Rant of the Day v2.

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OFSO
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4041 Post by OFSO » Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:25 pm

Went to book influenza vaccination appointments for us at our German MD today. Nothing doing, no vaccine available in Spain. Thought I might have a Covid test while I was there, no. Signed up for vaccinations when (or if) available. Ho hum. Ibbie, get flu jab while in UK!

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4042 Post by 4mastacker » Tue Sep 22, 2020 6:43 pm

Pontius Navigator wrote:
Tue Sep 22, 2020 12:03 pm
Torygraph today, picture of sailors on HMS QE as she sails.

WTF thought it a good idea having US Marines flanking the White Ensign?
Taking the Oath of Allegiance to HMtQ?
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4043 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:54 pm

I nearly did a Basil Fawlty today and thrashed my wife’s Audi A3 within an inch of its life. To explain, we leave our cars in the garage with the electronic handbrakes off. The A3 disagrees with this strategy.

Sometimes about 30 seconds after the ignition is turned off the handbrake comes on. Sometimes it doesn’t. You can bet your bottom dollar that having waited 30 seconds with nothing happening, the moment I’ve struggled out of the god-awful rally type seats, the handbrake will come on. I then have to get back in, turn on the ignition, put my foot on the foot brake and then turn off the handbrake. I follow this with another struggle to get out of those damn seats within the confines of the garage walls.

I swear that the A3 is a living breathing robot that takes great delight in my frustration. I’ve talked to it in my best Basil Fawlty voice and warned it of the consequences but it just ignores me.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4044 Post by OFSO » Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:57 pm

My Ford just gently chides me. Then some sort of timer lights up. I've never dared disobey this. Always put the brake on before the timer does.... what?!

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4045 Post by ian16th » Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:11 pm

CharlieOneSix wrote:
Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:54 pm
I follow this with another struggle to get out of those damn seats within the confines of the garage walls.
This is where what I considered one of the most pointless 'extra's' that were standard on my dear old Mazda, is appreciated by my 83 year old bones.

My electricity adjustable drivers seat, with memory.

I have memories 1 & 2 set to my driving position, and memory 3 set to the seat right back. This is the norm in the garage, so I can get into the car easily.

Then I push button 1 or 2 and the seat adjusts for me to drive.

When I stop and want to get out, I push 3 again and it slides back and I get out with minimum effort.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4046 Post by CharlieOneSix » Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:09 pm

Because of two previous burglaries at her Glasgow flat, Mrs C16 insisted on a monitored burglar alarm when we moved here. We are with ADT and I detest dealing with them. Time and technology move on so a few months ago we upgraded our 24 year old hard wired system which was monitored via a BT landline and installed a wireless system monitored by a mobile phone system. Comparatively very easy to use and no false alarms so far.

However it became clear that we could not clearly hear the alarm sound from the distant control panel when in our bedroom with the door closed unless we had our hearing aids fitted which of course we don't wear in bed. So today I phoned and asked ADT to fit a wireless 110db internal siren in the corridor. It has separate sounds for burglar and fire alarms. I researched it on the open market and the product cost was £85.

I said to the sales guy that we were due a contracted annual service and I'd like the siren fitted at the same time to avoid additional engineer charges. No can do - it has to be a separate engineer and that will be £195 please. At that I literally exploded on the phone and called it daylight robbery as I knew the siren cost £85! There are no wires to connect and it should take only a few minutes to integrate into the system via the control panel. I pointed out we had been a customer for 24 years. The sales guy went away for a few minutes and when he came back he said they could fit it for £95 all in. It pays to haggle.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4047 Post by ian16th » Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:17 pm

They are attempting to play on the fears of people that do not understand and are afraid of any thing electrical.

There are still many such people around.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4048 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:35 pm

ian16th wrote:
Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:17 pm
They are attempting to play on the fears of people that do not understand and are afraid of any thing electrical.

There are still many such people around.
They are simply a bunch of dishonest, often technically incompetent, money grubbers... :ymdevil:
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You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4049 Post by ian16th » Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:37 pm

TheGreenGoblin wrote:
Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:35 pm
ian16th wrote:
Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:17 pm
They are attempting to play on the fears of people that do not understand and are afraid of any thing electrical.

There are still many such people around.
They are simply a bunch of dishonest, often technically incompetent, money grubbers... :ymdevil:
That too!
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4050 Post by G-CPTN » Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:21 pm

Along with the rest of our terrace, our landlines are fed from a DP on the other side of the road via overhead wires.
Between us and the DP there were large branches of a very mature tree, and whenever there were strong winds the overhead wires were stretched - and risked being snapped.
I phoned BT and suggested that they might like to send out someone during calm weather to prune the offending branches and thus avoid a call-out during a storm.

"Can't do that" - but they could send out someone to assess the situation - £140 with further work at additional cost.
"What happens if the wires break?"
"We will send out a repair team."

Since then the tree has been removed (despite a TPO) so there is no longer a problem, but I thought they would have welcomed the opportunity to manage the problem at their leisure.

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4051 Post by Boac » Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:25 pm

C16 - a question. Is your system a 'Roost' system and if so what do you think of it? They are a California company specialising in wifi alert devices.

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4052 Post by CharlieOneSix » Fri Sep 25, 2020 6:50 pm

Boac - No, it’s not a Roost system. It’s just a straightforward ADT PM360-R burglar alarm which is monitored by ADT in Manchester via a mobile phone link in the control panel. It’s a Visonic brand. No Wi-Fi involved. We did have an option to control it all via an iPhone app but with our lifestyle it was unnecessary and the additional cost couldn’t be justified.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4053 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:15 pm

C16. Mine is Visonic, The second I have installed. Fox gave me some help and the Visonic norther sales man offered to pop in and help as I didn't know how to fix the WiFi.

