13 December 2006
Oh man, talk about being worked like a dog. Although, I've never seen any dogs working particularly hard, so times have obviously changed since that saying came about.
We're right in the thick of end-of-year type things - Christmas hoohah, budgets, range planning and stuff plus all the normal day-to-day meetings, travel, getting offices refurbed and so forth. I'm going to fall down dead soon. All they'll find is a little skeleton in my office where I've disappeared behind a pile of packaging, samples and leftovers from lunch meetings.
Also had to run out of the office in the middle of everything to do a casting for some new ITV show which revolves around a bunch of celebrities (doesn't everything these days) being a jury for a mock murder trial. I went up to play a forensic scientist specialising in DNA profiling. The audition consisted of improvising around the case as outlined in the breakdown. Went well, but bloody hell! I had back story and everything, but they didn't delve that deep. Thank God.
Met my mate, A, for dinner about an hour and a half late as I couldn't get away from the office. We ate at this small tapas place called El Dorado near Vauxhall which I keep seeing from the 185 bus on Kennington Lane just before it turns towards the Oval. I think it might be South American. The food was really very good. We had Spanish sausage with fabadas (beans), grilled marinaded pork, some prawns in white wine and garlic, patatas bravas, beef with crispy fried green plantain, salad and rice. With drinks it all came to a modest £17.00 each including tip. I shall be trying to drum up some business for them in future as it was almost empty. Very strange, as the service was excellent and the food delicious. Perhaps, the restaurant lacked a little in ambience but it was perfectly pleasant in every way.
We're right in the thick of end-of-year type things - Christmas hoohah, budgets, range planning and stuff plus all the normal day-to-day meetings, travel, getting offices refurbed and so forth. I'm going to fall down dead soon. All they'll find is a little skeleton in my office where I've disappeared behind a pile of packaging, samples and leftovers from lunch meetings.
Also had to run out of the office in the middle of everything to do a casting for some new ITV show which revolves around a bunch of celebrities (doesn't everything these days) being a jury for a mock murder trial. I went up to play a forensic scientist specialising in DNA profiling. The audition consisted of improvising around the case as outlined in the breakdown. Went well, but bloody hell! I had back story and everything, but they didn't delve that deep. Thank God.
Met my mate, A, for dinner about an hour and a half late as I couldn't get away from the office. We ate at this small tapas place called El Dorado near Vauxhall which I keep seeing from the 185 bus on Kennington Lane just before it turns towards the Oval. I think it might be South American. The food was really very good. We had Spanish sausage with fabadas (beans), grilled marinaded pork, some prawns in white wine and garlic, patatas bravas, beef with crispy fried green plantain, salad and rice. With drinks it all came to a modest £17.00 each including tip. I shall be trying to drum up some business for them in future as it was almost empty. Very strange, as the service was excellent and the food delicious. Perhaps, the restaurant lacked a little in ambience but it was perfectly pleasant in every way.
Labels: acting, food, restaurants, work
5 December 2006
One of my friends, S, was stopped today by the police on her way to work. She asked why and the policewoman told her it was because she was walking too fast and so they had stopped her under the terrorism act. ????!*"&$£"????!!!
S said that she was late for work - hence the walking fast. Although, frankly, in London you're more likely to stand out if you walk slow - unless you're a tourist. I'm speechless...
Mind you, I forgot to note on my return from Porto a few weeks ago, that the Portuguese check-in staff photocopied my passport. BB was highly indignant and belligerently asked why they were doing it. Apparently, the British authorities have requested that they take copies of passports of anyone of Asian origin going to Britain - even if they have a British passport! And this country masquerades itself as being a democratic country. Pah! They were very apologetic about it though, and a bit embarrassed I think. Unlike the policewoman who stopped S this morning, who apparently was obnoxious and rude in every way.
S is black by the way. However, she looks not dissimilar to Thandie Newton and styles herself on Audrey Hepburn, so is probably the least likely looking person to be perpetrating an act of terror. Whilst one should not be taken in by appearances, all I can say is, 'Come on! What are they thinking?"
