Tom and I went to see Polytechnic at Chorlton Irish on Friday. Tom’s a drum and bass head first and foremost, and has gotten into guitar music reasonably recently. This night at the Irish is very trendy, in a way that means pork-pie hats and facial hair for the guys, and Alice bands and hair-grips for the girls. He didn’t feel particularly comfortable. It’s funny how an ‘alternative’ crowd can be so homogenous.
I met a beautiful girl called Helen, who works near me, and is also studying for a Masters in textiles. She was articulate, intelligent, and very indie. But I clammed up, and didn’t know what to say. When the band started, she edged away, and I didn’t see her again that evening. I want to have a look for her on Facebook, but I got the vibe that she wouldn’t be that interested.
Maybe I’m not indie enough to appeal to the kind of girl that I fancy. Maybe I should buy some new shoes. Brown shoes.
Friday, 18 April 2008
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Imaginary girlfriend
The formal offer of employment from my new job came today by email, so I formally handed in my notice shortly afterwards. It was a mild anticlimax, but it felt good to have put the wheels into motion. A little later, there was a meeting scheduled about how things would run next year. In advance of it, I was asked into the office of one of the senior managers in the team. He started to explain how the job I’m leaving is going to change quite drastically: more publicity and PR; less data handling; increased front-line involvement with communities; and much less time behind a desk. Whilst he didn’t say so directly, he was heavily suggesting that the work of my job would change in such a way that I’d find it much more rewarding than I do at present.
I felt confused, and a little angry. The impression I got was that if I hadn’t have handed in my notice, then the job wouldn’t have been redesigned. I felt I’d been mismanaged, as the changes that were made, if needed, should have been spotted and acted upon before now. I felt undervalued, in that I wasn’t asked about the proposed changes, even though they were to a job that I was doing. I felt really angry that they’d waited until I’d said I was leaving before they set about addressing how shit my job is. I felt even angrier that they’ve made it quite a good job. I feel like I’d planned to leave a party, and, as I’d put my coat on, the music started to get better. I feel like I’d planned to break up with an imaginary girlfriend, only for her to appear at the door that day looking drop dead gorgeous.
I was subjected to a barrage of bodily noises during that meeting, and it really distracted me. On one side of me, there was a guy with a gurgling tummy and a consistent accompanying refrain of “Excuse me,” or “Pardon me.” I didn’t particularly mind, except that every word that the gurgler said in the meeting was in response to his rumbling gut. Lunchtime meetings suck. One the other side of me, one of the attendees made it her business to communicate her agreement with the speaker with a loud “MMMmmmm!” or a “Yes, yes,” or a slow groan. The more she agreed, the more often she groaned. The more often she groaned, the more sexual it sounded, like an office-based When Harry Met Sally. It was gross, and it really put me off. I’m glad I’m leaving.
I quite like some of the work that my job involves, but I don’t like my working conditions, which I express by saying, “I don’t like my job.” Even though the work of my job is going to change, my working conditions won’t. So I’m still getting out as soon as I can.
The imaginary girlfriend still gets the boot too.
I felt confused, and a little angry. The impression I got was that if I hadn’t have handed in my notice, then the job wouldn’t have been redesigned. I felt I’d been mismanaged, as the changes that were made, if needed, should have been spotted and acted upon before now. I felt undervalued, in that I wasn’t asked about the proposed changes, even though they were to a job that I was doing. I felt really angry that they’d waited until I’d said I was leaving before they set about addressing how shit my job is. I felt even angrier that they’ve made it quite a good job. I feel like I’d planned to leave a party, and, as I’d put my coat on, the music started to get better. I feel like I’d planned to break up with an imaginary girlfriend, only for her to appear at the door that day looking drop dead gorgeous.
