tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/I have an opinion about everything. I just wish I knew at least something about all the things on which I have an opinion!MokoFeed2009-11-21T07:48:03+01:00tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-11-04:/2009/11/04/are-fireworks-as-popular-as-they-once-were-are-we-7303868/grumpus2009-11-04T09:25:04+01:002009-11-04T23:26:59+01:00 <p>Are fireworks as popular as they once were?</p> <p>Do as many people have their own private fireworks display in the back garden?</p> <p>Is it because we see so many massive fireworks displays all year round, particularly on television, that the "Oooh - Aaah!!" factor has been dissipated?</p> <p>Are we all getting the Health and Safety bug?</p> <p>There seem to be plenty of public displays again this year, put on mainly I imagine by volunteers for charity, but the H&S influence gets ever stronger. Spectators kept well away from bonfires. Fireworks lit by licensed professionals and viewed only from a designated distance. Kiddies not allowed to bring their own sparklers into the arena.</p> <p>All a far cry from my youth when we rode round on our bikes chucking lighted bangers at each other! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2009/11/04/are-fireworks-as-popular-as-they-once-were-are-we-7303868/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-03-18:/2009/03/18/is-it-cheaper-to-get-your-water-from-the-telephone-company-5782450/grumpus2009-03-18T18:00:19+01:002009-03-18T18:00:19+01:00 <p>I buy my electricity from the Gas company! I buy my gas from the Electricity company! How stupid is that??</p> <p>The Gas company just phoned to persuade me to switch to buying my gas from them. Makes some sense. That's what I used to do before the IWRTC (Idiots Who Run The Country) opened the floodgates of stupidity and allowed anyone to sell anything to anybody!! </p> <p>Imagine the extra cost to the consumer of all the administration and accounting for this unnecessary, pointless and totally confusing cross-trading.</p> <p>Since the young man who phoned took care to advise me that the call would be recorded "for monitoring purposes, etc.", I took the opportunity to make my feelings known, in no uncertain terms, as to what I thought of being constantly pestered to switch from one supplier to another when their bills are so deliberatly complicated that it is impossible to tell if one is getting a better deal. </p> <p>Oh for the good old days, when you put a shilling in the meter or walked to the oil-shop for a gallon of parafin for the Valor heater or some candles. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/is-it-cheaper-to-get-your-water-from-the-telephone-company-5782450/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-03-18:/2009/03/18/gordon-brown-caused-the-credit-crunch-5779615/grumpus2009-03-18T08:54:44+01:002009-03-18T09:17:04+01:00 <p>Recession could turn into Depression. People are losing their jobs, getting into arrears on their mortgages, having their homes repossessed. Many more families are seeking advice and help with credit card debt, money problems, consolidation loans, IVAs, bankruptcy. Pensioners are hit with rising prices and almost zero interest on savings.</p> <p>Most of these money, credit and debt troubles have become apparent to us, the common people, in the last six months. But these problems have been festering for years, unknown to us but watched over and ignored, or even condoned, by Gordon Brown. Gordon Brown, now passing himself off as the saviour of Britain and indeed the World, is largely responsible for the current crisis, certainly in the UK.</p> <p>Read this open letter: <a href="http://www.surreya-z.com/web/Gordon_Brown.pdf">Click Here</a></p> <p>The letter only demands Brown's resignation, but for what he has done to this country maybe a long prison sentence would be too good!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/gordon-brown-caused-the-credit-crunch-5779615/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-01-27:/2009/01/27/ttbm-unsolicited-phone-y-calls-5459779/grumpus2009-01-27T21:24:04+01:002009-01-27T21:24:04+01:00 <p>TTBM ... Things that bug me, ie, almost everything!</p> <p>Tele-sales people who greet you enthusiastically with phrases like, "Hi! I'm Jackie from (insert name of pestering company). How are you today?", and then try to kid you they are not selling anything, they are just doing a survey. Oh, Yeah!!</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/grayupset.gif" alt=":##" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2009/01/27/ttbm-unsolicited-phone-y-calls-5459779/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2009-01-27:/2009/01/27/ttbm-dancing-on-thin-ice-5457850/grumpus2009-01-27T18:12:01+01:002009-01-27T18:12:01+01:00 <p>TTBM ... Things that bug me, ie, almost everything!</p> <p>Reality TV shows like "Strictly Come Brotherly X-Pop Talent Factor Celebrity Ice-Dancing in the Jungle" which loosely pack 5 minutes of purile entertainment into a whole hour of repetitive television and THEN, an hour or so later, subject us to another 30 minutes of re-run clips before boring us to distraction with the results of the phone vote when all the idiots with more money than brains, and nothing better to do, have voted to keep the worst contestant in the competition! Clever! </p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/graysigh.gif" alt=":**:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2009/01/27/ttbm-dancing-on-thin-ice-5457850/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-12-22:/2008/12/22/bank-of-england-owning-up-at-last-5258595/grumpus2008-12-22T10:47:12+01:002008-12-22T10:48:21+01:00 <blockquote><p><em>The Bank of England did not understand the severity of economic problems before the current financial crisis, its deputy governor says. </p> <p>Sir John Gieve told the BBC that the Bank knew "crazy borrowing" was taking place and the price of houses and other assets was rising unsustainably. More ....