Being retired is really good - I can get up when I want, do what I want and go where I want. I really have very little to complain about; actually I have nothing to complain about, but there are some things that really niggle me and now I have the time to share them.
The first category of irritations are adverts. I like to listen to Classic FM, but I really am not looking for a tyre with great road holding ability, and when asked the question I just have to yell "NO!!!" at the radio. Any advert where they whisper just drives me mad with fury - it's an advert - stop pretending that you don't want anyone to hear what you're saying. I can't stand it when companies try to pretend that their products are cheap by not actually saying the price correctly. For example three nine nine is not how you say three hundred and ninety nine pounds - say it properly for goodness sake!
Bank adverts are a complete subcategory of trying to pull the wool over our eyes. We know they aren't our friends, they are not here for the journey, they won't help us with the internet and job interviews. All they want is our money, and they won't lend it to small businesses either.
When I was working I was completely unaware of a major benefit of being out of the house, and that is not having to receive three or four phone calls a day - some automated - suggesting I've been mis-sold PPI, or that I should change to British Gas, or someone just saying the word "Barclays".
Next - sports coverage. I like to watch football, but I really don't need endless discussions on who the pundits think will win, and I really really don't want phone-ins where they ask who will win the league and then give you the result at the end of the programme. So what if 55% of the people who phoned think that Manchester United will win the league? Does that mean that Jose Mourinho is going to give up? I don't think so. Why do commentators refer to Brighton versus Bournemouth as a South coast derby? They are a hundred miles apart for crying out loud. And another thing, is Southampton football club invisible? We've been second in the league for weeks now, apparently only because we've been beating teams that are just playing badly. Even when our players are on international duty and score for their country on their debut, they don't get mentioned by name. That was Graziano Pelle if you're wondering.
While I am on the subject of Southampton, although I generally love the city, there are some things that do not add to my quality of life. Have a look at these pictures
The first category of irritations are adverts. I like to listen to Classic FM, but I really am not looking for a tyre with great road holding ability, and when asked the question I just have to yell "NO!!!" at the radio. Any advert where they whisper just drives me mad with fury - it's an advert - stop pretending that you don't want anyone to hear what you're saying. I can't stand it when companies try to pretend that their products are cheap by not actually saying the price correctly. For example three nine nine is not how you say three hundred and ninety nine pounds - say it properly for goodness sake!
Bank adverts are a complete subcategory of trying to pull the wool over our eyes. We know they aren't our friends, they are not here for the journey, they won't help us with the internet and job interviews. All they want is our money, and they won't lend it to small businesses either.
When I was working I was completely unaware of a major benefit of being out of the house, and that is not having to receive three or four phone calls a day - some automated - suggesting I've been mis-sold PPI, or that I should change to British Gas, or someone just saying the word "Barclays".
Next - sports coverage. I like to watch football, but I really don't need endless discussions on who the pundits think will win, and I really really don't want phone-ins where they ask who will win the league and then give you the result at the end of the programme. So what if 55% of the people who phoned think that Manchester United will win the league? Does that mean that Jose Mourinho is going to give up? I don't think so. Why do commentators refer to Brighton versus Bournemouth as a South coast derby? They are a hundred miles apart for crying out loud. And another thing, is Southampton football club invisible? We've been second in the league for weeks now, apparently only because we've been beating teams that are just playing badly. Even when our players are on international duty and score for their country on their debut, they don't get mentioned by name. That was Graziano Pelle if you're wondering.
While I am on the subject of Southampton, although I generally love the city, there are some things that do not add to my quality of life. Have a look at these pictures
Why do people have to dump their furniture in the street? I live close to the city centre, which has a lot of advantages - I can walk to the gym, walk to football, walk to the shops, pubs and restaurants. The problem is that I often have to pick my way through vomit, dog mess or walk in the road because the pavement is blocked by bins.
I hate those bins. They completely ruin the look of what could be some neat little streets, and I think they encourage people to dump all their other rubbish outside.
Other things that have wound me up recently are when I asked for a latte in a pub and was told "No, the machine is being descaled and it will take at least half an hour" What??? It was lunch time; why don't they descale their machine in the morning? Why wait till they've got a pub full of customers?
We needed to buy some new bedding this week - was that simple? No. There are synthetic duvets, duck feather duvets, goose feather duvets, Hungarian goose feather duvets. There's 3.5 tog, 7.5 tog, 10.5 tog, 13.5 tog. There are duvets that can be fastened together to make other togs, and there are super extra special duvets that get sent back to the manufacturer to be restuffed every five years. All for the price of a week's holiday. Having negotiated the duvet, the next thing was the pillows - believe it or not these came with instructions! Luckily now I don't work I had the time to read them.
Finally, one last little thing. I had a new phone recently and had to input some international numbers. Could I find how to put the + in? No I could not. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Other things that have wound me up recently are when I asked for a latte in a pub and was told "No, the machine is being descaled and it will take at least half an hour" What??? It was lunch time; why don't they descale their machine in the morning? Why wait till they've got a pub full of customers?
We needed to buy some new bedding this week - was that simple? No. There are synthetic duvets, duck feather duvets, goose feather duvets, Hungarian goose feather duvets. There's 3.5 tog, 7.5 tog, 10.5 tog, 13.5 tog. There are duvets that can be fastened together to make other togs, and there are super extra special duvets that get sent back to the manufacturer to be restuffed every five years. All for the price of a week's holiday. Having negotiated the duvet, the next thing was the pillows - believe it or not these came with instructions! Luckily now I don't work I had the time to read them.
Finally, one last little thing. I had a new phone recently and had to input some international numbers. Could I find how to put the + in? No I could not. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!