As if working for some wasn't enough, my neighbour is a fan of the Baby Jesus and his music. Crooning with choirs and lyrics of evangelical clap-trap. Awful, awful, awful. And especially awful when played at 9.30 a.m. on a Sunday and even nightmarish when played at 7.00 a.m. on a work day.
However being a 'Christian' you would expect her behaviour to be moral, upright and decent - oh foolish me! So, I was surprised to find her husband standing on the pavement outside my house yesterday, waiting for the police to turn up to let him into his own home. His wife's boyfriend had changed the locks as her messy divorce came to a close and neither of them would allow the poor man back into his own house, that he is still paying for, to get his things and leave.
She gets to keep the house apparently.
What are the 10 commandments again?
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Friday, 27 June 2008
Another one bites the dust
In the space of a month three senior people have handed in their notice, one yesterday.
In the space of two months M has closed one office, made four people redundant, and considered two people for redundancy both of whom will jump ship at the right opportunity.
Panic has not just set in but is well ensconced and starting to decorate. M (with similarities to Margaret Thatcher for some reason springing to mind) soldiers on, gets her hair done and renovates her house in the Home Counties.
In the space of two months M has closed one office, made four people redundant, and considered two people for redundancy both of whom will jump ship at the right opportunity.
Panic has not just set in but is well ensconced and starting to decorate. M (with similarities to Margaret Thatcher for some reason springing to mind) soldiers on, gets her hair done and renovates her house in the Home Counties.
A bit of sanity
Yesterday, and I'm not proud of this, I stooped to the depths of pettiness and inanity by responding in a childish manner to one of M's emails. I said nothing really wrong, just replying was enough I suppose. Then later in the day as I realised yet another person had handed in their notice and the company really was falling apart around her ears, I decided to do something.
Normally I would have said that I acted like a grown-up, but seeing the behaviour of grown-ups around me and indeed all over the world, I'm saying I acted maturely. I asked M to meet with me to try to retrieve our relationship and work together.
We did, we talked for an hour. I would still support her as D tries to undermine and emotionally bully her and in the long term I'd be keeping my job, in whatever form, for another few months at least - unless the whole thing collapses.
D is a piece of work, isn't he?
Normally I would have said that I acted like a grown-up, but seeing the behaviour of grown-ups around me and indeed all over the world, I'm saying I acted maturely. I asked M to meet with me to try to retrieve our relationship and work together.
We did, we talked for an hour. I would still support her as D tries to undermine and emotionally bully her and in the long term I'd be keeping my job, in whatever form, for another few months at least - unless the whole thing collapses.
D is a piece of work, isn't he?
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Tears and Tantrums
Luckily the tears and tantrums in the title weren't mine.
D bullied M and nearly made her cry. M couldn't meet with me as planned. Probably because she was too upset and although I was once her 'rock', I suppose I could no longer be depended on to be that in the future. Or she didn't want to reveal to me how upset she was.
Then D tried to bully me. Why had I allowed this to happen? Why did I have no recollection of the exact conversation I must have had in October last year? Don't I care? (Well frankly, I think we all know the answer to that one.) What is my advice? Where are the pieces of paper I made him take away when he didn't want to? (Oh come on. You insisted you have them, I had to grab them back off you to take photo copies. I knew you would lose them.)
However, after the little episode of intimidation, he was as nice as pie later.
D bullied M and nearly made her cry. M couldn't meet with me as planned. Probably because she was too upset and although I was once her 'rock', I suppose I could no longer be depended on to be that in the future. Or she didn't want to reveal to me how upset she was.
Then D tried to bully me. Why had I allowed this to happen? Why did I have no recollection of the exact conversation I must have had in October last year? Don't I care? (Well frankly, I think we all know the answer to that one.) What is my advice? Where are the pieces of paper I made him take away when he didn't want to? (Oh come on. You insisted you have them, I had to grab them back off you to take photo copies. I knew you would lose them.)
However, after the little episode of intimidation, he was as nice as pie later.