</em></p></blockquote> <p> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7794604.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7794604.stm</a></p> <p>Are they saying ... "We thought it was a bit strange that we were getting millions of pounds in bonuses while all you poor suckers out there were getting into impossible debt, but we thought, well, perhaps it will all go away ... maybe ..." ???</p> <p>A lot of <del>the poor suckers</del> my friends apparently saw the problem coming long before Sir John and his greedy cronies. How do these idiots get knighthoods? From other idiots I suppose!!</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" alt=":crazy:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/12/22/bank-of-england-owning-up-at-last-5258595/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-12-06:/2008/12/06/anger-the-new-apathy-5173009/grumpus2008-12-06T19:26:05+01:002008-12-06T19:26:05+01:00 <p>Is it just me or are people getting angrier just lately?</p> <p>I notice talking with friends and neighbours that the "so what"/"not my problem" attitude is being replaced by "whose fault is it?" and "why the hell doesn't someone do something?"</p> <p>The problems of our society seem finally to be hitting home. The credit crunch is no longer just affecting someone else. We are beginning to see that the "under class" really exists and the benefit scroungers and petty criminals are taking the bread out of our mouths. </p> <p>Why should we accept that people like Karen Mathews, the kidnapped Sharon's dysfunctional mother, are to be pitied as "disadvantaged" and in need of unlimited financial help when they don't work, never have worked, and have no intention of ever working. </p> <p>There are thousands of these people, who are too thick to get jobs because they were allowed to opt out of education by irresponsible parents and wishy-washy authorites. Now they have built their own culture of blaming the state for their predicament, expecting someone else to provide them with money, and avoiding any form of personal responsibility.</p> <p>We need to take a harder line with people who won't contribute before it's too late! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/12/06/anger-the-new-apathy-5173009/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-12-05:/2008/12/05/recession-depression-5167077/grumpus2008-12-05T12:47:38+01:002008-12-05T13:12:41+01:00 <p>What is life all about now?</p> <p>Life for many people used to be about progress; getting on, working hard to get a raise, get promoted, provide for the family, saving for a rainy day, paying off the mortgage, getting a bigger house, a better car etc., etc.</p> <p>Life has changed! Now it's about survival!</p> <p>Many of us have started to go backwards. At the very least we have to tighten our belts, plans have to be put on hold, interest on savings (if you haven't already lost the lot!) is now so low it is hardly worth keeping money in the bank.</p> <p>For those worst hit, there is loss of job, loss of home, loss of dignity, loss of future.</p> <p>The future for many, only a few months ago, was rosy. Now it is bleak!</p> <p>There is less opportunity for individuals to make progress to build a life of success and happiness for themselves and their families. Hope is fading. Fear is taking over.</p> <p>Until recently I thought I was "rich". As a retired person my income relies partly on interest from savings. This is now less than <u>half</u> what it was a few months ago, while the cost of living has increased. Another portion of my income is rent from a second property which has suddenly become more difficult to let unless I reduce the rent.</p> <p>I also have small private pensions, which I paid into during most of my working life. How safe are they? Can I be sure they will not also be cut or even disappear altogether as a result of the current financial crisis?</p> <p>I know I am better off than some. I know I am not alone. Many people are worse off and getting deeper into trouble, through no fault of their own.</p> <p>This recession is depressing. It's hard to see who's to blame or what should be done to get us out of this mess. I wish I knew the answers! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/12/05/recession-depression-5167077/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-11-23:/2008/11/23/call-yourself-a-man-5093479/grumpus2008-11-23T22:05:57+01:002008-11-23T22:07:15+01:00 <p>Come on all you male theatre buffs, amdram enthusiasts, would be buskers, public cross-dressers, show-offs, jokers, karaoke nuts, and thespian wannabes, hasbeens and neverwases!</p> <p>The ladies are out-numbering us six to one!!</p> <p>Come and join the fun at this up and coming group at <a href="http://curtaincall.blog.co.uk">curtaincall.blog.co.uk</a>, and tell your adoring public about your successes (and failures LOL) on the stage. </p> <p>Scene shifters, sound effects men, stage-door johnnies, and chorus boys also welcome, as long as you have a tale to tell!!</p> <p>Just mention my name, Grumpus, for a free ticket to our next production! <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/11/23/call-yourself-a-man-5093479/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-11-21:/2008/11/21/jonathan-ross-last-laugh-5076208/grumpus2008-11-21T18:20:24+01:002008-11-21T18:20:24+01:00 <p>Apparently today the BBC announced they will allow Jonathan Woss back after his three month suspension for stupid, idiotic, childish behaviour with Russell Brand and the unacceptable phone messages aired on Brand's radio "show".