Odd behaviour

troppo · 28-08-2006, 06:19 PM

Just got back from taking the dog for a walk and as I came past the servo I was amused at the sight of an elderly gentleman wrestling with the bowser hose trying to stretch it over his boot and into the tank on the far side (from the bowser) of the car.

Normally I wouldn't find that at all amusing, but in this case the servo was empty except for this one vehicle. As I went past I could see it was never going to happen, he was parked too far from the bowser, so I kept watching out of interest. Eventually, he came to the same realisation as me but I was still slack-jawed as I watched him drive off, do a 3 point turn and come back from the other end of the servo at a bowser on the other side of the driveway. Personally, I would've driven forward and reversed back on the other side of the same bowser but hey, what do I know?

Anyone else find that odd?

brenx · 28-08-2006, 06:23 PM

My grandparents do similar weird thing. I guess it was the way they were shown how to do things. Well really in those days was there really even much of a test or lesson's?

The Monty · 28-08-2006, 06:52 PM

My ganddad drove a police officer to the pub, and got his licence. That was the whole test.

MO · 28-08-2006, 08:42 PM

As you get older your perceptions tend to fade with regard to distance etc...hence most older drivers drive slower.

However I've got to admit I too would have done the same in regard to watching and shaking head.

And yes back up and go to bowser closer to filler is what should be done.

nugget378 · 28-08-2006, 09:20 PM

Haha,I used to repair and pipe up bowsers and tanks,
the funniest thing was when we'd have a bowser off,had it on a trolley,the panels off,you could see right through the thing,and also all the internals,if thats not bad enough we would wheel it over to a far corner of the servo,usually round towards the side of the work shop.
Would you believe people used to pull up at that pump,and try to fill up there cars,
we would have endless amusement watching them,sometimes they'd be there for 10 minutes,and eventually we'd tell them it wasnt working.
It used to happen more than you'd think....

:

MO · 28-08-2006, 09:25 PM

Unreal ...your kidding ...right.

**Silver Ghia** · 28-08-2006, 09:31 PM

I really feel sorry for them, when their clear thinking leaves them. I often worry about getting old myself, loving my cars including 2 hobby cars, I hope I can drive them reasonably well until at least 80.

My main concern at petrol pumps are the younger drivers who should think better, but they stop short of their bowser, so when I pull up at the pump behind, I have to stretch the nozzle back to reach my tank, as I cant drive forward enough. I then have trouble reading the numbers on the pump from where I'm standing.
This happens quite often at my local servo, as the pumps are quite close together.

The other stupid drivers are the ones that drive in from the wrong direction, against the 'do not enter signs', stuffing up those wanting to queue up from the correct direction.

uranium_death · 28-08-2006, 09:39 PM

My only concern with getting older is not being able to see my PC screen.

I'll wear the nappies, I'll be spoonfed and I'll reminisce about the 1980s...but as long as I can play PC games and all that stuff in my old age, I don't care.

AshMan · 28-08-2006, 09:46 PM

It annoys me when you're at a travel centre or something and the person parked at the front pump decides they want some maccas for smoko...

AshMan · 28-08-2006, 09:52 PM

and when you pull up to a pump and are a bit slow to get out of the car, and some jackass pulls up on the other side of the pump (the single ones that you can access from both sides) and starts filling up.

nugget378 · 29-08-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO

Unreal ...your kidding ...right.

Not kidding,and Im not talking about old people either.. sometimes you'd get a car lining up to use the dodgy pump, even when we sat it on the grass...

charles_wif_xf · 29-08-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nugget378

Not kidding,and Im not talking about old people either.. sometimes you'd get a car lining up to use the dodgy pump, even when we sat it on the grass...

That's a ****a!!! :P

deesun · 29-08-2006, 01:47 PM

Having worked in a servo for a number of years I can vouch for the stupidity of some people. One such incident I remember was a woman who pulled up to the bowser got out and as happens was on the wrong side. Even though the hose would have reached over the car she decided to hop back in and have another go. It took her 4 goes,thats five in total to get it on the right side of the car. Every time she moved she turned the car around thus confusing herself as to which side she should be on. I'm glad we had a one way shade on the window so she couldn't see me p1551ng myself laughing.

gozza · 29-08-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

My only concern with getting older is not being able to see my PC screen.

I'll wear the nappies, I'll be spoonfed and I'll reminisce about the 1980s...but as long as I can play PC games and all that stuff in my old age, I don't care.

Senior CS Citizens lol

Ill be another one for playing games when im old

merlin · 29-08-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshMan

and when you pull up to a pump and are a bit slow to get out of the car, and some jackass pulls up on the other side of the pump (the single ones that you can access from both sides) and starts filling up.

ah yes the "pump off" as I call it - two cars pull up on opposite sides of the bowser at the same time only to realise its a single pump - the race is one - the winner is filled with joy as they merrily pump out fuel, pretending to look away whilst secretly sniggering at the loser who is usually leaning dejectedly on their car giving death stares....