BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment

Subject: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 05:34 AM

Its happened to me twice recently. Something happens that quite literally stops you dead in your tracks, and you know that for that moment there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.

First after sorting the white washing, and some of it was brand new, I standing having a nice cup of tea watching the washing going round in the machine, then I spot something mixed in, not only is it coloured - its black!

Another was when I was in a tearing hurry to be somewhere, and I'm standing at the garage and realise I have a 'petrol' pump in my hand, and my car uses diesel!

Those are 'oh bugger' moments. Anyone else suffer from them!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: gnu
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:15 AM

Funny you should ask...

Just after I read this while having my first cup of tea, I decided to cut my hair. I simply use electric clippers and two of the attachment combs, one for the sides and the smallest one for the sparse area above.

Still half asleep, I began and then realized I had not changed out the smallest one from the last cutting. But, it does look "neat".

Anyone else feel a draft?

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:34 AM

I wouldn't have used the word 'bugger' in those circumstances

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 08:36 AM

No, actually, on both occasions i did use slightly different expressions, but I didnt think they were allowed on Mudcat!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 10:09 AM

I just spent half a day working out the email merge on OpenOffice. Feeling very pleased with myself on having figured it out I sent out a small mailshot. Just before noticing that my phone number was wrong on the flyer.

Never mind, thinks I, turn it to my advantage. Send out a message saying that the number has changed. Great stuff, now 100 people have two of my messages.

Both with wrong phone numbers...

Oh Bugger!

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: DMcG
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 10:34 AM

I recently started using a new photosharing website. I created a test folder of one picture to play with and the system if I wanted to import all the email addresses from outlook. I said yes, thinking it was importing them to the contact list on the website. Instead it sent an email with a link to the test photograph to EVERYONE in my contact book. Thanks. And sorry to everyone who got one!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: GUEST,erbert
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 10:42 AM

all I'll mention is

"one night stand"

and "ripped condom"....

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:23 PM

I decided to go wireless with both my PC's, the first card installed no problem. I have been fighting with the second one for about an hour now.

JM

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:13 PM

Yesterday I couldn't even get my knickers on right without three goes at it... I know exactly what you mean!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: gnu
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:15 PM

Sorry to be technical, John, but when sommat goes wrong with a PC it is not an "Oh Bugger", it's an "I should have known sommat would go wrong." and a lot more than that, of course... >;-)

Good luck, John. My hair is already starting to grow back but if you start tearing your's out you'll look like me forever.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:17 PM

Ah, Liz - one of my tests of normality: If, every morning, I can get my trolleys on (a) not back to front (b) not inside out (c) with legs in each hole - then all is well with the brain. If not... oh bugger!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:27 PM

I didn't even know the word 'bugger' when, at about 11, I mistook Brylcreem for toothpaste.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Acorn4
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:38 PM

At one of the folk clubs we go to in our neck of the woods, there is a really good classical guitar player who is a bit of a perfectionist -he can quieten a noisy pub with his playing, although being a nylon stringed instrument it's not loud.

When he makes a mistake, which is most times insignificant and would not be noticed, he shouts out "Oh, Bugger" very loudly, so much so that everyone else has started doing this when they screw up.

At a school I used to teach at there was a really eccentric classical music teacher. Apparently he also used to play the church organ for Sunday services, but when he played a wrong note would say "Oh, Shit!" in a very audible way.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:45 PM

How about the time I spent about 10 mn looking for my cell phone - while holding it in the other hand and talking on it! (sigh...)

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 04:19 PM

Reached into the beater attachment on a vacuum cleaner without unplugging it or turning it off. "Oh bugger!" Pulled me in up to my wrist...

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 04:49 PM

Damn are you reading my mind or sumthing? This morning, stumbling half blind with sleep and arthritis pain, I dumped load of clothes on kitchen floor for putting in the wash. Oh, thinks I, I'll just get the coffee brewing before I load the washer.

Damn! Coffee jar is empty. Fumbling around with scissors and new bag of coffee and my cramped hands decided to send the full (now open) bag of coffee all over the laundry on the floor.