</p> <p>Woss is said to be extremely sorry for the fuss he caused.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/383/3005383_b38ebdba07_m.gif" alt="ross" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>All together now ... "For he's a jolly good fellow ... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/11/21/jonathan-ross-last-laugh-5076208/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-11-01:/2008/11/01/are-we-being-watched-4967029/grumpus2008-11-01T18:48:30+01:002008-11-01T18:48:30+01:00 <p>After the earliest snowfall in Hampshire since 1934 on Wednesday 29th October 2008, Mrs Grumpus' grandchildren had great fun playing in it in our garden in Basingstoke.</p> <p>However, the next morning after all the snow had melted, we woke to find an ALIEN watching the house!</p> <p>Was this unusual snowfall a natural occurrence or a disturbance caused by UFO activity?</p> <p>Twentyfour hours later, ET, as we nicknamed him, had disappeared.</p> <p>Is there someone out there planning to take over the Earth?</p> <p>Is this the start of a new ICE AGE brought about by cold-blooded beings from some frozen planet in OUTER SPACE!??</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/509/2951509_8d7a8417dc_m.jpg"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/11/01/are-we-being-watched-4967029/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-11-01:/2008/11/01/melinda-s-scrabble-4966425/grumpus2008-11-01T16:05:13+01:002008-11-01T16:05:13+01:00 <p>Scrabble on!<br> by Melinda_blog @ Saturday, Nov. 01, 2008 - 12:06:06<br> Ok the game is on... - Keep it going!!!</p> <p>Change one letter of the bottom word posted and let's see who gets stuck<br> and can't continue!</p> <p>Rules:</p> <p>You cannot use a word already used.<br> You cannot add letters.<br> You cannot use foreign languages.<br> You can only change one letter.</p> <p>Cut and paste the current word and add yours post your answer and tag 2 new people.</p> <p>To make it even more interesting, let's add what town or city we are<br> from & the date to see how far this goes and how long it's been out...</p> <p>WORD:</p> <p>PRAY : Jack frost Ely UK<br> PRAM : La_spice, France, 1 November 2008<br> CRAM: Melinda, Bedford UK, 1 November 2008<br> TRAM: Joebangles, Glasgow, 1 November 2008<br> TRAP: Grumpus, Basingstoke, 1 November 2008</p> <p>I tag,</p> <p>kevinwilson and ABE-unlimited</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/11/01/melinda-s-scrabble-4966425/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-10-21:/2008/10/21/myths-football-4908173/grumpus2008-10-21T17:37:54+02:002008-10-21T17:37:54+02:00 <p>Organized football dates back to the 16th century. As a boy, in the 1940s and 50s, I remember every town had it's own team. The best players from the local factories, shops and businesses turned out on a Saturday afternoon to play a team of similar part-time lads from another area. All their pals, workmates, neighbours and families came along to cheer them on.</p> <p>The players got paid about twenty quid per appearance and the spectators paid about sixpence to get into the ground.</p> <p>Every game was a great community occasion which brought with it a spirit of local pride and belonging. A young schoolboy's most cherished ambition was to play for his local team amongst friends and people of his own kind. Players for the town team worked and lived within a stone's throw and could often be seen in the pubs or walking down the street. Passers by would call out greetings like, "Great game last week, Billy!", and be acknowledged with a friendly wave and a smile.</p> <p>The team was managed by a local businessman or other well respected person, who had probably played a bit himself in a younger day.</p> <p>Football continues in the same tradition to this very day. NOT!!</p> <p>Now for the TRUTH about FOOTBALL!</p> <p>Todays footballers wouldn't be seen dead anywhere near the town they supposedly represent. They certainly wouldn't mix with the local riff-raff who pay good money every week to worship them.</p> <p>Teams are no longer made up of guys who were even born or brought up in this COUNTRY let alone in the same locality.</p> <p>Football has ceased to be a community activity. Football is just another form of show-business. Players are brought in from all over the world to ponce around on the pitch and act as though they are "really hurt" after a half-hearted tackle. This is to wind up all the mugs in the stand who have blown their wages or their benefit money to get a ridiculously expensive seat. There is never any blood. Occasionally a player is stretchered off after falling over the ball and twisting his ankle. Never mind, he will still get paid tens of thousands of pounds a week while he is "off sick".</p> <p>And still the mugs (supporters!?) turn up every week. Who are they supporting? A bunch of over-paid fairy foreigners without an ounce of loyalty or interest towards the "local team". As soon as a better offer comes along they will be off playing for someone else!</p> <p>As you trudge home in the rain after the usual lack-lustre performance, the flash limo that whizzes past deliberately splashing you with water from a puddle, probably contains some drunken git footballer with his WAG, dashing home to their country mansion to bathe in champagne.</p> <p>So on you go wondering where you can get the money to go to next week's fiasco when "YOUR" team, managed by some other "johnny foreigner" who can barely utter a word of English, will pansy about in a stadium owned by some obscenely rich Russian or suchlike. </p> <p>But you'll be there next week, along with thousands of other suckers, watching "YOUR" team get thrashed again. </p> <p>"Awa the lads!!"