Random Irritations

Being stuck in a massive queue for several miles on the way back home from our break in the Peak District.

The cause of the queue might have not have been as irritating before we had a young dog on the way back from her first proper holiday - she was both stressed and in need of a break.

We were all being held up by a steam-powered road-roller!

I might have posted this in the things that gladden the heart thread otherwise! :D
 
I was down to see the family in Surrey for a week so thought I would lump them all in one post:
  • Hard water - the scum on the tea and the mess it makes of the cups.
  • A3 roadworks - will they ever end? Going from Old Windsor we finished up choosing avoid motorways. Actually the route took us through some nice villages.
  • M25. That's it. Nothing else to add.
  • Nearly 9 hours driving down with torrential rain for most of it.
  • Nearly 9 hours driving up with over 1 hour of queues on the M6 motorway. Crash at the roadworks near Haydock. Bridge work north of Blackpool.
  • And left a shirt and a pair of trousers behind.
Still it was good to see the kids and the new grand-daughter.
 
I know we're not allowed to discuss it, but can I still be randomly irritated by Brexit? And Germans. The German authorities have decided that no UK passport holders are allowed to work on vessels in German waters, even outside the 12 mile limit. One of our vessels on our current job was ordered into port and told to replace all of the UK personnel on board. Has really screwed up my next rotation as it's meant to be on the Dutch/German border and line turns are in German waters which means I'm not allowed on the vessel.
 
  • Hard water - the scum on the tea and the mess it makes of the cups.

I live 5 miles North of Yeovil.

We get our water from Exmoor reservoir and it is about a soft as you can get.
Occasionally when they are cleaning the pipes they switch us to the same water as Yeovil, my kettle starts to fur up within days.
 
Back in office after a weeks holiday :cry:
I know how you feel. It’s my first day back at work having just got back from 10 days in Barbados 🌴☀️. Currently looking out of my office (bedroom) window at the rain which is accompanied with thunder and lightning 😢
 
Back in office after a weeks holiday :cry:
I know how you feel. It’s my first day back at work having just got back from 10 days in Barbados 🌴☀️. Currently looking out of my office (bedroom) window at the rain which is accompanied with thunder and lightning 😢
First day back in, 150 emails in my inbox. As I delete them, more come in. :mad:o_O
 
I know we're not allowed to discuss it, but can I still be randomly irritated by Brexit? And Germans. The German authorities have decided that no UK passport holders are allowed to work on vessels in German waters, even outside the 12 mile limit. One of our vessels on our current job was ordered into port and told to replace all of the UK personnel on board. Has really screwed up my next rotation as it's meant to be on the Dutch/German border and line turns are in German waters which means I'm not allowed on the vessel.

Is that Germany changing the rules since you were last in German waters or is it the 1st time you have entered German waters since the “deal” in January 2021?
 
Is that Germany changing the rules since you were last in German waters or is it the 1st time you have entered German waters since the “deal” in January 2021?

I was in working in German waters in March and April this year. The only restriction then was that if you were doing 12 hour days you could only do a two week rotation, if you were doing 10 hours a day you could do three weeks. No idea why or when it changed in the last 6 months. Even the Netherlands are tightening their rules. If I'd been a sole trader I couldn't have come on this trip but as I'm a director of my own limited company I'm allowed.
 
I was in working in German waters in March and April this year. The only restriction then was that if you were doing 12 hour days you could only do a two week rotation, if you were doing 10 hours a day you could do three weeks. No idea why or when it changed in the last 6 months. Even the Netherlands are tightening their rules. If I'd been a sole trader I couldn't have come on this trip but as I'm a director of my own limited company I'm allowed.

That’s a pain for you guys, is there any VISA/work permits that you can apply for in future?
 
Can I add my weight behind the car insurance premium irritation.

I’ve been toying with swapping mine. The premiums on the cars I’ve been looking at are nuts. Some nearly triple my current premium.
 
First ever difficult customer of my woodworking business today. Result of the customer demanding something against advice and then complaining about it.

Short version, they wanted a console table made of oak that they then wanted that stained to mahogany for some reason. I advised against this as it wouldn't take that type of acrylic paint stain well and would turn blotchy and that I would recommend a dyed oil finish instead (but would be more expensive). Adamant that they didn't want that and so I did as requested, looked absolutely honking from the off.

Customer complaining that it's not what they thought it would look like. Nothing more I can do but shrug and offer to sand it all back and start again, at cost to them.

Needless to say I won't be accepting any further orders from them.
 
That’s a pain for you guys, is there any VISA/work permits that you can apply for in future?

I'm sure there are, but only just found out about this so haven't looked into it too much. The only problem is that with the German visa you have to send your passport off and it could take up to 4 weeks to get it back, which means that I can't travel during that time. Might have to look into getting a second passport so that I can send one off for visas and travel on the other one.
 
I know how you feel. It’s my first day back at work having just got back from 10 days in Barbados 🌴☀️. Currently looking out of my office (bedroom) window at the rain which is accompanied with thunder and lightning 😢

My office window overlooks a motorway 🚙🚛🚐🚐🚗 but at least its still nudging 30 degrees and sunny 🌞
 
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