Friday, 10 February 2006
French kissing!
I really don't think we needed an expensive research project to tell us THIS! Hardly a deduction of earth shattering proportions I would have thought!
Chip and pin....and chaos
So, the days of 'chip and pin' being
obligatory are almost upon us. On the 14th of February anyone making a purchase in a store with a little piece of plastic will be required to enter their PIN number, the option to sign for the sale will no longer exist.
I see chaos on the horizon! The run up and advertising for this has been quite significant but still a vast number of the customers I come into contact with at the point of sale are sadly lacking in the appropriate digits,
furthermore many of them just won't be persuaded, that by Tuesday they will have no other option. Somehow they seem convinced that if they shout loudly enough, or threaten us with the loss of a sale there will be some way for us to oblige them and allow for a signature.
There is not! The EPOS systems that retail uses will have no override function come Tuesday, even with every wish in the world to be able to help, we can't! This doesn't refer to just the retailer I work for but all outlets with modern EPOS systems. It is not necessarily the retailers choice, it is governed by the banks, we have no more choice than the customer.
Things could get fraught, I see a few confrontations on the horizon.
The whole issue rather confounds me, the reasoning behind it is simple, it is more secure and figures published recently certainly suggest that fraud at the point of sale has dropped dramatically....they also prove though that internet purchase fraud has increased in direct line with the drop in stores.
The reasoning behind the switch (no pun intended) from signing to chip and pin doesn't it seem take into account the horrendous level of 'human error'. In the first instance, probably something approaching 40% of the customers I serve don't actually know their PIN number and of those that do, despite the warnings, when asked to enter it, they can't recall it and remove a little piece of crumpled paper from the same wallet as the card was stored in.......containing the very number needed to access use for the card! Worse still, you don't want to know how many, rather than just input the digits when asked, look at me in all ignorance and innocence and tell me the number!!!
Very secure....that's going to reduce fraud no end!
obligatory are almost upon us. On the 14th of February anyone making a purchase in a store with a little piece of plastic will be required to enter their PIN number, the option to sign for the sale will no longer exist.
I see chaos on the horizon! The run up and advertising for this has been quite significant but still a vast number of the customers I come into contact with at the point of sale are sadly lacking in the appropriate digits,
furthermore many of them just won't be persuaded, that by Tuesday they will have no other option. Somehow they seem convinced that if they shout loudly enough, or threaten us with the loss of a sale there will be some way for us to oblige them and allow for a signature.There is not! The EPOS systems that retail uses will have no override function come Tuesday, even with every wish in the world to be able to help, we can't! This doesn't refer to just the retailer I work for but all outlets with modern EPOS systems. It is not necessarily the retailers choice, it is governed by the banks, we have no more choice than the customer.
Things could get fraught, I see a few confrontations on the horizon.
The whole issue rather confounds me, the reasoning behind it is simple, it is more secure and figures published recently certainly suggest that fraud at the point of sale has dropped dramatically....they also prove though that internet purchase fraud has increased in direct line with the drop in stores.
The reasoning behind the switch (no pun intended) from signing to chip and pin doesn't it seem take into account the horrendous level of 'human error'. In the first instance, probably something approaching 40% of the customers I serve don't actually know their PIN number and of those that do, despite the warnings, when asked to enter it, they can't recall it and remove a little piece of crumpled paper from the same wallet as the card was stored in.......containing the very number needed to access use for the card! Worse still, you don't want to know how many, rather than just input the digits when asked, look at me in all ignorance and innocence and tell me the number!!!
Very secure....that's going to reduce fraud no end!
Thursday, 9 February 2006
I never thought......
....I would see the day I would say this but today I'm going to.
I will never again involve myself willingly in the detention of the perpetrator of a crime, nor will I write a statement or offer myself as a witness!
Our judicial system may be considered one of the best in the world but it seems that if you try and 'do your bit' suddenly you become relegated to a position less than that of the offender.
I now find myself threatened with contempt of court, of warrants being issued for my arrest and Lord knows what all else......and all because I am due to go on holiday when I am required to appear as a witness. The 'system' it seems has some difficulty accomodating my problem.....despite the fact that we all know, that's the CPS, the police and myself, that ultimately I am highly likely not to have to give evidence once I arrive at court!
Never, never again....I've had enough, next time I will go against all my instincts and morals and suffer a sudden loss of memory!
I really didn't ever think I would see the day I would feel like this.... but I do!
I am completely powerless in this situation and completely unsupported by anyone in authority...they don't give a damn....why should I?
I don't ever recall feeling so angry, disillusioned or let down by before in my life, I truly believed in our legal system ...until now!
Fuck!....sorry but it's the only word that seems to sum up my anger right now.
I will never again involve myself willingly in the detention of the perpetrator of a crime, nor will I write a statement or offer myself as a witness!
Our judicial system may be considered one of the best in the world but it seems that if you try and 'do your bit' suddenly you become relegated to a position less than that of the offender.