</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/10/21/myths-football-4908173/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-10-21:/2008/10/21/myths-banks-and-bankers-4904661/grumpus2008-10-21T07:10:34+02:002008-10-21T12:32:07+02:00 <p>A bank is set up by a responsible and trusted business person as a service to the community and an honourable and profitable concern.</p> <p>People deposit their money with the bank knowing it will be kept safe and they can draw out some or all of it at any time.</p> <p>Everyone regards the bank manager with respect and a little awe. </p> <p>At times of need, people approach the bank manager and ask for a loan. </p> <p>The bank manager considers the person's ability to repay the loan. He is lending out his depositors' money and must ensure they are protected. He will sometimes refuse the loan or make special conditions if he thinks the applicant may have difficulty making the repayments.</p> <p>If the bank manager grants the loan he will set a fair rate of interest to allow him to make interest payments to his investors, pay the banks expenses, and draw a reasonable salary for himself.</p> <p>THATS WHAT I USED TO THINK!</p> <p>NOW THE TRUTH: A bunch of greedy slimeballs set up a financial institution with a fancy name to con Joe Public out of his hard earned cash.</p> <p>Through advertising and direct mail they tell smarmy barefaced lies about the advantages of placing your money in their hands. </p> <p>They pay lip service to a few wishy-washy laws about what might go wrong by concealing any necessary warnings deep inside some long rambling gobbledygook they call Terms and Conditions. These are deliberately printed so small as to be unreadable without a microscope, and are so complicated and boring that nobody ever reads them anyway!</p> <p>Once they have your money they reveal the REAL interest rates that YOU have to pay for the priviledge of letting them GAMBLE with your savings.</p> <p>From time to time they apply other unexpected CHARGES. Meanwhile they risk YOUR money wheeling and dealing on the financial markets making vast personal fortunes and begrudgingly returning a few pennies to you as interest on your account. When they win, THEY win! When they lose, YOU lose!! </p> <p>With their obscene fortunes, made purely out of YOUR money, they put up massive palatial buildings to house thousands of staff whose job is to con even more cash out of you for credit cards, insurance, mortgages, savings bonds, etc. They have absolutely no conscience about hard-selling these facilities and "investments" to any unsuspecting mug who will sign up, regardless of whether they have any hope in hell of keeping up the payments.</p> <p>Once these despicable "bankers" (rhyming slang), who are nothing more than lying con-artists, have allowed their incompetence and greed to get them into a mess such as the current FINANCIAL CRISIS, they go shamelessly whinging to the government for BILLIONS of pounds to bail them out.</p> <p>And whose money is it that goes to help these flash suited Dellboys out of their self-imposed cock-ups? Why OURS again, YOURS and MINE!!</p> <p>Anyone know any different?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/10/21/myths-banks-and-bankers-4904661/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-08-23:/2008/08/23/a-taste-of-london-2012-olympics-4627188/grumpus2008-08-23T16:06:05+02:002008-08-23T16:06:05+02:00 <p>The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics lasted about 5 hours and involved thousands of amazing performers all moving in perfect unison. I watched the whole spectacle and was enthralled.</p> <p>Rumour has it that tomorrow's handover of responsibility for the next Olympics in London, will be attended by Gordon Brown, arguably our worst Prime Minister ever, and will be accompanied by a full EIGHT MINUTES of spectacular entertainment featuring David Beckham, football hasbeen, a clapped out old red London double decker bus, and a reading of a Radio 4 shipping forecast! ... breath-taking!! ... couldn't the budget have stretched to at least a couple of Morris Dancers, a Pearly King playing the spoons, and some toothless old guy making ugly faces through a horse collar? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/08/23/a-taste-of-london-2012-olympics-4627188/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-08-07:/2008/08/07/the-real-grumpus-4554188/grumpus2008-08-07T08:52:42+02:002008-08-07T08:52:42+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bobnowb/2715453" title="bobnowb"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/453/2715453_0ee93f28f2_s.jpg" alt="bobnowb" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a>Thanks to all my friends for their kind birthday wishes, I am now officially a septuagenarian. I had a wonderful day which included Mrs Grumpus buying me a new organ because she was fed up seeing me playing with the old one, which was too small. anyway.<br>Er .... perhaps I should have said keyboard! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/the-real-grumpus-4554188/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-07-17:/2008/07/17/knife-gangs-on-rampage-4459089/grumpus2008-07-17T08:20:39+02:002008-07-17T08:28:27+02:00 <p>This afternoon me and da Gang wos hangin' out in da Olde English Tea Rooms, jus' chillin'.</p> <p>We wosn't doin' nuffink! We wos just havin' a larf. We gotta go somewhere, innit!</p> <p>Well! Noddy, my best mate, kep goin' out to the toilet cos he's got a problem wiv that, and we wos all larfin' and jokin' about him and callin' out, "You alright in there, Nod?", and I froo a Viennese Whirl at Charlie and the crumbs went all over the floor, and he fell off da chair, innit! We wos like havin' a good time and bein' happy.