pH Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 More like 'getting them to do something you didn't for no extra money'. Dave. Dave, that was what I meant by 'sold'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted July 7, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7, 2011 That was it precisely - one of my own junior Sales Managers was given a fancy title, £2k more a year, and a better car, and I was given the order of the boot! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic56 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 That is something which irritates me greatly but alas the 'dump & run' syndrome seems to be getting worse. However in Reading I understand that the Parking Wardens are now patrolling car parks and ticketing any car which touches, let alone crosses over the white lines marking the sides of the parking bays - smashing idea that, good way of raising cash for the council as well in theses straitened times. Slight problem with that -- I swear some councils make the bays small on purpose to get more cars in----- or forget that cars are generally wider than they were say 5 to ten years ago . Being of a cynical nature I feel that number one is possibly the main reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Bay size is even more of an issue when you go to the supermarket and have to park in the bay next to one of those dirty great dodgems. You just know that when the driver returns she'll throw the door open bang right into yours! I've had a few scrapes and bumps in supermarket car parks next to these things! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic56 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Bay size is even more of an issue when you go to the supermarket and have to park in the bay next to one of those dirty great dodgems. You just know that when the driver returns she'll throw the door open bang right into yours! I've had a few scrapes and bumps in supermarket car parks next to these things! Dave. Had that last week on the way to change the car. Her excuse honest ---- did not see you I had my umbrella up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! luckily there was no mark on the car and the salesman did not try to make out there was one there which was`nt there before etc. I will not say what i nearly called her and said to her but the anglo saxon vocabulary was running through my mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Slight problem with that -- I swear some councils make the bays small on purpose to get more cars in.... A few years ago, some inner London boroughs got into trouble for making bays narrower than cars, and then ticketing drivers for not properly parking their cars... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Has anyone seen this piece of very mediocre news reporting from the BBC ? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14087578 Becoming increasingly exasperated by the shoddy state of the BBC's product for which I am charged quarterly for the privilege of using. I've posted this on another forum I visit The MPs' report said the DfT's handling of the contract termination had created a "moral hazard" and "potentially incentivised other holding companies with loss-making franchises to terminate, rather than renegotiate, their contract with the department, as they know doing so will cost them less and will not affect their ability to compete for other contracts". It would be nit picking to point out incomplete parentheses but switching tense half way through a confusing paragraph is really not good in these days of computerised tripewriting. As for this - basic ignorance of the subject in hand is totally inexcusable ; "The rail line is now being operated by the government". But what about this : When the company paid to walk away from the contract, the DfT turned down a £150m offer "in order to send a warning to other holding companies", Ms Hodge said". "National Express paid £120m to quit the loss-making franchise. The DfT rejected an extra £30m for a no-fault exit". Am I right in thinking that £120m + £30m in the second quote is the same £150m mentioned in the one above ? It is poor press in my opinion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted July 19, 2011 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 19, 2011 Cancel or postpone? People ring me up and tell me they want to cancel the job booked with them. OK I say, I'll cross you out. No, they say, I want you to come at the same time next week if possible? That in my book means their postponing, not cancelling. My wife does it too. Kevin Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted July 19, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 19, 2011 Cancel or postpone? I get exactly the same in my job - I deal with people who move house, and have to generate orders to arrange facilities at their new address. Every day, I get calls from people who want to cancel the order, as the moving date has gone back - in fact what they want to do is to postpone the move - problem with the terminology is that once an order is cancelled it cannot be uncancelled, and one has to be very careful indeed to make sure that what is done is actually what the person wants/needs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 20, 2011 I'm not often a grumpy person, but I have to share this... Back in early May Mrs Stubby & I celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary. We decided to buy ourselves a new home computer, to replace the aging, creaking one. So I duly sought a supplier of bespoke machines, agreed a spec that would suit what we needed and late last week we took delivery. Now, nowhere in the 'let's get a new compter' did I understand there was a clause stating 'before installation of new computer, the office has to be completely redecorated' ! So not only have I lost valuable playing time, but also modelling time as well. Not a happy bunny. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2011 I'm not often a grumpy person, but I have to share this... Back in early May Mrs Stubby & I celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary. We decided to buy ourselves a new home computer, to replace the aging, creaking one. So I duly sought a supplier of bespoke machines, agreed a spec that would suit what we needed and late last week we took delivery. Now, nowhere in the 'let's get a new compter' did I understand there was a clause stating 'before installation of new computer, the office has to be completely redecorated' ! So not only have I lost valuable playing time, but also modelling time as well. Not a happy bunny. Should have read the small print. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 20, 2011 Now, nowhere in the 'let's get a new compter' did I understand there was a clause stating 'before installation of new computer, the office has to be completely redecorated' ! Oh we HAD to get a new desk and office type furniture from PIKEA when we got ours 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Now, nowhere in the 'let's get a new compter' did I understand there was a clause stating 'before installation of new computer, the office has to be completely redecorated' ! The idea of re-equiping the office with new furniture actually appeals to me. So seeing as my computer 'fitter' has earnestly "suggested" I buy a new PC as soon as possible, the viewing of wood worktops and drawers does have bags of appeal whereas buying a new PC is like buying a new saw blade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2011 I actually went the other way, as my office room was very small - I decided on a laptop, and removal of the computer desk from the room to release a bit of space - end result was the same - when the desk came out, the paintwork behind was so shabby that I had to redocorate the room anyway DOH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohmisterporter Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Now, nowhere in the 'let's get a new compter' did I understand there was a clause stating 'before installation of new computer, the office has to be completely redecorated' ! So not only have I lost valuable playing time, but also modelling time as well. Not a happy bunny. Was it not part of the marriage vows? You start decorating when you marry and only finish on the day you die. Geoff. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Chambers Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Dear friends,much as I dislike posting anything which could be construed as a moan, this I have to share(and the thread title does say "Grumpies"!) A new transport company just set up outside the village declares on its sign "Innovative supply chain solutions" Lord save us all. Almost as bad- a school minibus branded "We specialise in Education" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welly Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2011 The BBC website recently asked readers to nominate their most irritating Americanisms and made a list of the 50 most irritating! In at 22 is "train station"! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Yes but one of the so-called Americanisms in that list was used by Shakespeare........................... Some Americanisms date back to when they came over here from England and are more true than the evolved English words. Best, Pete. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Time for a Boris grump! If the 'phone rings at 22:00 you think its a family emergency or similar don't you? Nope, colleague at work, can you get me "document X" for next Tuesday please? Document X being a freely available piece of paper that can be picked up at numerous locations on site. There will be an eruption when I catch up with the beggar tomorrow, and not of the curry variety neither. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Hope you told him to X off... Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 The BBC website recently asked readers to nominate their most irritating Americanisms and made a list of the 50 most irritating! In at 22 is "train station"! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796 It amuses me to see how many words are blamed on being "Americanisms" that frankly I don't hear on this side of the pond. "Least worst option" and "two-time" are not common vernacular in the US. They're just bad grammar anywhere. Notably, five of the top 10 reported items show quotes from Holland, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. Picking on a few examples from the top 20, the on-line Oxford ENGLISH Dictionary lists as its first references ... for "deplane", a magazine printed in Edinburgh in 1923 for "physicality", a book printed in London in 1827 for "transportation", an ACT OF PARLIAMENT in 1540 for "gotten", the selected works of John Wyclif c1380 for "ridiculosity", a religious tract called "Church of English True Church" from 1645 et cetera. Americanisms? Perhaps not? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 It's the BBC trying to be superior, of course. Did you catch the Shakespearean "Americanism" ? I hope you put the ones you found into the "Reply" on the BBC site............. My daughter has just finished Middle School - her English education has been better than mine was at the same age. Best, Pete.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 20, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2011 The BBC website recently asked readers to nominate their most irritating Americanisms and made a list of the 50 most irritating! In at 22 is "train station"! I've said it before and I'll say it again: This is not a new "Americanism" as often quoted, it was in use in the UK in 1960s and possibly earlier. Rant over Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebottle Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) I hate to hear a man describe a woman as "plug-ugly". No matter how physically unattractive he may consider her, no gentleman would use such an offensive term for a woman. A recently-overheard example on a local train: "Did tha see that Frances de la Tour on't telly last neet? Tha knows, she were in 'Rising Damp' years ago. She were ploog-ugly then, and she's ploog-ugly now!" Needless to say the individual in question was no oil painting, and I was particularly irritated because I've always had a soft spot for the lady in question; no dolly-bird but a likeable presence on my TV screen. His friend restored my good opinion of South Yorkshire manhood by reproving him - though more gently than he deserved - "Ar - she speaks well o' thee..." Edited July 21, 2011 by bluebottle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 In amongst the poor grammar that is deplored everywhere, and the inevitable pronunciation* differences: z: zed / zee leverage: lee-ver-ig / lev-er-ig and word subsititutions**: shopping trolley / shopping cart full stop / period railway station / train station fringe / bangs ("bangs" is the 17th most noted Americanism? Really??) I did see a couple of words on the list that actually do resonate with me. The colloquial use of "alternate" (alter-nat, not all-ter-nate) instead of "alternative" in US English is irritating. At least no one posed the non-word "irregardless". * On the subject of pronunciations there are some English pronunciations that make me giggle. Everyone one says "innovation" the same way (inno-vay-shun), but right of the pond, "innovative" becomes in-of-at-iv rather than the more consistent inno-vay-tiv. ** In my formative years my parents were most particular about "rubbish" versus the American "trash". Receptacles for garbage are such a font of regional preferences. We have: dust bin, rubbish bin, garbage bin, trash can, garbage pail, wastepaper basket, rubbish tip, garbage dump, landfill, skip/dumpster, etc ... but "wheelie bin" is truly global! International English is a wellspring of entertainment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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