On another note, finally, I have moved into my office. Wah! I have my own office at work! Like in Working Girl, but not so high up. I have a view of Manchester Square and the Wallace Collection which is leafy and green. I also have business cards! I've never had business cards in my life. I feel like a real grown-up.
However, my new office is so full of boxes of all sizes and descriptions crammed full of Christmas gifts, filing, shoe and bag samples, Christmas cards, envelopes and other paraphenalia that people often come looking for me, fail to see me and then go away again. Perhaps that's a good thing...
S said that she was late for work - hence the walking fast. Although, frankly, in London you're more likely to stand out if you walk slow - unless you're a tourist. I'm speechless...
Mind you, I forgot to note on my return from Porto a few weeks ago, that the Portuguese check-in staff photocopied my passport. BB was highly indignant and belligerently asked why they were doing it. Apparently, the British authorities have requested that they take copies of passports of anyone of Asian origin going to Britain - even if they have a British passport! And this country masquerades itself as being a democratic country. Pah! They were very apologetic about it though, and a bit embarrassed I think. Unlike the policewoman who stopped S this morning, who apparently was obnoxious and rude in every way.
S is black by the way. However, she looks not dissimilar to Thandie Newton and styles herself on Audrey Hepburn, so is probably the least likely looking person to be perpetrating an act of terror. Whilst one should not be taken in by appearances, all I can say is, 'Come on! What are they thinking?"
On another note, finally, I have moved into my office. Wah! I have my own office at work! Like in Working Girl, but not so high up. I have a view of Manchester Square and the Wallace Collection which is leafy and green. I also have business cards! I've never had business cards in my life. I feel like a real grown-up.
However, my new office is so full of boxes of all sizes and descriptions crammed full of Christmas gifts, filing, shoe and bag samples, Christmas cards, envelopes and other paraphenalia that people often come looking for me, fail to see me and then go away again. Perhaps that's a good thing...
30 November 2006
Too much to do and too little time to do it in. Spent yesterday surrounded by dust and drilling noises and glue fumes as the office refurb gets underway. Also surrounded by lots of miscellaneous bits of furniture, 200 Christmas gifts to wrap and send out, about a billion Christmas cards and other such paraphenalia. I'm surprised anyone can find me in my office, so swamped am I by stuff.
The carpetters (for that is what all the fuss and bother is about) have fulfilled the age old contractor's remit of saying they'll do something in a certain period of time, but in reality only completing in three times the amount of time. They are the people for whom the Rush Job Calendar was written.
I'm off to Bristol today to film for holocausts but am perspiring at the thought of how much work there will be for me to do when I get back into the office on Friday.
With luck, by then, the fire service will have closed us down by then as they weren't happy with the state of affairs in our building after they did a cursory fire risk assessment on Tuesday. My question is why doesn't this company have an Office Manager or anyone who knows anything about Health and Safety issues and how have they managed to carry on thus far without one? And why am I being lumbered with said issues?
Needless to say, Mandarin lesson was dire yesterday as
a) I was late,
b) my mobile phone mysteriously erased my teacher's phone number so I couldn't tell her I was going to be late (or ideally cancel the lesson), and
c) I have done no homework whatsoever.
Sigh.
The carpetters (for that is what all the fuss and bother is about) have fulfilled the age old contractor's remit of saying they'll do something in a certain period of time, but in reality only completing in three times the amount of time. They are the people for whom the Rush Job Calendar was written.
I'm off to Bristol today to film for holocausts but am perspiring at the thought of how much work there will be for me to do when I get back into the office on Friday.
With luck, by then, the fire service will have closed us down by then as they weren't happy with the state of affairs in our building after they did a cursory fire risk assessment on Tuesday. My question is why doesn't this company have an Office Manager or anyone who knows anything about Health and Safety issues and how have they managed to carry on thus far without one? And why am I being lumbered with said issues?
Needless to say, Mandarin lesson was dire yesterday as
a) I was late,
b) my mobile phone mysteriously erased my teacher's phone number so I couldn't tell her I was going to be late (or ideally cancel the lesson), and
c) I have done no homework whatsoever.
Sigh.
