Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Motorway 'service' stations, that aren't anywhere near the motorway, but several roundabouts/traffic lights away, down a never ending minor road ( and the toilets are closed..)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So much this.

You can’t beat an O.G. service area, conceived when the network was originally built, with its own dedicated exit slipway.

There’s a couple of particularly egregious examples of service areas sharing main junctions I have the occasional displeasure of using … the worst IMO is Exeter services off the M5, which lurks beyond two massive, multi-lane, traffic light controlled roundabouts. Hell on earth.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Lol Exeter was exactly the one I experienced!

Gloucester services, is heaven on earth, more like a nature reserve with farm shop/grass roof :)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Fruit trees round the back on the dog-walking trail too. Apples and greengages are just about coming into season. As you can tell, I like a trip into the southwest at this time of year ;)

Gloucester services are run by the Dunning family which owns Tebay in Cumbria and also Cairn Lodge on the M74 in South Lanarkshire, amongst other stuff. We try to time our stops around them, to the dismay of my kids who despise the artisan cola in the cafe and shop (though we’ve since learned you can get regular corporate colas in the filling station shops :D).

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Oh how a day can turn to shit

Started great out early fast bike ride got a puncture fixed roadside. Then a taxi passenger opens the door and hits my bike. I get home to find my dog collapsed and could not get up. Got him on his feet and he seemed ok but that did not last. A trip to the emergency vet and he did not come home. I am heartbroken

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Heartbroken for you, such awful news

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

All the best mate :(

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Sorry to read about your doggie :(

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So very very sorry for your loss

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So sorry Jay.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So sorry Jay, you have been together for such a long time. Hugs can't really help I know but I'm still sending them. xx

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Sorry for your loss Jay.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Thanks all. Been a strange day

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I am so sorry to hear of your sad news. My heart goes out to you.:(:(:(

I am so sorry honey........ Your dog knew how much ya loved him.........

Dogs become part of the family and it hurts when they leave......

I am so sorry Jay https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2022/07/3.gif

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I was on the tube earlier and this one guy either kept playing his ringtone or he was receiving calls but what wasn't normal was it was a loud ringtone and he wouldn't answer. Piss take.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Trying my hand at fixing PS5 Dualsense stick drift, bought all the necessary tools and replacement parts but I've now hit a brick wall because I am having trouble removing the old solder from the PCB through hole plated holes! This is something I thought I'd be able to do with 22 years soldering experience but obviously not!!! I'll try ordering a little leaded solder rather than lead free to see if that helps but I'm very disappointed as these controllers are expensive.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

At work we've had 1,000 days without a RIDDOR reportable incident.


So the gave us a BBQ, the only 2 major problems I has where:


1 all meat was Halal (which I object to due to animal cruelty.)


2 and there were no sausages, obviously due to Halal meat being the only option.


A BBQ isn't a BBQ with out sausages in rolls

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Having seeing with my own eyes what happens in traditional slaughter houses I would not say Halal is any worse tbh

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

The company I work for is very inclusive, more so so than any I’ve known and it’s never been an issue to me but this Friday we have a company-wide BBQ and music event this Friday.

You’ve just put serious worries in my head now…..then again I’ve had naff-all appetite since Ozempic started so it might not be an issue.

Or I could just stick to the burgers :D

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Look on the bright side you're now in employment again that must be a relief after so many years without it, I hope it's going OK.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

The jobs OK, I'm still a temp, but I don't know if I want to go permanent, there's too much BS going on, plus in recent week 5 Front Line Managers have quit.


I was eying up become the admin for my department (its a managers job, but no title and money), but as I said to many BS politics.


I flip between staying temp and going permanent.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I rarely have sausages on my braais, I may cook some 'wors but usually prefer to smoke larger cuts for longer.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Daughter is on holiday till the 4th August in the US her friend in the same block of flats she lives in sent her images of a letter everyone was given today. This letter is a Fire Prohibition Notice saying they have to vacate the property by 4pm on the 4th due to lack of fire protection between the flat no fire alarm system and no escape plan in place. For this to be rectified in time the management company needs to sort out the fire alarm system and escape plan the other will take ages and cost a fortune. They have known about this for a month and done nothing

I have called the Fire Protection and was told they will be allowed in after the 4th just not sleep their or use any appliances of shower .