</p> <p>Well! There wos these three schoolkids sat in the corner whisperin'. Then one of them looked at us and said, "Could you lot be quiet, some of us are trying to do homework!"</p> <p>That done it! Charlie got slowly up on his Zimmer and snarled, "You wot?", showin' 'em his apple corer.<br> "You heard!", said the young fart, visibly rattled but still showin' disrespeck to us.</p> <p>We all went over and Charlie pulled the smartalec's schoolcap over his eyes and Noddy poured his Camomile Tea all over their exercise books. Then we all legged it!</p> <p>They gotta show Respeck, Man! Best bit wos, we ran out da caff wivout leavin' a tip! Ha! Ha! We is da kings of round here! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/07/17/knife-gangs-on-rampage-4459089/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-07-16:/2008/07/16/knife-crime-comes-of-age-4454705/grumpus2008-07-16T09:19:35+02:002008-07-16T09:19:35+02:00 <p>Hi dare Bruv! How's it hanging, Man? Jus to let you know I is fed up wiv havin' nuthin' to do since they closed the Darby and Joan club on my estate. Nobody thinks about us Oldies and findin' us fings to do wot ain't just BAUR-RING!!<br> Now I'm nearly 70 I jus wanna 'ave a larf, Man. </p> <p>I is startin' my own Gang! Anyone want to join? No one younger than 50, innit. Da uniform is baseball caps and hoodies, and don't wear no braces, Man, cos your jeans is spose to be hangin' down near your crotch, Man.</p> <p>We gotta have a name for dis Gang. Anyone got any ideas? I was finkin' "The Baldy Boys" or sumfink.</p> <p>Meet me outside Patel's Corner Shop. We'll 'ave a larf at any young kids wot walk by and show 'em we want Respeck!!<br> Bring some fags and a cuppla cans.</p> <p>One last fing! You better bring sometin' to proteck yourself.<br> Arx your granddaughter if you can look in her kitchen drawer. I got a wicked potato peeler, Man! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/knife-crime-comes-of-age-4454705/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2008-01-08:/2008/01/08/profile_problem_solved_who_s_to_blame~3546546/grumpus2008-01-08T15:22:14+01:002008-01-08T15:22:14+01:00 <p>I spent about 2 hours this morning trying unsuccessfully to change my profile on Blog.co.uk. I wanted to bring it up to date for 2008. Having torn out what remains of my hair whilst being taken round in circles by BLUK's Edit Profile links, I was ready to lash out. </p> <p>First I went on the Help blog and the Bugs blog to see if anyone else was having similar problems. There were many complaints about bloggers unable to change their profile photos, but most seemed to originate from some time ago. I considered sending a private post to all my friends seeking help. I toyed with the idea of lambasting Blog.co.uk as having become too slow and cumbersome, and riddled with problems. I even thought of retiring from the blogscene altogether or at least starting afresh with the competition!</p> <p>Then in desperation I closed my normal AOL browser and opened Mozilla Firefox to try one final time. Blog.co.uk opened immediately. The Edit Profile link worked like a dream! And calm descended once more in the Grumpus household!!</p> <p>Right! Now whose fault was it that I couldn't edit my profile?? Was it Blog.co.uk? Was it AOL?? Was it MINE!!??<br> Calm down!! Repeat after me ... computers are wonderful ... computers are wonderful ... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2008/01/08/profile_problem_solved_who_s_to_blame~3546546/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-12-24:/2007/12/24/santa_is_coming_tonight~3485849/grumpus2007-12-24T11:51:30+01:002007-12-24T11:51:30+01:00 <p>I sent this to all my grandchildren. Might as well let you lot see it too ... and how I waste my time when I should be peeling sprouts!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/santabob/2233237" title="santabob"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/237/2233237_0a3b961205_m.gif" alt="santabob" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Have a wonderful Christmas ... all you Bloggers wherever you are. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/12/24/santa_is_coming_tonight~3485849/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-12-19:/2007/12/19/the_goose_is_getting_fat~3465832/grumpus2007-12-19T16:51:28+01:002007-12-19T16:51:28+01:00 <p>Ho! Ho! Ho! It's here again. Time to celebrate the birth of Santa. Time to tap up the old Flexible Friend in order to buy shedloads of useless tat for people who already have everything. </p> <p>Time to give the carbon footprint a boost with all those twinkly lights all over the house, having wasted hours unravelling them and testing every bulb to find the dud ones that stop the whole string from working. </p> <p>Time to rick your back getting two 20 year old plastic trees and six boxes of baubles out of the loft, just as you remember you did the same thing last January putting them up there!</p> <p>Time to scribble a few lies on those last minute Xmas cards to people you hoped you'd heard the last of.</p> <p>Time to stock up with more food than you and your guests could possibly consume (just in case), knowing you'll end up scoffing most of it yourself well into the New Year, and having to re-enroll at Fat Fighters until you can't be arsed to suffer the indignity of the weekly weigh-in any more.</p> <p>Time for "Carol Singers" !! (Groan!) Fortunately, since 80% of people can no longer even name two carols, let alone remember any of the words, the practise has almost died out. All you get nowadays is the occasional gaggle of giggly teenagers, who lean on the door-bell until you open it, then, with expectant palm outstretched in your face, mumble "Wish you Me'y Crismus 'n Happy Noo Yeeeear!"