What grinds my gears...

[Brainy]

People who support "Back British Farming" by travelling tens or hundreds of miles to go and visit Diddly Squat in the hope of spotting Jeremy Clarkson, and never stepping within a mile of their local farm shop let alone buying anything from it

[leicsmac]

9 minutes ago, Brainy said:

People who support "Back British Farming" by travelling tens or hundreds of miles to go and visit Diddly Squat in the hope of spotting Jeremy Clarkson, and never stepping within a mile of their local farm shop let alone buying anything from it

To add to this:

 

Anyone who "Backs British Farming" and then completely ignores/downplays/denies the anthropogenic causes of changing weather patterns which are by far the biggest threat to their industry - and to food supply for everyone else - in the medium and long term. 

[SpacedX]

23 minutes ago, Brainy said:

People who support "Back British Farming" by travelling tens or hundreds of miles to go and visit Diddly Squat in the hope of spotting Jeremy Clarkson, and never stepping within a mile of their local farm shop let alone buying anything from it

Agree. And arable farmers can make more profit from selling through farm shops and efforts to diversify than through supermarket sales. Although supermarkets offer large volumes and consistent sales, the farmer's share of the retail price is often very small. Conversely, farm shops obviously allow farmers to capture a larger portion of the profit margin by controlling the retail price and selling directly to the consumers. I use a nearby farmer's market and a local farm for doggie daycare. 

 

The popular narrative that labour is trying to destroy British farming is complete nonsense - it's simply another, albeit ill conceived method of raising tax. However, the timing was terrible with the horrendous levels of rainfall during the planting season in 2024 that ensued, and on the back of Tory policy that negatively impacted their industry, particularly due to changes in farm subsidies and Brexit-related issues. The phasing out of the EU's Basic Payment Scheme resulted in significant cuts in financial support combined with to post-Brexit labour shortages and rising costs. Defra also accelerated the tail-off of direct payments for the largest recipients and set the reduction on the first £30,000 of all payments at 76% with 100% reduction beyond that. These changes have added to the cost of producing food at a time when hard-pressed British farmers cannot absorb it, meaning either the supply chain or consumers will end up bearing the brunt. British family farms are already stretched to breaking point after a decade of tightening margins, cost inflation and going forward, the prevalence of extreme weather events. All this means that swathes of land will be lost to the developers as our farming community increasingly encounters diminishing returns and perceives a bleak future. 

[Parafox]

9 hours ago, Brainy said:

People who support "Back British Farming" by travelling tens or hundreds of miles to go and visit Diddly Squat in the hope of spotting Jeremy Clarkson, and never stepping within a mile of their local farm shop let alone buying anything from it

 

We have made a considered choice to buy farm produced food, meat, veg, salad, fruit eggs etc from a farm shop within 30 mins drive.

 

All the fruit is grown on site and the fresh meat is from local farmers and then prepared by butchers on site. The grain food like porridge oats and muesli is local in origin. They sell wines from UK vineyards, and much more that is not produced in huge factories/processing plants.

 

It is more expensive, no doubt, but the quality and taste is so much better. And I feel like we are supporting local suppliers who need it.

 

I know that we are fortunate to be able to afford these things and it's sad that the majority of people, even those that aren't on the breadline choose convenience before anything.

 

And yes, I do still shop regularly at supermarkets but it's not the be all and end all. 

 

BTW, I like Clarkson's Farm as a bit of TV and I like how he has exposed the utter ridiculousness of the hoops that farmers have to jump through to meet the regulations imposed on them.

 

As for visiting Diddley, I'm not a fan of going along with mass crowds just to be able to say "I've been there".

Edited 16 August 2025 by Parafox

[Brainy]

1 hour ago, Parafox said:

 

We have made a considered choice to buy farm produced food, meat, veg, salad, fruit eggs etc from a farm shop within 30 mins drive.

 

All the fruit is grown on site and the fresh meat is from local farmers and then prepared by butchers on site. The grain food like porridge oats and muesli is local in origin. They sell wines from UK vineyards, and much more that is not produced in huge factories/processing plants.

 

It is more expensive, no doubt, but the quality and taste is so much better. And I feel like we are supporting local suppliers who need it.

 

I know that we are fortunate to be able to afford these things and it's sad that the majority of people, even those that aren't on the breadline choose convenience before anything.

 

And yes, I do still shop regularly at supermarkets but it's not the be all and end all. 

 

BTW, I like Clarkson's Farm as a bit of TV and I like how he has exposed the utter ridiculousness of the hoops that farmers have to jump through to meet the regulations imposed on them.

 

As for visiting Diddley, I'm not a fan of going along with mass crowds just to be able to say "I've been there".

I did go once but that's because it was nearby to where I was travelling. It really wasn't worth it

[Mike Oxlong]

Every business I have the slightest dealings with emailing or otherwise asking me to provide a review. 

 

From the supermarket regarding the salad I bought to the dentist in respect of a check up. 

[Bellend Sebastian]

13 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Every business I have the slightest dealings with emailing or otherwise asking me to provide a review. 

 

From the supermarket regarding the salad I bought to the dentist in respect of a check up. 