4 November 2006
Is it wrong to be suspicious of people just because they wear a lot of makeup? One of the women at work seems really nice and is incredibly efficient and does things when you ask and everything, but she wears so much eye makeup that it's distracting. Really heavy eyeliner and heaps of foundation. Even more than when I did when I was in Miss Saigon on a massive stage with billions of lights. Although, to be fair, I was always being told that I wasn't wearing enough makeup.
Anyway, she's moving into the same office as me soon and I'm worried the abundance of makeup might mask a myriad of emotional problems.
Call me shallow.
On the living in Dulwich note, East Dulwich will soon be the proud host of a shiny new Gourmet Burger Kitchen - yet another chain store to rile the natives and cause great controversy. BB is happy - he lurves burgers.
Anyway, she's moving into the same office as me soon and I'm worried the abundance of makeup might mask a myriad of emotional problems.
Call me shallow.
On the living in Dulwich note, East Dulwich will soon be the proud host of a shiny new Gourmet Burger Kitchen - yet another chain store to rile the natives and cause great controversy. BB is happy - he lurves burgers.
Labels: east dulwich, restaurants, work
27 October 2006
This is an e-mail the company manager got today from someone in the office:
"Hi
I just wanted to let you know that I accidentally brought home a piece of company property yesterday which jumped out of my bag when I got home.
When I told my manager, he asked me to find out if you wanted me to bring it back."
It was a mouse....
Eek...
I think it's safe to say that we have an infestation. Rentokil came in a week ago but the receptionists are still shrieking and people can hear scuttling in the ceilings.
My agent called and asked if I thought I could pass for a size 14. The cheek of it.
"Hi
I just wanted to let you know that I accidentally brought home a piece of company property yesterday which jumped out of my bag when I got home.
When I told my manager, he asked me to find out if you wanted me to bring it back."
It was a mouse....
Eek...
I think it's safe to say that we have an infestation. Rentokil came in a week ago but the receptionists are still shrieking and people can hear scuttling in the ceilings.
My agent called and asked if I thought I could pass for a size 14. The cheek of it.
Labels: work
17 October 2006
We had a very peculiar day yesterday. First the fire alarm went off for the first time since I've been there, so we all trooped out and I went to get lunch.
Then, after lunch there was a great mouse infestation and there was great shrieking from the receptionists and much mayhem. In the end they were moved into a different room and the mice had free rein of the basement and entrance hall.
After that all the servers went down and we couldn't access our e-mails or the internet. I suspect that problem was mouse related.
Then, after lunch there was a great mouse infestation and there was great shrieking from the receptionists and much mayhem. In the end they were moved into a different room and the mice had free rein of the basement and entrance hall.
After that all the servers went down and we couldn't access our e-mails or the internet. I suspect that problem was mouse related.
Labels: work
11 October 2006
This post from Eating Asia is the kind of press Muslims should be getting. These are the sort of people who just get on with their lives just like everyone else. I really can't stand the stupid Western press that just makes things worse by sensationalising negative Muslim stories. For instance, the Evening Standard recently had a headline - Muslim Taxi Driver Bans Guide Dog. Well, frankly, I've been banned from taxis because the taxi driver just couldn't be bothered, which is a worse reason if you ask me.
Quiet day at the office. Have started planning Christmas dos and sorting out Christmas cards for the office. How depressing.
I just learnt that a secretary in Mandarin is a 'mi shu' or 'secret book'. That's quite nice, I think.
Quiet day at the office. Have started planning Christmas dos and sorting out Christmas cards for the office. How depressing.
I just learnt that a secretary in Mandarin is a 'mi shu' or 'secret book'. That's quite nice, I think.
Labels: language, politics, work
6 October 2006
Dull, dull, dull.... that's how work is at the moment - full of inexplicably stupid, inefficient and dull people who think they are the essence of wit, professionalism and intelligence.
I spend most of my life having to deal with stupid courier companies, travel consultants and the bloody stupid secretary whom I am forced to work alongside with. All her redeeming qualities are eclipsed spectacularly by her complete lack of interest in her work and ability to make a mountain out of the minutest molehill.
