Pesky Government Announcement!

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I don't know how anyone can concentrate with music playing.

Brian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Peter G. Shaw on 17/06/2020 19:25:07:

Dave/SOD,

Yes, ok they are relatively inocuous, but try hearing it every 20 or 30 mins or so after a while one becomes first innured to it, and then secondly, absolutely fed up of it. That's what really gets me, the repeats, repeats, repeats, repeats.

.

I’m bewildered, Peter

I gave up listening to Classic FM because I found the Commercial Advertisements so intrusive

… Is there something even worse in the style of these important Government Announcements ?

MichaelG.

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

So who would pay for advertising on Classic FM?

I do listen in the car and at home and am staggered by the incompetence of who ever sorts out the adverts.

You can often hear 10 seconds of an advert followed by a few seconds of another and then back to the original. Sometimes with comedy results.

I wouldn't have thought this possible in this day and age but Classic FM seem to be able to do it again and again.

I have felt the frustration of Peter Shaw long before the Govt announcements started.

I got sick of hearing the joyful singing of "The Claims Guys" and then was horrified after the deadline to find that you can claim if your bank mis sold you investments. They also ran adverts by several charities for free will writing which coupled with the cancer care adverts caused my wife and I to dub it Classic Death M.

I have nothing against any of these and am not against adverts and announcements but there are many things that need to be advertised and much that should be announced Just not the same things every half hour.

Now listening to Prime Music

David.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

If you get a radio with a TV type remote you can use the mute button

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

A radio with a mute button. Isn't that called a

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

First of all, I only listen to ClassicFM in the workshop. SWMBO makes sure of that!

Secondly, I'm not about to pay money for additional audio equipment to be used only in the workshop. See my previous post on this, and note that I can only receive VHF FM on this radio.

Thirdly, I do go through phases whereby the radio never gets switched on.

Fourthly, generally speaking, when I'm in the workshop, I can ignore the other ads. In any case, there seems to have been a change recently as the ads seem to have diminished. It's just that this blasted government ad starts off with "This is a government announcement." And then goes on to say you must do this, you must do that, you must not do this, you must isolate for 14 days if we tell you. And quite frankly, after the fourth, or fifith, or tenth time of hearing it I find it extremely annoying.

Fifthly. And this is perhaps more important than any of the above. I do not have a smart 'phone. Neither does my wife. I do not want a smart 'phone. I cannot understand why people appear so frightened of being out of contact for more than a few minutes. And, whilst I am on about it, I neither need nor want internet access 24/7. Actually, that last sentence is not quite right, but I can't express it any other way. I do have internet access 24/7, but on my computers, and if I'm away from home, then ok I'll do without until I get back home. FWIW, I do have a bog standard basic mobile 'phone which spends 95% of its life switched off. Indeed, I only carry it with me when I go out as a means of assisting the emergency services if I collapse whilst out. If I was to say that my monthly bill averages about £2 per month all in, perhaps that puts it in perspective. (Incidently, I took advantage of a special offer some 20+ years ago which is why my contract is so cheap.) Which makes a mockery of the attempts to track & trace. Blue tooth? What's that? (Ok don't answer, I do know, but it's showing what I think.) Email addresses? Ditto. I've no doubt these people can find out what my mobile number is, and my many email addresses, but I don't give them out willy-nilly.

And finally. Concentration. Maybe I'm lucky, don't know, but I find that I can switch off from extraneous noises if I need to, that is until something particularly intrusive arrives. Another point is that the radio is only on quiet – mustn't disturb the memsahib – and easily gets drowned out by the noise from whichever machine I'm using.

And, I suppose, another finally. How else am I going to hear the delights of Soave, si'a il vento, Ave verum, or the Pastoral Symphony?

And with that, toodle pip,

Peter G. Shaw

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Peter +1

I cannot remember when I last listened to a radio, at home or in the car. Certainly do not have a radio in the workshops.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by KWIL on 18/06/2020 10:10:03:

Peter +1

I cannot remember when I last listened to a radio, at home or in the car. Certainly do not have a radio in the workshops.

100% agree. Radio is too much of a distraction when trying to contemplate life, the universe and everything as we olduns do in our sheds. In fact I have no idea when I actually touched the knobs on a radio or tv last.

I have more than enough to think about other than listen to the rubbish turned out by todays media. Long may the world pass me by. Apart from the garden I have not been out of the house since the start of lock apart from the monthly trip to the chemist which I do to keep the car moving.

regards

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I have started listening to classic FM but admit the ads are a PITA, our local radio 3CR is now complete dross, just Covid related ad nauseum, I thought Brexit coverage was bad but the pandemic coverage is in a whole different league.

