| grumpy |
Wed, 16 April 2008 21:42  |
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Is it me or has anyone else noticed that lots of people are especially grumpy at the moment...I work for a major retail company and so many of the customers are niggly, grumpy and downright bad tempered. Complaints have gone through the roof...anybody else noticed? Vee
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| Re: grumpy |
Wed, 16 April 2008 21:50   |
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Let me see, petrol at £5 a gallon, I remember 3 gallons for £1, food going up, tax up, clothes up, inflation up, mortgages up. What's come down, yes wages. Sorry to say it is all over at the moment, and it isn't going to improve.
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| Re: grumpy |
Wed, 16 April 2008 22:19   |
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Right, Lincoln Lady. Perhaps grumpiness... has something to do with the fact that the whole world seems to be swirling lower and lower.. down a toilet (loo) bowl of existence. Hmmm... ‘a toilet bowl of existence’; rather profound in it’s far-reaching depth… no?
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 17 April 2008 09:07   |
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Well Jac, what has happened to the values that some of us were brought up to believe in. In these islands there isn't respect anymore with a lot of the young today. Not saying all, but a large number. Drunks on the streets late at night, beating up innocent people. As the most watched country in the world with the CCTV cameras everywhere, they seem to catch the innocent, not the guilty. But then easy targets are easier to persecute at the end of the day. No respect for law and order, and I can talk first hand about that. Just a sad world now, with no back up from those in charge, they are lining their pockets at our expense. Sorry being grumpy again.
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 17 April 2008 09:33   |
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Recent research has suggested that wealth does not bring happiness & that people living in (relatively) poor conditions in '3rd world' countries are often happy than their wealthier '1st world' counterparts.
Some possible reasons:
1. Consumer culture and ubiquitous advertising telling you your life isn't complete without product 'x'. The nature of consumerism is to leave one unsatisfied & craving more - like nicotine really.
2. The body politic willfully divorcing itself from the citizenship, leaving people feeling less in control of certain aspects of their lives.
3. The chaos of freedom and choice, leading to the question - what is my role/place in this world?
4. Rip-off Britain - well documented on this forum & only getting worse!
5. People focusing on themselves more than others (encouraged by consumer culture). The happiest people I know are those who unselfishly spend a lot of time helping others.
6. Information overload has a disorientating influence on the mind.
That seems like an appropriate place to stop.
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 17 April 2008 10:59   |
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I'm feeling grumpy today.
Dont know why, but i hope the chocolate i just ate and my expected delivery from ebay will brighten my mood.
If not, i will have to open a bottle of wine.
(Later on with dinner of course).
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 17 April 2008 11:21   |
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I know why I am.
I opened a brand new pair of lace tops this morning and put the spare leg from the last pair in my handbag. After 1 hour at work I've got ladders in both legs and only 1 spare stocking!
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 17 April 2008 11:23   |
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Perfect excuse to go rob a bank !
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 18 April 2008 00:47   |
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It used to be that people would complain about something and problems would get sorted. So people would then be happy about the product/service.
I feel that nowadays there are fewer and fewer people to fix problems. Everything requires a lot of time (patience) and money to get done. And when things go wrong, there are less chances of the wronged situation getting sorted.
This morning I spent 30 minutes trying to get a reservation with Babbo but the line was busy everytime I phoned. Thank goodness for speed-redial on the mobile phone. But no reservation was to be made, sigh.
Later this morning I spent 20 minutes trying to sort a refund with an airline (basically the plane ticket price fell $240 after I bought it, and the airline will give a refund voucher to use against a future purchase, fair enough), and was told that the refund voucher had been issued and that I should wait a few more days to see if it arrives in the post. So a simple wait and see approach that is a bit helpful (since I now know that the voucher was issued), but at the same time still means that I don't yet have the vouchers. And why the airline can't just do an online electronic voucher is beyond me, but of course I'm sure they have a directive to make refund vouchers complicated so that consumers will lose them.
Anyway, these two things are enough to make one grumpy. Add to it my having read about hedge fund managers earning in the billions of dollars (that's in the hundreds of millions of pounds ) in 2007 income. It's one thing to read about people earning in the 7-8 figures for a year's income, but to earn *that* much money is just confounding. I'm sure the Man Group mangers are earning those kinds of sums as well. But wow, that's just way too much money, totally crazy.
