Things that don't deserve their own thread

Where goats go to escape
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 7:49 pm
GogLais wrote: Fri May 05, 2023 11:25 am So in the last three weeks:
I buy a roasting tray with a handle from John Lewis. The handle melts.

I have a leaking radiator. British Gas come round and say they’ll replace it. I chase them up and I’m told the engineer reported that I’d sort it out myself. Why the ffyk wouldI I?

I get a new box from Virgin that came with a 5m Ethernet cable. I ring them up and say please send me a 15m one. They send me a 15m Co-ax. I ring again, now they’ve sent me another 5m Ethernet.

I feel an attack of the Victor Meldrew”s coming on.
Please let us know the outcomes... a 15m radiator next?
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 7:49 pm

Please let us know the outcomes... a 15m radiator next?
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
The incompetence only exists because CEO's prioritize Corporate profits & dividends over everything else !

Just look at a company like HP, that was famed for the quality of it's support, & how over less than a decade it plummeted in the quality of it's support.

They had to roll back a lot of the off-shoring of Enterprise support, because their customers decided they weren't prepared to tolerate sacrificing their profits, so some fucking idiot in HP could save a few hundred thousand on their side.
dpedin
Posts: 3338
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:35 am

fishfoodie wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:29 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
The incompetence only exists because CEO's prioritize Corporate profits & dividends over everything else !

Just look at a company like HP, that was famed for the quality of it's support, & how over less than a decade it plummeted in the quality of it's support.

They had to roll back a lot of the off-shoring of Enterprise support, because their customers decided they weren't prepared to tolerate sacrificing their profits, so some fucking idiot in HP could save a few hundred thousand on their side.
Customer support is now probably the defining factor for me in choosing a product/service given there is little difference now in prices etc. Best choice I ever made was to bank with First Direct, customer service is just superb compared to the RBoS who I was with before and were awful. Ditto Octopus for electric/gas. Also had great service from Direct Line car insurance who handled my claim when I dinked my car impeccably well - I reported it at 10am and by 11am it was booked into garage for repair, collection organised and replacement car confirmed all for the date I asked for. Last week they returned £45 from my renewal as they reckon they overcharged me, I had no idea they had but money appeared in my account on date promised so I am not complaining! None of these are probably the cheapest I can find but the service more than makes up for it - peace of mind is more important than a couple of quid in my mind.
User avatar
tabascoboy
Posts: 6815
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 8:22 am
Location: 曇りの街

Dozy?

Pro-China Internet Trolls Just Got Busted for Doing Something Wild

The New Europe Observation looked just like another far-right online-media outlet. But something more sinister was at work
MAY 3, 2023

CALLS TO PROTEST George Soros and refugees. Far-right Twitter screeds about immigrants. New Europe Observation sounds like a far-right extremely online news outlet. But it’s actually a front group for a Chinese propaganda network that’s borrowing tactics from Russia’s infamous 2016 troll farm.

Social media giant Meta announced on Wednesday that it had booted 107 accounts in a China-linked network behind the phony news outlet dubbed the New Europe Observation. The outlet, which Meta researchers say was linked to a Chinese technology company, appeared to be aimed at trying to stir up unrest in European countries. The fake network posted anti-immigration screeds, opposed boycotts of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, criticized Taiwanese politicians, and pushed propaganda about China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority population.

The New Europe Observation network pushes its propaganda differently from other China-based troll networks, which often use bulk-spam techniques. Instead, it follows the kinds of tactics used by Russia’s Internet Research Agency troll farm. The actors behind New Europe Observation tried to hire astroturf protesters for offline demonstrations, registered a company in London, partnered with a Ugandan NGO, and reached out to native speakers of English, Russian, and other languages to write content for their phony outlets.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen Chinese [coordinated inauthentic behavior] networks recruiting freelancers, working at an NGO, running a front company in the West,” Ben Nimmo, Meta’s global threat-intelligence chief, tells Rolling Stone. “They’re still struggling to build an audience. They are experimenting, but they are experimenting with tactics that we’ve seen for years.”
More at https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/p ... 234728307/
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 7:49 pm

Please let us know the outcomes... a 15m radiator next?
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
User avatar
Niegs
Posts: 3705
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:20 pm

A club I used to coach with a fun video!

