't get lost in a sentence but, apparently, it makes no difference. It looks like 3 emails per question is needed and I'm tired of it :( . I've lived with the stock SV suspension for 6 years maybe I'll live with the Yam's too and save my money.

As for Nitron, K-tech: they haven't bothered answering. M-shock/YSS/Matris/Wilbers I didn't bother with.

Seeker
01-08-22, 01:53 PM
NatWest. I posted recently about how wonderful technology had become, here's the other side of the coin.

I am trying to send money to my son in the US, I use Transferwise (now called Wise). Normally it comes straight off my debit card, no problem but since this is a larger amount it requires bank authorisation. I then discover that there's a limit to the amount you can send per day this way (NatWest rules). It failed.

I reduce the amount and try again, this time it tells me to launch the app on my phone to approve the payment (I was using a laptop). I approve the amount, (bearing in mind that multiple texts are flying with short duration codes in this debacle) and it sends me back to Wise where I'm told that NatWest haven't approved it and please try again. FFS
I try again, same result. I send a snotty email to Wise since I never had this problem with Transferwise.

Phone rings hours later 0800 161 5155 NatWest fraud line with questions on failed transactions from earlier. They had blocked the transactions because they weren't normal (ok) but didn't bother mentioning it (not ok).

I was informed that "they were pleased to let me now everything would now go through." Thanks. :rolleyes:

admin
02-08-22, 08:22 AM
Sport, sport, sport..... Is it me or have the BBC gone overboard with sport coverage? Tomorrow night bbc1 commonwealth games all day, bbc2 is showing cricket from 7 to 10pm. Bbc3 is also full of it.

The cynic in me thinks that they have nothing else to show except repeats so it's an easy way to fill the schedules.

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maviczap
03-08-22, 08:34 PM
Sport, sport, sport..... Is it me or have the BBC gone overboard with sport coverage? Tomorrow night bbc1 commonwealth games all day, bbc2 is showing cricket from 7 to 10pm. Bbc3 is also full of it.

The cynic in me thinks that they have nothing else to show except repeats so it's an easy way to fill the schedules.

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Its also paid for the over the odds to have the coverage, so you're damn well going to see it, like it or not, waffle and all

redtrummy
04-08-22, 09:43 AM
Now you have touched a sore point! One or more points I will not come out with much credit, I am afraid.
1)Women 'pundits/presenters' with screechy voices that cannot pause for breath (this includes some males as well, just to prove I am not totally sexist) that probably know less than me re the sport in question.

2) unnecessary background music on sport, documentaries and films. Really pi----- me off. Watched the replay of the Southern 100 last night and they even had background music whilst they were showing the racing, I want to hear the bikes! Luckily I could turn the sound down so I could just hear the commentary without the music.
So Clare Balding, Cam Donald (just listen to that R1, I would/could if you would shut up) along with the ITV super bike commentator please loose yourselves.
OK I am OCD but I am feeling a lot better now - I probably suffer from APD as well but its never been professionally diagnosed.

Sir Trev
04-08-22, 04:37 PM
I know what you mean about Cam Donald - I find him pretty irritating. As well as the clearly out-of-their-depth "presenters" with clearly limited or no subject knowledge.

admin
04-08-22, 06:35 PM
I empathise with all the comments above. Screaming commentators annoy me too, especially that new F1 commentator on ch4, I reach for mute button on the last lap top avoid the screeching.

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garynortheast
05-08-22, 06:04 PM
Jeesus H Christ!!! Thick Lizzie.

embee
06-08-22, 01:48 AM
Jeesus H Christ!!! Thick Lizzie.

I believe it was a reader's comment on a Guardian article which summed up the contest quite succinctly -

"WTF v. FFS"

Bibio
07-08-22, 09:33 AM
Got a bill from sse for electric for our shop. Quarterly bill for 3 months, bear in mind we only use electric for lights (led) and a fridge and a card machine. £9631!!!! They can **** off

i would check to make sure that someone is not tapping into your power. take a reading at the meter before you go home or the day before "closed day" and turn everything off at the consumer unit. then in when you get back the next working day the meter should not have clicked up any credits.

Seeker
08-08-22, 06:54 AM
Gripe or smile, not sure - NatWest again.- The old way: If I wanted to txfer money to a new person, I needed the banks card reader (looks like a simple calculator if you haven't got one). I had to insert my debit card, put in my pin, enter the code from the on-line banking website, press enter which produced a new code which I then had to enter back on the website.

