A short while ago, I observed to a friend that I found eye-brow piercing irritating, because I had yet to see anyone whom I felt it had enhanced their appearance. Now, clearly, this is a personal opinion but, it got me thinking about all those little things, and maybe some not so little, that annoy the hell out of us.
Shower curtains that cling.
Have you ever noticed that when in hotels, the shower curtain always seems to "blowinwards" and cling to you whilst taking a shower?
Drivers in multistory car parks trying to squeeze into the 1st available space.
They then hold everyone else up whilst they try and maneuver their huge Volvoestate into a small space, between the adjacent car and a concrete pillar. If they'd only drive up two floors, they'd have a multitude of spaces in which to park safely….and quickly!
People shopping in the lunch hour that needn't.
When at work and you pop out quickly in your short lunch break, doesn't it astonish you how many people get in your way, when they needn't be there? Senior citizens, for example, who have all day to shop, but seem insistent in doing it when all the workers are out at lunch!
Only one "till" open in the bank at lunchtime.
Talking of lunchtime, why do bank and Post Office counter staff take their lunch at the same time as everyone else? Wouldn't it make more sense to stagger it?
Tractors on the road at 08:45 or 16:55.
This is a little like item 4, they do have a right to but, it's just unnecessary! And delays everyone else.
Discjockeys who don't back announce records.
Ever heard a song on the radio and thought, “What is that?” Then the DJ fails to back announce it, drives you mad!
Only 1 item left on the shelf on a BOGOF.
You rush into the shop when they have a "Buyonegetonefree" offer advertised, only to find there's only 1 left on the shelf. Sucker! I bet they only ever had 1 on the shelf from the start!
On Eastenders, noone ever talks about Coronation Street.
This applies in reverse, too. What about Neighbours and Home & Away? Everyone in the UK seems to discuss the previous evenings viewing, except on the soaps themselves…..and I thought they were supposed to reflect reallife? Silly me!
Reality TV!
Need I say more? The programs are so contrived they make me want to vomit!
People who can't hold their liquor.
Ever had to endure that annoying group of "oiks" who, having downed copious amounts of alcohol, want to wander through town and subject the rest of us to their predictable banter, at the loudest possible volume?
People who don't remove their rubbish in fast food bars.
Even though the bins are generally provided for them, people still see fit to ignore the accepted practice and leave their half eaten burgers, with fries and ketchup spewing over the table, for the next customer to face. How pleasant, how considerate!
Fast food that isn't!
Still on the subject of fastfood bars, why is it that when I visit a certain fast food chain, and request one of their tasty "filetoffish", they never have one ready? I always have to wait so, it's not fast food any more!
People who flick cigarette butts out of car windows.
This goes beyond irritation for me, it is plain dumb. How long before the car following behind happens to have a very small fuel leak and… BANG!
Flicking channels… and it's on an advert break.
On the other hand, this is so trivial but, frustrating. You are enduring….sorry, watching….a girlieflick with your partner and, at the advertbreak you quickly flick over to the big match to grab the latest and, guess what, it's halftime so, their advert break is on!
Hearing an icecream van that never comes to your road!
There you are, laying in the garden on a hot summer's day, all the time listening to the "dingaling" of various icecream vans, sometimes getting closer and then often fading into the distance. Not one visits your road….how irritating is that?
Wasps.
Need I say more? What are they are all about, eh?
People who stepout just as the lights turn green.
How annoying is that? Often you can spot them coming, too! Just as the red light turns to green, these inconsiderates decide there is just enough time for them to cross…..wrong! But they still do it and hold up the traffic.
Words of "popular" culture.
Certain words have achieved popular usage (e.g. sarney; rugger; laters; somewhen) but, they are not real words and I hate them with a vengeance…
Shopping trolleys in supermarket parking.
Why can't people be bothered to walk a few steps when they have finished and return the trolley to the bays provided for them, instead of leaving them to get in the way for other customers? I had the misfortune to ram one into another person's car, by accident once, as a result!
Junk emails.
It drives me to distraction every time I logon, to find someone trying to "assist me" with pharmaceuticals, special offers and the opportunity to enhance my sexual performance. Leave me alone!
Christmas comes early.
Don't you find it outrageous that Christmas items are now appearing on shop shelves in August? I love Christmas but, not that much!
People who think they are more important than the rest of us.
To illustrate this point, I offer as an example those individuals who see fit to park on doubleyellow lines whilst they just "nip in here". The double yellow lines are there for a reason, it doesn't matter how short you are gone, you are causing an obstruction for other road users. Move it!
Rap music!
Need I say more? Fat Man Scoop, what's he all about, eh?
Irrational sales strategies. Part 1
In Spain a couple of years ago, I discovered Lemon "Cornetto"s', they are absolutely delicious. On returning home, I enquired why I couldn't get them here, I was told there were no plans to retail them in the UK. That makes sense, create a delicious product then prevent the market from having it. Madness!
Irrational sales strategies. (2)
Why is it that when you enter a shop shortly before their advertised closing time, they then have the temerity to ask you to hurry up when the appointed hour arrives, if they don't want your money, that's the best way of going about ensuring they don't get it!
Lack of common courtesies.
To illustrate this point, I offer as an example those times when you hold the door open for someone, and they can't even be bothered to acknowledge you…let alone thank you. Unbelievable!
Flies!
Need I say more? What are they all about, eh? They fly into your window at home trying to get out and, when you open it to let them out, they fly off in the other direction. Crazy!
People who talk loudly in restaurants.
There's always one isn't there? This applies equally to train carriages. Either way, there is always someone who talks so loud that you are virtually forced to listen to their inane conversation; about how well little Johnny has done at school today or, how the reception is bad on the train. Well, get off the damn thing then!
People who don't do what they say they are going to do.
So, I thought it would irritate you that on a list of 30, there are only 29 items!
I suspect the list could go on and on from here! It could even give birth to a regular feature because I know that I have a few hundred that I could add. Thanks Sean it made me laugh.