Tony

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

Being a Son of the Broad Acres I'm with Mr. Shaw all the way, with one exception: I have all my favourite music on a spare workshop computer which plays in shuffle mode. I got rather fed up with hurling stuff at my late Fathers wireless set, in annoyance with announcers, pundits, interviewers or whatever. 2 reasons for that, firstly the varnished case was getting damaged and secondly it took ages to find the stuff which would ricochet off it.

And before you ask, Peter.. made in Grassington, reared in Mytholmroyd.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I empathise with Peter's difficult listening problems, me too.

Doing computer work at the dining table I find it helps to listen to music. Not all will do: Jazz drives me mad, as does tiddly pom, pom, scrape, scrape classical, Rap, Disco, Opera, Gregorian Chant, Harsh Noise Wall, Elevator Musak, Folk, Country & Western, and UK Garage. (Many honourable exceptions apart!) Even worse, drama, adverts and news completely destroy my concentration.

Not so doing physical jobs the workshop. There I can listen to the spoken word. Unfortunately still no coconut because intermittent machine noise spoils the programmes!

Technology saves the day. I have an MP3-Player with earphones. I pre-load it with a selection of music, drama and whatever else I want to listen to. My choices, when I want to listen to them, that can be paused, and no adverts. No-one will fix broadcasting for us but it is possible to dodge the worst. It's what the young folk do…

Dave

[Trevor Crossman 1Participant @trevorcrossman1]

I would agree with the OP that repeated Government announcements would be annoying, but rotating multi -horsepower machinery and sharp and pointy tools require my full uninterrupted attention at all times. They might not function quite as well as they once did but I've still got all the bits of me that I started with and intend to keep it that way 🤞so no radio at all in my workshop.

Trevor

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

10ba12ba,

I know Grassington fairly well because MemSahib insists on dragging me there at times. (Actually all she really wants is for me to pay for things. Such is life.) If and when the restrictions are lifted, there is a very good chance we may take the caravan to Esholt Lane Caravan Site in Gargrave. Also used to visit The George Inn at Hubberholme. That was before we got married.

Mytholmroyd. Cragg Vale. Coiners? Calder Valley. Hebden Bridge. Heptonstall. Hardcastle Crags. Gibson Mill. All places I've been to occasionally. Also Ripponden Con. Club for the Boxing Day Dance – now that's going back a bit. I was born (depite what some people say) in Halifax although the parents lived at Stainland. Attended Elland Grammar School. Family trips as a sprog might be up and around Baitings both before and after it was built, then to The Derby Ram was it? I forget. And then down to Mytholmroyd via Cragg Vale. And back home via Tuel Lane and Sowerby Bridge, onto West Vale and up to Sowood. In those days it was a bit of an adventure, especially in a side-valve Ford Prefect with a 3 speed box, vacuum wipers, and cable brakes.

Eh lad, tha's started something now tha knows.

Peter G. Shaw

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Blimey lads! I've been wondering what's brought on all this mithering? However, it's becoming clear now that it all has its origins in Yorkshire – so that explains it .

Stay well chaps,

Rod (a southern softie, born and bred)

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Ah'l tell thi wot our Rod, It's good to get thi mind of of all these goings on, tha knows.

Peter

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I have to admit to having an old cd player / radio in the garage / mancave but it is set on FM for my local radio station. this is usually set on the local presenters programmes at a regular time every day & volume is set loud enough to provide background music. I can also claim to have selective hearing ( ssh; don't tell SWMBO ) so when I have my eyes & hands on the lathe / milling machine my brain goes into radio silence so I can only predominantly see & hear what the machines are doing. So apart from catching the main news items every hr on the hr it suits me fine.. .

[10ba12baParticipant @10ba12ba]

'Appen so, Peter lad, 'appen so. All my old stomping grounds.

Ah well, they can never take away our memories can they? I'm going to digress a bit.. into the subject of music. The link song was written in the days when there was quite a bit of lead flying about in forrin parts..today we have the virus war to bother all of us, but this tune just might give a bit of hope:

BTW the lady backing singer was Mary Hopkin… remember her?

youtube,com/watch?v=A9tIJEywB4g 

(Peace will come)

 

Edited By 10ba12ba on 18/06/2020 12:59:29

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Long blonde hair as I recall. Probably a true soprano as well with that high pitched voice.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 18/06/2020 11:15:43:
.

I empathise with Peter's difficult listening problems, me too.

[…]

Technology saves the day. I have an MP3-Player with earphones. […]

.

Forgive me, Dave … Perhaps I have missed some amazing leap in technology, but:

Lossless MP3 seems like an oxymoron

… or is the advert poorly written ?

MichaelG.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

If like me you're high frequency hearing is rapidly disappearing down the plug, HiFi is a bit of a waste of time (and money). What I need is an inverse Dolby circuit to boost the high frequencies and leave them there. I think this is what my hearing aids do (otherwise known as tin lugs), but most of the time I don't bother with them as if I can see whoever is speaking I can understand (lip reading?). Old films are good because actors back then enunciated, not like modern dramas where they mumble all the time

It's not all bad, in fact I reckon it's a male survival tactic, women tend to have higher pitched voices!