To bring a final anecdote about wages falling, the other month we had to post a job listing paying $12/hour without benefits (that's about 2quid an hour), and aside from getting about 200 or so applicants, the one person that seemed the most qualified on paper (and in person) ended up giving "fake" references! It was a total George Costanza - Vandalay Industries situation, where he thought I'd just ring the references' mobile numbers (which I'm guessing were those of his mates) instead of the references' company numbers. I admire the chutzpah of trying to Costanza-ize me, but for a low-wage job, that's the really depressing part; it's not like it's paying $12 a minute. Gawd I hope he's not here...
x
Mike
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 18 April 2008 07:51   |
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actually Vee i bought this cheese 6 months ago and its gone off !!! and i want a replacement and i know a major retail store were it will get replaced, because they just dont know how to say NO....lmao
but yer right, we are going down the drain very very slowly, exmample, 2.... 16 year old boys cause havoc in a major retail store nearly hurt a shopper and a member of staff, are caught with two bottles of beer in pockets, police called names are taken, beer confiscated, and its .....right boys on your way and dont be sooooo nawty next time.....next night they come back again ....the world is nuts ???!!!!!
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 18 April 2008 11:49   |
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For an event i was running we had a Grumpy old persons spot where i asked certain people in thier 40-50 some questions and we would video the answers.But for a laugh we left the video running when we all got together.I kept the theme going with a few more interesting observations on life and after a few refreshments the comments were getting a bit brutal but very funny.I had to delete the tape as i could have lost a lot of freinds but blackmail could be interesting!!mmm now did i delete everything?
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| Re: grumpy |
Sat, 19 April 2008 17:36   |
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| melmoth wrote on Thu, 17 April 2008 09:33 | Recent research has suggested that wealth does not bring happiness & that people living in (relatively) poor conditions in '3rd world' countries are often happy than their wealthier '1st world' counterparts.
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It may not bring happiness but it does make being miserable a whole lot easier to bear.
Have you ever noticed that the only people who say, "Money isn't important." are the ones who seem to have plenty of it ?
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| Re: grumpy |
Sat, 19 April 2008 18:04   |
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| Snapper wrote on Sat, 19 April 2008 17:36 |
| melmoth wrote on Thu, 17 April 2008 09:33 | Recent research has suggested that wealth does not bring happiness & that people living in (relatively) poor conditions in '3rd world' countries are often happy than their wealthier '1st world' counterparts.
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It may not bring happiness but it does make being miserable a whole lot easier to bear.
Have you ever noticed that the only people who say, "Money isn't important." are the ones who seem to have plenty of it ?
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Ever noticed how the importance of money is often promoted by those who wish to take some of it from you? Yes, money is more-or-less essential for survival in our society, but it does not equate to happiness. It can present people with more opportunities, but it doesn't help them choose wisely.
Yes, with lots of money you can get lots of drink/drugs etc to help you forget the real world.
You can also spend it on lots of treats and trinkets to help you forget the... err... real world (for a brief time at least).
However, the amount of wealthy stars etc who seem to self-destruct suggests wealth does not necessarily make things easier to bear.
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| Re: grumpy |
Sat, 19 April 2008 20:31   |
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Well I'm really grumpy today, put my foot through the ceiling when I was in the loft. Not only that it hurts as well
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 02:14   |
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Sorry to hear about your sore foot , and punctured loft, Lincoln Lady. Hope it heals soon. And please, do be careful, won't you, whilst up doing your lofty exploring & rummaging!? 
| melmoth wrote on Sat, 19 April 2008 10:04 |
However, the amount of wealthy stars etc who seem to self-destruct suggests wealth does not necessarily make things easier to bear.
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"Wealth is not his that has it... but his that enjoys it." —— R. Saunders; 'Poor Richard'
I guess there's supposed to be an interesting guest, Steve Quayle, on the radio tonite (Sat. Night), at [www.coasttocoastam.com]. It'll be too late for you in the UK to catch, as when you read this, it will already be Sunday for you; but you can check-out the stream-link/past shows @ [http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/04/19.html] -- where they discuss "the (supposed) resurgence of "survivalism" and what happened historically when there was destabilization of currency or government."
This Steve Quayle guy, (and granted, from the looks of his website... he's probably one of those 1/2 nut-bar kind of guys , and although it looks like he makes most of his money... by trying to convince and keep the general populace scared and fearful that another terrorist attack is imminent, and that everyone should hurry-up and buy 'survivalism' supplies & books... from who? .... well, from him, of course. ), does have a ton of listed links — to his past articles — on the growing worldwide food & currency shortages throughout the world, and their serious worldwide consequences. Also several links on 'survivalism' investing... in Gold, Silver, and etc.; plus World Bank conspiracy stuff; plus stocks & the stock market, etc.; plus some other funky stuff, and of course... some articles on: The-End-Of-The-World-As-We-Know-It! .