Imagine getting this kinda news at the start of their dream family holiday

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Company forcing Windows 11 on us today, laptop just started an upgrade.

Last time they did this (W7 > W10) I was offline for 2 weeks as it bricked my laptop, and took them 2 weeks to replace it ....

I hope everything goes OK this time!!

They should not do that!!

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So this is your employer and not Microsoft forcing this?

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Properly configured , Microsoft cannot force 10-11 upgrades

Paul, should be painless

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I know that is why I said

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Sorry took your post in the wrong context

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Correct.

---------- Post added at 22:09 ---------- Previous post was at 22:07 ----------

TBH, it mostly was, took somewhere just over an hour.
A few visual treaks are needed, but at least its functional.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Needing to get travel insurance so went to the first specialist agent for preexisting conditions. Price for 2 weeks in Greece was £270. I called them to see if my catheters would be covered, ie if luggage is lost would I be able to get a supply? No. What's the point then?
Went to an alternative and for £130 they told me on the catheters would be covered. I hope we don't have to test it.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Yet another letter from a company pushing cheap burials.

Yes I'm 71 but don't feel like popping off just yet thankyou.

oh, and they don't even offer a free pen or £10 gift card voucher :(

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Carth: The next stage is the mobility aid brochure!
Mobility scooter and stair lifts are the favourites, not as yet for me at 78yrs young!

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I felt the same as you raging bull at your age, but sudddenly it seems when
I turned 80 things started to go down hill. i hope for your sake this is not the case, like Mr T who is a healthy 89 in November and looks after me. :)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Do you want a guide dog? SnoopZ is really good at guidance.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Discovered the new word for 'crap' today, apparently its been replaced by 'suboptimal' ..

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

That sounds a bit Suboptimal ....

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Get with the times, grandad - I was using this around 17 years ago if one of our systems implementations didn't launch in a timely and/or usable manner.

"I'm sorry, but the "Go Live" was sub-optimal..." :D

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Would never be cheap enough, why should my family have to pay to dispose of my corpse? If they want to fine but I would rather the money is used to pay for the celebration and wake. I know some people and communities believe in honouring the body of the deceased, and I know that this can be an important part of grieving so I do not want to belittle those for whom funerals or cremations are important.
I also know bodies can be left to science but that isn't always easy and what if you die away from home or move? You have to rearrange things. I'd like to have any bits of me that can be used to save lives to be used to do so, anything else used for research at whatever unit is closest to my place of death and anything remaining just got rid of, I'm not needing it anymore.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I have a seller only willing to send stuff to collection points, generally convenience shops, because of claims other buyers hadn't received their purchases. Fair enough I still want to purchase. What's funny is the seller going to such lengths to avoid such activity to only be dealt with a blow. Yodel say my parcel is ready to collect at the chosen collection point so I make my way yesterday evening to only be told there is no parcel for me to collect. :LOL: The staff member at the collection point said try tomorrow. :rolleyes: what a total waste of time. :(

Ever felt like you've taken a low blow even though there's buyer protection. I want my damn purchase! :mad:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

How strange today it's available to pick up :nutter:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

ouch!

Something that seems very likely to be a Kidney Stone, causing a fair bit of pain and discomfort in a delicate part of my (male) anatomy :bigcry:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

mine presented as testicular pain. Was refereed to surgical assessment that had me worried but it turned out to be a kidney stone stuck in my ureter on its way to my bladder. 2 days intense pain then a pop feeling as it passed into my bladder. Never know relief like it

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Our GP surgery is on a narrow backstreet, Opposite is a pub car park that the landlord allows patients to use.

I wanted to turn into that car park, but an idiot was sat in his car blocking the entrance. I opened my window and told him, nicely, that he could park on the pub car park, but all I got was abuse. But he shifted quickly when I got out of my car to help the missus get out. I think he thought I was going for him.