Edited By duncan webster on 18/06/2020 16:07:02

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 18/06/2020 14:06:43:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 18/06/2020 11:15:43:
.

I empathise with Peter's difficult listening problems, me too.

[…]

Technology saves the day. I have an MP3-Player with earphones. […]

.

Forgive me, Dave … Perhaps I have missed some amazing leap in technology, but:

Lossless MP3 seems like an oxymoron

… or is the advert poorly written ?

MichaelG.

Ah, audio adverts!!! Completely trustworthy…

Dave

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

To give them the benefit of the doubt, Dave … I did wonder if they had inadvertently omitted the punctuation

RUIZU New Evodigitals Black 8GB Lossless HD Sound MP3 MP4 Player Music Video FM Tuner

Should perhaps read something like:

RUIZU New Evodigitals : Black 8GB

Lossless / HD Sound / MP3 / MP4

Player

Music : Video : FM Tuner

.

Do you have a proper spec for it ?

MichaelG.

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Attended Elland Grammar School.

Wasn't familar with that school, so looked it up Found that I did know it after all, but it has been known as Brooksbank Comprehensive for as long as I have been aware of it – my sister went there for the last couple of years of her education & I passed it every day on my commute to my previous employer (when I was in the works) at Holywell Green.

Tuel Lane in Sowerby Bridge was part of the commute to Broadbents in Mytholmroyd from Rastrick for 15 months or so until redundancy stopped play. Boxford's "new" premises are a right turn towards Halifax at the top of Tuel Lane.

Nigel B.

(born in Hudderfield, brought up in Rastrick & ex- Rastrick Grammar School)

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Nigel B,

Elland Grammar School changed to Brooksbank Comprehensive in the 1960's. Both my brother and sister attended the comprehensive leaving in 1968 & 1972 respectively.

Rastrick Grammar. I've a feeling that a forerunner was Rastrick Central School or something similar. If I'm right, then there is a good chance that my mother attended that school leaving with Matriculation Certificates in 1936.

What works were those at Holywell Green? It's possible I may have known people in the same works – Arthur Edwards (I think), Leslie Stewart. Or was it the mills near the bottom of Burwood Hill? The only other works I can think of was Photo-Multo just below Holywell Green School on the opposite side. owned & run by T. Phillips Lealand. My mother worked there for a few years in the office.

I always remember Tuel Lane because way back when, it was famous for runaway vehicles, and I have a memory of the mill, if it still exists, across the bottom of Tuel Lane on the opposite side with new bricks where the old ones had been demolished. And when I started at Elland, I learned the verb "tuer" – to kill, and I often wondered if that was where Tuel Lane got it's name.

Also new Huddersfield & its surrounding area quite well. This was in the early 1960's. From what I see on the news, I don't think I would want to go back now.

Peter.

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Rastrick Grammar. I've a feeling that a forerunner was Rastrick Central School or something similar. If I'm right, then there is a good chance that my mother attended that school leaving with Matriculation Certificates in 1936.

Rastrick Grammar School was independant & very old, tracing it's roots to a school started by the local St. Mathews church in the 1300s & it is unlikely that your mother attended there, as it was a single sex boys school. It "went" in the mid-80s, merged with a local comprehensive school to become Rastrick High School. The local single sex girls equivalent was Brighouse Girls Grammar, my wife being one of the pupils there. That, too, closed in a re-organisation & the premises are now retirement appartments. There was also Rastrick Secondary Modern School, know locally as "Rastrick Common", as that is where it was sited. That is where you went if you didn't pass the 11 Plus.

You would not know the place I used to work, as their premises were purpose built on a new industrial estate started in the mid-80s. It was on farm land, with access shared with an established chemical works nearby (variously Hoechst or Union Carbide – don't know what they made). The land was on the left as you drove from West Vale up the hill towards Holywell Green centre, opposite the golf course. The land had been a steepish sided valley & it was levelled with ash from the former Elland coal fired power station (long demolished & that site now also being an extensive industrial estate, one of the tenants being Mitutoyo) – that stuff had very poor load-bearing properties & made necessary some very heavy-duty foundations for the 20 Tonne gantry crane in the works. The floor was 600 mm thick concrete.

Huddersfield isn't too bad a place, though it is not the place it used to be. Local politicians don't help, with some rather strange priorities to waste money on while ignoring the basics & the town centre is struggling as many are. As with many towns around Leeds, it is viewed now as being dormatory space within the "Leeds City Region". All part of the "Northern Powerhouse" carp that the politicians spout about that is making life a lot less pleasant around here. A move to somewhere quieter to retire has a lot of attractions !

Nigel B.

[Author]

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