revtothelimit - motorbike forum

MrLongbeard wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:13 pm Dreams pillows!!!!! ok so I know I said you're a long time dead and to spend spend spend, but by jiggery they take the piss.
Best pillow I've ever had was from Amazon surprisingly enough, after a Dreams one lasted all but 2 years, ASIN: B0B18H4D1R

in their defence, i'm pretty sure we bought this last one before the lad was born, so it's had a heck of a life.. I can't argue with that side of things.

I'm very very fussy with pillows and take my own anytime we go away.

weeksy wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:18 pm I'm very very fussy with pillows and take my own anytime we go away.

Same, much to the chagrin of the missus.

MrLongbeard wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:13 pm Dreams pillows!!!!! ok so I know I said you're a long time dead and to spend spend spend, but by jiggery they take the piss.
Best pillow I've ever had was from Amazon surprisingly enough, after a Dreams one lasted all but 2 years, ASIN: B0B18H4D1R

You're a long time dead, but before that you're a long time bed (and sleeping soundly, hopefully).

I'm happy to cough up for a decent feather/down pillow (John Lewis ) and 2 or 3 years at a push is the max before replacement. (Tried washing and tumble drying the ones that are supposed to be ok but domestic tumble driers are way too small and I haven't seen a launderette for about 10 years!).

We have an app for work and all the transfers come through to each drivers phone

Today I got tomorrow’s transfer which made zero sense. (Three ClubMed pick ups over 10 hours but no stations or airports )

So I text the boss for clarification. His reply “have you read the driver notes?”

Well, I cannot see any driver notes anywhere on the app for this job. So no. Since I replied with the info that I can’t see any driver notes, radio silence.

So tomorrow, I know where I have to go first and second. But no idea where I have to go inbetween the second and third that will take 8 hours!!!

FFS

Range anxiety! I've said too much...

Taipan wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:15 pm Range anxiety! I've said too much...

Bought an EV then?

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:16 pm

Taipan wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:15 pm Range anxiety! I've said too much...

Bought an EV then?

Or he's forgotten his wallet for the commute again.

I've made my decision about my job - just have to sort out another one first.

But even so, some things do still push the wrong buttons. A couple of months ago my boss said we would all get together to discuss holidays (him, his wife, office manager and me as the only full time people).

I knew (cos she told me whilst whinging about not having had a holiday since 2nd July last year) a few weeks ago that the office manager has a couple of weeks holiday in May (she's about 25 so her responses to work stuff are not always particularly mature). But I thought, ok, I'll talk to the boss towards the end of the season about my time off. But then I made a different decision so holiday time is less important.


Today the office manager sent me a load of jobs for tomorrow so I pointed out that I would have to cancel some appointments if they were definite - her response? Oh, I forgot tomorrow is Thursday (I'm day off tomorrow and Friday)

Then she says it might be difficult as the boss and his wife are on holiday and she is going on holiday on Thursday!!


Decision has been made but almost everyday something happens to solidify this


Yet, I suspect he'll still be surprised when I tell him my decision - either that or he's trying to make me leave, in which case win-win as I get to leave earlier

Was chatting to my niece's husband at the weekend. He's a nice bloke, a bit older than her and was made redundant a few weeks back. He's now found work with another employer and was telling me how happy he is there and that the owner of the company has made a number of positive comments re his performance and how he's making a positive difference. Was pleased for him.

Got me thinking and I can't recall getting any positive feedback from my gaffer for ages. I know it's a bit needy, but getting some feedback on your performance is good either way, put the odd comment for a job well done goes a long way.

Actually, the last time was at the end of last year when he gave me a shit pay rise but made up for it by telling me a I do a good job...

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:47 pm Was chatting to my niece's husband at the weekend. He's a nice bloke, a bit older than her and was made redundant a few weeks back. He's now found work with another employer and was telling me how happy he is there and that the owner of the company has made a number of positive comments re his performance and how he's making a positive difference. Was pleased for him.

Got me thinking and I can't recall getting any positive feedback from my gaffer for ages. I know it's a bit needy, but getting some feedback on your performance is good either way, put the odd comment for a job well done goes a long way.