20 minutes later I jammed my forearm against the fridge door, producing pain and now bruise.

I had to cry. It wasn't even 7am and already my day was fucked.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:27 PM

There was the time I was running late, got held up by the onanist doing 25 in a 30 limit, saw the dual carriageway coming, put my boot down and swung out, loving the crisp crackle of the sports exhaust - and saw the bleeding camera flash!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:35 PM

Last August, I was prying some rotten boards off a bridge to replace them and after a particularly stubborn nail finally let go, I went flying off the side of the bridge, along with the pry bar, luckily, I threw the pry bar to one side just before I landed in 18 inches of muck. After crawling back onto the bridge and continuing bridge repairs, I hit my thumb with the hammer. After getting my breath back enough to scream and then screaming, I yelled "Oh bugger!" at the top of my lungs. Luckily, no nice British people were within earshot. The black spot on my thumb has almost reached the top now.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:18 PM

The Black Spot - wasn't that some kind of pirate curse?

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:38 PM

Some "oh bugger" moments when I was a zookeeper...

Before entering the bobcat enclosure, I always opened the little guillotine door that they would use to go outside to the outside run. I'd wait a few minutes before going inside, and I would scan the enclosure before shutting the little door. On one occassion, I scanned the enclosure and didn't see any sign of the cats (there were two, a young adult male, and a female who was just approaching adulthood, but hadn't quite reached it yet. The male was quite bold, but the female was very shy and fearful.

Not seeing either one of them and expecting that they were outside, I started tending to the enclosure. After leaving the food out, I started washing the window (it was a glassed-in enclosure). As I stood there squeegeeing the window, I got that icky crawling feeling on the back of my neck that people get when there's something scary and not right. I had an urge to look up, and there, not more than a couple of feet above my head, was the female, hugging tight to a dead tree limb that was a part of the enclosure landscaping. I think I said, "oh shit", but "oh bugger" would have worked just as well.

On a couple of occasions, I went into animal enclosures with no shovel or broom for protection (I guess I was just feeling a bit cocky and thought I would be ok). In the white tailed deer enclosure, there were two or three females with young. One of the adult females was between me and the access to the outside bobcat run. She was lying down looking contented and peaceful, and I figured I could stealth my way in (I think I just wanted to see if I could do it). It took me several minutes to get past the deer because I was moving very slowly. Within moments of my having passed where she was lying down, she rose up, almost as if she was being pulled by strings, fixed me with a very determined gaze, and started walking slowly in my direction using body language that told me it was one of those "oh bugger" moments. I quickly put a tiny little bush that had some very flimsy chicken wire around it between me and the deer, and she started circling it. I circled it too, and we went around and around the bush a few times until she decided it was time to drive her point home (literally). She raised up on her hind legs, and brought her razor sharp front hooves up like she was going to bring them down on my head. I swung my bucket and deflected her legs, which bought me just enough time to run as fast as I could out of the enclosure before she could catch up with me. When she came down, her legs got tangled up in the bush a little bit and that probably saved me.

In the javalina enclosure, there was a juvenile male and an adult female. I had raised the male since he was still feeding from a bottle, and he was imprinted on me all of that time, as though I was his parent. I think someone had been abusing him at night or something (maybe one of the night guards, but more likely the zoo curator, who seemed to have some sociopathic tendencies). At any rate, one day I was in a hurry and didn't have a shovel with me, and I wasn't too worried about either of them attacking me. The female was afraid of me and the male was tame, or so I thought. As I reached about the middle of the enclosure (outdoors), he very suddenly turned vicious. He adopted a very threatening posture, with all of his bristles standing on end, he started snorting loudly, and snapping his teeth open and shut.

