Sorted!

It seems to be that most people I know have Birthdays in the spring; probably something to do with the drunken summer holiday conception rates and hence loads of babies born in spring. So for the last month I have been celebrating many Birthdays and last week I went to one of my good friend’s 40th Birthday party in the middle of nowhere in a country golf club. It was heavily populated by 1980’s throw backs with poor dress sense in a part of Hertfordshire where in-breeding is the norm and unless you speak like you’re chewing a wasp or hold a pint of beer with your pinky in the air, you could almost stand out. Naturally we didn’t quite fit in, but she is a great friend and we had to show our face.

This Hertfordshire crowd that I have hung around with for the last few years are a crowd of toffs basically. They have more money than sense and will only part with their money for things that they believe will make them appear somehow richer and better than they really are. The kind of people who like to pull car keys out of a hat at the end of the night, that sort of thing. Though allegedly as I found out, rumour has it that my previous boss and I are having an affair…!

An affair, my God, what a fantastic affair that must be. The man I worked desperately hard to get away from, the man accused of sexual harassment and the man that I have seen only once in the last 2 years! Oh yeah, the sex in the affair is that great that I have only managed to see him that one time!!! What a joke, but it gave me and my husband a bit of a chuckle when we found out. I guess there isn’t much else for people to talk about in Much Hadham, bless ‘em! I have so many stories of these people and my dreaded old boss, I reckon I could write a book on it all. I certainly could write a few journals on how not to behave in an office or how to lose at a tribunal based on witnessing the world’s biggest f-ing idiot in action!

Well speaking of the office, our consultation at work is now over and it’s time to start saying goodbye to those who chose to leave. It was a bit of a sad day on Friday when someone left the company for good, and probably never to be seen again. Real shame actually. There aren’t many people where you can honestly say you would be truly disappointed to see them go, so it was a very sad occasion. My boss, who by her own admission doesn’t like anyone (you would never have guessed!), was quite emotional which was sad to see actually, she isn’t the type to show emotion on the outside to many people, so I did feel bad for her losing her mate. Then all that totally went when she said I was 3rd tier contingency backup for when she had no other friends, so that put me well and truly back in my place. I never forget, and oh, who’s 40th Birthday is coming up next month...? Wonder what serious humiliation can be brought upon her...

So next week, we start planning the Birthday of all Birthdays... I need something else to start planning now so this is a perfect opportunity. I have a few ideas already but I am sure once I get around to speaking to other people there will be a whole series of events to look forward to. She is so gonna get it!! Last year’s Birthday was pretty fun, but not a patch on what’s around the corner. I will be researching this one thoroughly, with any luck I might make it to 4th tier!

For me my job is a reasonably large part of my life; mainly because I need to earn money, not because I just love getting up early and working loads of hours for the hell of it. Whilst that of course sounds like a really great thing to do…!

I try to better myself by observing others, learning as much as I can, training, and naturally doing things I hate doing to either get better at it, because my boss makes me or actually just because it is perceived I may be good at it (a.k.a no one else wants to do it!). Anyway last week I went on a disciplinary and grievance course. Sounds like quite a negative thing I suppose, but oddly I loved it! The people I was with on the course from all over the business were great. I was out of my comfort zone, but I felt very comfortable about that. The trainer was fabulous and just shows there are some great people out there that could so easily go unnoticed. I put on my acting skills and even by my own standards think I did a rather great role play to help someone manage a complete arse in their team, so close to reality was my role play I should have got an award!

Well generally, I do like my job and I like that it often sucks and throws up many challenges. Recently I have liked it less, what with going through a horrible consultation situation, will I have a job, won’t I, is it what I want, do I really belong, do I fit in, do they really want me anyway and losing someone I like from my team? There were so many questions, but I found my answer and was happy to stay and have the opportunity to stay, and I am pleased to say despite everything I still enjoy it. Then graduate recruitment rears its ugly head again, aaaggghhhhh!!! Graduates, I do love them all, but boy does it cause a lot of pain. Hundreds of CV’s, they all look the same, their test results are similar, but which ones do you pick?? Damned if you do and damned if you don't. So many good ones to choose from and such little opportunity for all of them – but that’s where the assessment centres come in. Days and days of being cooped up in a stuffy dark room whilst the work you left behind piles up, how can you make this work? I can be thankful though that the 22 days last year has been decreased to 6, so really not all bad!

If it’s not the moaning of a couple of people, it’s something else or someone else. You can’t win. In my previous life I would have been a politician I think. Perhaps I should think of that as an alternative career now – a free house, loads of money, clothing allowances… sounds like heaven!

I have confirmed though that I am still good at printing, planning and organising, little else mind, but where would things be without someone that had the skills to staple, my God?! But the best thing to happen to me all week is that the moaning of few then bought me a beautiful bunch of flowers for my work, which made it all worthwhile. I was totally stunned actually and didn’t quite know what to say in my embarrassment. A little thank you goes such a long way. Whilst the day ended on a bit of a low which is normal when I am not at my desk for longer than an hour, I can look at the flowers and know that I did something okay for once. At least I can look forward to seeing an old pal tomorrow and get thoroughly merry for belated Birthday drinks! I love that it is the weekend already…