[Updated on: Sun, 20 April 2008 02:24]
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 15:54   |
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I agree. Sorry to hear about your leg, Lincoln Lady. My father almost put his foot through the conservatory roof once whilst repairing something on it and he was in his 60s (RIP now, though). Doing anything in the loft requires care.
And then there's our Darling Exchequer telling us we can't have the wages we want. Less than 2% pay for us this year. I'd like to tell him how to survive on my wages. He probably claims more in expenses.
And stockings have gone up! Boo Hoo. Can't blame Dave for it probably because the cost of fuel has gone up and he has to reflect it in his prices. 100 reasons to loath this government!
Roll on the election. Now we'll find out whether the Scottish PM can stand being at the mercy of the voter!
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 16:54   |
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| Mich wrote on Sun, 20 April 2008 15:54 |
Roll on the election.
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...where we get the choice of Old Tory or New Tory... or the ones nobody seems to trust to do the job at all.
don't ya just love democracy!
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 17:07   |
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New Labour, old Conservative, only worse perhaps. Don't know how they can stand there and tell all the lies. Still blaming the last Conservative government for the mess. They have had 11 years to put it all right, about time they started.
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 17:19   |
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(SOBER, SOMBER, GRAVELY MUSIC CHORDS)....
~ And now a word from the good folks at ‘Quo Vadis Pharmaceuticals’ ~
(WOMANS’ VOICE): I feel completely self-assured, I think… but I'm feeling kind of down lately.
(DOCTOR): Feeling owly lately? Grumpy? Got the heebie-jeebies or the jim-jams? Quo Vadis Pharmaceuticals is pleased to present ‘ARIVIDIR’: it's the best drug to combat moodiness in a coon's age.
(WOMANS’ VOICE): Now that I'm on ARIVIDIR, I sit around chuckling to myself practically all the time! Gee thanks, ARIVIDIR!
(DOCTOR): Why not ask your doctor... if ARIVIDIR isn’t right for you!?!
(WOMANS’ VOICE): I’m so happy now, with ‘ARIVIDIR’ !!!
(ANNOUNCER): (SPOKEN RAPIDLY) Not available in the UK or The Netherlands—do not use with alcohol—side effects may include convulsions, canker sores, collapsed lungs, paralysis, brain hemorrhage, swollen ankles, hearing loss, and cardiac arrest. Not available to persons under 18—Additional side effects may include—sudden growth of body hair, skin lesions, loss of motor skills, enlargement of the ears, swollen eyeballs, kidney stones, and boils. Other side effects may include angina, bursitis, colitis, diarrhea, fatigue, fainting, facial tics, fibrillations, gastritis, lethargy, pinkeye, shingles, and whooping cough,
(DOCTOR): From Quo Vadis Pharmaceuticals. "Wherever medicine is lacking a drug... Quo Vadis Pharmaceuticals will get there first!"
...(HAPPY MUSIC CHORDS)
[Updated on: Sun, 20 April 2008 17:23]
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 18:36   |
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and suddenly the threads plot was lost.....and a silence filled the air ???
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| Re: grumpy |
Sun, 20 April 2008 18:38   |
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Sunderland lost to the great unwashed.......thats why im grumpy.....
FTM_Nylon
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| Re: grumpy |
Mon, 21 April 2008 10:45   |
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Vees grumpy cos she was up at 4.30am. for work.Yawn
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| Re: grumpy |
Mon, 21 April 2008 18:04   |
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and had a hangover at the weekend lol
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| Re: grumpy |
Tue, 22 April 2008 09:29   |
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I am depressed reading all of this stuff But I am off to Spain today for work knowing the sun will brighten my outlook on life
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| Re: grumpy |
Tue, 22 April 2008 22:18   |
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Of Course you are depressed, we are all depressed. With this buch of clowns masquearding as a government it is almost obligatory to be depressed.
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 24 April 2008 13:27   |
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Lets not forget, the summer IS coming....whooohooo...
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| Re: grumpy |
Thu, 24 April 2008 17:29   |
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aaah yes cornwall full of bloody tourists.....joy.
reasons to be cheerful ????
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 25 April 2008 00:06   |
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Some might call that Income ?
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 25 April 2008 10:02   |
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It is income for some Snapper - unfortunately ALL of us in the 'South West Water' region enjoy the highest water bills in the country, to keep all of our lovely beaches clean for the tourists and it costs us a fortune! The new bill has just arrived - 8% increase.....
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 25 April 2008 19:05   |
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AND SOME MAY CALL IT ...TROUBLE ......im kidding .....everyone to there own.......
to me ...barbados sounds more fun i think lol
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| Re: grumpy |
Fri, 02 May 2008 18:23  |
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I'm not grumpy today cos I sorted my stocking drawer and found some old favourites...watch this space
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