User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
I put that on the engineer... just an inconsiderate bastard... or maybe that's how his family treats him (it is a "he"?)
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm

The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
When Open Reach put in my fibre line they ran it from a pole about 30m from the house... when tightening it, it was stuck under a branch.. which when the wind blew... smacked the line hard... because the tree wasn't on my land, they said they couldn't touch the tree (ie trim the branch) and that I would have to contact the council to cut the branch... I'm gonna have to cut it myself when I find a ladder high enough...
User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

Grandpa wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 7:50 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
When Open Reach put in my fibre line they ran it from a pole about 30m from the house... when tightening it, it was stuck under a branch.. which when the wind blew... smacked the line hard... because the tree wasn't on my land, they said they couldn't touch the tree (ie trim the branch) and that I would have to contact the council to cut the branch... I'm gonna have to cut it myself when I find a ladder high enough...
My tech was a bit more helpful; Option 1 was similar to yours with all kinds of trees in the way, & he said I wouldn't want to deal with the aggravation, Option 2, he tried using the existing duct from the pole that the phone line went thru, & the rod just about got across the road before it jammed. So he proposed Option 3, I run a qual-pex pipe along the boundary wall & bring it to by the existing phone entry point, & give them a call for another survey.

I did that & blew a draw wire thru with a garden hose, & for a few hours of my time, the actual fibre install was a doddle.
User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

Remember when Editors & Proof readers were a thing ?
If it were, it would be a boon for space exploration. A single astronaut consumes about 30kg (66lbs) of food and water a day. Multiply that by the approximate 16 months it would take to travel to Mars and back, and that adds up to a pretty hefty spaceship for all that life support.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2023 ... e-in-space

Fuck me, they'd be some fat bastard astronauts by the time they got to Mars !!!
Blackmac
Posts: 3760
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:04 pm

GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm
GogLais wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 8:45 pm
JL offered a refund.
BG said they’d call 8:00 onwards yesterday. Missed a call from them at 7:25, looked out of the window at 7:45 and saw their van outside, disappeared by the time I got downstairs. Turned up in the afternoon.
Given up on Virgin, abandoned the cable option and bought a wi-fi extender.
I was just struck by the incompetence of three household names.
The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
BG service contracts are an utter waste of time. We had one for years but then they started delaying their servicing to about 18 months instead of a year and there are many stories of people phoning up with breakdowns and being told they couldn't get anyone out for weeks. We decided to self ensure and use local services.
User avatar
tabascoboy
Posts: 6815
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 8:22 am
Location: 曇りの街

Blackmac wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:21 am
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm

The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
BG service contracts are an utter waste of time. We had one for years but then they started delaying their servicing to about 18 months instead of a year and there are many stories of people phoning up with breakdowns and being told they couldn't get anyone out for weeks. We decided to self ensure and use local services.
All was good until about 2/3 years ago BG tried to force new employee contracts on the engineers on an agree or GTFO basis and huge numbers left rather than accept the poor terms. Some decided to go self-employed instead, but too much experience and expertise has been lost. My boiler is still under warranty so I have it serviced by BG as part of the aftercare but twice BG have just subcontracted this out to local Heating Engineer services...

Until then, Homecare usually got someone on site with a few hours of logging a call, but now it's a minimum of 2 -3 weeks even for emergency. I've had a couple of callout requests like this which I then got an independent to come out within a day or two and then successfully requested a refund of the costs from BG as they have failed to meet the service level agreement. Homecare still useful enough for plumbing cover, though Dynarod are very hit and miss with engineer quality.
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

Blackmac wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:21 am
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm

The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
BG service contracts are an utter waste of time. We had one for years but then they started delaying their servicing to about 18 months instead of a year and there are many stories of people phoning up with breakdowns and being told they couldn't get anyone out for weeks. We decided to self ensure and use local services.
I’m pretty sure that’s what we’ll do. I’ve always thought I was paying a lot but I put up with it as long as the service was good.
User avatar
Kiwias
Posts: 7402
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:44 am

Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.