The new way: Enter biometrics (which I did not have to sign up for, to be fair). Setting up biometric facial scan - picture too dark, try more light, move left, move right, don't move, move up, hold still, more light, centre face, try another room (this doesn't happen in the movies). Finally get an acceptable picture after 5 minutes of trying.

To transfer money: I now have to return to the room that the phone's camera and bank were both happy with (like a salmon retuning to spawing grounds), centre my face on the screen, keep still and blink. It worked but I feel like an idiot that has had an April fool prank played upon them. :rolleyes:

Maybe we should just stick to the sliding doors from Star Trek and forget the rest.

Bibio
08-08-22, 11:37 AM
The new way: Enter biometrics (which I did not have to sign up for, to be fair). Setting up biometric facial scan - picture too dark, try more light, move left, move right, don't move, move up, hold still, more light, centre face, try another room (this doesn't happen in the movies). Finally get an acceptable picture after 5 minutes of trying.


you never needed to do facial recognition. what if your on a computer with no camera...

Seeker
08-08-22, 12:44 PM
you never needed to do facial recognition. what if your on a computer with no camera...

Like I said, I didn't have to sign up for it. It uses the NatWest App and your phone's camera. If you don't have a phone you wouldn't be using the app.

redtrummy
09-08-22, 10:49 AM
Here I go again!
Had an appointment this morning to have a smart meter fitted. Two guys duly turned up - some shaking of heads - e-mail sent back to base, result, we cannot do it your Electric supplier needs to upgrade your supply first. 3 months we have waited, before that no-one turned up, and before that no response from our energy company.
Would it have been within the realms of feasibility for a request for me to supply a photo of what is presently fitted?
Now we have to wait for Western Power to contact us to arrange an upgrade date, then I have to rearrange the meter upgrade appointment. bloody angry.
The energy supply situation in this country is now a farce.

Luckypants
09-08-22, 11:20 AM
No argument with the farce comment. Yes indeed you should have been able to supply a photo, which is what I
did prior to having my car charger fitted.

Bibio
11-08-22, 08:59 AM
i dont understand the "want" for a smart meter. i dont have a smart meter and i'm very seriously considering going back to 1/4 paper billing.

Luckypants
11-08-22, 09:16 AM
Well for me the idea was to get on an EV specific tariff which gave cheap electricity at specific times of day. At the time it would have been 5p off peak. No smart meter means no cheap electric (no economy-7 available for new customers) for anyone. These days the draw is not so great given that the standing charges and day rates for these tariffs are high now. My fixed rate from last year looks bloody amazing compared to what is being touted for October price rise. :(

embee
11-08-22, 09:56 AM
A smart meter will tell you how big your debt is on a hourly basis.

Bibio
11-08-22, 10:49 AM
A smart meter will tell you how big your debt is on a hourly basis.

not trying to be funny but what help is that. oohhh look i dont have enough money to pay my bill i'll just sit here with the power off but still pay 75p a day standing charge.

the money to fit all these stupid meters had to come from somewhere and now we are ALL paying for it.

redtrummy
11-08-22, 04:38 PM
We are stuck at the moment on Eco 7, but have little use for it has only the washing machine and tumble dryer (used once last winter) are the only extras we can use at night. Some companies did let us have standard rate but we always had to supply day and night readings which were then added together to give a total - the same as the T meter reading which funnily enough always equalled the D + N = T. We have no electric car and not likely to have one in the near future since our car journey's per year are less than 4K total

embee
11-08-22, 10:01 PM
not trying to be funny ....

I was attempting to be facetious, but clearly failed. Sorry.

DarrenSV650S
18-08-22, 09:54 AM
Just wasted £25 getting a taxi to the train station then back home because of the stupid train strike

embee
18-08-22, 10:53 PM
****ing technology.

Great when it works, but ........

Long story but just got a new wi-fi security cam. In fairness it works really well and super quality 2K, but getting the damn thing up and running!!
It'll be easy stuff for you techies out there, but I'm just a user and want things simple.
It all looks very straightforward on the youtube vids of "how to".
Download app, doesn't want to install, eventually get it done. Then get cam to connect ..... er, nope.
Discover it only works on 2.4gHz, why isn't 2.4 working on my network? Go into router set up, all ticked OK. Eventually find out you need to give the 5 and 2.4 separate names. Do that. Still no joy.
Search on cam forum, eventually find you can fix this bug by switching wi-fi off on phone, then switch airplane mode on, switch wi-fi on, go back into app and add new device ....... bingo.
Aaaaargh, poxy damn things, why does this stuff always seem to have stupid bugs?

