Rant of the Day v2.

[k3k3]

German efficiency is not what it used to be

I agree, I lived there for 35 years and I'm glad I returned to the this sceptred isle.

This is my recent post #347 in "Chaos in Germany":

DB, German Railways, many people are have the false opinion that the railways in Germany are reliable, this is not the case. Ten days ago my wife landed in Düsseldorf at 18:05, the train to Baal should take 70 minutes, all went well until she reached Düsseldorf Hbf (Main staion), in seven minutes the platform her train was coming in on according to the info board changed three times, each change required running up and down stairs and along an underpass, missed the first train, next train cancelled, the train she caught was diverted to Duisburg (wrong direction) before going the right way only to stop at Rheydt where she was told the signals aren't working and a replacement bus service would be along "shortly". She arrived at her mothers house at 22:30.

Yesterday she went to Aachen intending to be back by lunchtime, the timetable says three trains per hour, takes about 30 minutes. Going to Aachen went without problem, the return journey not so, she waited an hour until a train turned up, got on, started moving but just outside the station it stopped for 20 minutes, then stopped and started all the way, the longest stop was an hour long outside Kohlscheid, instead of 30 minutes the journey took three hours thirty minutes.

[OFSO]

German efficiency was NEVER what it was reputed to be. Needed British to run things. The boss of Marley tiles in Hessen was English. The R&D departments of Opel and Merk were all English. Lots more I have forgotten.

[tango15]

During my days of working with Airbus, the Brits and the Germans did the engineering, the French controlled the finance and anything directly or indirectly related to it (cough), and the Brits did the sales and marketing and PR. (It was said that the Brits were allowed to do this only because English is the first language of aviation). I have no idea how the work is split these days.

[OFSO]

The British officer and German soldier could have ruled the world....

[CharlieOneSix]

Well done Aberdeenshire Roads Department! There is a one week notified 5 mile closure on our 7 mile road into town for bellmouth work, whatever that may be. No problem. Then without warning yesterday a mass of Council lorries etc turned up on the alternate route which is 10 miles into town to top dress the single track road. So yesterday we had to initially go in the wrong direction and drive 23 miles to get into town instead of the usual 7 miles. Methinks left and right hand were not talking at the Roads Department.

[G-CPTN]

bellmouth work, whatever that may be.

Widening a junction (in the shape of a bell) to improve the visibility (and joining speed).

Also called a 'splay'.

[CharlieOneSix]

Thanks for that - I failed to find it on Google. I think it must be work to help Forestry Commission vehicles laden with logs get out of a very difficult junction for them.

[G-CPTN]

Seems log-ical.

[OneHungLow]

So chaps, no so much rant, as log on, or jog on?

[Pontius Navigator]

Telegraph today:

WEALTHIER households should pay more for the BBC, Richard Sharp has suggested in his first interview since standing down as chairman of the corporation.

Do wealthier even watch the BBC? I rarely watch broadcast TV and would be happy to subscribe to some drama series but compulsory, no way.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

The British officer and German soldier could have ruled the world....

I once had a USAF Colonel tell me
"If you guys had our aeroplanes, we'd still be a colony"

Do wealthier even watch the BBC?

I have never seen a television switched on in a rich household.
Radio, yes - Radio 2, 3 and 4 - but they don't charge for radio licences any more

[Pontius Navigator]

Fox Quite

The bigger and better the box the less wealthy the owner.

I am of the opinion that programme content lags well behind the technical specifications of the box.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Q: What do you call a cheap box that's attached to a Satellite TV dish?

A: A council house.


Personally, I have a large TV, but it's only used for showing movies from recorded media.

[Boac]

I have never seen a television switched on in a rich household.

I always have the servants watch the TV for me - 'below stairs' of course.

[PHXPhlyer]

D#2 came home in her new to her car (6 weeks) with the driver's side window completely detached from the raise/lower mechanism.
I don't know where to take it.
I'm sure the dealership would would be certain and certainly expensive.
Body shop and glass shop are other options.
Any recommendations?

PP

[G-CPTN]

Still in warranty?

Even secondhand vehicles usually have some 'guarantee'.

[PHXPhlyer]

Still in warranty?

Even secondhand vehicles usually have some 'guarantee'.

2014 model and private party transaction, so no warranty of any kind.
If the window weren't enough the check engine light comes on intermittently and diagnosis from the garage is turbo wastegate sticking which requires new turbo. ~$1800

PP

[Pontius Navigator]

Window might be easy.
Remove internal trim, that's the difficult bit but there may be YouTube video.
Lift window glass and latch back on to the supporting frame.
If the lift arm is broken then it's more difficult.

[k3k3]

No change in the status of our lost suitcases, status still shows as "Searching for your bags".

As there were half a dozen other people whos bags hadn't arrived, I think there may be a forlorn baggage trolly in a hidden place at Düsseldorf airport. At least I hope so, how hard could it be to find two large, bright, lime green, hard Samsonite suitases?

[Wodrick]

And now you know why he sold it ...................