Celebrating my (not so) inner grumpy old woman

I’ve done a couple of posts listing things I don’t love already, but although I’m accepting my significant years with as much grace as is possible, the occasional return to venting is required…

• Three-quarter length sleeves – just why? They’re neither short enough to be cool in the hotter months, and when the weather turns, my lower arms and wrists feel downright chilly. My style guru friend absolutely loves them, but then she wears a whole heap of bracelets whereas I do not. As it seems the marketplace agrees with her, I’ve given in and bought a bunch of (cashmere) wrist warmers in a variety of colours. But that doesn’t mean I’m not grumpy about this…
  
• Anyone who refers to celebrities as “Slebs” – although maybe this is just a Brit thing.
  
• YouTubers filming and walking around talking to their phones while other people are having to go about their everyday lives – on public transport, in the street, in shops, cafes, restaurants, in galleries, museums, and even churches (I suppose I should be grateful it’s not during an actual service, although I’m sure that’s not too far off).
  
• Big expensive cars not using their indicators – and it is always big expensive cars. I also hate how they drive down the centre of narrow roads so their precious car doesn’t get scratched, so you end up with your smaller cheaper car being pushed into the gutters, the bushes, or even off the road.
  
• Renovation work has been taking place in our building since last summer. They’ve been working on the flat next door and the central hallway and stairs and the noise has been spectacular. But what’s pushing me over the edge is that, although the work on our building is finally over, contractors are still using our tiny and oversubscribed parking area, leaving residents to park in the overflow car park, the track to which is filled with pot holes and when you get there is so muddy you need to wear wellington boots. I know parking is a problem is this part of town, but really…
  
• Having to unsubscribe after each and every time you buy something from an online retailer, otherwise your email in box gets overwhelmed with marketing shite.
  
• Newspaper articles online which are so jammed with advertisements you give up attempting to read the news item which you are actually interested in. Most annoyingly this seems to happen in all local newspapers, so if I want to know what’s going on where I live, I have to keep fighting.
  
• The fallout from providing a home for ladybirds during the cold and wet months is when they fly into your face and hair, or you wake up to find them on your pillow. Not that there’s anything I can do about this, as with single glazing they can easily get in, and I know all the residents in the building also suffer. While I’ve gotten used to them walking across the TV, it’s the sheer numbers which sometimes freak me out.

What is currently pissing you off upsetting you or making your grumpy?

© Debs Carey, 2026