Grumpy old buggers thread

[NavyDiver]

A little bit of "Yes Minister" shenanigans. A couple of weeks ago, my wife received two cheques from the ATO. Today, she made a trip to our bank, to deposit them. The bank informed her that they no longer accept cheques, as the Government is phasing them out. She then spent two hours on the 'phone to the ATO and finally sorted things out.

New the DOGE in the USA saved nothing from Electric jesus didn't surprise me

Government Efficiency should be challenged. I thought the UK parking system with REGO entered and paid was very efficient Alas Not. My fun is funny for me happily

Very impressed with the parking system in Cardiff and elsewhere during the last two weeks in the UK. Entering the registration on your ticket machine 15:52 12/12/2025 and paying the 5 pounds was fine with me.


I mistakenly assumed that entering a vehicle’s registration into the ticket machine, combined with number plate recognition software, would allow for a very efficient and effective system—targeting only those who had not paid to park. Unfortunately, I now understand that your staff may not have access to this technology.


To be clear, I am not suggesting this is the fault of your parking officers. The issue lies with Swansea Council management and executives, who have failed to provide staff with the simple yet clever use of the data already supplied by people paying to park. This lack of integration undermines efficiency and fairness in enforcement. It cost you and taxpayers in Swansea money and time which would be better spent fining people who had not paid for parking.


Please note- It was dark and gloomy in the car park. I had clearly put my ticket upside down as shown by your parking officers photos. While this was my fault -the paid ticket was or should have been available to your parking officer. Your putting Advertising rubbish on the back of your valid parking tickets also had contributed to the error of it being upside down.


I have returned the hire car and returned to Australia. I have a whatapps or phone number if you would like to chat or email would be best for response.




Informal Challenge Form
Thank you for your correspondence, your reference number is: W257532510


Please keep this for your records, you will receive a response to your correspondence by post or email, within 10 working days (but this can take up to 28 working days during busy times), your case is on hold until a response is sent to you.

Not bagging the parking office

[Tins]

Sure, YouTube. Sure you will....

Screenshot 2025-12-16 at 1.58.36?pm.png

[RANDLOVER]

Merry X-mas as in Merry Cross-mas to all the GOB's.

[Saitch]

Bah. Humbug!

[AK83]

The old thread seems to be working for me. Perhaps I need to be grumpier.

With all your D2 gremlins, it seems to me that you've actually mellowed these past months!

Do we need a 'Mellow 'ol Buggers' thread too?

[Tins]

Aldi today has a bunch of Christmas cakes….alongside hot cross buns.

[TonyC]

Aldi today has a bunch of Christmas cakes….alongside hot cross buns.

So why have you put it here, it should be in market place alerts
Tony

[AK83]

….alongside hot cross buns.

I assume of the masticating kind ... and not like my missus's ... ummm ... you know ...

[Tins]

I assume of the masticating kind ... and not like my missus's ... ummm ... you know ...

I have a vague memory.

[windsock]

I bought a flash (and normally too damn expensive) 4D tv wall mount. Said on the box it was for 32" to 65" tv with weight specs and the tv I had is 40" and well within the weight so i bought it. It was on special so i could finally afford a decent wall mount.

Got it home, mounted it on the wall. Got the tv sorted flat on the table and I find my tv has what is called a VESA mount pattern 100mm by 100mm. Smallest vesa pattern the wall mount did was 200mm by 200mm. Instant buzz kill...



Had another close look at the box the wall mount came in and it stated no such mount pattern limitation - anywhere. In big prominent writing it stated suitable for 32" to 65" tv.



I'd have returned the wall mount in a real annoyed tone if I hadn't already mounted it to the wall, tearing open bags of screws and ripping out the pre-prepared drilling pattern etc.



A few hours later, calm had returned and I looked at the problem, decided I needed to make an adapter plate for between the tv and the mount. Didn't have the right thickness of steel anywhere and no aluminium plate or any offcuts even I wanted to cut into.

I finally figured out if I bought a cheap simple basic wall mount from the green shed I could use that as an adapter plate. TV is now mounted such that I can tilt and angle it to reduce glare etc and I can sit anywhere in the room and see it... but damn, what a rigamarole it was/is when the box says one thing and the worksite lays out another.