What's for lunch?
posted by Bunnery on Tue 11th Jul, 06 at 21:23:15
There seems to be a game afoot.
It is a secret one, nothing is ever said - but everyone seems to know the rules
I think it's called "Let's see who can take the Shortest Lunchbreak"
Some people are very good at it - they rush over to the sandwich shop, then return minutes later to carry on working as if they'd never been gone. They munch and tap away endlessly.
However - the real masters are the ones who get someone else to go to the shop for them. Then they never have to stop. When the sandwich is delivered they don't look at it - just stuff it in their mouths with one hand while their other is still typing and their eyes are fixed to the screen.
Looking at the congealed crumbs inside my keyboard it seems my predecessor was a real contender for the crown of Most Dedicated Worker for the Cause.
Makes me feel guilty for taking a whole half an hour to stroll over to the Sandwich Shop and order something tasty (no doubt featuring chicken) and sitting on the comfy sofa to read the paper while I eat, just watching people rushing by, through the windows. Just chilling out for few minutes does you the world of good. Gets everything back into perspective.
Goodness knows what they would have made of my two hour lunches towards the end of the-library days, spent in shady beer gardens, playing Mastermind (okay - losing Mastermind) and sipping iced spritzers and enjoying warm chicken tikka baguettes - with extra tomato if I was lucky :-) Blimey - they'd have a fit.
Don't even get me started on the "Let's See Who Can Stay Latest" game - I am out of there on time every night.
These people need to address their work/life balance.
Good Days / Bad Days
posted by Bunnery on Thu 6th Jul, 06 at 18:32:28
This weather is weird! Yesterday hot sun, baking temperatures and not a cloud in sight, then today nothing but rain and thunderclaps so loud that I nearly fell out of bed this morning! Rather a rude awakening!
Luckily yesterday was the day I chose to make my first official "visits" so I got to put the top down on the Black Cab and drive through the countryside. I had chosen to visit the places close to the-library - since I know my way there!!
I went to the Admin Centre first and met the boss (later described to me by one of her own as a female Hitler!!) She told me that she didn't have time for me right then - but sent me out with one of the women on the Community Team who was delivering leaflets and posters for an event they are hosting on Monday. So - we strolled around town in the sun - and Liz told me all about the staff and what they did - and hey - she even mentioned work once or twice! Well - after she'd dragged me in the Co-op to look at new washers!! On the pretext of asking them to put up a poster of course!
I suggested that we pop into the-library and ask them to put up a poster too! So we did - it was after 10am and it had only just opened!! Well, I guess with no library staff anymore they have to do what they can! I was sad to see it look so empty and bare - oh! maybe that's because most of the stuff is at my house now.....
Actually I think Kare had been doing her famous "tidying up" routine before she left and threw everything out!!
Anyway - it was nice to see some of the staff too - even Natty popped down to say hello. I think Liz was rather bemused that everyone knew me - maybe I forgot to tell her I worked there for four and a half years!
We also went to the Council offices and various churches and community places - and the market. I think we got rid of all the posters! Then she took me to the Client Centre and I hung around there for a bit chatting to the staff and hearing about what they did all day. Went back to Admin to have an audience with the boss - I tried to stifle the yawns - then back to the Centre with a different member of staff to hear his life story. I checked out the resources like I was supposed to then headed back to Head Office for a meeting with my boss. Otherwise I might have been tempted to just take the afternoon off and go home!!
Today was spent at HO all day - rather tedious. I get the urge to every now and again to rush down the stairs and run outside and taste freedom - but they never switch off the security cameras or chain up the dogs until after 5pm.
Ah well - I will have to look forward to the days when I can get out and [long word]
Fountains of Rome
posted by Bunnery on Tue 4th Jul, 06 at 17:56:50
Yesterday in Birmingham was idyllic. Arrived a little too early - so Scary Boss and I sat outside a cafe on the pavement tables just opposite the fountain (or the floozie in the jacuzzi as it is known around here) with the sound of seagulls in our ears. It was like being on holiday - we could have been in Paris or Rome. We just watched people stroll by and tried to guess what they were doing and what kind of lives they led.
