Random Irritations

And so…

I had to pop into Morrisons this pm for a few bits and bobs…and I didn’t have a shopping bag with me. So basket is was. Then at the self-scan I scanned all my stuff, got a bag, then scanned it and put it with the rest.

OK you can perhaps guess the rest…the till didn’t like that I’d scanned a bag at the end rather than at the start…and so assistance was required - and of course I then had to pack my stuff in the bag. Nobody was waiting.

I tried…I did…🙄
Or......
You could have scanned the bag first, put it on the scales first and then put your shopping in afterwards.
 
Top-of-the-range 5* hotel, you just don't expect something like that. Very lucky our little girl didn't get anything too, otherwise we'd have been besides ourselves. Wife is back home now, with a bag full of antibiotics.
Had a phone call from them saying the test results showed salmonella, so now she has to go back in for a few days to go on a drip for different drugs than they originally sent her home with. Quite annoying. Not sure why it took them so long to check that.
 
That Union Flags raised specifically for Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, and the pride I always felt when I saw them out, has in my eyes been in some respects debased.

Actually I'm not so much irritated than deeply saddened as 11/11 is soon upon us - especially when I reflect on the great pride I felt when a Scout and selected to carry the Union Flag (or the troop's Saltire) in the Remembrance Sunday parade and church service. The point during the service just as 11am was about to be reached and O God Our Help in Ages Past was being sung, standing at the front of the church I slowly lowered my flag to the ground as this verse was sung

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

And with flag lowered - 11am and Silence and moment of remembrance

Then the organist started up and we sang the final verse and I raised my flag. After the service the parade as I proudly marched at the head of the parade back to the Scout Hall.

And so to these days...I am deeply saddened - but in remembrance I will remain proud of the sacrifice others have made for my country in times of war and peace - pride in my country for standing up to facism, and pride in it as it is today.

Noting this today as my church in Chesterfield on Sunday started to prepare our poppy display for Remembrance Sunday - and the thoughts just struck.
The trouble is that there is a line between patriotic and jingoistic.
Patriots will put up a flag to show their support for their country.
Jingoists use it as a sign of aggression.

Sadly, it's the same the world over.
 
The trouble is that there is a line between patriotic and jingoistic.
Patriots will put up a flag to show their support for their country.
Jingoists use it as a sign of aggression.

Sadly, it's the same the world over.
I was going to comment on your terminology but have decided to not do so. Why? Is having concern over the consequences of me doing so too strong. Sadly I fear that it isn’t.

Anyway. The Help for Heroes trophy sits proudly on show in our lounge, my wife doesn’t like trophies cluttering up the place…but she seems happy for it to be where it sits - and so am I.
 
The trouble is that there is a line between patriotic and jingoistic.
Patriots will put up a flag to show their support for their country.
Jingoists use it as a sign of aggression.

Sadly, it's the same the world over.

Yep - far too many are using the flag for nationalism

There is an also a lot of fake news spread about people being told to take down UJ flags etc
 
Think I’ve perhaps mentioned this one before but it still boils my wee.

The sheer number of selfish people who sit in an aisle seat on a busy train or bus, in a clear attempt to avoid having to sit next to someone.

I could happily string them up.
I'm occasionally that person, but not for the reason you describe. I'm tall with long legs. If I take the window seat I have to angle my legs into the aisle seat's space or I don't fit. Sitting in the aisle seat I can use the aisle for legroom.
But I don't put my bag on the other seat and always invite people to use the other seat.
I'd normally much rather sit in the fold down seats near the door but that's only an option on trains - not buses.
 
Lycamobile.
After years with Giffgaff (MVNO on O2) I switched last week because I could never get a signal at a location where I spend a day every week. Staff there told me EE works perfectly so Lycamobile (MVNO on EE) was a no-brainer.
After 4 days with a full signal but unable to make or receive calls I've ended the experiment and gone back to Giffgaff.
My experience of Lycamobile network, app and customer service in the last 4 days has been utter 🐕💩. It's cheap though.

But I can recommend going down the eSIM route next time you change network provider. What a pop that is.
 
And, on a similar vein to RichA, dealt with Three chat tonight.
So, someone say "Whoa Neddy" before I kick off with them if I'm wrong.
I'm with Three but not under contract. I'm ordering a new phone from Fonehouse and will be contracted to Three, 24 months.
Simply asked about retaining my number. Eventually got past the bot and, of course, was asked to start again. Got grilled about my new deal (£36pm) and then offered a deal for £50+ with "How does that sound?"
Answered "Compared to £36? Please answer question".
This was interminably dragged out until I was finally told I couldn't get a PAC number unless I was changing users. I said, "Im not, I'm staying with you".
Long story short, she insisted I couldn't keep my number.
Then she said my £36 deal was phone only, no air time. I replied it was phone data, calls and SMS.
She'd been taking 5mins or so with "let me find you a deal".
As I challenged her she came back with "Are we connected?" after a minute or less.
Eventually I forced her hand with two bullet points.
A minute or so later I got "It appears you have left the conversation" and was cut off.
No transcript option.
Any idea if she's right about the number retention issue?
I think not.
That would be ludicrous.
 
And, on a similar vein to RichA, dealt with Three chat tonight.
So, someone say "Whoa Neddy" before I kick off with them if I'm wrong.
I'm with Three but not under contract. I'm ordering a new phone from Fonehouse and will be contracted to Three, 24 months.
Simply asked about retaining my number. Eventually got past the bot and, of course, was asked to start again. Got grilled about my new deal (£36pm) and then offered a deal for £50+ with "How does that sound?"
Answered "Compared to £36? Please answer question".
This was interminably dragged out until I was finally told I couldn't get a PAC number unless I was changing users. I said, "Im not, I'm staying with you".
Long story short, she insisted I couldn't keep my number.
Then she said my £36 deal was phone only, no air time. I replied it was phone data, calls and SMS.
She'd been taking 5mins or so with "let me find you a deal".
As I challenged her she came back with "Are we connected?" after a minute or less.
Eventually I forced her hand with two bullet points.
A minute or so later I got "It appears you have left the conversation" and was cut off.
No transcript option.
Any idea if she's right about the number retention issue?
I think not.
That would be ludicrous.
I have a feeling that is actually correct if you've bought a package elsewhere with the same network.
You could however request a PAC from Three, get a disposable PAYG SIM for another network just for this purpose, transfer your number, get a PAC from the new network, transfer your number to the new Three SIM.
4 days of pointless faff but you achieve your objective.
 
And so…

I had to pop into Morrisons this pm for a few bits and bobs…and I didn’t have a shopping bag with me. So basket is was. Then at the self-scan I scanned all my stuff, got a bag, then scanned it and put it with the rest.

OK you can perhaps guess the rest…the till didn’t like that I’d scanned a bag at the end rather than at the start…and so assistance was required - and of course I then had to pack my stuff in the bag. Nobody was waiting.

I tried…I did…🙄
Should’ve just nicked the carrier bag. 👍
 
Top-of-the-range 5* hotel, you just don't expect something like that. Very lucky our little girl didn't get anything too, otherwise we'd have been besides ourselves. Wife is back home now, with a bag full of antibiotics.
You are dead right about your little girl not getting it. The kids being ill is bad enough, it’s a proper nightmare abroad.

I don’t think it matters how many stars a hotel has in certain countries. One of the lads I play 5 aside with had all 4 of his family hospitalised in Turkey a few years ago. You could buy a very nice car with the money he spends on holidays every year.
 
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