Insignificant/ Significant things that BYP or just wind you up a little

[Greenman]

There's a couple of cracking potholes on the main road into town, opposite sides and a few metres apart so they create a chicane. There are helpful cones sticking out of them but they get knocked out occasionally so now there's a nice assortment of broken off car bits up there as well.
I get that councils have less money to fix roads since covid started but it seems odd that roads are so bad in all of them, almost like they got together and decided to make a point.

There's was a post here/somewhere recently about the number of billions it would take to repair them and the timescales... lets just say, it wasn't likely to happen.

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

[JamJar]

There's a couple of cracking potholes on the main road into town, opposite sides and a few metres apart so they create a chicane. There are helpful cones sticking out of them but they get knocked out occasionally so now there's a nice assortment of broken off car bits up there as well.
I get that councils have less money to fix roads since covid started but it seems odd that roads are so bad in all of them, almost like they got together and decided to make a point.

There's was a post here/somewhere recently about the number of billions it would take to repair them and the timescales... lets just say, it wasn't likely to happen.

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Please tell me your didn't think "road tax" was used for roads.

[Count Steer]

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Local roads are down to the local authority I think. They've been hit with a rising wave of social care costs (which should probably be funded from central taxation). Basically, local government has been squeezed by central government. So much for devolution - devolve the responsibility but not the £. There's not enough money in the kitty.

(Some local authorities may not spend their money wisely too of course).

[Greenman]

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Local roads are down to the local authority I think. They've been hit with a rising wave of social care costs (which should probably be funded from central taxation). Basically, local government has been squeezed by central government. So much for devolution - devolve the responsibility but not the £. There's not enough money in the kitty.

(Some local authorities may not spend their money wisely too of course).

Isn't the tax we pay into different dept ringfenced then?

Can they spend road tax on social housing if they want too?

I thought the tax we payed into each dept was used in that dept?

[Greenman]

There's was a post here/somewhere recently about the number of billions it would take to repair them and the timescales... lets just say, it wasn't likely to happen.

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Please tell me your didn't think "road tax" was used for roads.

Yes i did, why would it not be?

If i am paying road tax as a tax payer, i would want that to be spent on tax, not another tory party!

[JamJar]

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Please tell me your didn't think "road tax" was used for roads.

Yes i did, why would it not be?

If i am paying road tax as a tax payer, i would want that to be spent on tax, not another tory party!

First off there is no such thing as road tax and secondly vehicle excise duty as it is really called goes into the genral pot of taxation like income tax and VAT.

[Mussels]

It's all those EVs that don't pay tax to blame, EVs are destroying the environment.

[Greenman]

There's was a post here/somewhere recently about the number of billions it would take to repair them and the timescales... lets just say, it wasn't likely to happen.

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Please tell me your didn't think "road tax" was used for roads.

Just googled it

everything. As satisfying as it would be, road tax does not specifically pay for everything to do with the roads as cars. The funds are added to the central funds of the exchequer – the total budget the government spends every year. Education, health, police, local council budgets— anything you can think of

So if this is the case why don't they just roll all the tax payments into one payment? why call it road tax, council tax etc etc etc?

Does this also not empower the gov to just add random tax for anything they so please, when will the breathing fresh air tax start?

Anyway it's a moot point as every service theuy provide seems to be poor, so where is our money being spent? Do they release a public report that shows where the tax has been spent each year, if not why not? I have to, why not our corrupt gov?

[Count Steer]

But why is it that as of late they have got so bad and previously they have been able to relay roads and sort them totally fine.

Also they must have a record number of road tax payments as there are now more people in the country driving than there ever has been, where is our tax money going?

Local roads are down to the local authority I think. They've been hit with a rising wave of social care costs (which should probably be funded from central taxation). Basically, local government has been squeezed by central government. So much for devolution - devolve the responsibility but not the £. There's not enough money in the kitty.

(Some local authorities may not spend their money wisely too of course).

Isn't the tax we pay into different dept ringfenced then?

Can they spend road tax on social housing if they want too?

I thought the tax we payed into each dept was used in that dept?

If you look at your Council Tax bill apart from line items like Police (they could save some by scrapping the 'jobs for the boys' Commissioners) it's not really split down very far. Vehicle Excise Duty doesn't go to local authorities. Highways England is the lot that looks after the more main stuff.

[Count Steer]

Just googled it

everything. As satisfying as it would be, road tax does not specifically pay for everything to do with the roads as cars. The funds are added to the central funds of the exchequer – the total budget the government spends every year. Education, health, police, local council budgets— anything you can think of

So if this is the case why don't they just roll all the tax payments into one payment? why call it road tax, council tax etc etc etc?

Does this also not empower the gov to just add random tax for anything they so please, when will the breathing fresh air tax start?

Governments move heaven and earth to avoid putting up income tax so they have to have a battery of other taxes to give us the 'death by a thousand cuts'. Then hope nobody adds them all up! VAT, VED, fuel, NI, death, capital gains etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

[Silly Car]

Two things today:

The wrong sized screws being supplied with Cat6 socket plates, screws are M4, every* electrical back box uses M3.5

Those wings and covers that protect the release lever on moulded RJ45 plugs which prevent anyone with hands bigger than a doll or without the grip of a gorilla being able to depress the release

* at least every back box / electrical outlet I’ve every encountered!

