More chaos

Yes, more chaos on the office front. All the electricity went out at the head office, terminating the server connection for all offices. Thursday evening I received a call from the manager of that office asking for information to help him re-direct the phones. The next day by 2.45 p.m. there was still no news when the electricity and therefore all IT for the group and phones for the immediate office would be back on. Oh dear.

Extra Days

The days I am not working for M & D are extra days for me. What am I doing with them? I am trying to spend time being both entrepreneurial and creative.

I am working on creating a property search company for a country outside the UK and EU. One thing lacking in these 'credit crunch' times is people with money to buy houses, so I am focusing on attracting them.

I also joined the local library. When every penny counts, I'm not even sure I can afford to buy my usual 3 for the price of 2 at Waterstones.

And I am painting...

But yesterday, I received a call from one the managers at work asking me how to solve an IT problem. Oh dear, M will be cross and if she finds out. She will have to rap his knuckles or slap his bottom.

Irony

Does anyone see the irony in this? M calls me from her company retreat and says my authority and presence is needed in a failing office. I need to go there to find out what the problem is. We all really know what the problem is; failing market, wrong manager and wrong staff. But hey, who am I to argue. My presence is needed as I am an Associate Director and will be seen to be someone who can tell people what to do. Suddenly my spurious title is important. Suddenly my role is important. Um?

D turned up in the office yesterday, with a piece of paper that had been doing the rounds (i.e. no one taking responsibility). Gave it to me and asked me to sort it out with a deadline of Monday or else the company would be fined. I'm not working for the rest of the week. Um?

Respite

I think M may be coming to terms with what she has been doing so ruthlessly. Or she is just tired. She has given me permission (albeit temporarily until the end of M & D's holiday) to change my days at my discretion. I have opted for Mon, Tues and Wed instead of Mon, Wed and Thurs.

The change is only temporary as she hasn't spoken to D about it and won't do until they return to work in September (!!). I can't imagine D would care. If he did care it would just be to make a point (i.e. I'm the boss and you ain't). He doesn't read my emails, take my advice or listen to me when I am there, so what is a day a week to him, other than just to bully?