I was subjected to a barrage of bodily noises during that meeting, and it really distracted me. On one side of me, there was a guy with a gurgling tummy and a consistent accompanying refrain of “Excuse me,” or “Pardon me.” I didn’t particularly mind, except that every word that the gurgler said in the meeting was in response to his rumbling gut. Lunchtime meetings suck. One the other side of me, one of the attendees made it her business to communicate her agreement with the speaker with a loud “MMMmmmm!” or a “Yes, yes,” or a slow groan. The more she agreed, the more often she groaned. The more often she groaned, the more sexual it sounded, like an office-based When Harry Met Sally. It was gross, and it really put me off. I’m glad I’m leaving.
I quite like some of the work that my job involves, but I don’t like my working conditions, which I express by saying, “I don’t like my job.” Even though the work of my job is going to change, my working conditions won’t. So I’m still getting out as soon as I can.
The imaginary girlfriend still gets the boot too.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Monday, 14 April 2008
Negotiations and Milk thefts
My new boss called today to negotiate the new salary for my new job. His approach was very direct. “You’ve asked for the middle of the salary range, which is fair given what you’re on now, so I’m happy to offer you the job at that wage. What do you think?” We agreed.
My current job has a labelling-is-nine-tenths-of-the-law system of fridge security. It isn’t secure. My small team buy milk in larger bottles than anybody else, which seems to encourage theft. “They won’t notice, stealing some won’t hurt.” Paranoia, guilt and shame are the tools with which we intend to fight this theft. Oh, and Sharpie markers.
My current job has a labelling-is-nine-tenths-of-the-law system of fridge security. It isn’t secure. My small team buy milk in larger bottles than anybody else, which seems to encourage theft. “They won’t notice, stealing some won’t hurt.” Paranoia, guilt and shame are the tools with which we intend to fight this theft. Oh, and Sharpie markers.
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Southport Snapshot Showdown
Paul, Eileen and I went to Southport to take some photos. Organised fun was preferred, as always, so we set ourselves a challenge. Take two photos each that pertain to the following subjects:
Pair
Timeless
Help*
Reflections
Old
Wind**
*"Help" meaning "assist" or "assistance," rather than "Shit! Help me!"
** "Wind" as in "the wind blows" not "wind-up wristwatch."
Here are my twelve snaps.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Shakespeare Mafiosi
This came up when playing a spot of mafia on IRC last night.
10.31 USERNAME: Yorick: So are we playing mafia or what?
10.31 USERNAME: Vertice: I was once pretty close to someone called Yorick
10.31 USERNAME: Yorick: Here we go…
10.31 USERNAME: JDSpeeder: I knew him well
10.31 USERNAME: jman: I knew him well
10.31 USERNAME: Yorick: You knew him well
10.32 USERNAME: Vertice: He was a transvestite
10.32 USERNAME: Yorick: --- wtf?
10.33 USERNAME: Vertice: A lass
10.32 USERNAME: Yorick: fnarrr!
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Slow burner
In January I applied for a new job. After what felt like a pretty good interview, I was gutted to be told that I was appointable, but not the best candidate for the job. I was first reserve. I assumed that was the equivalent to going on a date with someone, and for them to say at the end that they liked you but only as friend - an okay outcome, but not the desired one.
Today I got an email from the head of the interview panel asking me if I was still interested in the role. Ten weeks down the line, and out of nowhere an offer of a new job. What a massive surprise, and what a welcome one too. I'm meeting someone from that team tomorrow to have an informal chat about the role, but I'm 95% certain that I'm going to take it.
I feel really excited - especially as the field I'd be moving into is much more closely related to the environmental side of things, which is where I'd like to end up in the near future.
Today I got an email from the head of the interview panel asking me if I was still interested in the role. Ten weeks down the line, and out of nowhere an offer of a new job. What a massive surprise, and what a welcome one too. I'm meeting someone from that team tomorrow to have an informal chat about the role, but I'm 95% certain that I'm going to take it.
I feel really excited - especially as the field I'd be moving into is much more closely related to the environmental side of things, which is where I'd like to end up in the near future.
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