Moose McAlpine

No different to when you go on holiday. Group of loud obnoxious wankers causing trouble? Usually English.

I wish i could say the same, but more than once i've had to back my van up a few hundered yards, eating humble pie while getting the look from everyone who just saw me blast by the signs. One time i went to rescue a mate who'd broken down. Right by a little arch bridge somewhere in Hampshire or Surrey. While hooking up the car there were workers getting set up for maintenance on the bridge. They hadn't started yet so i went and asked if there was any chance of just nipping through as it would a long way round otherwise. Got told no, closed from 10pm, not happening. I asked how to get around the closure. "Go to the end of the road, turn right and f**k off." He was quite a bit bigger than me so i did as instructed.

When i worked for the AA (the other AA) i once got a rolling roadblock from the Highways Agency so i could tow a car out of an energency refuge area. It was glorious, i looked in my mirror and there was a Shogun with all its lights going, followed by a wall of traffic. They were all giving me the daggers as they passed me afterwards. 😂

No Stubby, you keeping driving your Honda Jazz the wrong way down the motorway on your bi-weekly shopping trip. They're not practicing and one day you'll get in trouble for it!

No, i was "that English c**t in the van" usually. Last time i drove through i was a c**t in an Audi though. Not sure if that's better or worse.

Maybe it's just the motorways then? Or maybe i'm just lucky. Or more likely, they do it badly just for you, maybe to remind you of home. Miles of warnings for "debris" and yet.. nothing. All the time for me on the M1 and M25.

That's how they do it in Europe. Contraflows no longer than they need to be, go past roadworks on a French motorway at 3am, they're there fixing it. It's a mess here.

All the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon..

This does coincide with the numerous reports of a strange leather-clad gentleman in socks and sandals singing split me baby one more time whilst operating a firewood processor in Western France. It all adds up now.

😐

@David Cropper our cover's blown, he's got us figured out.

Whoa, don't look at me, ol' Cropper actually likes it! I'm only the middleman, delivering horrendous nonsense to depraved Arbtalkers!

Fair few on ebay quite often: HUSQVARNA 365 PETROL CHAINSAW 20 BAR CHAIN WOOD CUTTER CHIPPER SAW 371 WWW.EBAY.CO.UK <p>For sale HUSQVARNA 365 PETROL CHAINSAW 20 BAR...

Bloody hell. We better get you enrolled in the employee mental health wellbeing program quickfast! 😮

Your worst nightmares realised, in awful musical form:

Ok, i don't want this to descend into an argument because so far this topic has been constructive. Alcohol is a depressant, that's a well-known fact. While it does not depress you that doesn't change that it's a depressant, and it's all to do with susceptibility to depression, coping mechanisms and so on. Since i'm not a doctor, here's an explaination from someone who is: https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/alcohol-and-depresssion I can't comment much on alcohol and depression personally as i don't drink.

That is very much a key point in this subject.

Alcohol is a depressant.. While many use it to "treat" depression that's very counter-productive.

I think some men can and it's on the increase but better access to proper professional help for those that really need it, and less stigma or anxiety towards actually seeking it is still a work in progress. Talking does help, but it needs to go both ways. Sometimes someone just listening helps, but in many cases people need help in finding a way to deal with or overcome their issues. That is where talking alone stops helping and further support from a professional is needed. But ultimately talking and support from friends is definitely the first step and will stop many issues from getting worse.

Basically this idea that men need to be (emotionally) strong, tough, show no emotion, can't get upset by stuff or be affected emotionally by issues or adversity. Mocking them for such things. I imagine toxic masculinity is defined differently elsewhere, it's just my name for the cultural attitude towards men's emotions and how they need to be bottled up and hidden for fear of appearing weak. (I probably havent explained that very well.) I should add, that often this is among men. So in a group of friends, one can't talk about their feelings, for fear of being ridiculed within the group. Society as a whole contribute to this issue, but i feel it's mostly an issue among men.

I think partly men do find it hard to talk about their feelings and what's troubling them, and it's also an element of toxic masculinity. Men are conditioned to be tough, strong and silent, show no weakness. It's what society expects and as such many can't talk about their emotions or problems for fear of being branded a nancy, a pussy, or whatever by their peers. Even among groups of friends, no-one wants to be ripped into by all their mates over their emotions so they keep it bottled up. It's a huge contributing factor to suicide in young men, they struggle to deal with these problems until it takes over and they escape by ending it all. So yes, i think it's very beneficial. Often, due to fear of ridicule, it's much easier to talk to a stranger about such issues, no judgement. I think it's great that you have that in place for your staff. Ok, don't take this personally Mick, but i think this is a prime example of a lack of understanding of these issues. And most likely because it's not something you've experienced in the way that some do. Everyone's psyche is different, some cope well under stress and pressure, some don't. For many it's not "having a bad day" it's an actual ongoing problem where it feels like your mind is tearing itself apart. Telling someone who is struggling with stress, anxiety or depression to "pull yourself together" won't help them. It will often push them further into their issue as it's like calling them weak. If they could just pull themself together and get over it they would. And yes, you're right, sometimes life is shit. However, everyone deals with it differently and some need a different kind of emotional support through it. Well that's certainly true, some people do love to cry depression when really they're just unhappy with something and don't know what depression really is, or how it actually feels. This is exactly the problem, and my generation is the kind of transitional period where all of that started to phase out slightly and male emotions have become more "accepted" in society. There will always be an element of toxic masculinity and many men will still suffer but having people to talk to without judgement is become more common. In the interest of honesty and full disclosure, i've had issues with anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia for years. I've contemplated suicide for a long time, and once attempted it. (unsuccessfully, obviously.) I'm fortunate that now i have a couple of very good friends that i can talk to about my issues, my feelings and my secrets without fear or being judged or ridiculed. I wish more people had friends like that. Edit: A part of the problem here is that where everyone's psyche is different it's hard to understand and relate to some issues. If you're not prone to stress/depression/anxiety and have never eexperienced it then you won't understand how it feels and its effect. I've read many times someone talking about a suicide and saying it's "a permanent solution to a temporary problem" which really shows their lack of understanding. Depression feels like an inescspable bottomless pit. Telling someone "it'll get better" is as useless as lipstick on a pig, they need a different kind of help and support. If you've never felt like you want to kill yourself, you will never understand how it feels. I'm not writing this for a reaction or sympathy, it's just an insight, my perspective and opinion on the subject.

🤤

That's some impressive sized trees! I'd like a bit of woodland like that.

Better get your quote in then!