.... and breathe.

At least the wi-fi reaches the place where I want to mount it.

Sir Trev
19-08-22, 05:37 PM
I share your pain embee. After getting a dashcam installed on my car the tech could not get the app on my phone to connect to it. Gave up and came home in the end. Per a forum, turn off mobile data on my phone, try again, straight in...

rowdy
19-08-22, 08:14 PM
Bloody energy companies . . . Again!
Going through my direct debits on my online banking, notice dd for BG somethingorother
Turns out British Gas decided to add homeserve to my account, and I’ve paid them over £200 for it. I am a housing association tenant so have no need for it.
They say it was a freebie on my tariff for a year and then charged me for a further 18 months without my knowledge.

Sir Trev
20-08-22, 03:44 PM
I had a scaremongering letter from Homeserve only yesterday, telling me I may have to pay thousands if the water main from the street to my front door needs repair if its inside my property line. Thanks, I know. And I have no intention of spending over a hundred quid a year insuring myself against such a minor risk.

rowdy
22-08-22, 06:19 PM
Todays ‘gripe’ of the day is a little more than a gripe.
After all the fine weather and the forecast for the next week being fine again it decides to pee down all day here. Yes, we need the rain but today is the wife’s birthday. Trivial maybe, but this morning we had to call the vet out to put Molly our very nearly 14 year old retriever to sleep. The rain has just about topped it off.
I am just feeling devastated for my wife today, the sh!test birthday I wish she never had.

garynortheast
22-08-22, 10:00 PM
Bloody hell Rowdy that's really awful, doubly so for it to have happened on your wife's birthday. I really feel for you. My thoughts are with you.

redtrummy
24-08-22, 09:09 AM
And the saga continues with the smart meter installation! Western Power polled up today to upgrade the incoming supply - took one look at it and said nothing wrong with that, goodbye!
So up to now one appointment no one turned up.
Rebooked -engineer? said needs incoming supply upgrading.
Today Western Power says nothing wrong after travelling 45 miles to get here

New appointment made with Shell for the 8th of Sept - we await with bated breath.


Renationalise and whilst they are about it the railways and the water too



https://chng.it/GY7BBL6c2t

admin
26-08-22, 07:23 AM
eBay.....People who bid on items and then don't pay. Why? I've just relisted an item due to a non payer and now I'm having to chase the new winner...grrr.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

Seeker
27-08-22, 05:58 AM
MP's pay and expenses. I always thought that £84k was too much but when you factor in expenses and average it out, each MP gets £203,880 (yes, they can claim energy costs btw, https://fullfact.org/online/MPs-no-upper-limit-heating-expenses/).

https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/briefing_the_cost_of_mps_in_2020_21

garynortheast
28-08-22, 07:12 AM
Tell me you live in a failed state without telling me you live in a failed state.

https://twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1563512131802173443?s=20&t=l5O4LX3zfRFPuexHSEKa3A

Seeker
28-08-22, 04:13 PM
Tell me you live in a failed state without telling me you live in a failed state.

https://twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1563512131802173443?s=20&t=l5O4LX3zfRFPuexHSEKa3A


How about a farmer's rise in gas prices from near £1 million to £15 million?
https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-farms-faces-17-million-amid-soaring-natural-gas-prices-2022-8?r=US&IR=T

or 3x his annual sales.

I think we may have a problem...

redtrummy
28-08-22, 04:21 PM
Its hard to see how people will manage this winter

garynortheast
28-08-22, 04:54 PM
Its hard to see how people will manage this winter

A lot of us won't. Many of the more vulnerable in society will die. Still I guess as far as the tories are concerned it gets a large swathe of the "useless eaters" off the books.

Seeker
28-08-22, 05:09 PM
Thick Lizzie says if you're worried about the cost of living then you're a "doomsaying leftie".

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/28/cost-of-living-lefty-liz-truss-crisis-right-winter

My suggestion is that if you're not worried you're either a moron or you can claim it back on your MP expenses.

Craig380
28-08-22, 08:01 PM
The next 6 months will see thousands of small businesses across a range of sectors - shops, cafes, restaurants, food producers, smaller farmers etc - simply shut up shop because their energy bills will go though the roof and make their operations unsustainable.