Monday, 23 June 2008
It could be worse
Yes, it could have been a lot worse. Take for example the case of Ambreen Gul, who has been jailed for 10 years for imprisoning and wounding with intent (torturing) her ex-boss. A friend sent me the article from Sky News website - 'Sacked Estate Agent Tortured Her Boss', and perhaps I have an inkling of the frustration she felt.
Today has been very quiet. So quiet in fact that neither M or D have bothered me. I believe M has been out spending money but D has kept out of my way. Quiet for me maybe, but not for the rest of the gang as they seem to be similarly suffering from sporadic outbursts of panic from on high.
Speaking about 'on high', I do believe that the God of Estate Agents has turned away from his flock and decided to buff his nails or something, and has left them to the wolves.
Today has been very quiet. So quiet in fact that neither M or D have bothered me. I believe M has been out spending money but D has kept out of my way. Quiet for me maybe, but not for the rest of the gang as they seem to be similarly suffering from sporadic outbursts of panic from on high.
Speaking about 'on high', I do believe that the God of Estate Agents has turned away from his flock and decided to buff his nails or something, and has left them to the wolves.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
The weekend 2
I was made to smile by a man on a boat on the canal. He put down his mobile phone in frustration and said to his mate ‘Where the hell's Garfield?’ as round the corner came this enormous West Indian rasta, loaded down with foam cushions, rucksacks and bags. 'Oi Garfield!' shouted the man on the boat, ‘Ave you got the tea strainer? 'Yes' retorted Garfield, 'I've got the tea-strainer'. ‘Ave you got the lemon drizzle cake?' 'Yes' said Garfield 'I’ve got the lemon drizzle cake' and as I walked on away there was another query ‘Ave you ‘eard of the Caine Mutiny….. ' and I was out of ear-shot.
The weekend
This weekend all is quiet as everyone is away and it has given me a few moments of self-pity. Nothing I'm proud of, but I did squeeze out a couple of tears.
I feel like all my security has been taken away, and it is seems to be all I think about. My fragility is pushing away at the calm surface and then something simple can bring it bubbling up to the top. Every day is a psychological battle against the forces of M&D.
Yesterday I was asked to start a list of everything I do and everything I know about solving problems that could occur in my absence. I know it seems trite to say this but 'how long is a piece of string?'.
I feel like all my security has been taken away, and it is seems to be all I think about. My fragility is pushing away at the calm surface and then something simple can bring it bubbling up to the top. Every day is a psychological battle against the forces of M&D.
Yesterday I was asked to start a list of everything I do and everything I know about solving problems that could occur in my absence. I know it seems trite to say this but 'how long is a piece of string?'.
Thursday, 19 June 2008
What changed?
Yes, what did change?
One thing a friend suggested I might be dismissed if Mummy & Daddy found out about this blog. I panicked slightly and amended my previous one. It is still there in my head, so if things get heated I can regurgitate it all again. But then I thought, dismissal? Haven't I grounds for discrimination anyway? And apparently you can report an incident to an Industrial Tribunal long after you have left the company.
But what else changed? I had two separate meetings with M and D. I'm not convinced this is a coincidence. D's meeting had lots of gaps in it. How was I? Unhappy. Silence. How did I feel coming in to work? (I ask you, really?), um I had to work, I needed the money. Silence. How were my relations with him and M and the rest of the company? (What is this guy expecting?).
In my chat with M I mentioned about my office being dismantled and I knew she would have a perfectly logical explanation of why it had to happen, she had not an inkling of the effect on me. She also apologised for her previous antagonistic emails. Well, there's a surprise!
One thing a friend suggested I might be dismissed if Mummy & Daddy found out about this blog. I panicked slightly and amended my previous one. It is still there in my head, so if things get heated I can regurgitate it all again. But then I thought, dismissal? Haven't I grounds for discrimination anyway? And apparently you can report an incident to an Industrial Tribunal long after you have left the company.
But what else changed? I had two separate meetings with M and D. I'm not convinced this is a coincidence. D's meeting had lots of gaps in it. How was I? Unhappy. Silence. How did I feel coming in to work? (I ask you, really?), um I had to work, I needed the money. Silence. How were my relations with him and M and the rest of the company? (What is this guy expecting?).