Also SB told me a little bit more about Body Combat - seems that she "enjoys the kicking and punching" - so I will have to be very careful not to step out of line then..
She was pretty laid-back though - and so was I when I'd drunk my Vanilla Chiller drink - it was gorgeous - like a grown-ups version of a MacDonalds milkshake. Very refreshing in the heat.
The meeting was held in the Edwardian Tea Room inside the main Art Gallery. There was even time for a wander through the exhibitions before all the others arrived. I was pretty impressed with Lucifer - the fallen angel sculpted by Jacob Epstein - very impressive!
The other folk seemed okay - quite friendly. It wasn't too daunting. I had to pretend that I knew what they were talking about when they used some strange acronyms - but on the way back on the train, SB said she didn't know what they were either - so that made me feel better. We looked them up when we got back!!
Very pleasant morning - beats working.
Unfortunately had a full day in the office today - the air-con was on - so I wasn't too hot. Just a bit bored. I miss being able to leave the desk and go and tidy some books up or something. They don't even use Dewey. Just some system with pictures and colours.
Hmmmm
Ghostly Help from the Basement
posted by Bunnery on Mon 3rd Jul, 06 at 21:06:15
I needed help from the IT guys today. Now in my former life I would have just popped my head round the IT Guys door and told them the problem and they would have come out, looked at my computer and sorted out the tricky blighter.
Things here in the shady govt dept are very different.....
I rang the basement
"Hello" I said cheerily
"Hello"
"Is that Chris?"
"No" said not-Chris
"Erm I have a problem with my computer - my name is..."
"What [long word] number is on the side of your computer?"
"Oh Right - 696"
"Okay - hold on. What's the problem?"
"Publisher has disappeared from programs"
Then right before my eyes my curser started moving around the desktop - opening programs and windows and moving things around. After a couple of minutes:
"It should be okay now" said [long word] exactly the friendly and personable service I'd been used to. I guess I'll get used to it, eventually.
He was right, whoever he was - everything worked fine after that.
Curiouser and curiouser...
posted by Bunnery on Sat 1st Jul, 06 at 20:18:25
Well, they say you can choose your friends - but you can't choose your co-workers (well it goes something like that anyway) After 2 whole weeks in the new job I think I can remember a few names now, in the vast air-conditioned, neon-lit office. I am beginning to find out a little more about my team too.
I met the final member of my team this week - Mark, who returned from paternity leave on Monday. He is the one who claims to be the internet guru of the team. Both he and Niall (who also has a tiny baby ) arrive in the mornings looking bleary-eyed, hair everywhere, clothes mis-matched and unironed and indulge in conversations about the contents of nappies and other such things (not good when it happens at lunchtimes and you are just eating a coronation chicken sandwich as they describe the colour and consistency of the aforementioned nappies) I shall have to stop eating at my desk....
However - they both seem besotted with their respective offspring - which makes it all worthwhile :)
I also discover - and this was backed up by photographic evidence - that Sean, the elder statesman of the team likes to dress up as a woman on occasions. Hmmm.. he was telling me on Friday that he'd only just discovered that there are actually companies that make women's shoes in men's sizes - after he'd been suffering with a pair 2 sizes too small all this time!! Incidently he claims he only does this for "charity" - yeah riiiight...
So far the female quota seem relatively normal - but watch this space.
On the home front things are not so great as the other half wants us to sell the house and move. I love my house. More specifically I love my book shelves - my own mini-library, my hallway and its chessboard black and white tiles and my bedroom with the decoration exactly as I wanted and planned it - right down to the bamboo blind and the Egyptian head.
I will be gutted if I have to leave it.
Seems the problem is the green space next to us that kids use to play cricket and football on. The fence has been damaged it is true - but I don't think that is a reason to move (and we have a nice new one thanks to the Insurance Company now!). They may be a bit noisy at times - but how many nice sunny days do we have during the year? It is only a short-lived problem I'm sure. Doesn't really bother me.