Sat in the car, in the pub car park, I wasn't surprised by the aggro on the road to the way other drivers had parked, taking up 2 slots, parking diagonally, mounting the kerb to get into a slot or totally blocking the road as they nipped-into the surgery "just for a minute".

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

spent yesterday afternoon listening to K pop, my granddaughter thinks it's brilliant i on the other hand had to pretend i liked it ;)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

It's what woke people are listening to, I know you secretly enjoyed embracing your inner woke even just for 1 afternoon ;).

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Bear with me as I'm sure this will affect you too.

My GP which I considered quite good. If I need an appointment I'd call up at 8am and if I'm lucky I'll speak to someone within around 10-20min and will get an appointment that day. Could be a telephone call or in person. And if you didn't want to wait, they had a call back system where you will be held in the queue and they'll call you back when you're next in line.

Now there's a 'NEW' system. I did not know about this, so yesterday I had a problem with by B12. I ordered it and they future dated it to when I could collect it. As it can be hard to get hold of, it meant that the timing of ordering and actually collecting it could mean I won't get it in time for the healthcare assistant (home visit) to administer it.

So I called the GP up to see if I can get it earlier....

You are Number 16 in the queue... -Eh? This is a Thursday 12.30pm where normally it's quiet and you'd get through within around 5-10mins.

1 hour 5 mins later I get through, I explained my query and they sorted it out there and then. I was told I will also need to send an email to stop the issue from happening in future.

I asked why it has taken 1hr 5min to get through, they told me they have a 'NEW' system that you can now book online. And this system will free up the telephone lines... I replied 'I've been waiting for 65 minutes, so how is that working out for you'?? - The response was if you have a complaint take it up with the practice manager....

I asked if you're still using the 'Call back' feature and they said 'No'. I asked if it will be back and I got a straight 'No idea'... So I said I'd have to wait then obviously.

After the call I went online to check out this new system using SystemOnline...

I clicked on Appointments - Book appointments - and a drop down menu of dates came up. I chose every date right up to November and it just comes up with 'There are no sessions that meet the search criteria'.

So the only option I have is to call them up....

I also need to make an appointment as requested. They can sod off if I have to go through all that crap. And if I only had the use of a landline the cost of the call would certainly stop me from from calling. Don't get me started on all the bumph before you even get to making your choice, this can take 2-3 minutes alone and if it's on a landline that's costly even before you get to be in the queue.

Today on GMTV, the ticker tape says 'GPs in England have voted to challenge plans to allow patients to request appointments online rather than having to call'

As soon as you hear upgrade, new system, new recipe, new this or that, updated, upgraded you just know things are now going or have gone to shit.

Edit....

It's now 8.10am and I'm calling to see if I can now make a new appointment.... Again usually takes 10-20 mins to get through and speak to someone and usually in queue of around 4-5 people. Otherwise you'd get the engaged tone...(no charge)... After waiting 2.5min of 'if you're coughing up blood' etc etc blah blah blah, I am now in the queue and No 18 !. This is to the actually surgery and not a call center that triage. So 'freeing' up the telephone lines etc and a new system, just isn't working.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Our Surgery uses an online system called "Patches" to request appointments - you put in your symptoms (using drop down menus), and press "send"; this then gets triaged by the Doctors, and you either get a call back (which can lead to an appointment) or an appointment.

This has worked well for us the last couple of times we’ve used it…

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

They do that at mine too. Made my last app a lot better seeing as I did not have to tell the receptionist about the bleeding from my bottom hahaha ( just hidden farmer giles)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Ours is the only surgery in the city that still hasn't activated the online booking and prescription service. Nothing will make them budge, as it will cost them to train staff and make the system live.

And they are the only surgery that hasn't made online transfer of scripts to the pharmacy live.

Many have complained to local MPs and councillors, and even the Health Authority, but "nothing can be done as they are run by a private company".

