Seemingly trivial things that annoy you

Pross

awavey wrote:

that every train with paper based reservation system every day has printed hundreds of thousands of these reserved tickets for every train running with reservations and then employs someone to put those reservation tickets in every seat, and then just bins them at the terminating station.

Id totally agree the electronic systems arent perfected yet, blame the moaning masses for insisting on super modern as new cant be wrong trains,its ultimately completely a waste of practical if not economic resource.

That brings onto a related moan - people who reserve seats then don't get on the train!

joncomelately

Pross wrote:

That brings onto a related moan - people who reserve seats then don't get on the train!

I love those people. I've lost count of the number of times I've bagged a cushy forward facing window seat with a socket because of that. There is the nervy few minutes at/after the station mind, but worth it.

bobmcstuff

The way there Americans don't install pavements to enable you to complete a short 1/2 mile walk, leaving you walking up the gutter and nearly getting run over by unnecessarily large phallic compensation trucks.

bobmcstuff

People who say "colourway" viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13080877#p20146208

At least just say colorway and pretend to be American or something. It's a colour scheme or a paintjob.

Thick Mike

bobmcstuff wrote:

People who say "colourway" viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13080877#p20146208

At least just say colorway and pretend to be American or something. It's a colour scheme or a paintjob.

Or even just a colour.

andy9964

Finding out you ordered 50, yes FIFTY, non threaded CO2 cartridges, at exactly the moment you need a threaded one.......... sad face

trivial_poursuivant

Andy9964 wrote:

Finding out you ordered 50, yes FIFTY, non threaded CO2 cartridges, at exactly the moment you need a threaded one.......... sad face

Hah. Been there. On the other hand they do fit into mini draught beer taps. So there is something you can invest in.

When buying the threaded ones, it's a lot cheaper to get the 16g ones which although on their own may not fully inflate a tyre, it's better to use a mini pump first then use the gas to finish. A big saving from buying the obscenely expensive 25g canisters which most bike shops like to stock.

pinno

I have a CO2 adapter that has a tap to control the flow.

One of these:



It's a superb gadget and I have never needed to top up or use it combined with a mini pump. In fact I never carry a mini pump.
It's a 'Portland Design Works Shiny Object CO2 Inflator Head' for threaded cartridges. I use 12g cartrudges and tend not to need all of it to inflate the tyre.

Matthewfalle

People in a Range Rovers who think they are special and look down their noses at other peopl, even those driving the same kind of Range Rover.

Matthewfalle

Burds who wear Aviator sunglasses and look well fly but when they take from off turn from looking like Charlie from Top Gun to Charlie Brown from Snoopy.

andy9964

Trivial poursuivant wrote:

Andy9964 wrote:

Finding out you ordered 50, yes FIFTY, non threaded CO2 cartridges, at exactly the moment you need a threaded one.......... sad face

it's better to use a mini pump first then use the gas to finish.

Luckily I had a mini pump for the exact same reason
I've ordered a Genuine Innovations thing for less than buying more threaded, which can take both types of cartridge, so I don't need to think about it (obviously wasn't anyway )

itboffin

earth wrote:

Cash machines that offer you choices such as cash with receipt, cash with no receipt, view balance ... You choose cash with no receipt and then it asks you if you want to view your balance and then if you want a receipt. If I wanted that then I would have choosen that option. :x

I can top that cash machines that ask you what denomination of notes you want, hard enough when sober let alone 12 hours into a Belgium beer drinking session

pinno

itboffin wrote:

earth wrote:

Cash machines that offer you choices such as cash with receipt, cash with no receipt, view balance ... You choose cash with no receipt and then it asks you if you want to view your balance and then if you want a receipt. If I wanted that then I would have choosen that option. :x

I can top that cash machines that ask you what denomination of notes you want, hard enough when sober let alone 12 hours into a Belgium beer drinking session

Have you stumbled on an ingenious way of loosing weight by drinking Belgian Beer itb? Why didn't you tell me, you b4stard?

pinno

Toots party's. Bloody things. The dull detached adults looking like they are at a funeral sitting around in a circle whilst the toots in the middle try to keep up with some hyper active, over zealous hired entertainer who looks like he takes some sort of methyl amphetamine and Cocaine to maintain that manic style. No one talks to you. The music is so loud you couldn't have a conversation anyway. I'm one of those weird cyclists and I don't have a beer gut and I steer my girls away from all the Haribo, sweet stuff, fizzy drinks loaded with sugar or worse, Aspartame and junk food. 1 or 2 adults tentatively get roped in, reluctantly prompted by the manic preacher of noise and purveyor of corn syrup as prizes to the most hyperactive and the others look on with a slightly envious smirk: they are not going to make fools of themselves, gyrating around like a mad thing - no, they're too big and clever and... let's face it, not brave enough.
Gone are the traditional games. Fun is now commercialised and contrived - you pay for it: the theme rides, the entertainer, the soft play areas. The mundane, mediocre, formulated prescription: something laid on by somebody thereby relinquishing responsibility of the adult to get stuck in and be actively connecting with their child and the adult can sit in a corner wearing the fingers out texting some carp to someone more interesting or worthwhile than their own child.