I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well. They were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.

.
Last edited by Kiwias on Thu May 11, 2023 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
inactionman
Posts: 3398
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 7:37 am

Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am
I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well so they were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.
Very sorry to hear mate.
Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am
Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.
That it most definitely can. Cancer in all its guises is a pitiless bastard of a disease.
Dinsdale Piranha
Posts: 1021
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 10:08 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 10:11 pm Remember when Editors & Proof readers were a thing ?
If it were, it would be a boon for space exploration. A single astronaut consumes about 30kg (66lbs) of food and water a day. Multiply that by the approximate 16 months it would take to travel to Mars and back, and that adds up to a pretty hefty spaceship for all that life support.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2023 ... e-in-space

Fuck me, they'd be some fat bastard astronauts by the time they got to Mars !!!
While bolx, I will at least give them a small break as that's what it says in the linked article from the European Space Agency.
Happyhooker
Posts: 796
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:09 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
Grandpa wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 10:16 pm

The incompetence of the human race never ceases to amaze me... what amazes me is that we have a functioning society at all....
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
Fair enough. As long as we can charge clients for things like 'yes, i know I'd arranged a meeting with you at 5.30 pm but i lost track of the time at work and had my phone off'

Or 'yes i know you're relaying the entire floor of our house, starting today, but surely i can still have my 2yr olds birthday party here this afternoon'

Ad fucking infinitum
Happyhooker
Posts: 796
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:09 pm

tabascoboy wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 8:03 am
Blackmac wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:21 am
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
BG service contracts are an utter waste of time. We had one for years but then they started delaying their servicing to about 18 months instead of a year and there are many stories of people phoning up with breakdowns and being told they couldn't get anyone out for weeks. We decided to self ensure and use local services.
All was good until about 2/3 years ago BG tried to force new employee contracts on the engineers on an agree or GTFO basis and huge numbers left rather than accept the poor terms. Some decided to go self-employed instead, but too much experience and expertise has been lost. My boiler is still under warranty so I have it serviced by BG as part of the aftercare but twice BG have just subcontracted this out to local Heating Engineer services...

Until then, Homecare usually got someone on site with a few hours of logging a call, but now it's a minimum of 2 -3 weeks even for emergency. I've had a couple of callout requests like this which I then got an independent to come out within a day or two and then successfully requested a refund of the costs from BG as they have failed to meet the service level agreement. Homecare still useful enough for plumbing cover, though Dynarod are very hit and miss with engineer quality.
This is true.
Dinsdale Piranha
Posts: 1021
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 10:08 pm

Happyhooker wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 11:36 am
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
Fair enough. As long as we can charge clients for things like 'yes, i know I'd arranged a meeting with you at 5.30 pm but i lost track of the time at work and had my phone off'

Or 'yes i know you're relaying the entire floor of our house, starting today, but surely i can still have my 2yr olds birthday party here this afternoon'

Ad fucking infinitum
Up to a point I think that's entirely acceptable. Do it like a hotel - you can cancel/postpone up to ~x hours/days before with no penalty.

Last time I had my car serviced I had to pay a non refundable £100 quid deposit on booking - several weeks in advance. I didn't have a problem with this.
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

And for my enthusiastic followers - BG turned up. Pipe work needs a bit of minor modifying, engineer had to go to builder’s merchant to get some as they don’t carry even a couple of metres of copper pipe in the van.
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:32 pm And for my enthusiastic followers - BG turned up. Pipe work needs a bit of minor modifying, engineer had to go to builder’s merchant to get some as they don’t carry even a couple of metres of copper pipe in the van.
Will it all end today? That is the question...
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