I was forced to spend 6 hours yesterday fixing a monumental travel booking ****-up that she made as she'd blithely gone on holiday and the travellers are travelling today. They were set to go on a 15 day trip of the Far East taking in Tokyo, Shanghai & HK and she hadn't booked them any hotels for the whole trip so I had to find them rooms during the blummin' Mid Autumn Festival holiday, had managed to book them on the wrong outbound flight (and they weren't booked on flexible tickets) and had left vague instructions with the travel company about their visas for China so that no one seemed to know what was going on. All this, after telling me that she had NOTHING to hand over to me. I hope she has a miserable holiday.
She also had the gall to tell me that I was cheating using words like 'id' and 'erg' in Scrabble because she hadn't heard of them. "Let's change the rules", she said - like she's some grand master lexicographer. "Maybe we should stick to using the Oxford English Dictionary". "They are in the flaming OED...", I did retort, while mentally carrying on, "... you stupid cow... just because you've lost every single game but one that we've ever played...*£@!%^&*". Pathetic.
I had my top on inside out at work yesterday. Had to change hurriedly in the kitchen while I was making tea. Luckily I'd dragged myself in so early that no one was around.
Thank God it's Friday...
I spend most of my life having to deal with stupid courier companies, travel consultants and the bloody stupid secretary whom I am forced to work alongside with. All her redeeming qualities are eclipsed spectacularly by her complete lack of interest in her work and ability to make a mountain out of the minutest molehill.
I was forced to spend 6 hours yesterday fixing a monumental travel booking ****-up that she made as she'd blithely gone on holiday and the travellers are travelling today. They were set to go on a 15 day trip of the Far East taking in Tokyo, Shanghai & HK and she hadn't booked them any hotels for the whole trip so I had to find them rooms during the blummin' Mid Autumn Festival holiday, had managed to book them on the wrong outbound flight (and they weren't booked on flexible tickets) and had left vague instructions with the travel company about their visas for China so that no one seemed to know what was going on. All this, after telling me that she had NOTHING to hand over to me. I hope she has a miserable holiday.
She also had the gall to tell me that I was cheating using words like 'id' and 'erg' in Scrabble because she hadn't heard of them. "Let's change the rules", she said - like she's some grand master lexicographer. "Maybe we should stick to using the Oxford English Dictionary". "They are in the flaming OED...", I did retort, while mentally carrying on, "... you stupid cow... just because you've lost every single game but one that we've ever played...*£@!%^&*". Pathetic.
I had my top on inside out at work yesterday. Had to change hurriedly in the kitchen while I was making tea. Luckily I'd dragged myself in so early that no one was around.
Thank God it's Friday...
19 September 2006
I don't really know what life in Dulwich is like at the moment, as I'm mainly at work it seems. Good thing I'm still being paid by the hour for the moment.
Nothing to report but work, work, work. We had a company pepping-up session today which mainly involved me lugging big boxes of gift bags, product samples, awards (where's mine I ask) and everyone wanting a piece of me. Still, it all went smoothly and the canapés were nice.
So, Thailand is having a coup... It always seemed like a relatively stable sort of place.
Nothing to report but work, work, work. We had a company pepping-up session today which mainly involved me lugging big boxes of gift bags, product samples, awards (where's mine I ask) and everyone wanting a piece of me. Still, it all went smoothly and the canapés were nice.
So, Thailand is having a coup... It always seemed like a relatively stable sort of place.
4 September 2006
So, I've done it now...
I offered my services to my boss as her main PA on a permanent basis - so long as she has a junior secretary who can cover for me when I have to go off and do the odd acting job and so forth - until I get that big Hollywood break. She said she would be delighted for me to be her PA and that she would happily get a junior secretary for said purpose. I had mentioned that I thought the workload was too much for one person and she agreed. So I'm to think about what I would like to be paid and the terms and conditions and we'll go from there.
So, there we are...
Bet all my family and worried friends are sighing a collective sigh of relief - now that I've got a proper job.
I offered my services to my boss as her main PA on a permanent basis - so long as she has a junior secretary who can cover for me when I have to go off and do the odd acting job and so forth - until I get that big Hollywood break. She said she would be delighted for me to be her PA and that she would happily get a junior secretary for said purpose. I had mentioned that I thought the workload was too much for one person and she agreed. So I'm to think about what I would like to be paid and the terms and conditions and we'll go from there.
So, there we are...