In my chat with M I mentioned about my office being dismantled and I knew she would have a perfectly logical explanation of why it had to happen, she had not an inkling of the effect on me. She also apologised for her previous antagonistic emails. Well, there's a surprise!
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Disappearing Office
Today, my office is being dismantled around me. I have the feeling someone is wanting me and my office gone. And now it is, how long for me? People walk in and wonder at the space. No private space. All gone.
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
A Quieter Day
Yes, a quieter day. Mummy and Daddy were out a lot of the day so only one little duel with Daddy today concerning a telecoms issue that he said he knew nothing about and why did it exist and who instigated it and why why why?
Nevertheless, as it was a quieter day, I can explain a little of why I started this little ranting blog. It was begun out of the frustration and anger I felt at the way I was being treated by Mummy and Daddy. I am in my mid-50s and have worked for them for almost 9 years, so have seen them through good times and bad, been loyal, a confidante, even lied to Daddy for Mummy (which to me is a big thing and I make no pretence of being a god-botherer). So to have been the first one out of 35 people to have been chosen for redundancy was shocking. The procedure was mishandled and badly managed. Another member of staff who has recently been chosen for a similar redundancy was treated totally differently. I know. I typed the letters. So as formal meeting followed informal meetings followed formal meeting, decisions were taken without conferring with me and I am now bitter, disillusioned and very probably naive.
Nevertheless, as it was a quieter day, I can explain a little of why I started this little ranting blog. It was begun out of the frustration and anger I felt at the way I was being treated by Mummy and Daddy. I am in my mid-50s and have worked for them for almost 9 years, so have seen them through good times and bad, been loyal, a confidante, even lied to Daddy for Mummy (which to me is a big thing and I make no pretence of being a god-botherer). So to have been the first one out of 35 people to have been chosen for redundancy was shocking. The procedure was mishandled and badly managed. Another member of staff who has recently been chosen for a similar redundancy was treated totally differently. I know. I typed the letters. So as formal meeting followed informal meetings followed formal meeting, decisions were taken without conferring with me and I am now bitter, disillusioned and very probably naive.
Monday, 16 June 2008
The morning after
Just when I thought that all this was in my imagination and that Mummy and Daddy really did still love me, and I thought that today would be the day I get the chance to explain the history behind this blog. But ooooh no. I get a slew of emails late in the day from Mummy tacitly accusing me of not doing my job properly. She's been doing this for weeks. So much so I now consider going in to work a challenge. Like a defendant replying to the barrister, I find myself justifying myself against whatever question is thrown at me. Today I was accused of not remembering an email that was sent to me three months ago, that although it was cc'd to me, did not contain a single thing I needed to act on. There were a few others today which become tedious in the re-telling.
I believe Mummy is doing this to me because I didn't accept her kind offer of statutory redundancy. Nine years - 2 months pay. Fuck off! I didn't roll over and say you win. So although I've not said 'fuck off' I've acted 'fuck off' by standing up to them and fighting for what little I have achieved. And she doesn't like it. She thought (and I heard it from a reliable source) that I would accept her kind offer and walk away. After nine years, she still doesn't know who I am.
I believe Mummy is doing this to me because I didn't accept her kind offer of statutory redundancy. Nine years - 2 months pay. Fuck off! I didn't roll over and say you win. So although I've not said 'fuck off' I've acted 'fuck off' by standing up to them and fighting for what little I have achieved. And she doesn't like it. She thought (and I heard it from a reliable source) that I would accept her kind offer and walk away. After nine years, she still doesn't know who I am.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Reason to exist
The blog is here for me to rant and rave at the daily petty hindrances my employers (estate agents, so times are hard - I am sure you can all sympathise) seem to enjoy throwing at me in order for me to either disappear or accept their offer of statutory redundancy. So far to date, I have been bullied, cajoled, lied to and generally forced to justify my working existence to this pair of god-bothering little people who I shall call Mummy and Daddy. But today is Sunday, and they will be at church praying to the God of Estate Agents, and a rant-free zone. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
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