Javalinas have canines that are about two or three inches long, and when they charge, they turn their heads sideways so they can take a nice big chunk out of whatever they're attacking. He was headed for my legs. I had taken three or four Kung Fu lessons, and I knew three kicks. I adopted a protective stance, standing on one leg, and drawing my other leg up with the foot between me and the javalina. I had hiking boots on, and as he charged my leg, I nailed the side of his jaw with a side kick. He backed off a bit, and then charged again. I got him with another side kick. This was repeated several times, until he got frustrated and ran around in a circle around the enclosure, which bought me just enough time to get the hell out of there. The enclosure was surrounded by two walls and a dry moat. One of the walls was a huge window with one way mirror reflective film on it. When I was catching my breath in the public walkway, a half dozen other keepers came running out the door, applauding and cheering. It's possible that they may have been taking the piss (I'll never know), but I didn't care.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Gurney
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 12:30 AM

My moments usually involve spanners/wrenches/screwdrivers and Chinese-made bolts or screws. Extraordinarily easy to break, ridiculously difficult to remove the broken part.

You could look on YouTube at the great Oz Ad 'Bugger.'

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Janie
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:00 AM

Working late, nearly midnight. Step outside to have a smoke. As I hear the door to the office close behind me, I remember that I have it set to lock, and my purse, keys to everything-office, car, house-and cell phone are now locked up safe and secure inside.

Bugger.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:10 AM

when I leave in the morning, I always unlock my door & security door & bring out stuff into the hallway in several loads: yesterday's paper/papers, small bag of garbage & any recyling I may have, then my handbag & carry bag. Finally I turn off the radio & light, close & lock the doors then pick up everything & wander off down the corridor into my day.

One day as I was slamming the door I realised I wasn't holding my keys ... so I said something appropriate & headed upstairs to my neighbour who has my spare key & hammered on his door till I woke him (he's a heavy sleeper) & collected my key.

That was when I realised I needed to do something with my 3rd set of keys (which lived in my living room, very useful place to keep them) as my neighbour was leaving for holidays the same day.

3rd set are now with friends in a nearby suburb.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Janie
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:19 AM

Feeling like a proud Ms. Fix-It. Heavy Crescent wrench in hand after repairing some plumbing in the bathroom. While standing there waving the wrench around like a royal staff, admiring my handiwork at my new skill, the wrench slips from my hand, into the toilet bowl, cracking the bowl into halves.

Oh Bugger.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 10:24 AM

Last week - dancing holiday in Turkey at resort built on side of mountain. Uneven, very sloping path. Trip - land on knees, which are already afflicted by severe osteoarthritis, continue falling because I'd bounced off a step - flipped over onto back and am going downhill, headfirst on my back over steps. OH *********** (rather stronger than bugger!) Yes, things do go in slow motion, and I distinctly remember thinking that I was probably injuring my back, and would need to be repatriated on a stretcher. Quite some time later, after regaining my breath and calming myself down, I tentatively stood up.

I was incredibly lucky. Yes, I do have some massive, very colourful bruises, and the knees are definitely worse. However, I did not break anything or permanently damage my back. A couple of days later I was even able to dance a little.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: paula t
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 11:53 AM

My late and much missed grandma was full of energy and a "Live for the moment" type of girl. This meant that we always had lots of "adventures" when we were in her care. Her life was filled with "Oh bugger" moments which she quickly saw the funny side of.I could write a book or at least a very long song about her. Here's a few examples:

Rushing to go out one day(we were waiting in the car for her) she saw some aftershave on a bathroom shelf. Rather partial to the smell of my Dad's aftershave, she quickly patted some all over her face.We heard the shrieks and the laughter coming from the bathroom so piled back into the house to see what was going on. We found her crying with laughter although not able to move her facial muscles too well. She had used a bottle of "Gloy" paper glue and her face was setting rapidly.

She enjoyed experimenting with my make up when I was a teenager. She liked the bright colours and was quite daring with them .She disappeared into my room to borrow some for a night out, but within minutes was shouting for help.She had mistaken my light blue nail varnish for liquid eyeshadow.......

Life is nowhere near as funny without her.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:16 PM

I think the moment when I fell off the ladder at Sidmouth and hit the floor hard was an 'Oh Bugger'.

When I couldn't move my shoulder and an ambulance had to come to take me to A&E and they said it was broken, well, that was more of an 'Oh Shit'.

When they told me a couple of weeks ago it still wasn't healed and would need surgery, that was an 'Oh Fu*K' with brass knobs and tassels and background music.