Grandpa wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:39 pm
GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:32 pm And for my enthusiastic followers - BG turned up. Pipe work needs a bit of minor modifying, engineer had to go to builder’s merchant to get some as they don’t carry even a couple of metres of copper pipe in the van.
Will it all end today? That is the question...
I really really wanted to go over to the Eurovision Village in Liverpool with Ms GL.
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

Grandpa wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:39 pm
GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:32 pm And for my enthusiastic followers - BG turned up. Pipe work needs a bit of minor modifying, engineer had to go to builder’s merchant to get some as they don’t carry even a couple of metres of copper pipe in the van.
Will it all end today? That is the question...
Are you bored yet? The gas cylinder he had was empty, no spare in the van so he had to get one from home.
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 3:26 pm
Grandpa wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:39 pm
GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:32 pm And for my enthusiastic followers - BG turned up. Pipe work needs a bit of minor modifying, engineer had to go to builder’s merchant to get some as they don’t carry even a couple of metres of copper pipe in the van.
Will it all end today? That is the question...
Are you bored yet? The gas cylinder he had was empty, no spare in the van so he had to get one from home.
He's not going to make it back is he... :lol:
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 8:00 pm
Grandpa wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 7:50 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm

When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
When Open Reach put in my fibre line they ran it from a pole about 30m from the house... when tightening it, it was stuck under a branch.. which when the wind blew... smacked the line hard... because the tree wasn't on my land, they said they couldn't touch the tree (ie trim the branch) and that I would have to contact the council to cut the branch... I'm gonna have to cut it myself when I find a ladder high enough...
My tech was a bit more helpful; Option 1 was similar to yours with all kinds of trees in the way, & he said I wouldn't want to deal with the aggravation, Option 2, he tried using the existing duct from the pole that the phone line went thru, & the rod just about got across the road before it jammed. So he proposed Option 3, I run a qual-pex pipe along the boundary wall & bring it to by the existing phone entry point, & give them a call for another survey.

I did that & blew a draw wire thru with a garden hose, & for a few hours of my time, the actual fibre install was a doddle.
You don't live in Yorkshire do you? :grin:
User avatar
Grandpa
Posts: 2294
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:23 pm
Location: Kiwi abroad

Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.

I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well. They were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.

.
I'm sorry to hear that mate. Must be a rough time for your brother. There is far too much randomness in life.
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

Grandpa wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 5:39 pm
Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.

I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well. They were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.

.
I'm sorry to hear that mate. Must be a rough time for your brother. There is far too much randomness in life.
Puts my problems into perspective. Best wishes K.
User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

Happyhooker wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 11:36 am
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm
GogLais wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 1:31 pm
So if you’re still interested - BG were supposed to come here today at 1:30 to fix a new rad. Nobody here by nearly 2:30 and I see a missed call on our landline at 9:30, no message left. I ring and it’s the engineer who tells me they’ve collected the rad and it’s damaged so they’ll have to get a replacement and fix it tomorrow. Doesn’t bother ringing again nearer 1:30 to let me know they won’t be turning up.
First world problem but I’m paying the useless b@st@rds first world prices for a service contract.
When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
Fair enough. As long as we can charge clients for things like 'yes, i know I'd arranged a meeting with you at 5.30 pm but i lost track of the time at work and had my phone off'

Or 'yes i know you're relaying the entire floor of our house, starting today, but surely i can still have my 2yr olds birthday party here this afternoon'

Ad fucking infinitum
Understood, customers are frequently bell ends too ! My Dad was a Building contractor, so when I worked with him, I got to see plenty of it

I saw one beautiful moment of Schadenfreude when a client; who'd presented us a contract to build a huge extension to his house, complete with onerous penalty payments on our side, realizing that his architect hadn't told him that he would be without the use of the houses main bathroom for months, because that was where extension butted up against the main building :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The look on his face was priceless, & then he stomped off to rip the architect a new one.
User avatar
Tichtheid
Posts: 10479
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2020 11:18 am

Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.

I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well. They were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.

.


That's awful.