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Leave a lovely review on Google ;)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

"I broke into <name of surgery> last week and was quite disappointed. I expected computers, laptops, mobile phones, and expensive state of the art medical equipment, but they had nothing of value. I shall not be burgling that place again, what a waste of my time. 1/10 . . and the 1 is only because they left a window open for me"

:D

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I have tried for the 4th time to send off the lad's unused VM Tivo, but yet again the "scanner" is not working to book it in to Yodel.

I was warned that the two other places nearest to us are also out of order.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I had kit collected by local VM staff. Call in tell them what's up. If I remember correctly I had a choice of prepaid returns packaging or collection.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Youtube, and their removal of the 'auto play' button for (music) videos. - there's a fix, but it's a pain to do for every damn video.

Add to that, they create a 'playlist' that shoves stuff you probably don't want to watch/listen to into the mix - which also auto plays.

30 minutes of faffing around to find 2 extensions for Vivaldi that will hopefully give me back some control.

:mad: :grind:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I told them I am ill and they never chased to get it back

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

They sent me an email saying that the kit is valued at £90, and I would be billed for that amount if I didn't return it.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

yeah they hit me with that I called em told em I hardly leave the house it was when I was still 30 stone so I was not lying and they said they could not arrange a pick up so she put me on this disabled thing and said send it back when you can it has sat in my spare room ever since and I have heard nothing

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Very nice for the box too, having a room to itself....
Stick it on ebay, some mug will buy it ;)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I don't know where Evri have delivered my parcel. Oh well I'll open a case tomorrow. The GPS stamp and delivery picture doesn't match my home.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

i got an attempted delivery notice from them last week with a photo of some random roundabout taken from a car window

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I've had an email to say that Evri will deliver by 16:30. It is now 17:18, and no sign of it yet.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

You may get more info if you install their app if it tracks the driver.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I got a good relationship with my evri driver which I thinks helps. Gary is his name he said something first parcel and I cracked a joke and we been friendly ever since so I have had all mine hahaha

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I don't have a smartphone to put an app on. A neighbour came over this morning to tell me that someone had been lurking at the side of our home just after midnight.

I had a look and there was the package that EVRI had delivered, hours late and without ringing the doorbell.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

He/she/they were maybe worried about delivering it in daytime in case you asked him/her/they to show their new ID card :rofl:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I had a toaster delivered (Handed to the resident) not me.


I did get a quick refund.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

The Uni year has started, and once again, the whole area has become a car park for them.

Legal, but annoying to (some) residents.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

You live in a really dodgy area don't you based on what you have said in the past, even smart meters don't work. I'm not sure I'd survive I need my peace and quiet and nothing to moan about because it would stress me out.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

My right ear is not working. It feels like there's a concrete block. I've had the ear visually checked by a nurse with a second opinion both of which agreed they could see the ear drum. I've got an appointment to see a paramedic Wednesday morning at my GP. I can hear out of my right ear as if I was under water. It's horrible having your senses not functioning :(

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

It could be a buildup of gunge in the middle ear. Mucous and phlegm can get in via the Eustachian tubes which open at the back of the throat. I have many friends who had temporary grommets inserted into their ear drum to solve this.

"Don't blow your nose with your mouth shut" I was advised.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

It does feel like there's something on the other side of my ear drum, the inside of the ear. The nurses and doctor advised steroids, Beconase but that's done nothing.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Beconase spray can be blocked if you have heavy snot in the nose and nasal cavity.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Trump would probably recommend clearing the blockage with the use of a small funnel, some petrol, and a lit match :erm:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

You say that. My left nostril is wide open I can stick my little finger all the way in but my right is blocked by bone. I like bogies :o: the right nostril irritates me :mad:

All the bogies were obliterated. It was a proud day in American history.

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2025/09/3.gif

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Prior to leaving the RAF I was sent to the naval hospital in Plymouth to have a deviated septum straightened, so I was able to use both nostrils for the first time in over a decade after a rugby incident.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

You had a bent nose :shocked: love Rugby :D but I'm more in tune with football :)

We'll see tomorrow what they want to do. If the path up my nose is obstructed I guess they either get around it or do something about it.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

:no:

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2025/09/4.gif

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Only internally, not noticeable on the outside, except when I got a bit bunged-up and started whistling through the reduced side.