Bet all my family and worried friends are sighing a collective sigh of relief - now that I've got a proper job.
Labels: work
2 September 2006
Phewee - that was a crummy week. Glad it's over. Had a cold and flu all week but still struggled into work as there was so much to do. Did a casting for some corporate airline thing - for which, I must add, I was perfect - but they clearly didn't think so.
Then, yesterday, took the car into the garage for a check-up and, on the tube to work, some idiot woman tripped behind me with an open-topped steaming latte and spilt the whole thing down my back - from about the middle of my back right down to the floor. Thank god I was wearing a raincoat. And though some might knock my previous employer, they definitely know how to make a good raincoat. It was just like water off a duck's back - except for the bit that soaked into my trouser leg.
Then I broke 4 champagne flutes at work - not in the cause of having some champagne unfortunately. And it was so manically busy due to major presentations and important announcement due on Monday and frantic meetings held in honour of said presentations and announcement.
The car is fine though - besides the bent bumper. So I can't be bothered to chase the old codger who bent the bumper. The aggravation would be too much.
Then, yesterday, took the car into the garage for a check-up and, on the tube to work, some idiot woman tripped behind me with an open-topped steaming latte and spilt the whole thing down my back - from about the middle of my back right down to the floor. Thank god I was wearing a raincoat. And though some might knock my previous employer, they definitely know how to make a good raincoat. It was just like water off a duck's back - except for the bit that soaked into my trouser leg.
Then I broke 4 champagne flutes at work - not in the cause of having some champagne unfortunately. And it was so manically busy due to major presentations and important announcement due on Monday and frantic meetings held in honour of said presentations and announcement.
The car is fine though - besides the bent bumper. So I can't be bothered to chase the old codger who bent the bumper. The aggravation would be too much.
Labels: work
5 August 2006
It's been a very busy week - working till 19:00 most nights as everyone had deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. Had to take Sei Ee to Waterloo station at 04.30 in the morning on Wednesday, then worked till 19:30. Am just recovering now.
Never mind - today is Chilli Crab day in Brick Lane, so I'm off to have lots of crab and other hawker food stuff with a big bunch of friends. Hurrah!
Never mind - today is Chilli Crab day in Brick Lane, so I'm off to have lots of crab and other hawker food stuff with a big bunch of friends. Hurrah!
25 July 2006
It is inevitable. Everyday the other secretary at work does something which results in great panic, frantic ringing round of people to reschedule things and making us both feel stressed for several hours before it all gets sorted out again. It's like watching a car crash about to happen. Whilst we get on alright, the errors she keeps making are driving me bonkers.
Can't wait to go on hols. I'm re-reading the The Dark is Rising series of books. They are very good indeed. It's been so long since I read them that I can't remember what happens next which is also good.
BB's mum's birthday do was fun. We had a nice meal at the Café Kintore which was roast duck with a soy orange dressing, beef fillet with bearnaise, chips & green beans and a strawberry pavlova. Nearly missed the plane back because BB misread the arrival time as the departure time when he checked us in online and then only noticed the mistake an hour before the actual departure time. I was rudely awakened by my post-prandial nap with, "AAAhhhh! The plane leaves in an hour. The gates close in 50 mins!" We hadn't packed or anything. Luckily, BB's family live 15 mins from the airport. Phewww.
Can't wait to go on hols. I'm re-reading the The Dark is Rising series of books. They are very good indeed. It's been so long since I read them that I can't remember what happens next which is also good.
BB's mum's birthday do was fun. We had a nice meal at the Café Kintore which was roast duck with a soy orange dressing, beef fillet with bearnaise, chips & green beans and a strawberry pavlova. Nearly missed the plane back because BB misread the arrival time as the departure time when he checked us in online and then only noticed the mistake an hour before the actual departure time. I was rudely awakened by my post-prandial nap with, "AAAhhhh! The plane leaves in an hour. The gates close in 50 mins!" We hadn't packed or anything. Luckily, BB's family live 15 mins from the airport. Phewww.