I have been contemplating for three months now (and likely to be for another three whilst I await healing) how one little moment, mis-step, miscalculation etc. can completely derail a life.At least ours have all been ones we were able,/i> to regret afterwards, there are worse things!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: paula t
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:29 PM

Oh Mortica,

Ouch!!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: paula t
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:31 PM

Sorry for the typo Morticia.Pressed "send" by mistake. "Oh Bugger!"

Paula
x

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: HuwG
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 04:32 PM

del /Q /F /S *.* (in the days of MSDOS, this obliterates everything, including read-only files and subdirectories)

Hang on! What directory am I in? Oh .....

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 06:58 AM

paulat - i love your grandma

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 07:18 AM

Several times in the past week or so, I've almost put my right contact (RGP) into my left eye. (Actually DID once and had to take it right out again.) It's stored overnight in the RIGHT side of my contacts case (with the left in the left side) and I've done this correctly almost every morning for the past 36 years. (The only exceptions being when I didn't put my contacts in at all.)

What's up with this, anyway?!?

Linn

(Oh, yeah. Stress? Ya think?)

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: gnu
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 11:15 AM

Morticia... ooowwww... aaawwww. Good luck with it and hope you heal up fast.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 12:03 PM

I've suddenly remembered an incident from the mid sixties which was a 24 carat "Oh Bugger" moment. It waas during a steam railtour headed by I think "Sir Nigel Gresley" (long time ago now).

We all got out of the train to watch the loco being uncoupled from the train before another loco took over. A chap got between the tender and the first coach, took off the coupling, brake hose etc, came out from under and waved to the driver.

The driver moved forward and there was a loud RRRRRIIPPPPP followed by shouts of "WHOA!!!" The chaps had forgotten that an A4 has a corridor tender and nobody had separated the connection to the first coach. We stood around for about an hour while mutual recriminations proceeded.

The strange thing is that nobody took a photo, laughed or otherwise misbehaved. I think everybody was worried that we wouldn't get home until the next day!

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 08:18 PM

I did the petrol in the diesel tank (2 years ago)..... Pulled up at pumps, saw someone I knew,started nattering, picked up nozzle and carried on until full, looked at the nozzle........green ! Oh bugger I said to Mrs Viking who wasn't best pleased as we have probably the most expensive fuel in the Uk. £40.00 on petrol, £25.00 to get it pumped out after a tow in and £48.00 to re-fill. Oh bugger !

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 01:14 AM

My memory of a recent New Scientist article suggests that the last audible word heard on around 3/4 of black boxes recovered from aircraft crash sites is "S..t!"

Here's hoping none of us is affected by that statistic.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Janie
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 02:37 AM

Rowan,

Your post reminded me of a story a Vietnam Vet told me back when we were in college together. Not funny at all, but one of those moments so tragic and arbitrary that we tend to laugh in reaction to the shock.

They were going out on heliocopter patrol, still at a high altitude in transit to the area they were to surveil. The guys were chatting, relaxed (as relaxed as one can be in those circumstances, and shouting over the din of the blades and motor.) One of the gunners was casually standing right at the open side of the copter, facing in, when the copter hit an air pocket and jogged down and sideways. Suddenly the gunner was standing on thin air, just outside the chopper, looking in at his mates. He stared at them and they stared back for a few heartbeats. He said, "Oh Shit", then plummetted out of sight to his death.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: mandotim
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 04:17 AM

Doing a big gig over a hundred miles from home...unloading the PA gear from the van, everything was there....except the microphones. Bugger!
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Amergin
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 05:38 PM

Well the past few months I had Windows 7 RC, and last night I downloaded and installed Windows 7 Pro (got it for free due to the program I'm in at school)...and in the last few months became enamoured with photography...and I'm not too bad....well I thought I backed up my photos...and it turns out I just lost every single one....I didn't back up the right pictures folder....oh bugger.

Subject: RE: BS: That 'Oh Bugger' Moment
From: Rowan
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 06:02 PM

You're right, Janie. Some situations are so unexpectedly surreal that nervous laughter just escapes.

Cheers, Rowan