[Alan PBTD]

On the Pothole topic just done £300 on a new front tyre ( sidewall bulge ) and a new windscreen...good job it was just £75.00 ins excess. But had to wait 6 weeks - they had the screen but as it's got the camera's / sensors stuck to it had to wait for a fella to come from London to fit and calibrate it. Fourtuntaley he was a top fella and did a great job.

And still recons Vinegar is the best glass cleaner - but keep the windows open..

[Scotsrich]

How easy is it to read a packet of bacon and see if it’s smoked or unsmoked?

Not as easy as you’d think obviously because we’ve done it again. I can’t blame the OH as it could just as easily have been me.

Neither of us are fond of smoked bacon yet here we are once more

[ogri]

How easy is it to read a packet of bacon and see if it’s smoked or unsmoked?

Not as easy as you’d think obviously because we’ve done it again. I can’t blame the OH as it could just as easily have been me.

Neither of us are fond of smoked bacon yet here we are once more

Try holding it under a running tap for a few minutes, quite possible that half the (fake) 'smoked' taste will vanish

[Demannu]

My bloody mower!
Inherited with the house, the deck is now a mass of welds, it has 6 speed positions, but only 3 do anything. It uses the same amount of oil as petrol (there's a leak).
The blade belt has a habit of dropping of the front pulley, which is a royal pita as you have to start it by jumping off a spare battery direct to the starter motor. Both rear tyres have quick punctures, but hold air long enough to do the main garden, but yesterday the front tyre went and popped off the rim as well!
It tasks me!

[Skub]

My bloody mower!
Inherited with the house, the deck is now a mass of welds, it has 6 speed positions, but only 3 do anything. It uses the same amount of oil as petrol (there's a leak).
The blade belt has a habit of dropping of the front pulley, which is a royal pita as you have to start it by jumping off a spare battery direct to the starter motor. Both rear tyres have quick punctures, but hold air long enough to do the main garden, but yesterday the front tyre went and popped off the rim as well!
It tasks me!

Buy a leccy mower,I understand it's not a manly thing to do,but the buggers just keep working until they stop,none of this constant fettling and putting one's back out trying to start the bastards.

[Felix]

My bloody mower!
Inherited with the house, the deck is now a mass of welds, it has 6 speed positions, but only 3 do anything. It uses the same amount of oil as petrol (there's a leak).
The blade belt has a habit of dropping of the front pulley, which is a royal pita as you have to start it by jumping off a spare battery direct to the starter motor. Both rear tyres have quick punctures, but hold air long enough to do the main garden, but yesterday the front tyre went and popped off the rim as well!
It tasks me!

Buy a leccy mower,I understand it's not a manly thing to do,but the buggers just keep working until they stop,none of this constant fettling and putting one's back out trying to start the bastards.

I presume he is on about a ride on. As in huge football pitch size garden.

[Ant]

On the Pothole topic just done £300 on a new front tyre ( sidewall bulge ) and a new windscreen...good job it was just £75.00 ins excess.

One motorway journey, an hour each way and now I've got two chips in my windscreen and extra time sitting on the M6 again in roadworks.
The roads are appalling now.

And I had to remind my wife not to leave her expensive coat on the backseat in Manchester because some wretched little rat will probably break in for it. They're also likely to pinch the whole car too.
What a third world hell hole the north of England has become.

If you live in a little village and stay in the village then it's utopia, it's beautiful, yesterday evening I sat on our swinging bench under our oak tree and there was nowhere better in the world, but visiting in, or close to, any urban environment shows up just how far the UK has sunk into actual depravation.
I think most people have become used to it, but it's stark if you've come from somewhere more civilised and well managed.

We were talking about that at work. I said imagine the typical gentleman of the 1930s seeing what has become of blighty today, they'd be horrified, utterly horrified.

[Demannu]

My bloody mower!
Inherited with the house, the deck is now a mass of welds, it has 6 speed positions, but only 3 do anything. It uses the same amount of oil as petrol (there's a leak).
The blade belt has a habit of dropping of the front pulley, which is a royal pita as you have to start it by jumping off a spare battery direct to the starter motor. Both rear tyres have quick punctures, but hold air long enough to do the main garden, but yesterday the front tyre went and popped off the rim as well!
It tasks me!

Buy a leccy mower,I understand it's not a manly thing to do,but the buggers just keep working until they stop,none of this constant fettling and putting one's back out trying to start the bastards.

Manly has nothing to do with it, area........ that's the issue.
I have the gasket set to fix the motor, just CBA! Keep chucking old oil in there!
Belts, that's a different matter. I think it has 3. A new deck belt would solve a lot of issues.
I've tyreweld'd the rears twice now, to no avail. Might just get some expanding foam and get medieval on it.
A new battery MIGHT sort the starting issues, but I think the solenoid is fubar.
So for the foreseeable future, a 2-3 minutes of Anglo-saxon will precede the mowing

[Noggin]

Realising that I actually don't know what "start you bastard" spray is actually called - or how to work out what it might be on a shelf of french motor stuffs