Labels: books, food, restaurants, work
12 July 2006
Am sitting forlornly in the office at ten minutes to seven which I know pales in comparison to my sister blister. However, I am only a temp and a PA so am not usually required to work long hours as am paid by the hour. I think they've forgotten me, as I'm waiting for them to come out with a chart of exciting figures to plough into a spreadsheet for tomorrow's big board meeting and there's no sign of that happening in the near future.
Sigh...
My gym and dinner plans have been foiled. I was going to get our favourite siew yook dinner from Chinatown as it's but a stone's throw from the gym. Now, I'm miles from Chinatown, starving and a bit disgruntled.
Had a casting for Little Britain which went well but I don't think I've got the job. Neither have I heard from the PC game voiceover that the casting director assured me I had in the bag. Pah. I need a new agent. It's not her fault I haven't got the jobs, but I could sure do with a heck of a lot more castings.
Sigh...
My gym and dinner plans have been foiled. I was going to get our favourite siew yook dinner from Chinatown as it's but a stone's throw from the gym. Now, I'm miles from Chinatown, starving and a bit disgruntled.
Had a casting for Little Britain which went well but I don't think I've got the job. Neither have I heard from the PC game voiceover that the casting director assured me I had in the bag. Pah. I need a new agent. It's not her fault I haven't got the jobs, but I could sure do with a heck of a lot more castings.
4 July 2006
It's sooooo HOT! My boss skedaddled and worked from the airconditioned comfort of her own home, whilst leaving me to swelter in the non-airconditioned hell that was the office. That's not good for building up morale, I don't think.
That was a double negative I know but you get the point.
Managed to escape the office for 10 mins to get lunch, whereupon the skies opened and got caught in a flash thunderstorm. Sheesh.
Am making kedgeree for dinner. Never made it before, but happen to have all the ingredients in the house, so why not? Quite like the thought of it, with nice fresh asparagus tips on the side.
That was a double negative I know but you get the point.
Managed to escape the office for 10 mins to get lunch, whereupon the skies opened and got caught in a flash thunderstorm. Sheesh.
Am making kedgeree for dinner. Never made it before, but happen to have all the ingredients in the house, so why not? Quite like the thought of it, with nice fresh asparagus tips on the side.
28 June 2006
My, those Wallaces were big collectors. I've never seen such a mass of armour and things weaponlike - even in the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Or maybe I've just blanked out how much armour there was in the Royal Armouries. The Wallaces also have a fine set of Canaletti and a couple of Rembrandts to boot. I wonder if they have great security. It didn't look it. But I guess there's not a lot you can do with a phalanx of Canaletti and Rembrandts except hang them in your own living room.
Am suffering from back pain, which is strange. I think it's because I've been sitting sort of corkscrewlike for the last two weeks due to situation of my monitor at work. It's now in the right place but the pain is not going away. I have to get up periodically and do stretches which elicits strange looks from fellow workpeople.
Tried to get away to dance class last week but was cornered by Finance Director who presumably wanted to chat. Just when someone is heading out the door is not a good time to have a chat. Went into spiel about why didn't want permanent job, actress, ooh, yes it's hard, this is what I've done in the past, oh, your daughter is interested in going into acting?, blah, blah, blah.... This made me 15 minutes late because I was too polite to say, "Gotta go... bye!" Still, I added the extra 15 minutes to my timesheet, so that's okay. I'd make a good lawyer, I feel.
Am suffering from back pain, which is strange. I think it's because I've been sitting sort of corkscrewlike for the last two weeks due to situation of my monitor at work. It's now in the right place but the pain is not going away. I have to get up periodically and do stretches which elicits strange looks from fellow workpeople.
Tried to get away to dance class last week but was cornered by Finance Director who presumably wanted to chat. Just when someone is heading out the door is not a good time to have a chat. Went into spiel about why didn't want permanent job, actress, ooh, yes it's hard, this is what I've done in the past, oh, your daughter is interested in going into acting?, blah, blah, blah.... This made me 15 minutes late because I was too polite to say, "Gotta go... bye!" Still, I added the extra 15 minutes to my timesheet, so that's okay. I'd make a good lawyer, I feel.