Actually, the last time was at the end of last year when he gave me a shit pay rise but made up for it by telling me a I do a good job...

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

He's telling you he knows you're not planning on leaving.

"Flight risk".

In fairness, currently zero.

gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:47 pm Was chatting to my niece's husband at the weekend. He's a nice bloke, a bit older than her and was made redundant a few weeks back. He's now found work with another employer and was telling me how happy he is there and that the owner of the company has made a number of positive comments re his performance and how he's making a positive difference. Was pleased for him.

Got me thinking and I can't recall getting any positive feedback from my gaffer for ages. I know it's a bit needy, but getting some feedback on your performance is good either way, put the odd comment for a job well done goes a long way.

Actually, the last time was at the end of last year when he gave me a shit pay rise but made up for it by telling me a I do a good job...

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

This is one of the issues with my job. Maybe twice in three winters he's said something positive to me.

But now I'm at the point that i'm scared to ask a question or to ask for clarification in case he gets pissy/speaks to me like I'm an imbecile/shouts - I'll take no praise over being scared. The two combined are a seriously shit combination!!

gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:47 pm Was chatting to my niece's husband at the weekend. He's a nice bloke, a bit older than her and was made redundant a few weeks back. He's now found work with another employer and was telling me how happy he is there and that the owner of the company has made a number of positive comments re his performance and how he's making a positive difference. Was pleased for him.

Got me thinking and I can't recall getting any positive feedback from my gaffer for ages. I know it's a bit needy, but getting some feedback on your performance is good either way, put the odd comment for a job well done goes a long way.

Actually, the last time was at the end of last year when he gave me a shit pay rise but made up for it by telling me a I do a good job...

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

It's office life.

My pet hate was end of year reviews. Part of the form was a section that started something like "how has your minion performed this year". Every manager I had insisted that I had to fill it out, so it always started "Pirahna has had another exemplary year, completeing xy&z ahead of time and well within budget, going above and beyond etc, etc. His pay rise this year will be well deserved and should be in the region of 7 to 9%.

Nobody every queried it, I doubt anyone ever read it and I never got the pay rises I deserved. Nobody really cares. If you leave the next person steps up to take your place, a few months later nobody remembers you were there.

Pirahna wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:54 pm
Nobody every queried it, I doubt anyone ever read it and I never got the pay rises I deserved. Nobody really cares. If you leave the next person steps up to take your place, a few months later nobody remembers you were there.

A friend was taking early retirement and was fretting about how they'd manage without him.

'Mon ami' sez I 'Most jobs are like sandcastles, build 'em as impressive as you like, tide comes in/goes out, new people on the beach won't even know it had ever been there. 12 months time people will be looking at documents with your name on and wondering who you were'.

I don't think I cheered him up much.

Last 10 years of my working career I told the truth. At these appraisals I said I only work hard enough so you can't sack me.

They pushed me too hard...

They made me ill and I was off 2 years sick.
One year back at work and they knew they were in the shit so paid me off with a year's salary.

I'd planned to retire the next year so they paid me to do trackdays and plan our life here.

Pirahna wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:54 pm

gremlin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:47 pm Was chatting to my niece's husband at the weekend. He's a nice bloke, a bit older than her and was made redundant a few weeks back. He's now found work with another employer and was telling me how happy he is there and that the owner of the company has made a number of positive comments re his performance and how he's making a positive difference. Was pleased for him.

Got me thinking and I can't recall getting any positive feedback from my gaffer for ages. I know it's a bit needy, but getting some feedback on your performance is good either way, put the odd comment for a job well done goes a long way.

Actually, the last time was at the end of last year when he gave me a shit pay rise but made up for it by telling me a I do a good job...

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

It's office life.

My pet hate was end of year reviews. Part of the form was a section that started something like "how has your minion performed this year". Every manager I had insisted that I had to fill it out, so it always started "Pirahna has had another exemplary year, completeing xy&z ahead of time and well within budget, going above and beyond etc, etc. His pay rise this year will be well deserved and should be in the region of 7 to 9%.

Nobody every queried it, I doubt anyone ever read it and I never got the pay rises I deserved. Nobody really cares. If you leave the next person steps up to take your place, a few months later nobody remembers you were there.

