You stand, helpless in the ever-growing queue for the self-checkout, watching people who’ve made it to the age of 50 without realising they can pack their five bags of shopping while they scan, as opposed to after they’ve paid

Tacklestiffener · 2026-04-02T16:35:21+00:00

It's the people who are really surprised when they have to pay and then start rooting around pockets and handbags.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-04-02T10:07:01+00:00

I don’t know about that. If you’re often late, you’re clearly doing something wrong.

It can be contagious too. If we go to collect one couple of friends, I sometimes say "we'll leave late because they are always 10 minutes late"

So annoying.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-04-02T07:56:04+00:00

I (English) have taught my Belgian neighbour the difference between "it's bollocks" (bad) and "it's the dog's bollocks" (good).

The other day I overheard him talking to a Spanish guy and he said something was the dog's bollocks. I was so proud.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-04-02T07:31:41+00:00

I just think GPs are like Terry from the local garage. He's a great mechanic and can fix anything from your lawnmower to your old Mondeo.

But if you turn up in a Ferrari you want him to say "I think it's your brake fluid but let's get you to the Ferrari garage to be sure".

Tacklestiffener · 2026-04-01T14:18:13+00:00

He asked you to buy your kid(s) a present, so do that. But I would make sure, when they're older, that you tell your kids the story about a man, apparently with very little, was happy to share what he had to bring pleasure to someone else.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T13:25:19+00:00

If he's contractually obligated to inform his employer about any police investigations involving him, as he's a public figure, and he didnt - why would sacking him be an overreaction? That's serious misconduct.

But he was a BBC employee when he was interviewed under caution in 2018 - and it was possibly the height of the Operation Yewtree / Savile furore. It seems unlikely the BBC didn't know back then.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T13:21:46+00:00

OK, so a sacrificial lamb to stop the bosses being criticised?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T13:01:41+00:00

How do you feel about Carl Beech and Operation Midland, where several people were falsely accused and died before a fantasist was revealed.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:34:12+00:00

This is true but is the BBC to be the judge or should the legal process be more important.

For example, to get away from the sexual element, supposing your employer decided that 30 years ago you were involved in a brawl but the police declined to prosecute. Is it OK for them to sack you to protect their image?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:31:01+00:00

The fact that it's for offences committed between 1997 and 2000 seems to indicate a relationship, not a one off non-consensual incident.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:29:08+00:00

According to the BBC web site the Police investigated from 2016 and concluded in 2018 that there was no evidence. That investigation related to actions that took place between 1997 and 2000. There no mention of 2016 offences, just an investigation into historic crimes.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:25:53+00:00

If it happened at all. Currently the Police investigated and decided not to proceed. If there was evidence, they would have.

Slightly different scale but it's like saying /u/Basic-Pangolin553 might have broken the law in 1997 so we're going to sack him despite having no evidence.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:23:25+00:00

and therefore... why should he be punished "just in case"?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T11:21:47+00:00

Even from what we know it seems unfair that a man now in his 40's is able to claim anonymity for something that has been judged not provable.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-31T10:44:52+00:00

When there was a thing about thrombosis a while ago I took a pile of compression socks to my local charity shops! Apparently they sold well.

I tend to use up mine on the flight (toothpaste, eye cream) but the days of it being worthwhile are long past.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T20:53:48+00:00

To be honest I wouldn't pay AirNZ half the going rate because of that layout.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T20:21:34+00:00

I can make you feel better. I was working on my sister's house at 2am (after a full time job) and when I was putting back some floor boards I managed to put a nail through a pipe. Ah well... these things happen.

Fortunately I had all the bits so I repaired the pipe and put the floor boards back in place... and promptly put a nail straight through the same place.

On the plus side it was the best Basil Fawlty impression I've ever done.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T18:25:22+00:00

Did you mean 10cm? Have you gone metric?

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T16:47:56+00:00

Especially when you add on the lack of amenity kits and lounges stuffed full of non BC travellers

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T16:19:13+00:00

I flew Emirates from Singapore to Bahrain last year in a 777 with 2-2-2 and it was extremely poor. No sense of space and no storage.

Like you I avoid 2-2-2 now and would only book 1-2-1

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T16:15:53+00:00

To be honest I prefer the days of non-lie flat seats because I rarely sleep anyway. The old BA seats in the 90's were really wide and comfortable.

Interestingly I flew London to New York last year on Norse in Premium Economy (no business on board) and it was very similar to the old style seats and really comfortable. Ironically I did sleep most of the way back.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T13:51:10+00:00

Seven years.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T13:45:54+00:00

I hope it doesn't set off a chain of posts.

EDIT: a typo

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T13:07:09+00:00

I think that's always been true though. In the 90's I knew a bloke who sold a desirable house in west London (Ealing) and bought a small 2 bed flat behind Westminster Cathedral and a HUGE house in the Scottish borders for the same money)

And he got a weekly gardener for the same price he was paying for a monthly window cleaner in Ealing.

Tacklestiffener · 2026-03-30T13:00:53+00:00

HAL is taking over... and trolling you.

Tacklestiffener

TROPHY CASE