...but there is light. I have noticed that since Tricky has been in P1, her invites have reduced in volume. We must have averaged a party a month for the last 3 years and in August, both toots will be in P1. I haven't been to a good party yet and today is the last I will be frequenting for a long while. I have declined 2 more parties before the end of June.

If there is a god, he's sponsored by a number of commercial interests.

Sunday will soon become the sole reserve of swimming and outdoor activities.

Garry H

Yeah, but can I have my party bag now?

BelgianBeerGeek

Pinno wrote:

itboffin wrote:

earth wrote:

Cash machines that offer you choices such as cash with receipt, cash with no receipt, view balance ... You choose cash with no receipt and then it asks you if you want to view your balance and then if you want a receipt. If I wanted that then I would have choosen that option. :x

I can top that cash machines that ask you what denomination of notes you want, hard enough when sober let alone 12 hours into a Belgium beer drinking session

Have you stumbled on an ingenious way of loosing weight by drinking Belgian Beer itb? Why didn't you tell me, you b4stard?

As someone who drinks a fair bit of the stuff, I can tell you now that you won't lose weight. I have lost a few days, though.

twist83

Pinno wrote:

Toots party's. Bloody things. The dull detached adults looking like they are at a funeral sitting around in a circle whilst the toots in the middle try to keep up with some hyper active, over zealous hired entertainer who looks like he takes some sort of methyl amphetamine and Cocaine to maintain that manic style. No one talks to you. The music is so loud you couldn't have a conversation anyway. I'm one of those weird cyclists and I don't have a beer gut and I steer my girls away from all the Haribo, sweet stuff, fizzy drinks loaded with sugar or worse, Aspartame and junk food. 1 or 2 adults tentatively get roped in, reluctantly prompted by the manic preacher of noise and purveyor of corn syrup as prizes to the most hyperactive and the others look on with a slightly envious smirk: they are not going to make fools of themselves, gyrating around like a mad thing - no, they're too big and clever and... let's face it, not brave enough.
Gone are the traditional games. Fun is now commercialised and contrived - you pay for it: the theme rides, the entertainer, the soft play areas. The mundane, mediocre, formulated prescription: something laid on by somebody thereby relinquishing responsibility of the adult to get stuck in and be actively connecting with their child and the adult can sit in a corner wearing the fingers out texting some carp to someone more interesting or worthwhile than their own child.

...but there is light. I have noticed that since Tricky has been in P1, her invites have reduced in volume. We must have averaged a party a month for the last 3 years and in August, both toots will be in P1. I haven't been to a good party yet and today is the last I will be frequenting for a long while. I have declined 2 more parties before the end of June.

If there is a god, he's sponsored by a number of commercial interests.

Sunday will soon become the sole reserve of swimming and outdoor activities.

WOW you sound fun

mrfpb

Pinno wrote:

Toots party's. Bloody things. The dull detached adults looking like they are at a funeral sitting around in a circle whilst the toots in the middle try to keep up with some hyper active, over zealous hired entertainer who looks like he takes some sort of methyl amphetamine and Cocaine to maintain that manic style. No one talks to you. The music is so loud you couldn't have a conversation anyway. I'm one of those weird cyclists and I don't have a beer gut and I steer my girls away from all the Haribo, sweet stuff, fizzy drinks loaded with sugar or worse, Aspartame and junk food. 1 or 2 adults tentatively get roped in, reluctantly prompted by the manic preacher of noise and purveyor of corn syrup as prizes to the most hyperactive and the others look on with a slightly envious smirk: they are not going to make fools of themselves, gyrating around like a mad thing - no, they're too big and clever and... let's face it, not brave enough.
Gone are the traditional games. Fun is now commercialised and contrived - you pay for it: the theme rides, the entertainer, the soft play areas. The mundane, mediocre, formulated prescription: something laid on by somebody thereby relinquishing responsibility of the adult to get stuck in and be actively connecting with their child and the adult can sit in a corner wearing the fingers out texting some carp to someone more interesting or worthwhile than their own child.

...but there is light. I have noticed that since Tricky has been in P1, her invites have reduced in volume. We must have averaged a party a month for the last 3 years and in August, both toots will be in P1. I haven't been to a good party yet and today is the last I will be frequenting for a long while. I have declined 2 more parties before the end of June.

If there is a god, he's sponsored by a number of commercial interests.

Sunday will soon become the sole reserve of swimming and outdoor activities.

From Ogden Nash's "Bad Parents Garden of Verse" - Still a classic

May I join you in the doghouse, Rover?
I wish to retire till the party's over.
Since three o'clock I've done my best
To entertain each tiny guest. My conscience now I've left behind me,
And if they want me, let them find me.
I blew their bubbles, I sailed their boats,
I kept them from each other's throats....