</p> <p>My response is to ask if they actually KNOW any carols. They look at me as if I am insane and grunt. I take that as a no, and suggest they go away and learn two carols and come back and sing at least two verses of each, in which case I might reward them. Guess how many have ever returned.</p> <p>Happy Christmas to one and all.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/12/19/the_goose_is_getting_fat~3465832/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-11-29:/2007/11/29/i_ve_won_the_lottery~3368848/grumpus2007-11-29T10:22:44+01:002007-11-29T10:22:44+01:00 <p>Yippeee!! I'm RICH!! I've won the Internet Lottery! I'm due a LOTTO cash! I can't believe my luck. Not only, according to the emails, have I won but I have won EIGHT times in the last two days ... on EIGHT DIFFERENT lotteries around the world! Average prize money is about $2,000,000. Times that by eight, and I'm going to be worth, er?, well Zillions!</p> <p>And, guess what, on top of that, loads of legal people in far off lands have picked ME out of all the quintillions of people on the planet, to inherit more millions because some poor saps who died in plane crashes had no relatives, and the money has got to go to someone. Ain't that a fantastic coincidence?!<br> How lucky can one guy get??!!</p> <p>Do you think there might be a catch? I've already sent all these kind people all my bank details so they can transfer the money. Should I have sent them my passport, driving licence, birth certificate, and passwords etc? Will I get them all back do you think? You hear about things getting lost in the post.<br> Why only the other day two CDs went missing ... !</p> <p>You don't think I'm being a bit naive, do you? The emails all came from genuine looking email addresses like <a href="mailto:fred.mikrosoft@yahoo.co.uk">fred.mikrosoft@yahoo.co.uk</a><br> Anyway must rush, now I've got all this dosh coming I'm off to order some of this V-1-a-6-r-a they keep telling me about. No idea what it is but it must be good, the number of emails I get about it!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/11/29/i_ve_won_the_lottery~3368848/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-11-27:/2007/11/27/santa_s_message_to_us_lest_we_forget~3360164/grumpus2007-11-27T16:49:56+01:002007-11-27T16:49:56+01:00 <p><strong><u><span>ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE</span></u></strong><strong><u><span>  </span></u></strong><span><br> <br></span><span>TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS<br>HE LIVED ALL ALONE<br>IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE<br>I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE<br>AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE<br> <br>I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE<br>NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE<br>NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND<br>ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS<br>WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS<br>A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND<br> <br>FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY<br>I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY<br>THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE<br>CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME<br> <br>THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER<br>NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER<br>WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ<br>CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED<br> <br>I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT<br>OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT<br>SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY<br>AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY<br> <br>THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR<br>BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE<br>I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE<br>ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME<br> <br>THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE<br>I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY<br>THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE<br>'SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE<br>I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE<br>MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY. MY CORPS'<br> <br>THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP<br>I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP<br> <br>I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL<br>AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL<br>I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT<br>THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT<br> <br>THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE<br>WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE'<br>ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT<br>'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT'<br> <br></span><span>THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS<br>THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.<br> <br>PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN<br> <br>CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.<br>LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE!</span><span> </span> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/11/27/santa_s_message_to_us_lest_we_forget~3360164/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-11-27:/2007/11/27/urban_slang_jive_talk_wheautt~3358096/grumpus2007-11-27T08:44:13+01:002007-11-27T08:44:13+01:00 <p>Last night on 'Coronation Street' a character got out of a car and with a wave to the driver uttered the inanity, "Laters".<br> I couldn't help but cringe! "Laters"!!? Obviously it means 'I'll see you later', but where does it come from? Does it derive from Latin, French or Olde English? I doubt it!!<br> What is the meaning of the additional "s"? I have heard it before, but usually out of the pie-hole of some illiterate ignoramus wearing a hoody, with beltless jeans slung well below his rectum.<br> As we slide inexorably back to Stone Age culture, where we will communicate with grunts and ughs and by poking each other with sticks, can we simply make words up as we go along? If Shakespeare were alive today, he would turn in his grave.<br> Anyways, mes gons hav brekfists nah, dens reeds mes komix orz plaaz wits mes nin10dozes ... laters!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/11/27/urban_slang_jive_talk_wheautt~3358096/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-11-26:/2007/11/26/nhs_patient_records_more_government_luna~3354390/grumpus2007-11-26T14:05:42+01:002007-11-26T14:05:42+01:00 <p>Extract from an AOL news item ...</p> <p><em>"The Government is reviewing whether sensitive information about NHS patients could be sent overseas for processing, it has been claimed.<br> This comes only days after the Government was forced to admit HM Revenue and Customs had lost two computer discs containing the personal details of 25 million child benefit claimants."</em></p> <p>I retired from the NHS ten years ago from the post of IT Manager in a Trust. Information Technology should have moved on considerably since 1997 when very few trusts had the expertise to properly process the vast amounts of data collected about patients, their diagnoses and treatments.<br> I can only assume that the suggestion to send information abroad arises from the fact that this lack of expertise still exists. </p> <p>There are basically two types of information involved here; data processing, ie., statistical analysis, which is vital for planning NHS services, and data input, which is presumably still largely done from patients notes in paper files. In my day there was constant chaos caused by patients files going missing from hospital records departments until they were found in a heap in a consultant's office or worse still in the boot of his car, waiting to be 'written up' following treatment. </p> <p>God help the NHS if patients records are ever sent OUT OF THE COUNTRY!!<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" alt=":crazy:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/11/26/nhs_patient_records_more_government_luna~3354390/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-10-23:/2007/10/23/litterassy_r_u~3180986/grumpus2007-10-23T09:10:54+02:002007-10-23T09:10:54+02:00 <p>Literacy is in the news again. Am I right? 100,000 children leave school every year without adequate reading and writing skills? Some bright spark has finally got the message that if kids have a reading age well below their age in years, they can't cope with other subjects. Why? Because they can't read books about it! Well ... DOH!!</p> <p>If they can't manage "the cat sat on the mat" by the tender age of about six, they are abandoned to the back of the class, quickly become dysfuntional, graduate to truancy and disruption, then leave school early for a life of crime and disadvantage. You might as well brand them with a hot iron "FAILURE".</p> <p>Whose failure is it? Certainly not the kids! They are the VICTIMS!! They have been failed by the schools for not picking up on the "can't read ... can't learn" syndrome, and, what's worse, very often failed by parents. And that's a problem which is passed down through generations.</p> <p>The solution? Make it an offence to send a child to primary school unable to read. Have an assessment of every child on entry at five years of age, and those that don't make the grade are given extra tuition and help. Then test the parents and those that can't show an adequate level of reading and writing should be made to attend literacy classes so that they can help and encourage their children in the home.</p> <p>Draconian? Yes, but it could stamp out illiteracy, reduce crime, and enhance our society, all in a generation.</p> <p>And before all the do-goody, tree-hugging, human rights wallys start jumping up and down, come up with a workable alternative which doesn't involve the Government shovelling shed-loads of taxpayers money down the education drain.</p> <p>Rant over!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/10/23/litterassy_r_u~3180986/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-10-22:/2007/10/22/the_word_just_to_be_dropped~3176369/grumpus2007-10-22T12:25:28+02:002007-10-22T12:25:28+02:00 <p>... from the English Dictionary! In my dreams!!<br> In recent weeks, my web design and development work has mushroomed, which is great but it has cramped my style somewhat on the blogging front. However, back to the word "just".</p> <p>Over a working lifetime I have grown to detest that word. If I had a pound (sterling) for every time I have had to counter a straight bat to the word "just", I would have a private jet parked in the back yard.