I worried far less about what my boss thought, as opposed to my team. They did step level reviews. My team apparently thought I was a great boss, so all was dandy come pay rise and bonus. On the other hand,my boss was an utter twerp. He eventually got found out and resigned.

Buckaroo wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 11:07 pm

I worried far less about what my boss thought, as opposed to my team.

Same.

My team is much reduced, like many things these days. I make a point of trying to find a positive comment for each one in our mandatory monthly meetings. Nothing grandiose, just a 'This went well, so nice on X.' or 'Y worked his nuts off to deliver this, so please make sure you follow this new procedure'.

I can't give them massive bonuses nor pay rises, but I think the 'verbal strokes', as psychologists call them, go a long way.

gremlin wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 9:27 am I don't want to be that old duffer who moans about the price of going out, but feck me senseless...

We went on a dog walk to Cooling on the Thames estuary on Saturday. Walked a circular route from a fairly non-descript pub, so decided to grab a quick drink and a sandwich on our return as it was lunchtime. A 'Fish goujon baguette' rocked in £13.95. Granted it was cooked fresh, proper batter and stuff, but it wasn't exactly hanging off the wooden serving platter (plates seem to have disappeared from restaurants these days) and came with precisely feck-all in terms of sides. No chips, no salad, no crisps... My beef baguette was no less petite and came in at 12.95. Veritable bargain compared to the fish option.

I'm not accusing the bloke in the pub of ripping people off. He has overheads, which I'm sure have rocketed, but it gets to the point where you begrudge going out, such is the cost.

On a similar note, Mrs. G. booked a meal for six of us to go to Colonel Saab, a poncey Indian restaurant just of Trafalgar Square in a couple of weeks. I took a look at the menu, more to see what was on offer, but I couldn't help but notice the prices being a tad on the toppy side. I did suggest we bin it off, but deposit has been paid, plus part of me thinks, 'Stop being such a tight-fisted fecker'.

I'm convinced that most of the problem with being an old duffer and prices, is that we can remember when it was a lot less.
At the same time, in my late teens, early twenties, my wage woud struggle to hit 600 quid after tax etc. Now my passive income is over 900 !?

I'm still convalescing with my folks. I am being charged rent, I am paying for the electric I use.
Once a week, we'll go out for dinner or get take away, I always pay, because A it's nice and B it's my idea. Similarly, when I, on occasion, buy food for the house, it's stuff I want (salmon, eggs, wasabi peas etc) so I pay for it, and I absolutely do not care who eats it.

Saga Lout wrote: Mon May 27, 2024 4:48 pm Car main dealer trying to rip me off. (Surprise )
Last year I bought a manufacture approved used car, so it had 12 months manufacturer warranty. Recently, when it was due a service and MOT I took it to my local main dealer, mostly so that if there were any warranty issues there would be no arguments because an unauthorised mechanic serviced it. The MOT came back with advisories for front and read brake discs, they also said it needed rear. brake pads. The "service advisor" gave me the price for the front and rear brake jobs separately, I think now that was to try to disguise how expensive they were. It was something like £350 for the front discs and £550 for the rear discs and pads, i.e. about £900 but if you say £300ish and £500ish it doesn't sound so much. I took the car to a recommended local mechanic who quoted less than £450.
So I dropped the car off one morning and later got a phone call from a puzzled mechanic asking why I wanted the brakes changed. He started the job, took the first wheel off and there's nothing wrong with the disc. He checked the other three and there's nothing wrong there either.
That's one main dealer who won't be getting any more of my business.

MOT time again. This time there was nothing wrong with the discs that the main dealer's MOT guy said were "worn, pitted or scored" last year. They must have repaired themselves.

Clean MOT, no advisories.

Hay fever.

At least that's my self diagnosis. Only started to get it a handful of years ago and I now seem to be in the middle of max pollen load of whatever tree(s) kick it off. The Shark room air filter helps at night but I've just dug out a Sterimar 'purified sea water' (ie saline ) schnoz spray. Hallelujah! I can breathe through both nostrils again.

Might have to start wearing a face mask again.