17 June 2006
New job, better pay, good weather, 2 potential acting jobs - it's been a pretty good week. New office is a lot smaller and very laidback. We're smack bang in the middle of Marylebone and about 30 seconds from Selfridges Food Hall which is a disaster. It's also directly opposite the biggest M&S Food Hall, Waitrose is around the corner and there's just heaps of food everywhere.
Went to see Sunday in the Park with George again which has transferred to the Wyndhams for BB's birthday. It's such a good show. Beautiful language and music, fantastic set projections, great acting and singing, well crafted, full of imagination & intelligence and destined not to run for long. It's just typical. I'm glad they've done a cast recording though.
Went to see Sunday in the Park with George again which has transferred to the Wyndhams for BB's birthday. It's such a good show. Beautiful language and music, fantastic set projections, great acting and singing, well crafted, full of imagination & intelligence and destined not to run for long. It's just typical. I'm glad they've done a cast recording though.
3 June 2006
Laid Off
What a lot has happened since I got back to work. Thursday seemed uneventful. Spent much of the day catching up on e-mails, folk & gossip & the sample sale.
Then at about 16:00 got hauled into the boss' office to be told that, due to budgetary cuts, am being given the boot (as is my fellow temp, E, and other sundry hangers-on). Not really much of a surprise, except that I sort of expected it to happen a few months ago.
Well, I was sort of pleased as the politics and so forth has got so cruddy that I was pretty fed-up and didn't much want to stay on. Went to the gym that evening, got in conversation with someone there and told her my day. She said, 'Oh, what do you do?' and I said something about administrator, PA, blah, blah. She said, 'Oh, we're looking for a temp PA where I work.' She works somewhere where I've quite fancied working for a while - Google. So she gives me her card and I've sent her my CV and fingers crossed I might be working somewhere pretty cool before two weeks are out.
So, then I ask my ex-boss for a reference and she says, 'Sure, I'll give you a reference but I've got an opening for a temp PA also. Are you interested?'!!! Well, of course! So there's another opening.
And then, as I posted my CV online on an internet job search site, an agency phoned up to register me. And, E's partner is looking for temp DTP operators at her place paying a hefty sum. So, all looks very promising indeed.
In the meantime, I've tried making Meen Mooli (Goan fish curry) from a recipe I saw on a documentary on the plane back from Malaysia and daal. Found out that the local organic Indian shop sells onion paratha and fresh curry leaves which is extraordinarily useful. It turned out pretty well thought the daal was rather thick and tasted better the next day.
Also, been sleeping a lot.
Then at about 16:00 got hauled into the boss' office to be told that, due to budgetary cuts, am being given the boot (as is my fellow temp, E, and other sundry hangers-on). Not really much of a surprise, except that I sort of expected it to happen a few months ago.
Well, I was sort of pleased as the politics and so forth has got so cruddy that I was pretty fed-up and didn't much want to stay on. Went to the gym that evening, got in conversation with someone there and told her my day. She said, 'Oh, what do you do?' and I said something about administrator, PA, blah, blah. She said, 'Oh, we're looking for a temp PA where I work.' She works somewhere where I've quite fancied working for a while - Google. So she gives me her card and I've sent her my CV and fingers crossed I might be working somewhere pretty cool before two weeks are out.
So, then I ask my ex-boss for a reference and she says, 'Sure, I'll give you a reference but I've got an opening for a temp PA also. Are you interested?'!!! Well, of course! So there's another opening.
And then, as I posted my CV online on an internet job search site, an agency phoned up to register me. And, E's partner is looking for temp DTP operators at her place paying a hefty sum. So, all looks very promising indeed.
In the meantime, I've tried making Meen Mooli (Goan fish curry) from a recipe I saw on a documentary on the plane back from Malaysia and daal. Found out that the local organic Indian shop sells onion paratha and fresh curry leaves which is extraordinarily useful. It turned out pretty well thought the daal was rather thick and tasted better the next day.
Also, been sleeping a lot.
21 April 2006
Oh my god, I'm so tired. Both Es were off today so I almost singlehandedly packed up everything else in the office. M-A packed 2 crates. I packed 30. Then I unpacked about 20 when we got to the new office before falling back into my chair in a stupor. At the same time fielded queries about the move, telephones, projectors, printers, meeting rooms, unpaid invoices, last minute hotel bookings, diary appointments, conference calls, blah, blah, blah...