</p> <p>"Have you just got a minute?", "Could you just ...?", "I just want you to ...", "This will just take you a moment." </p> <p>Starting to build websites again has brought me into renewed contact with clients, most of whom are happy to pay a fair and reasonable price for a decent job and appreciate the maxim, "the labourer is worthy of his hire". Occasionally however, as in all the service businesses I have ever been involved with, one comes across the chancer who wants to squeeze rather more out of the deal than they paid for. </p> <p>Then the job becomes a battle of wits. "While you're doing my website, could you <u>just</u> add a couple of extra pages?" "I know I forgot to mention it in our discussions, but I will <u>just</u> need a couple of forms ... oh, and a small gallery of photographs ... that won't affect the price, will it??"</p> <p>I have to think fast in order to stop myself saying resignedly, "Sure. That's OK. No problem," and instead, casually beaming and replying, "Thanks. I'll <u>JUST</u> add that to the bill!"</p> <p>That'll <u>just</u> teach'em!! I love'em really. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/10/22/the_word_just_to_be_dropped~3176369/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-10-15:/2007/10/15/blog_action_day_bees_and_elephants~3138161/grumpus2007-10-15T09:51:02+02:002007-10-15T09:51:02+02:00 <p>If you didn't know already, you soon will. Apparently 14,000 people have registered to take part and that number is expected to rise dramatically.</p> <p>TODAY is Blog Action Day!</p> <p>Put fingers to keys and do your bit to save the environment.<br> You may think each one of us alone is too puny to make any difference, but think of the humble BEE. A single bee doesn't have a sting long enough to penetrate an ELEPHANT'S skin, but elephants are terrified of them. Why? Because bees swarm in their thousands and act as one, with a single agenda ... get that bloody elephant to move its arse!!</p> <p>In this case, WE, the bloggers, are the bees, and, believe it or not, the elephant is NOT the government, but the rest of our FAILING SOCIETY! The government can only chuck money at every problem and them swank smugly about how much they are doing to combat it. While nothing happens and OUR hard earned cash gets swallowed up in more and more bureaucracy!!</p> <p>Society FAILING? Yes! Crime, drugs, drink, illiteracy, obesity, filthy hospitals, schools out of control, ignorance, bad manners, litter, graffiti and other mindless vandalism, seemingly useless parents, guardians of our society (teachers, policemen and women, nurses, doctors, et al) up to their eyeballs in pointless paperwork, ... the list is endless.</p> <p>DO SOMETHING! However small. Be kind and courteous. Pick up litter. Teach children manners. Re-cycle. Refuse plastic bags in small shops and take your own bags to the supermarket. Walk or cycle rather than drive. Eat less, move more. Help old people. Stop junk mail. Compost. Stop polluting your own (and other people's) immediate environment with smoke, noise, litter and junk ......</p> <p>And START TODAY!!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/blog_action_day_bees_and_elephants~3138161/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-10-12:/2007/10/12/yor_avin_a_larf_aint_ya_bank_scam~3124377/grumpus2007-10-12T12:36:06+02:002007-10-12T12:36:06+02:00 <p>WARNING!! I just got this email. I nearly fell for it!</p> <p class="center"><strong>I DON'T THINK SO!!</strong></p> <p>Some moron, mental age 5 years I should imagine, has just sent me what must be the most pathetic, puerile, attempt at phishing there has ever been. </p> <p>The wording is unprofessional, there are spelling mistakes, and the HSBC logo is obviously scanned from a legitimate document. (I added the green text.)</p> <p>Sent from a Yahoo webmail address, as a try at identity theft it is almost laughable, except for the fact that in a moment of confusion some poor old pensioner dabbling with their new computer, could well be diddled out of their life savings.</p> <p>Naturally I forwarded it to HSBC and I hope they catch the little rotter and send him and his mum and dad to jail!</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="hsbcscamhaha"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/729/2054729_3416e07be9_s.jpg" alt="hsbcscamhaha" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Click on the image to enlarge it.</p> <p>Keep your eyes peeled! The buggers are everywhere. Even in the playground!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/10/12/yor_avin_a_larf_aint_ya_bank_scam~3124377/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:grumpus.blog.co.uk,2007-10-02:/2007/10/02/ebay_spoof_email_scam_anyone_else~3074030/grumpus2007-10-02T18:03:18+02:002007-10-02T18:03:18+02:00 <p>OMG it's been weeks since I last had a rant, but I had to share this one.</p> <p>Some slimeball has sent me a very convincing email claiming to be an invoice for an item I am supposed to have bought on eBay. Needless to say, I did NOT even bid on the item, which on checking, I find actually existed on eBay (bidding finished early today) but seems to have been legitimately bought by someone else.</p> <p>To try to scam ME these creeps have used an email address which I rarely use, and is certainly not registered with eBay. I have some years of experience buying and selling on eBay, and have my own eBay account with 100% feedback record. So I was not fooled.</p> <p>Either these guys are idiots, clever ones at that, or they know that a few unsuspecting newbies will either click on the Paypal button and part with the money (£75.00 in this case) or at least follow a link to a spoof web site where they will hand over personal details to a bunch of criminals.</p> <p>Has anyone here had a similar experience?</p> <p>By the way the scammer used a Hotmail address. Very convincing .... NOT!</p> <p>WARNING! .... Don't be fooled ... be vigilant! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://grumpus.blog.co.uk/2007/10/02/ebay_spoof_email_scam_anyone_else~3074030/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>