I wrote a really enthusiastic - possibly overenthusiastic - review of barbecue sauce flavour Monster Munch for Sainsbury's and they didn't even use it

[The Bear]

55 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Every business I have the slightest dealings with emailing or otherwise asking me to provide a review. 

 

From the supermarket regarding the salad I bought to the dentist in respect of a check up. 

Same with telephone support. "you'll be getting a text asking to review your support today". 

 

Errrrr yeah great I'll get right on that.... 

[Izzy]

When you give your teenage kids a bollocking and they respond with "It's not that deep"

 

Fvck you. While you're living in my house, I'll decide what's deep or not.

[Jattdogg]

8 hours ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Every business I have the slightest dealings with emailing or otherwise asking me to provide a review. 

 

From the supermarket regarding the salad I bought to the dentist in respect of a check up. 

 

You should have seen the review I left for the Las Vegas bunny ranch.

 

5 hours ago, Izzy said:

When you give your teenage kids a bollocking and they respond with "It's not that deep"

 

Fvck you. While you're living in my house, I'll decide what's deep or not.

Lol, the terminology kids use these days alone deserves a bollocking. If I used such words or phrases my dad would have slapped me senseless.  Different times!

 

My son is 12 and the stuff he says makes me want to slap the lips off his face. Obviously can't/won't do that though sussy bruv.

 

 

[Muzzy_no7]

Why do most kids these days try to speak like they are running lines on Top Boy? 🤮🤷‍♂️

[Izzy]

4 minutes ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

Why do most kids these days try to speak like they are running lines on Top Boy? 🤮🤷‍♂️

My 16 year old white middle class son refers to his mates as 'mandem'. Twat.

[Zear0]

Flashbacks to a young Zear0 swaggering around Longslade with my jeans half way down my arse.  Teenage boys are all complete divs.

[bovril]

Young lads a couple of years ago on the train from King's Lynn to Downham without a ticket, talking about how they were trying not to get caught by "the feds" (Great Northern ticket inspectors). 

[Alf Bentley]

11 hours ago, Izzy said:

When you give your teenage kids a bollocking and they respond with "It's not that deep"

 

Fvck you. While you're living in my house, I'll decide what's deep or not.

 

"Maybe not as deep as your grave in the garden will be if you do that again!" is the appropriate response, I feel.

[kingkisnorbo]

When the word “thug” is used to describe a footballer. 

[leicsmac]

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets, inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" - Plato, 4th Century BC

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets, inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" - Plato, 4th Century BC

When media hysteria about the supposed failings of Millennials peaked a few years ago, one of my kids posted a photo of a 17th century woodcut on social media. This lambasted Tudor youth for forsaking such improving pursuits as sword fighting and horse riding. Instead, they were smoking tobacco in long-stemmed clay pipes, dicing and — most worryingly of all — wearing floppy lace cuffs.

Older folks’ worries about younger people are an eternal constant that tell us more about the characteristics of the former group than the latter.

[Zear0]

Going for a major one here. 

 

Pace of play at Treetop Adventure golf is an absolute disgrace. Brian Harman would be embarrassed. 

[Alf Bentley]

34 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

When media hysteria about the supposed failings of Millennials peaked a few years ago, one of my kids posted a photo of a 17th century woodcut on social media. This lambasted Tudor youth for forsaking such improving pursuits as sword fighting and horse riding. Instead, they were smoking tobacco in long-stemmed clay pipes, dicing and — most worryingly of all — wearing floppy lace cuffs.

Older folks’ worries about younger people are an eternal constant that tell us more about the characteristics of the former group than the latter.

 

A personal recollection....

 

In 1983, when I was 20-21, there was a lot of Daily Mail-style outrage about the misconduct of youth (my generation - some of whom are now outraged at the misconduct of modern youth).

I used a pub frequented by a load of "old blokes" (probably a bit younger than I am now) and got talking to them. They revelled in tales of their youth spent brawling and rioting around dance halls - probably in the 1940s, judging by their age.

 

Also, a cartoon circulated on Facebook recently about the rebellious conduct of my Grandma's generation....

 

 

[Muzzy_no7]

On 21/08/2025 at 08:55, Izzy said:

My 16 year old white middle class son refers to his mates as 'mandem'. Twat.

Ahhh that’s ‘peak’ bruv

[Torquay Gunner]

PayPal, no one can appear to transfer money to their bank accounts.  Yet no messages given out by them or on their web site informing customers of the situation. Only learnt that this is a global issue through spotting a post on Reddit.  Not good enough. 

[grobyfox1990]

3 hours ago, Torquay Gunner said:

PayPal, no one can appear to transfer money to their bank accounts.  Yet no messages given out by them or on their web site informing customers of the situation. Only learnt that this is a global issue through spotting a post on Reddit.  Not good enough. 

I won't hear a bad word against PayPal. The hustle whereby you could pay your own PayPal account from your Amex and still earn points was exceptional. 

[leicsmac]

Just now, grobyfox1990 said:

I won't hear a bad word against PayPal. The hustle whereby you could pay your own PayPal account from your Amex and still earn points was exceptional. 

How long did it take them to close that particular loophole? 

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

How long did it take them to close that particular loophole? 

Over a year!!!