Things you'd like to say, but can't

[ColinJ]

There was something I'd like to say, but couldn't, but I have forgotten what it was, so I can't tell you lot either!

It will probably come back to me later, in which case I will tell you then...

 

[Gwylan]

This is a cul de sac, twerp knob speedo delivery driver to the man at the end. Who is running a porn distribution business from home.
There are kids living and playing here!
Speed down here again and you will become another eunuch driving an uninsured courier estate car.
Any doubts ask Debbie how she started his transition

 

[ColinJ]

This is a cul de sac, twerp knob speedo delivery driver to the man at the end. Who is running a porn distribution business from home.

You mean that he is running racks of Internet web servers in his garage?

(I thought that it was all online these days!)

 

[Gwylan]

You mean that he is running racks of Internet web servers in his garage?

(I thought that it was all online these days!)

I don't know but there are several, more than half a dozen, daily vans and cars through here.

 

[ColinJ]

There was something I'd like to say, but couldn't, but I have forgotten what it was, so I can't tell you lot either!

It will probably come back to me later, in which case I will tell you then...

Ha ha - I have finally remembered...

I was cycling along the Rochdale canal towpath this afternoon, slowly, and paying attention to walkers. I saw a couple walking in single file in the same direction as I was riding, about 100 metres ahead, on the RH side of the path. That was long before I got to them so I am sure that they did not know in advance that I was coming and they had therefore clearly NOT made an effort to keep out of my way.

I have a noisy freehub on the bike so I always freewheel just before getting to people and let the noise alert them. The only people that doesn't work with are people with hearing problems (they tell me that they can't hear bells either!) or people using earbuds/headphones.

I cycled past the walkers very slowly, on the LH side of the path. Just after I passed the man called out in a very sarcastic voice "Thank you very much!!!"

So what I would like to say is: Were you trying to tell me that...

• ... you had been on the point of leaping to the left of the towpath but had changed your mind when you heard me coming, that I should have deduced that, and had said 'Oh, thank you so much - that is absolutely fantastic of you!'?
• OR... you did NOT hear the freehub-banshee-from-hell, but you WOULD have heard a bell?
• OR... you DID hear the freehub-banshee-from-hell, but it scared you and you would have preferred to hear a bell?

 

[Vantage]

Any chance they saw you earlier and moved into single file to let you pass?
I find that a cheery "morning!" as I pass people tends to cover most situations, including whether a thankyou is warranted or not

 

[ColinJ]

Any chance they saw you earlier and moved into single file to let you pass?

They would have had to have spotted me before I spotted them, which would have been at least a minute earlier.

I smiled and say hello to various other people who did step aside, hold their dogs out of my way, or who smiled at me.

This couple seemed to be engrossed in conversation when I caught up with them so it would have seemed rude to talk over them.

I was surprised when the man broke out of his chat to be snarky to me. It isn't a big deal, but I didn't like the feeling that he probably spent the next 5 minutes moaning about 'bloody cyclists'!

Before anyone mentions bells... Years ago, after several walkers suggested that I should get one, I did. I then discovered that about 1/3 of people like them, 1/3 are so deaf or distracted that they don't hear them, and 1/3 find them annoying. One person didn't react to the bell so I used it again. He then said that he was not going to jump every time some idiot on a bike rang a bell. Furthermore, if I rang it at him again he would tear it off my bike and stick it up where the sun doesn't shine!!!

I don't bother with bells now. If I have to, I just cough at a distance to alert the walker, or call out a polite request to let me through.

 

[Vantage]

Been there. You can't win with some people

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Yup - I have had a couple of occaisions where I ring my bell with plenty of notice
slow down
say "excuse me please" in a polite voice and at an apropriate volume

no reaction

so I go past on the grass leaving 3 yards clearance


Only for one of them (always a woman) to suddenly LEAP away from me to here friend/partner while yelping or almost screaming

Totally done for effect - I was going slowly and with a lot of clearance and had made all the appropriate noises to warn them that I was there

Mostly I get positive reactions to my bell - but I have spent some time working out ways of using it in a reasonably polite manner

it is one of the bringgg bringg ones like we had when I was a kid and a full press and release is quite demanding so I do a sort of half ring and release after a short gap

 

[Speicher]

Yes, that's fine, you must get to your meeting.

Do not worry about the emergency plumber you called out because of a broken toilet. That part of the building is locked, and your meeting is being held ... is it one hundred yards away?

I will find out if people ignored the messages I left for them about the plumber and could they unlock the building. I will then be stating categorically that I will not be passing on any more messages. I do not have the time or energy to waste.

You all know where the mops and buckets are, don't you? Is that two call-out charges you will be paying?

 

[Ratchet Cat]

I would have loved to have said this today.

I just wanted to know how to reset my machine safely. Stop trying to bamboozle me with questions!
Does everyone think you're a tit or is it just me?

 

[Jameshow]

I'm done with you lot...

I'm going to find another family!!!

 

[Gwylan]

I'm done with you lot...

I'm going to find another family!!!

You might try mine. Can't recommend most of them.
Wonder what they think if me, really

 

[Andy in Germany]

For goodness' sakes. Being introverted isn't an illness; I won't "get better", nor do I have any need to.

 

[ColinJ]

For goodness' sakes. Being introverted isn't an illness; I won't "get better", nor do I have any need to.

I am getting more and more irritated by over-extroverted people as I get older.

Watching someone who is talented do their thing can be great, but I can't stand "Stop what you were doing, and pay attention - I have arrived..."!