Nice People Thread Number 11 - A Treasury of Nice People

PasturesNew

Generali wrote: »

I used to get bitten by dogs loads, often just when walking down the street. I remember a labrador on a leash once just lunging for me and grabbing my arm.

I'm like that - a magnet for dogs with teeth. I was walking along the pavement in my village when I was aged about 13-14 and the pub wall turned into a gap for the car park entrance and the pub dog had been "stalking" me from the other side of the wall and leapt out/bit me and ripped my coat ... annoying as it was a newish one and I'd not had a new one before

I had blood/cut on my leg, police were called and the pub people spoken to, but no compo as it was pre-compo days

Roll on some years and another huge alsation leapt on me from behind and I was scratched through a thick denim jacket with lining and a thick/padded sweatshirt, while a huge/strong person was beating the dog's nose with his fists....

All owners of dogs that have randomly attacked me/gone for me have always said "he's never done that before" - and I KNOW they all lie.

lostinrates

Hmm.

I don't know what my pork will turn out like but my barbecue sauce is awful. I am very not keen on BBQ sauce/traditional flavours, so its hard to cook it with enthusiasm. Should have stuck to a recipe!

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

Hmm.

I don't know what my pork will turn out like but my barbecue sauce is awful. I am very not keen on BBQ sauce/traditional flavours, so its hard to cook it with enthusiasm. Should have stuck to a recipe!

I've never really gone for BBQ sauce, so have no idea of what it tastes like. There's usually some other sauce around where BBQ is on offer that I know I like (e.g. ketchup, or sweetcorn relish, or chilli relish). I've not eaten much BBQ food as we never had them when I was growing up and I've never cooked food that way and I've only been to 2-3 organised BBQs (20-40 years ago) and max 3 BBQs in people's gardens .... so not much help at all

It's not something I'd ever wish to cook as I don't know what it tastes like, so I'd cook something I knew I'd most likely enjoy.

SingleSue

lostinrates wrote: »

But a car other than a banger with no savings is also a luxury I think. I also think that for many people cars aren't 'not' a luxury. Its the same as the salary equals wealth discussion but at a lower price point of realisation that sometimes 'luxury' becomes essential to a certain lifestyle expectation or unwanted circumstance.

But what do people define as a banger? I think of my old Astra as a banger but my Peugeot as not...although the Peugeot is only 3 years younger (she is 17 years old this year)

Both were under 1k to buy (Astra £461, Peugeot £900 ish) but the Peugeot is in a much better condition, with all the gizmos, gadgets and added luxuries...that actually work!

She still looks pretty posh and un banger like, to me a banger like car is one that cost a couple of hundred quid, is rusty, rattles and bangs down the road and with maybe a couple of optional extras that might work on a good day...but then, my perception is probably different from everyone elses.

For me, a car is not a luxury, it is an absolute essential, I just wouldn't be able to do the role I do now without one as public transport here is pretty useless and any journey is not of walkable distance.

lostinrates

SingleSue wrote: »

For me, a car is not a luxury, it is an absolute essential, I just wouldn't be able to do the role I do now without one as public transport here is pretty useless and any journey is not of walkable distance.

I think your role would possibly be one that would be considered my a notability consideration? That's one of the sort of exceptions I was thinking about really.

I would have said pretty much the same until faced with the prospect of losing my licence eventually when sight problems started. I am now busy working out how I can maintain independence here without me being a driver.

It will cost more, but it IS doable I think.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

It will cost more, but it IS doable I think.

When considering getting to work, the issue is most often the bus times and work times. Sometimes you have to get the bus an hour earlier to be 50 minutes early rather than 10 minutes late, then catch the return bus 30 minutes later as you just missed the last one, which can turn a 3 hour return journey by bus theoretically into a 4.5 hour return journey.

The more in control of your own hours/obligations you are, the more doable it is.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

When considering getting to work, the issue is most often the bus times and work times. Sometimes you have to get the bus an hour earlier to be 50 minutes early rather than 10 minutes late, then catch the return bus 30 minutes later as you just missed the last one, which can turn a 3 hour return journey by bus theoretically into a 4.5 hour return journey.

The more in control of your own hours/obligations you are, the more doable it is.

Sure. But that's why for people which restrictions like Sue has and I have this is reflected in what's deemed 'necessary' in the benefits system. It would take lots of us even longer.

Dh's dad coped ( he should never have had that scooter, he must have been a danger on the roads, he is pretty much blind. ) and his sister copes.

Do I think its ideal, no absolutely not and that's NOT that I have said. I think its very much preferable and facilitates life and certainly work immensely.

PasturesNew

I've just done a theoretical journey, to the big town just 20 minutes' drive away.

Taking a typical working day of 8.30am start to 5.30pm finish, morning bus leaves at 7.24am, arriving at the bus station at 8.18am. So leaving home at 7.15.
Return journey leaves t 5.40pm and would get me home by 6.30pm

And all for £3.50/day.

So, bus is 7.15am to 6.30pm for £3.50
Car is 8am to 6pm, with options to drive along the clifftops and stop .... picking up something to eat en-route, or enjoying a picnic tea in good weather on the clifftop, for £2.40 fuel cost.

And that's if a job could be obtained right next to the bus stop....

PasturesNew

So what's in the wrong place? Housing? Jobs? Or transport?
Not sure ...

I think it's transport.... which is inflexible. Transport goes to/from the bus station in a town, it doesn't follow "joined up routes" such as the underground achieves, where some go round and round and some go up and down and you can switch directions.

Spirit_2

tomterm8 wrote: »

Never quite sure how you're mean to get in and out of hammocks. Yes, I can get out. But the trip to the hospital to get the arm mended is a bit of a dampener on an otherwise fine day...

We have a very unflattering photo of me marooned upside down dangling out of a hammock.

As much as I love him, Mr Spirit could have rushed to my aid without pausing to take a piccie.