Things that annoy you beyond reason...(Vol 4)
Discussion
mickk said:
Vehicles that blast this out 'THIS VEHICLE IS TURNING LEFT'
I know you're indicating!
Heard that for the first time last week, was on foot and a Travis Perkins wagon went by with that blaring out, I couldn't work out where it was coming from at first. Maybe it's to help people get over the shock that some drivers actually do know how to use indicators?I know you're indicating!
king lot. I've been waiting for MONTHS for that. 
mickk said:
Mr Snrub said:
Neighbours who climb into your garden to get their ball back instead of knocking and asking
Release the hounds!One day, one of the chaps on duty came round, asking for a cup of tea. He was white as a sheet and shaking.
The proximity alarm had gone off - confirmed intruder in the back garden. He'd rushed round, pistol drawn. No one there. He began to scan the garden when a bush twitched. He levelled the gun and challenged "Stop! Armed police!"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw rapid movement to his left. He spun and aimed at the running figure, flicking off the safety and began squeezing on the trigger.
It was a kid with a ball.
There were some little tikes who lived in the house that backed onto their garden. Two of them had climbed in to retrieve a ball. They'd hidden when they saw the man coming. When the policeman shouted at the one behind the bush, the other one decided to make a run for it.
No-one was shot but it had a cost. The policeman told my mum he was going to give back his firearm and quit. I don't think we saw him again.
British 'grass roots' sport in general, and hockey in particular. I shall explain...
People need to get more active, say the government. Sport is short of participants, say the governing bodies. No problem with that. Join in, they say. It's affordable and accessible they say. Well, that's what the sailing folk were telling us on BBC breakfast the other day.
So. This morning I have a look at the England Hockey website, click on 'Find a Club', and it throws up several local hockey clubs. All is going swimmingly so far.
Then I wade through the tabs and menus to find out how much this is going to cost. Now bear in mind that I'm a "former player" looking to return, but I'm retired from the army and currently not working. Money is tight.
Club 'A' wants £130 to join for a season, then £10 match fees per. Training facilities are at a local school.
Club 'B' wants £40/month for 8 months of the year, then £10 match fees per. Training facilities at the army hockey centre.
Both of these options look expensive for me. My wife works, and I have a small pension, but we're 'staying afloat' at the moment rather than living the high life. I'm not registered as a Job Seeker, nor claiming benefits, so it's likely I'll not be eligible to pay reduced concessionary rate membership and fees.
How in hell is this either "affordable" or "accessible" ??? I realise that clubs cost money to run,and that they take care of insurance and registration etc, but surely if governing bodies are trying to encourage new and (in my case) returning players, there should be some spreading of funding more toward the local clubs rather than the already identified and sponsored high level talent?
It's not just a moan for my own sake. There are oodles of potential players and participants out there, some of whom are looking for a sporting activity they can join in with. But I imagine many of them, like me, either don't have the spare cash, or have higher priorities for it than sports club subscriptions.
I guess my 'bats' are destined to stay in their bag for the foreseeable future. I simply can't afford to pay this sort of money without a job, and if I had a job it would probably mean no time to play. Catch 22? This is neither a rant, nor a "poor, poor me" post. I'm an active cyclist, and running is free if I want to do that. I just thought I had something to offer, as at least one of the clubs has been actively advertising for new players. I just didn't imagine that it was anywhere near this expensive to play sport these days. I was sheltered from the true cost during my time in the army I suppose. No club membership fees there, and match fees of £1 or £2 per match, if they were due at all.
No idea where else to post my grumbling, and, because it has "annoyed me beyond reason" I have dumped it here.
People need to get more active, say the government. Sport is short of participants, say the governing bodies. No problem with that. Join in, they say. It's affordable and accessible they say. Well, that's what the sailing folk were telling us on BBC breakfast the other day.
So. This morning I have a look at the England Hockey website, click on 'Find a Club', and it throws up several local hockey clubs. All is going swimmingly so far.
Then I wade through the tabs and menus to find out how much this is going to cost. Now bear in mind that I'm a "former player" looking to return, but I'm retired from the army and currently not working. Money is tight.
Club 'A' wants £130 to join for a season, then £10 match fees per. Training facilities are at a local school.
Club 'B' wants £40/month for 8 months of the year, then £10 match fees per. Training facilities at the army hockey centre.
Both of these options look expensive for me. My wife works, and I have a small pension, but we're 'staying afloat' at the moment rather than living the high life. I'm not registered as a Job Seeker, nor claiming benefits, so it's likely I'll not be eligible to pay reduced concessionary rate membership and fees.