In the RAF anyone on the base who developed a stuffy nose was asked to take various doses of Pseudoephedrine, with a view of finding a dosage that could be used by pilots and aircrew without them bouncing around inside the aircraft. A few doses had me wide awake for a couple of days at a time. :shocked:

Whilst I was taking it, I dried up so much that my Eustachian tubes were bone dry. Perhaps they will try that in your case?

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Windows Update.

During a gaming session

Must remember to look for a Registry hack that kills it for good, the 'pauses' on offer are no use to me.

:mad: :afire:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Just stop and disable start up of the update service or stop it in group policy

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I seem to remember disabling it in services once and the little bugger came back.

Just done it again though, and will try the Command Prompt method if it doesn't work

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I hate that Windows has all those reboots when it applies updates. With Linux you have to reboot for kernel and some system library updates to use the new versions but it's not normally forced and it only happens once. Some updates need a logout/in or restart an app. Some Linux systems can even patch running kernels. Shame Microsoft haven't done the same in all these years. (I know there are likely technical reasons why but the point I'd make is why not fix or change things so it can patch without needing multiple reboots.)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

So the paramedic had a look and concluded theres cloudy discharge in my right ear. The left has some residue which may be Otex. I've been put on Amoxicillin 500mg for a week. He advised taking ibuprofen as well for inflammation. And carry on with Beconase, which is slow acting so I need to keep at it.

If it doesn't clear I need to return to my GP :(

I had a flu jab while waiting for Amoxicillin £18 + £9.90 prescription :woot: the pharmacy wanted an extra £2.50 for ibuprofen 24 tablets :LOL: Tesco express is cheaper £0.39

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

If you've got W10, not long till you won't be interrupted by updates. :)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I’ve disabled windows update in services stop any updates as when I’ve tried the new update I had major issues with media when played via TV out. So had no choice but to revert back. (24h2 video stuttering problem).

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

you did a clean GFX driver install of either new or older version?

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Yeah I tried everything. Seems to be a common issue but no real solution to it. On the monitor video is fine, no issues. Drag it across to the tv and it stutters. Weird issue one that I couldn’t live with.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

does the tv have HDR enabled? either on the tv or the pc settings. Had discussions on updates with Win 10 and how the chances of any vulnerability being exploited is so tiny it really is nothing to worry about anyway as I am sure you are already aware

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Nope all HDR stuff was off. Both pc and tv.

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Bah .... Power cut this morning (3.40 am).
Waited a while to see if it came back, but eventually went to bed.
Looks like it was restored at around 4.30 am
For some reason my PC didnt boot up again when power was restored, need to investigate that. :(

I had my dog on the table next to me (She is small) and there was an ant crawling on the table.. I put some of what I was eating next to the Ant thinking she must be hungry...... My dog was licking my bowl clean then she saw what I put on the table and she licked that up!!

NOT ONLY THAT....... SHE ATE THE ANT!! (It got licked up with the hamburger piece)

I felt aweful......... I wanted to help the poor thing not kill her!!

I hope the universe doesnt look down on me for this death.... I didnt do it on purpose...... :(

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

What on earth, you cannot be serious? You were trying to feed an ant??

Also a dog was up on the table, where you were eating? That is so unsanitary, that story sounds so ridiculous I can't tell if you are on the wind up or not :erm::confused:

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I'm starting to think you're a troll or just completely crazy!

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Could be both? ;)

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Don't worry the dog has probably had it's shots so it will survive

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

Was scrolling X the other day and a video autoplayed. It was the murder of Iryna Zarutska it literally took seconds for the video to play the whole incident leaving me feeling awful for various reasons. I already feel outrage for what happened to the poor girl and sick that people can do that to another person. I really did not want to see that video. I will no longer be using X and I wish I never used it because I can not unsee it and it is truly awful

Re: Moans and Pet Hates
 

I always make sure to disable autoplay on videos on the social media apps like Facebook and X.