Random Irritations

[Imurg]

That does bring back a memory I was taught to drive at a the age of 17 and drove on a very regular basis to and from work but it was 10 years before I decided to take a test. I had to go to a driving school to learn how to drive for taking a test. I remember my instructors comments (after I passed) he said " I was worried if I was just another boy racer when he started giving me lessons"

My Old Man taught me and Fragger - he was a Tax Inspector not a driving instructor - and he taught us to drive.
The test was secondary almost.
Come test time I had 3 paid lessons just to make sure
I got in the car and the instructor just asked me to drive for 10 minutes to make an assessment
We parked up and he said..and I quote.." you'll never pass your test driving like that...you drive like you've been on the road for 10 years"
I had to drive, what I thought was, really badly on my test and, to be honest, I sailed through.
They (DVSA) like to think that their test prepares the kids for a lifetime of driving when,,in truth, it barely scratches the surface.

 

[Hobbit]

My Old Man taught me and Fragger - he was a Tax Inspector not a driving instructor - and he taught us to drive.
The test was secondary almost.
Come test time I had 3 paid lessons just to make sure
I got in the car and the instructor just asked me to drive for 10 minutes to make an assessment
We parked up and he said..and I quote.." you'll never pass your test driving like that...you drive like you've been on the road for 10 years"
I had to drive, what I thought was, really badly on my test and, to be honest, I sailed through.
They (DVSA) like to think that their test prepares the kids for a lifetime of driving when,,in truth, it barely scratches the surface.

My test lasted about 10mins, and 2 miles. Examiner looked at my licence, and saw I’d held a full bike licence for about 5 years. “Right, let’s see if you’ve adapted to driving a car.“ Drove onto a housing estate near the test centre. Did a reverse into a junction, pulled back out and back to the test centre.

My instructor thought I’d bombed out early, and was gobsmacked by the beaming smile.

 

[Imurg]

My test lasted about 10mins, and 2 miles. Examiner looked at my licence, and saw I’d held a full bike licence for about 5 years. “Right, let’s see if you’ve adapted to driving a car.“ Drove onto a housing estate near the test centre. Did a reverse into a junction, pulled back out and back to the test centre.

My instructor thought I’d bombed out early, and was gobsmacked by the beaming smile.

Back then they were able to do that..they went out with a set of scales in their mind, balanced at the start.
As long as you did nothing stupid and the scales were balanced or on the good side you passed.
I was back 10 minutes before everyone else..
Those were the days

 

[Neilds]

The stupid ‘foreign accents’ that are becoming part of trailers on the BBC - examples are the Alan Carr Italian house renovation and some other program set in France

 

[backwoodsman]

Did mine in Bangor, North Wales. Tests were carried out near the local comprehensive school, and the little urchins knew it. Had to do a real, unprompted , emergency stop when one of the brutes jumped into the road. "Ah well" said the examiner, "I'll not ask you to do another one of those. Shall we make our way back to the centre." I got my pass certificate and was driving the works lorry the following day.

 

[Beezerk]

Dana White, always thought the guy was a massive ?

 

[Orikoru]

When making microwave mash (or microwave anything really) and the instructions say to peel back the film lid halfway through so you can stir it. Can you peel you lid? Can you balls. The corner of it normally just breaks off in your hand, or it comes off in a thousand tiny shreds. Why can't a single manufacturer make a film lid that actually peels off easily and stays in one piece? It normally says to 're-cover it' as well before putting it back in - I would do but all the tiny jigsawed fragments of plastic are now in the bin.

 

[jim8flog]

When making microwave mash (or microwave anything really) and the instructions say to peel back the film lid halfway through so you can stir it. Can you peel you lid? Can you balls. The corner of it normally just breaks off in your hand, or it comes off in a thousand tiny shreds. Why can't a single manufacturer make a film lid that actually peels off easily and stays in one piece? It normally says to 're-cover it' as well before putting it back in - I would do but all the tiny jigsawed fragments of plastic are now in the bin.

I have just thought of a method for that - at that stage turn the packet upside down on to a plate a and pierce the top. (Although I often turn it all out on to a plate and cover with a plastic lid)

 

[Orikoru]

I have just thought of a method for that - at that stage turn the packet upside down on to a plate a and pierce the top. (Although I often turn it all out on to a plate and cover with a plastic lid)

I usually end up cutting the top cover off with a knife or scissors.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The winter support for those on heating oil has still not been paid, worse than that they still cant give a definite date and method to when yet - shambolic

Who are ‘they’; I guess you’ve complained.