I was going to try and see Mack and Mabel but decided to flake out at home instead. I've just had some of the rather tasty Easter egg that I bought BB last weekend from Hope & Greenwood (East Dulwich's own special sweetie shop). We queued for half an hour to get the egg which is very good dark chocolate filled with a select assortment of pick-your-own dark chocolate creams, truffles and weird things. Also, a sherbert lolly, as BB is rather partial to them. The chocolate flavours include chilli, geranium, violet and lavender - although there are some normal ones like mint, lime, orange, champagne & coffee.
Actually, having said that we did almost nothing over Easter weekend, we did go to the local light shop and buy me a great bedside lamp which doesn't have a switch. Instead, you can touch the base anywhere and it will come on, then you touch it again to make it brighter, again to make it brighter still and then, once more, to turn it off. It's fun. And cheap. For London. It's very clever, it only works with the touch of a living thing and is no good if you prod it with a stick or a glove or something.
We also bought a sonic mouse repeller as Mickey has been appearing rather too frequently. It seems to work, but unfortunately, doesn't go through walls so we have to keep all the doors open which rather lets the draughts blow through.
I was going to try and see Mack and Mabel but decided to flake out at home instead. I've just had some of the rather tasty Easter egg that I bought BB last weekend from Hope & Greenwood (East Dulwich's own special sweetie shop). We queued for half an hour to get the egg which is very good dark chocolate filled with a select assortment of pick-your-own dark chocolate creams, truffles and weird things. Also, a sherbert lolly, as BB is rather partial to them. The chocolate flavours include chilli, geranium, violet and lavender - although there are some normal ones like mint, lime, orange, champagne & coffee.
Actually, having said that we did almost nothing over Easter weekend, we did go to the local light shop and buy me a great bedside lamp which doesn't have a switch. Instead, you can touch the base anywhere and it will come on, then you touch it again to make it brighter, again to make it brighter still and then, once more, to turn it off. It's fun. And cheap. For London. It's very clever, it only works with the touch of a living thing and is no good if you prod it with a stick or a glove or something.
We also bought a sonic mouse repeller as Mickey has been appearing rather too frequently. It seems to work, but unfortunately, doesn't go through walls so we have to keep all the doors open which rather lets the draughts blow through.
Labels: east dulwich, food, shopping, work
20 April 2006
My, how time flies when you can't be bothered to blog.
Did absolutely NOTHING over Easter. Slept A LOT. Then got a sore throat - either as a result of oversleeping or was the cause of oversleeping.
Rehearsals yesterday proved to be incredibly difficult. None of us seemed to be able to pull the goods out of the bag for about 6 hours. By mid-afternoon things started moving but not before frustrating the heck out of our director. Now we're all panicked and are meeting up before the next bout of rehearsals as we only have THREE DAYS LEFT. Eek.
Went to work today to find that almost no packing has been done before our move tomorrow. Honestly - you don't go to work for two days and it seems like no one else has bothered to turn up either. Though E and M-A had packed the filing. Well, today I packed 8 crates of stationery, 2 crates of my own stuff and labelled almost everything else that wasn't pinned down. Still heaps to go though and have actual work to do as well.
BB is off to sunny Madrid with his office tomorrow. Wish I was going. Sigh.
Did absolutely NOTHING over Easter. Slept A LOT. Then got a sore throat - either as a result of oversleeping or was the cause of oversleeping.
Rehearsals yesterday proved to be incredibly difficult. None of us seemed to be able to pull the goods out of the bag for about 6 hours. By mid-afternoon things started moving but not before frustrating the heck out of our director. Now we're all panicked and are meeting up before the next bout of rehearsals as we only have THREE DAYS LEFT. Eek.
Went to work today to find that almost no packing has been done before our move tomorrow. Honestly - you don't go to work for two days and it seems like no one else has bothered to turn up either. Though E and M-A had packed the filing. Well, today I packed 8 crates of stationery, 2 crates of my own stuff and labelled almost everything else that wasn't pinned down. Still heaps to go though and have actual work to do as well.
BB is off to sunny Madrid with his office tomorrow. Wish I was going. Sigh.