It is an absolute outrage that this government is completely absent and preoccupied with its internal beauty contest. We actually need an emergency wartime coalition to deal with this coming crisis, and ensure decisions are made for the good of the UK and not just for the Tory party and its donors.

embee
28-08-22, 08:18 PM
I fear civil unrest. Anyone else remember the riots of 1981? I was 25 and remember it well. It can happen, it doesn't take much to start it and once on the go it can spread like wildfire (literally).
I doubt Truss remembers it, she would have been 6yrs old. I suspect she doesn't think it could happen.

Sir Trev
29-08-22, 05:48 PM
I'd be more surprised if we dont don't get civil unrest. It seems inevitable if so many people have to choose between eating and heating.

Sir Trev
03-09-22, 05:52 PM
Customer service, or the lack of. Spannerman cannot fit in Hugh's annual service before his MoT is due so I gritted my teeth and went to my only local shop. I won't name them but there is only one dealership in town if you want to work it out. 10am appointment made a week ago, arrived 30 minutes early, walked upstairs to the service reception, the guy behind the counter sees me coming up and walks off. This guy does this every single time I go in to the place, but he does it to others too I've noticed. The other person there checks me in when she comes off the phone, when she eventually finds me on the system. "Will it be done on time as I'll only be killing time in town" I ask, "yes" she lied. Wander off and have a coffee at a cafe, ask for the bill three times, eventually go up to the counter and the staff argue over who should print the ticket, FFS... I hand over the right money, tell them they're useless, and will never go back. No phone call from the bike shop so after nearly two hours wander back. Hugh is in the service bay - an improvement on last year when they didn't even wheel him in until I'd been waiting over two hours. I sit on the wall outside for over 45 minutes. Hugh is moved between bays twice, mechanics wander about with bits of paper, stopping every five minutes for endless cigarettes. A Bandit 1200 is wheeled in. Ten minutes later a brand new Enfield is wheeled in. Hang on, there's only two of them. Why are there three bikes in there? Another ten minutes later one them looks out and asks if the Suzuki is mine. I say the Triumph is mine and is it ready? He says yes so I will admit to getting a bit shouty about getting it back outside and the keys back upstairs so I can pay and leave instead of wasting even more of my day, considering I dropped it off almost three hours ago for a 20-30 minute job! Bear in mind BOTH of the service desk employees were outside at this point having a cigarette so I couldn't have paid anyway... The surley bloke looked daggers at me and slunk off into the back so his colleague went back up with me following, fizzing with irritation. Ten minutes later the mechanic comes up with my key and pass certificate. I finally get to leave, well over three hours after arriving, vowing I will travel somewhere else next time I need an MoT. Is it any wonder I stopped using this place for spares, clothing or anything else years ago with service that bad?

[\long_rant]

Seeker
03-09-22, 07:26 PM
Wow. An awful experience.
Maybe you should send a copy to Triumph - if they don't know there's a problem they can't fix it.

My Suzuki dealer wins awards for its customer service so I keep going back.

Sir Trev
03-09-22, 09:13 PM
They're actually Yamaha/Royal Enfield/Benelli (and various other things now I think) dealers. The next nearest MoT station is annoyingly a few miles away, but I'll be trying them next instead of going back to the local horror show.

Seeker
06-09-22, 04:41 PM
Oh no!

Things must be really bad, I'm agreeing with Piers Morgan.
https://tinyurl.com/munbc8b8

redtrummy
06-09-22, 07:00 PM
I can only share your sentiments Seeker.

Ruffy
08-09-22, 03:27 PM
GOTD - inconsistent, incoherent and illogical policies at local authority tips (aka recycling centres nowadays).

So having done a bit of a clearout, today I took along various things for appropriate disposal at my nearest 'tip', including two fairly hefty rear wheel bearing assemblies that had been slowly rusting in the yard having been swapped out from one of our cars a while ago. I'm simply thinking recycle as scrap metal (just like I've done at other tips with many other diy replaced small items in the past - hardly worth weighing in at a scrap merchant but not trivial items).

But one of the site operatives spots me and tells me they can't take them. He tells me that it's Leicestershire policy not to take "car parts". And before my bewildered brain could deal with the concept that I couldn't offer them for recycling, his collegaue whips them out of my hand and chucks them into the general waste skip.

So two lumps of perfectly decent reclaimable steel end will end up in landfill because they were previously used on a car! WTF?! Gripe made even worse by his suggestion that the next nearest local tip to me would probably have accepted them (since that one's run by South Derbyshire).