I don't know what will happen - but if anyone has any ideas on how I can persuade him out of this - I will be happy to hear them. He's tried calling the police, getting the council to put up a sign saying No Ball Games (which they came and took down the very next day after one of the neighbours rang to complain) and even asking the kids nicely not to hit the fence (or the cars or windows) with their balls. Nothing's worked so far!
Answers on a [long word]
Week 2 - All is going to plan
posted by Bunnery on Thu 29th Jun, 06 at 18:16:35
Hey - I can't believe I've been in the new job for almost 2 weeks. I think the automatic pilot has been retrained now and the Black Cab no longer heads off to the-library before I have to wake up, come to my senses and make it go to Head Office instead.
I am getting used to my co-workers too - well, at least I know their beverage preferences by now! On Friday last - when they took me out for lunch, they managed to convince me that "Buying Cakes" had been accidently missed off the end of my job description and in fact I was expected to supply them with regular frequency! I did humour them once - only because it made them feel guilty!! Didn't stop them eating them all though!!
I think I am beginning to see some good things about the new role now. For example on Monday I am off to Birmingham for the day - and a meeting in the Art Gallery, I love the Art Gallery there - full of pre-Raphaelites and Jacob Epstein sculptures. When I was at the-library - I'd have been lucky to get across to the canteen for a cuppa! I think going to meetings in Art Galleries is going to be cool.
On the down side though - it is impossible to surf the net for fun during working hours. You just try it and you get a warning that you are trying to login to a recreational site during the hours of 8.30am - 5pm which is strictly forbidden.
Can you imagine how far behind I am on Perplex City?? - I am just sliding down the leaderboard like crazy
Not sure what the penalties are for even attempting to get into Yahoo and the like. No-one ever sees the IT guys during daylight hours. They just talk about hrm in hushed tones......
Scary Body Combat boss was back today - after being off sick all week (Phew - she can't be that strong and healthy then if a little virus can get her!!) She seemed okay with what I'd been doing so far....
Actually the more they give me to do the happier I am at the moment. Keeping busy stops me dwelling on how much I miss my lovely boss and his deathly pallor :-)
So - this is what normal people do at work when they can't do puzzles and skive all day. Quite a novelty really - one which I am sure will wear off very soon.........
Join me Down the Rabbit Hole
posted by Bunnery on Sat 24th Jun, 06 at 13:51:47
Squeee! I can't believe it - I have my own little blog on here, I am so excited!
Nice to meet you - I am formerly of the-library (http://the-library.diaryland.com/) but sadly I did jump ship (piratically) and now have disappeared down the rabbit hole to work for a shady government department known as JOINTZ. Can't tell you much about it yet - as I've only done a week. Plus - my boss does Body Combat several times a week - to I'm a bit scared of her.
However - I'm sure there will be lots to say as the weeks go on and they get used to me. I have to say I have been on my best behgaviour so far and they seem to be fooled into thinking I am a sweet shy former-librarian (although I tend to think that once a librarian ALWAYS a librarian - it is in the blood) and they are not duly alarmed by me yet.
Heehee!
I haven't actually gone into the office dressed as a pirate yet - but hey - I'm sure it won't be long...
Yeah - that's another thing - working in an office!! Who's idea was that? I have never been out of a library environment before - and I have to say I miss the swearing and the whizzing up on down on wheelie chairs and ringtones and the noise (and that was just the staff) I miss the students too. Everyone there is so quiet - tapping away on their computers and saying very little.
Let's see how things develop...
In the meantime what I CAN tell you is that Pete (a.k.a. Mr P) makes a fantastic white wine risotto (hic!) a fantastic alcoholic iced dessert and great cheesecake. There might have been other ingredients in the risotto - but you know government guidelines - you have to put the greatest ingredient by volume first! It was a very nice evening - with very nice company.
Ever considered a career as chef to the stars Mr P??
Well - I guess that is enough for my first one - don't want to bore you just yet.
Good luck with the move Natty and Jo!! Speak to y'all soon.:-)
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