Condolences, Kiwias
GogLais
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 7:06 pm
Location: Wirral/Cilgwri

fishfoodie wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 6:11 pm
Happyhooker wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 11:36 am
fishfoodie wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:47 pm

When I'm elected World President, I'm going to pass a law that customers will be able to Bill tradesmen who break appointments, for their time !

My time is valuable too !!
Fair enough. As long as we can charge clients for things like 'yes, i know I'd arranged a meeting with you at 5.30 pm but i lost track of the time at work and had my phone off'

Or 'yes i know you're relaying the entire floor of our house, starting today, but surely i can still have my 2yr olds birthday party here this afternoon'

Ad fucking infinitum
Understood, customers are frequently bell ends too ! My Dad was a Building contractor, so when I worked with him, I got to see plenty of it

I saw one beautiful moment of Schadenfreude when a client; who'd presented us a contract to build a huge extension to his house, complete with onerous penalty payments on our side, realizing that his architect hadn't told him that he would be without the use of the houses main bathroom for months, because that was where extension butted up against the main building :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The look on his face was priceless, & then he stomped off to rip the architect a new one.
Was this in the UK? I don’t think penalty clauses can be enforced, they have to liquidated and ascertained. It was so much fun being a QS.
User avatar
fishfoodie
Posts: 8752
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:25 pm

GogLais wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:33 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 6:11 pm
Happyhooker wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 11:36 am

Fair enough. As long as we can charge clients for things like 'yes, i know I'd arranged a meeting with you at 5.30 pm but i lost track of the time at work and had my phone off'

Or 'yes i know you're relaying the entire floor of our house, starting today, but surely i can still have my 2yr olds birthday party here this afternoon'

Ad fucking infinitum
Understood, customers are frequently bell ends too ! My Dad was a Building contractor, so when I worked with him, I got to see plenty of it

I saw one beautiful moment of Schadenfreude when a client; who'd presented us a contract to build a huge extension to his house, complete with onerous penalty payments on our side, realizing that his architect hadn't told him that he would be without the use of the houses main bathroom for months, because that was where extension butted up against the main building :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The look on his face was priceless, & then he stomped off to rip the architect a new one.
Was this in the UK? I don’t think penalty clauses can be enforced, they have to liquidated and ascertained. It was so much fun being a QS.
Nah it was in Ireland, & my Dads solicitor had doubts too, but it was the worst part of the 80s & my Dad's business was slowing going under, so any work was a godsend, even if meant working for a wanker.
Jock42
Posts: 2663
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:01 pm

All the best Kiwias
User avatar
Gumboot
Posts: 8749
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:17 am

inactionman wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 11:08 am
Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am
I just heard that my sister-in-law (wife of my little brother, one year younger than me) died this evening of leukemia. She had been in Palmerston North hospital (they live in OngaOnga) for chemotherapy and it had not been going well so they were planning on moving her to Wellington Hospital for stem cell treatment as soon as she was strong enough.

But the leukemia got her before she could recover.
Very sorry to hear mate.
Kiwias wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 10:52 am
Fucking leukemia can go suck fucking donkey’s balls.
That it most definitely can. Cancer in all its guises is a pitiless bastard of a disease.
Yep, fuck cancer.

Sorry for your loss, Kiwias.
User avatar
Guy Smiley
Posts: 6667
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:52 pm

Condolences, Kiwias. Awful news to get from afar.
User avatar
Kiwias
Posts: 7402
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:44 am

Thanks for all the kinds words, guys. My brother is taking it really hard. Sucks to be so fucking far away.
User avatar
Gumboot
Posts: 8749
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:17 am

Image
User avatar
Enzedder
Posts: 4029
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 6:55 pm
Location: Hamilton NZ

I drink and I forget things.
User avatar
Ymx
Posts: 8557
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:03 pm

User avatar
Tichtheid
Posts: 10479
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2020 11:18 am

Ymx wrote: Sun May 14, 2023 7:35 pm


It was doing quite well up to 60mph.

Scary after that, it's pretty much Goodnight Vienna, though testing to 300mph seems extreme
Post Reply