 

[GB72]

Who are ‘they’; I guess you’ve complained.

Not so easy to. The iissue is that making the payment is not so simple as there is no monthly bill like other utilities, you just buy oil when you need it. Was going to be paid on to your electric bill but, again, how do you prove that you have oil heating. Agree with the frustration but can also see the complexities.

 

[Orikoru]

Made my employers aware of my upcoming paternity leave months ago. They've still not arranged who is covering my absence for five weeks. Have about two and half weeks now before I go so they probably want to figure it out.

 

[Fade and Die]

Not so easy to. The iissue is that making the payment is not so simple as there is no monthly bill like other utilities, you just buy oil when you need it. Was going to be paid on to your electric bill but, again, how do you prove that you have oil heating. Agree with the frustration but can also see the complexities.

Yes I wondered how they would sort it out as MIL is Oil. I wondered if they could issue vouchers which you can give to the Oil companies as part payment for a delivery?

 

[GB72]

Yes I wondered how they would sort it out as MIL is Oil. I wondered if they could issue vouchers which you can give to the Oil companies as part payment for a delivery?

I had thought similar but then there is still the issue of how you show that you are on oil to claim the voucher. I suspect they are looking for a method that can make use of an existing admin system (like the billing system of an electric company) as amything else would require the setting up of a department to administer the scheme and keep records of who has claimed and who as not, espectially as oil is a resellable commodity. I really am not sure how this can be done.

 

[BubbaP]

The winter support for those on heating oil has still not been paid, worse than that they still cant give a definite date and method to when yet - shambolic

I'd emailed local MP about and did receive this reply...

"Most households eligible for the AFP support will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February, with no need to take any further action. "

 

[Neilds]

Without getting political (hopefully) the government has passed the buck on most of the cost of living payments. They announced the £150 council tax 'rebates' with no guidance to the local authorities in how to process them, oblivious to the fact that the computer systems wouldn't be able to just knock £150 off the bills so the councils had to work out what to do. (My wife works for a local authority so has first hand experience).
Also, with the energy payments, because it has been left to individual companies to sort out how they pay, people are confused as to how they will receive the money, bill credit, payment into bank account, etc then they have opened up an avenue for potential scams to prey on the vulnerable.

 

[fundy]

I'd emailed local MP about and did receive this reply...

"Most households eligible for the AFP support will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February, with no need to take any further action. "

they said the same about December and January. There is still nothing actually confirmed it seems and they have no idea how they will pay anyone who is off grid completely

 

[fundy]

Without getting political (hopefully) the government has passed the buck on most of the cost of living payments. They announced the £150 council tax 'rebates' with no guidance to the local authorities in how to process them, oblivious to the fact that the computer systems wouldn't be able to just knock £150 off the bills so the councils had to work out what to do. (My wife works for a local authority so has first hand experience).
Also, with the energy payments, because it has been left to individual companies to sort out how they pay, people are confused as to how they will receive the money, bill credit, payment into bank account, etc then they have opened up an avenue for potential scams to prey on the vulnerable.

the problem with the oil payment is because people do or can buy oil from multiple suppliers they deemed it impossible to pay that way so are going to pay the oil heating support through the electricity suppliers, who clearly have no interest in doing so, hence they keep delaying declaring when and how they are going to pay officially

at least your MP replied, Dorries is still ranting that her party got rid of her chosen one lol

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Took our conservatory down and stacked it out of sight to be picked up by whoever wants it - giving it away. Got a taker and they turned up yesterday to collect. Decided two loads were required and they’d come back later this week or next. That’s fine - until I noticed once they’d gone that all the aluminium roof frame structural elements were missing, and they hadn’t been picked up earlier. They’re been knicked. Apparently the way is to look on council planning website and see what’s being done in any area, then go along, scout it out, and if anything spotted come back when nobody about.

Well that pretty much scuppers the plans of our ‘taker’, though she’s adamant that she wants everything else picked up in case her builder can fashion something for a roof given it’s just roof stuff that’s gone. Well that’s her outlook - her builder has basically advised against bothering…but she’s determined to give it a go.

 

[Bdill93]

Made my employers aware of my upcoming paternity leave months ago. They've still not arranged who is covering my absence for five weeks. Have about two and half weeks now before I go so they probably want to figure it out.

That's some decent length pat leave mate! Enjoy it, you'll never get that quality time again!