Grumble Thread

[vinteuil]

.
... disgusted to find that the public lavatories at the Italian Gardens / Lancaster Gate exit from Kensington Gardens are now pay-on-entry. Fine, it's only 20p, and with the urgency I felt this morning I was happy to pay.

BUT - the only payment acceptable was a plastic credit/debit card. I'm not sure that all of those enjoying Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park this morning would have come equipped with credit cards - why should they? - but not to offer any alternative... would the authorities (in this case the Royal Parks) have been happier to see people peeing behind a tree, in the bushes??

[smittims]

I sympathise. It's all part of the 'digital by default' ethos, or, as Kingsley Amis called it , EFTA, the Easier-For-Them Association .

[Serial_Apologist]

All of a sudden McVities Digestives (the chocolate digestives) now come in virtually identical wrappers, whereas before, the biscuit's depiction on the outside, chocolate side facing, was quite clear. As a result of the change I now find I have mistakenly bought the milk chocolate type, and will in future have to take more care when buying. I am left wondering if the change is intended to sell more of the milk chocolate type. Fortunately I only brought the single, not the double pack.

[Pulcinella]

All of a sudden McVities Digestives (the chocolate digestives) now come in virtually identical wrappers, whereas before, the biscuit's depiction on the outside, chocolate side facing, was quite clear. As a result of the change I now find I have mistakenly bought the milk chocolate type, and will in future have to take more care when buying. I am left wondering if the change is intended to sell more of the milk chocolate type. Fortunately I only brought the single, not the double pack.

I've spotted that too: a dastardly plot!

[teamsaint]

I've spotted that too: a dastardly plot!

Choccy One-Sides is the correct description, I think you'll find.

Stick to Lemon Puffs, no chance of confusion with them.

[Serial_Apologist]

Choccy One-Sides is the correct description, I think you'll find.

Maybe in the back room. On the packet:

McVities
Digestives
The NATION'S FAVOURITE
Milk Chocolate

[Petrushka]

Maybe in the back room. On the packet:

McVities
Digestives
The NATION'S FAVOURITE
Milk Chocolate

McVities dark chocolate hobnobs (in the red packet) are my favourite. I recommend them to all.

I've never really cared for digestives.

[oddoneout]

Pensioners are already seen as an undesirable section of the population, as they don't come in the "working people" category that is the focus of government attention, and here is further confirmation.
A government blog about New Towns says this:

...government’s plan for the next generation of new towns - well-designed, beautiful communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport where people will want to live.

A bit further down though it says this

...new towns will deliver: affordable housing, vital infrastructure and access to open green spaces and nature, to transform the lives of working people.

[my bold]
So if you are not a working person you can just keep out...

[LMcD]

.
... disgusted to find that the public lavatories at the Italian Gardens / Lancaster Gate exit from Kensington Gardens are now pay-on-entry. Fine, it's only 20p, and with the urgency I felt this morning I was happy to pay.

BUT - the only payment acceptable was a plastic credit/debit card. I'm not sure that all of those enjoying Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park this morning would have come equipped with credit cards - why should they? - but not to offer any alternative... would the authorities (in this case the Royal Parks) have been happier to see people peeing behind a tree, in the bushes??

... and do we want our card providers to know where, when and how often we use public toilets?

[Petrushka]

Pensioners are already seen as an undesirable section of the population, as they don't come in the "working people" category that is the focus of government attention, and here is further confirmation.
A government blog about New Towns says this:

A bit further down though it says this
[my bold]
So if you are not a working person you can just keep out...

To be honest, I don't take much notice of the 'working people' thing; its just become a cliché. In any case, I'd consider pensioners to be included in this definition as we have been a 'working person'. I spent 45 years working, paying tax and making provision for my retirement so I don't worry about meaningless waffle.

Incidentally, the Trump/Vance bullying of Zelensky reawoke the trauma of one or two very similar such moments in my working life!

[Serial_Apologist]

... and do we want our card providers to know where, when and how often we use public toilets?

Well I'll be bladdered.....

[Dave2002]

.
... disgusted to find that the public lavatories at the Italian Gardens / Lancaster Gate exit from Kensington Gardens are now pay-on-entry. Fine, it's only 20p, and with the urgency I felt this morning I was happy to pay.

BUT - the only payment acceptable was a plastic credit/debit card. I'm not sure that all of those enjoying Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park this morning would have come equipped with credit cards - why should they? - but not to offer any alternative... would the authorities (in this case the Royal Parks) have been happier to see people peeing behind a tree, in the bushes??

Wait to the day when you climb over the barrier - if you are still able to - so as to perform, rather than giving up and just "going" against the wall outside!

[Old Grumpy]

Wait to the day when you climb over the barrier - if you are still able to ...

...and be featured on Candid Camera!

[Dave2002]

...and be featured on Candid Camera!

You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment.

[Dave2002]

More modern times - yuk! I can pre-order the Kindle version of the Proms brochure and also the printed version.

I prefer the printed versions - but they won't be delivered until weeks after the Kindle versions are available.

That's really poor.

I appreciate the efforts to save the trees, but sometimes it's just much more efficient and sensible to use paper printing.