How in hell is this either "affordable" or "accessible" ??? I realise that clubs cost money to run,and that they take care of insurance and registration etc, but surely if governing bodies are trying to encourage new and (in my case) returning players, there should be some spreading of funding more toward the local clubs rather than the already identified and sponsored high level talent?
It's not just a moan for my own sake. There are oodles of potential players and participants out there, some of whom are looking for a sporting activity they can join in with. But I imagine many of them, like me, either don't have the spare cash, or have higher priorities for it than sports club subscriptions.
I guess my 'bats' are destined to stay in their bag for the foreseeable future. I simply can't afford to pay this sort of money without a job, and if I had a job it would probably mean no time to play. Catch 22? This is neither a rant, nor a "poor, poor me" post. I'm an active cyclist, and running is free if I want to do that. I just thought I had something to offer, as at least one of the clubs has been actively advertising for new players. I just didn't imagine that it was anywhere near this expensive to play sport these days. I was sheltered from the true cost during my time in the army I suppose. No club membership fees there, and match fees of £1 or £2 per match, if they were due at all.
No idea where else to post my grumbling, and, because it has "annoyed me beyond reason" I have dumped it here.
Hockey isn't a cheap sport. I think my club fees were about £80 a season, then £8 per game, then fuel to matches (as I'm in west Cornwall, we had quite a trek for a lot of the games as they were in Devon), I guess most sticks are £50+ as are boots, then kits shin guards etc all add up. I got fed up paying out for that and giving up pretty much a whole Saturday to go to Devon and stand around doing nothing for the match (I'm a keeper and we were a pretty decent team), two weekends in a row went to Plymouth and I touched the ball once in total. At school and uni I played a lot of hockey, but then gave it up for a few years before going back to it. I'd always used school/uni keepers kits, when I went to get my own, the price was frightening, probably around £700 for something half decent. I got lucky and bought a 2nd hand kit for £200. I'm selling that now as I haven't had the time to play and can't see me giving up my Saturdays for matches again.
The kit is what seems to make hockey cost more than football or rugby, although I think they generally have lower fees and as there are more clubs, you don't have to travel as far. I think the upkeep of astro pitches and the insurance for hockey helps push up the fees.
The kit is what seems to make hockey cost more than football or rugby, although I think they generally have lower fees and as there are more clubs, you don't have to travel as far. I think the upkeep of astro pitches and the insurance for hockey helps push up the fees.
Edited by opieoilman on Tuesday 25th October 12:50
I no longer play, but those annual fees have stayed where they were ~10 yeas ago from when I last played; those match fees have more than doubled.
Kit isn't too bad, I'd say, for an outfield player: ~£100 for a stick for two seasons (minimum); £25 shin pads (many seasons); £25 glove (maybe only one season as they can (at least mine could!) get stinky); £50 dentist-fit gum shield (many seasons); £70 AstroTurf boots (perhaps two seasons on water based); fuel costs for all cars travelling split equally by all those who travel.
I can't comment on the club fees for comparable field sports, but boots, shin pads and gum shields are shared with rugby (add a head guard), minus the gum shield for football.
The chap from British cycling said on Radio 2 yesterday evening that a reasonable priced decent bike was ~£200, up to ~£500 starting price for a "good" bike. He didn't comment on club fees (should one feel that way inclined). Lycra should be expensive just to put people off from buying and wearing it!
Kit isn't too bad, I'd say, for an outfield player: ~£100 for a stick for two seasons (minimum); £25 shin pads (many seasons); £25 glove (maybe only one season as they can (at least mine could!) get stinky); £50 dentist-fit gum shield (many seasons); £70 AstroTurf boots (perhaps two seasons on water based); fuel costs for all cars travelling split equally by all those who travel.
I can't comment on the club fees for comparable field sports, but boots, shin pads and gum shields are shared with rugby (add a head guard), minus the gum shield for football.
The chap from British cycling said on Radio 2 yesterday evening that a reasonable priced decent bike was ~£200, up to ~£500 starting price for a "good" bike. He didn't comment on club fees (should one feel that way inclined). Lycra should be expensive just to put people off from buying and wearing it!
Fashion.
The idea that someone or some group of people think they are the cutting edge and ahead of everyone. and then those drones seeing the "look" in a magazine/TV/film/ad etc and copying it and before you know it every bellend in the country is wandering around with cropped beards drinking craft beers and insisting on growing their own alfalfa beans. Utter w@nkers.
The idea that someone or some group of people think they are the cutting edge and ahead of everyone. and then those drones seeing the "look" in a magazine/TV/film/ad etc and copying it and before you know it every bellend in the country is wandering around with cropped beards drinking craft beers and insisting on growing their own alfalfa beans. Utter w@nkers.
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