Full text here: https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/children-s-party/

I've used it as a party piece occasionally

pinno

twist83 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Toots party's...activities.

WOW you sound fun

But that's the whole point; it's not about fun any more. You pay for someone to lay on the fun. When I were a lad...('ere we go), children's parties were at someone's house and the adults got stuck in and laid on silly games. It was a social event for both children and the adults. Now it's contrived, the same, there's little socialising and parents are under pressure financially and socially to lay something on that's a little 'bigger' and 'better' than the last one and so on.

mrfpb

Pinno wrote:

twist83 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Toots party's...activities.

WOW you sound fun

But that's the whole point; it's not about fun any more. You pay for someone to lay on the fun. When I were a lad...('ere we go), children's parties were at someone's house and the adults got stuck in and laid on silly games. It was a social event for both children and the adults. Now it's contrived, the same, there's little socialising and parents are under pressure financially and socially to lay something on that's a little 'bigger' and 'better' than the last one and so on.

We've hit on a formula that's a hit with my kids friends and their parents.

Organise a sleepover party limited to 4 or 5 friends (depending on space). Have snacks/pizza and a movie if wanted (my lot never watch the movie). Take the group out for a late night walk in the woods or somewhere else rural with torches. If you can fit in a bit of stargazing or get hold of a bat detector that makes it interesting (though, bumping into a herd of cows on the local common proved too interesting the first time we did this). Anyway have a few minutes with the lights off looking and listening. Get back home, have hot chocolate and marshmallows, and all to bed. The walk makes them tired enough to get them to sleep quickly and cuts down the late night chatter, and the kids tend to be enthusiastic about it the next day. Cake can be had with pizza the night before or put in a party bag to take home.

pinno

Yep, we do our own parties for my 6 and 4 year old (not quite the age for sleep overs yet). It's just responding to the obligation to accept invites.
Must have been to two dozen parties in the last 30 months or so and none of them have been 'bespoke', at a house or different.

I think the local populace has something to do with it - you see; they're thick and unimaginative (most of them).

mrfpb

Another hit in our house was when my youngest asked for a water fight and barbecue party for her 6th birthday. We collected around 40 Lucozade sport bottles to use as minio water pistols and those water ballons, plus gathered as many water super soakers from our extended family as we could. Getting all the ammo set up took awhile, but it was great fun.

bompington

... doesn't work so well when you live in Scotland and your kids have birthdays in January, February and March though!

mrfpb

bompington wrote:

... doesn't work so well when you live in Scotland and your kids have birthdays in January, February and March though!

Put on yer vest, or do it indoors.

cowsham

itboffin wrote:

earth wrote:

Cash machines that offer you choices such as cash with receipt, cash with no receipt, view balance ... You choose cash with no receipt and then it asks you if you want to view your balance and then if you want a receipt. If I wanted that then I would have choosen that option. :x

I can top that cash machines that ask you what denomination of notes you want, hard enough when sober let alone 12 hours into a Belgium beer drinking session

I can top that's too -- tonight a cash machine asked me whether I thought Teresa May would still be PM on Friday? I thought -- "nosey barsteward" -- happens at the end of the transaction -- I just pulled the money out and left. Annoying !

bompington

mrfpb wrote:

bompington wrote:

... doesn't work so well when you live in Scotland and your kids have birthdays in January, February and March though!

Put on yer vest, or do it indoors.

or have sledging & snowholing (yes really) parties

capt_slog

mrfpb wrote:

bompington wrote:

... doesn't work so well when you live in Scotland and your kids have birthdays in January, February and March though!

Put on yer vest, or do it indoors.

That's just triggered a memory.

When i was a kid, my circle of friends used to have birthdays around Christmas to March, except for one kid whose birthday was in June. I always thought his birthday parties were always crap because we never stayed inside and played decent games.

veronese68

Insincere customer service in the American style. I was reminded of it by this article. When we went on holiday to California the best service was in a place that claimed it was rude to staff. Nearly didn't go in because we thought it would be a bit naff. We were served by a lovely woman, a touch younger than me but older than the other staff. She wasn't rude at all, I was so grateful for the lack of false pleasantries and what I considered normal service.

cowsham

Veronese68 wrote:

Insincere customer service in the American style. I was reminded of it by this article. When we went on holiday to California the best service was in a place that claimed it was rude to staff. Nearly didn't go in because we thought it would be a bit naff. We were served by a lovely woman, a touch younger than me but older than the other staff. She wasn't rude at all, I was so grateful for the lack of false pleasantries and what I considered normal service.

How did you get the word "this " to resolve to the link?

TheBigBean

Cowsham wrote:

How did you get the word "this " to resolve to the link?

You can see when you quote it like you did. Remove space after first square bracket.

[ url=http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/american-customer-service-friendly-hotels-usa-holidays-travel-a7774936.html]this[/url]