The salesman showed me the new curtain alarms and gave me a camera alarm. I subsequently fitted two curtain alarms which alarm as someone approaches the windows.

We have had 3 alarms, two false, one caused by an open window in the hot weather. The camera kicked off but nothing seen, another we think a bird hit the window, the third was when we were late back and my grandson looked into the sun room and set it off.

Although the alarm stops after 4 minutes I gave our neighbour a fob so he can enable and disable. Each time I get a pop up and can check the app.

We also had a problem with our CH boiler losing pressure. We were away at the time but could see from the temperature drop that it was off.

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4054 Post by ExSp33db1rd » Sun Sep 27, 2020 8:33 am

Bloody fashionistas. Since they were invented a few years ago, my constant daily wear has been what I believe are known as "Cargo Pants" i.e. trousers with two large pockets on the outside front around knee level. Naturally I have to occasionally replace ones that are even too tatty for me, notwithstanding comments such as " You're not going out in those, are you ? "

Sadly, in this respect, I've actually not followed my own advice, that when finding some item of clothing that you like, buy a lifetime supply of them, 'cos when you need to replace them they will be out of fashion. The time has come to replace my present favourite pair, and not being a customer of any emporium that wouldn't look out of place on Saville Row, I recently took myself over to the local equivalent of whatever successor to the Five and Dime stores dominates your local shopping precinct, ( a local Walmart clone ) almost totally devoted to goods made in China of course, and now find that I can no longer buy anything to suit. All items that fit the Cargo Pant description are now made without belt loops, instead they are fitted with cords, like pyjamas. First of all I don't like that idea, but apart from that, even if were to bow to this latest fashion, without a sturdy belt what do I do with my belt-holster phone carrying case ?

The only trousers sold with belt loops are now of such narrow drain pipe legs, reminiscent of the Mods and Rockers styles of the '50's, that even if I were agreeable to wear them, should I even manage to get them on, how in hell wood I ever get them off. Not a problem, none of them are of the Cargo Pant style anyway, just an observation.

Bloody Chinks. ( If that makes me racist - tough )

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4055 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:01 am

ExSp, I chanced upon a pair of Craghopper trousers, hard wearing mosquito proof and bought a pair about 10 years ago. Only thing wrong with them is pair splatter. I wore them in the Caribbean, good SPF and not too hot. I have 3 more pairs, two are convertible.

They are rapid drying. The 2020 pair I have have 9 pockets including a waterproof bit for passport. Pair I am wearing now have a RFID sleeve. They all have a glasses cleaning cloth.

I get mine from PurpleTurtle.co.uk. Worth a look, they may mail overseas.

Yes. Made in China but well made. Buttons are taped not stitched. Pair I am wearing are CMJ400, the newest are CMJ498. These are the ones with 9 pockets and a lighter material.

Craghopper site does not use the style reference whereas Purple Turtle do which makes reordering easier.

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4056 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:06 am

PS, the trousers I want should have calf pockets as well as thigh ones. Ideally the should have calf zips like waterproof overpants. I would wear these when flying as pax as hip pockets are useless when sitting.

I have seen this style only twice. First time I should have asked where he got them. Second time I did, "don't know, Matalan* I think".

*like 5&dime

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4057 Post by 4mastacker » Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:10 am

Exsp,

A brand called 'Craghoppers' still do cargo pants with the belt loops and the removable lower leg section - don't know if you can get them in your part of the universe though. I recently bought another pair so they're still around here. Funnily enough, on their web-site, they're called 'Kiwi' trousers.

Craghoppers
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4058 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:33 am

4mastacker wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:10 am
Exsp,

A brand called 'Craghoppers' still do cargo pants with the belt loops and the removable lower leg section - don't know if you can get them in your part of the universe though. I recently bought another pair so they're still around here. Funnily enough, on their web-site, they're called 'Kiwi' trousers.

Craghoppers
This is the CMJ498 that I shall be reordering:

NosiLife - textile impregnation treatment to give permanent anti-insect protection.
SolarShield SolarShield Technology - 100% Polyamide fabric with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 40+.
Odour Control Odour Control - innovative and discreet activated carbon patch to capture odour molecules so you stay fresher for longer.
Wash and Wear Wash and Wear - easy care, quick drying fabric with no need for ironing and drying loops for hanging it up after washing.
Pockets Pockets and Security - 9 pockets: two hand pockets, two cargo pockets, two back pockets with velcro tabs, one mobile phone pocket, one zipped pocket and one security pocket with hidden zip & clip.
Sleeves Adventure Fit - with a part elasticated waist at the sides and a cooling inner waistband. Trousers include a dry bag and heel tape.
Lightweight Lightweight - only 310g.

4ma, what colour do you favour, I favour Pebble? If I see the right colour in Morrisons I shall be sure to say hello. 😉

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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4059 Post by 4mastacker » Sun Sep 27, 2020 1:32 pm

Not sure of the colour - I thought they are beige but it seems manufacturers have to use fancy names for the colours. I think the colour of my Craghoppers is pebble or beach or summat like that.
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Re: Rant of the Day v2.

#4060 Post by ian16th » Sun Sep 27, 2020 1:47 pm

4mastacker wrote:
Sun Sep 27, 2020 1:32 pm
Not sure of the colour - I thought they are beige but it seems manufacturers have to use fancy names for the colours.
Couldn't possibly outdo the Car makers!

Ever see 'white', 'red' or 'blue' in a car brochure?
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