Am I the only one who thinks this is utter madness? Devolved decision making is one thing but such illogical and inconsistent implementation beggars belief IMHO. I shudder to think how much else goes to waste or is fly-tipped as a result.

Sir Trev
08-09-22, 04:31 PM
Yep, bit mad. Our local tip won't let you in until they see what you have and will not take "DIY waste". Fine, it'll just get bagged in small bits and put in my general use wheelie bin over a few weeks instead of the relevant skip and none of it will be properly recycled. I'm certainly not going to pay a licenced waste carrier to take it away.

On a related note, we were told we'd have to pay an annual fee from June to keep our kerbside garden green waste collections. They've been part of the council tax up to now but so far we've not been sent anything actually asking for payment, and thankfully they're still being emptied.

admin
08-09-22, 05:56 PM
And they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

redtrummy
08-09-22, 07:25 PM
Guess that was Lount Ruffy There is no logic unless its of some monetary value to them. I try and get away with ' I have got a bit of scrap metal and other bits and bobs' then dump it in the appropriate bin all at once. My guess would be that they don't want parts that may be oil/grease contaminated so the household refuse bin would have saved you a drive!
Years ago I thought I was being a good boy when I took unused paint to be disposed of.' We don't take it here but Blaby will take it.' (15 miles away ) Deifies belief.

Ruffy
08-09-22, 09:00 PM
Guess that was Lount Ruffy
Yes, Lount. Tidy enough site but like all of them nowadays only delivering a partial service.
There is no logic unless its of some monetary value to them. I try and get away with ' I have got a bit of scrap metal and other bits and bobs' then dump it in the appropriate bin all at once. My guess would be that they don't want parts that may be oil/grease contaminated so the household refuse bin would have saved you a drive!
Years ago I thought I was being a good boy when I took unused paint to be disposed of.' We don't take it here but Blaby will take it.' (15 miles away ) Defies belief.
Yes, I normally have them in a cardboard box or something but this time I had other stuff so thankfully not a pointless journey.:)

I understand why they might be cautious but if they want 'new' or uncontaminated parts then they can at least pay scrap value like other traders - I'm hardly likely to be taking something that can be reused without needing processing of some form!:rolleyes:

Call me a cynic but, I agree, it's definitely monetary driven and nowt to do with the claimed desire to reduce waste of 'save the planet'. Sad to say it's trickle down politics in action - not enough funding to do the job properly.

Ruffy
08-09-22, 09:12 PM
Yep, bit mad. Our local tip won't let you in until they see what you have and will not take "DIY waste". Fine, it'll just get bagged in small bits and put in my general use wheelie bin over a few weeks instead of the relevant skip and none of it will be properly recycled. I'm certainly not going to pay a licenced waste carrier to take it away.
Yes, disappointingly my general bin gets a bit more bagged waste than I'd like from time to time because doing the best thing has been made nigh-on impossible in practice.
And they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.
Yes, and I find it really sad. Backfiring policy - waste won't magically disappear so surely better to encourage managed disposal at a council tip (at the risk of some illegal trade-related dumping slipping through) than to have it strewn everywhere?

garynortheast
16-09-22, 08:38 AM
Going through a bit of a black dog phase here. Head down and waiting for it to pass. :-(

Seeker
16-09-22, 10:37 AM
Going through a bit of a black dog phase here. Head down and waiting for it to pass. :-(

They can be difficult to shake off. When I was in training in the RAF I went through a couple of dark periods. It was like walking down a very narrow, dark canyon, the walls were getting steeper, you wanted to climb out but couldn't, nor could you turn around, all you could do was keep plodding on looking for the exit.

What helped me was putting on my favourite album on headphones, loud (but not painfully so) and let the music carry me away. I was (and still am) a Yes fan. "Tales from Topographic Oceans" (a double album) only had 4 tracks. 90 minutes of them singing about something (I have no idea what - nor does Rick Wakeman who played on the album).

The occasional understandable lyric (!) would pop out and stick with me:

"change we must as surely time does, changes call the course"

Another of their albums: Relayer, was loosely based on War and Peace (allegedly - Yes used to go big! "Tales" was based on Hindu scriptures).

There is a longish cacophonic build up which, I think, represents war followed by a track called "Soon" - a desperate soulful plea for peace).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGtjr-U5bT4

I love it when a musical instrument conveys so much feeling.

Anyway, I hope your black dog runs away quickly.