I now find myself threatened with contempt of court, of warrants being issued for my arrest and Lord knows what all else......and all because I am due to go on holiday when I am required to appear as a witness. The 'system' it seems has some difficulty accomodating my problem.....despite the fact that we all know, that's the CPS, the police and myself, that ultimately I am highly likely not to have to give evidence once I arrive at court!
Never, never again....I've had enough, next time I will go against all my instincts and morals and suffer a sudden loss of memory!
I really didn't ever think I would see the day I would feel like this.... but I do!
I am completely powerless in this situation and completely unsupported by anyone in authority...they don't give a damn....why should I?
I don't ever recall feeling so angry, disillusioned or let down by before in my life, I truly believed in our legal system ...until now!
Fuck!....sorry but it's the only word that seems to sum up my anger right now.
Wednesday, 8 February 2006
Love it or hate it?
There seems to be a modicum of dissention in the ranks regarding this design, if nothing else it has caused a little discussion and none too few emails to land in my lap!
There seem to be those that love itMichelle, those that can't read it Rob and those that think that birds nose up there looks like (and I quote) 'a snout dammit,' no names mentioned Lisa! .......too funny.
So do you have an opinion, should it stay or should it go? Though as is the way in gemmak's-ville it will likely not be here forever, whatever! heh.
There seem to be those that love it
So do you have an opinion, should it stay or should it go? Though as is the way in gemmak's-ville it will likely not be here forever, whatever! heh.
Collared.....or not!
The recent advance into grown up cat-hood for 'madam small puss' seems not to be running at all smoothly! There is a distinct lack of enjoyment it seems, in the wearing of the previously blogged new collar, any collar in fact. The fact that it is the height of tacky pink kitsch seems not to be the trouble, rather the idea of being encumbered with anything at all....be it black, white, pink or sky blue!
Ditto of course has been no trouble, she is well used to the wearing of a collar and tag and is happily parading her new pink glittery adornment, Tilly of course, on the other hand, has decided that this will be her new focus of mischief and misdemeanour.
All was well for approxiamtely the first three minutes, there was an amazing lack of struggle when said item was first fastened around her little neck and off she trotted happily.....until the bell began to 'do it's thing'. At this point there was much faffing and fiddling with little paws in an attempt to escape the new 'pink-ness', I was determined to persevere but less than an hour later she was becoming ballistic and so the collar was removed and a pair of sturdy pliers engaged to remove the offending bell.
Things improved....for an hour or two, when for no apparent reason she took umbridge again at her bejewelled neck wear and began maniacally scratching at it. Off it came again.
Let's try it in small doses, was the next plan and try it we did against much struggling, hissing and paw flailing in her efforts to escape the now hated and much maligned item. Again we persevered, afterall, gemmak, Poppy and Ditto all learnt within a few hours that collars were no problem at all.....but no, Tilly of course has decided differently.
This carry on was escalated somewhat last night. She had been allowed not to wear the annoying item all day whilst we were out, for fear that it would annoy her too much and we wouldn't be there to remove it, or that she might get caught somehow and again not be able to be rescued from her plight but once we were home she was back in training.......for half an hour, until she created a small disaster!
Not content with perpetual scratching and pulling in her endeavors to remove the collar she tried resorting to biting tactics, she ruined the loose end within minutes but no matter, new collars can be purchased. Finally however, she wriggled and fiddled so consistently that she managed to trap her lower jaw under the damn thing and impale her tooth into it. She shot off in panic of course, with PG and I in hot pursuit trying to catch her. The scene must have been reminiscent of a carry on film for a moment or two while we tried to corner her as she rushed wildly from one room to another. Poor little mite was terrified but after a few moments we managed to get all doors shut so she had nowhere to go, capture her and among scratching and struggling remove the offending thing and disengage it from her tooth!
So that seems to be that temporarily. I had I thought got the collar just right so that whilst it didn't nigh on strangle her, she couldn't catch her jaw in it....but somehow she managed too none the less! Why am I not surprised?!
So pink is definitely out for Tilly for a few days....though 'training' will begin again soon, she has to learn to tolerate a collar of some sort before she can go out or chipping will be the only option and here apparently that isn't a great success.
Perhaps she just objects to 'pink'!
Ditto of course has been no trouble, she is well used to the wearing of a collar and tag and is happily parading her new pink glittery adornment, Tilly of course, on the other hand, has decided that this will be her new focus of mischief and misdemeanour.
All was well for approxiamtely the first three minutes, there was an amazing lack of struggle when said item was first fastened around her little neck and off she trotted happily.....until the bell began to 'do it's thing'. At this point there was much faffing and fiddling with little paws in an attempt to escape the new 'pink-ness', I was determined to persevere but less than an hour later she was becoming ballistic and so the collar was removed and a pair of sturdy pliers engaged to remove the offending bell.
Things improved....for an hour or two, when for no apparent reason she took umbridge again at her bejewelled neck wear and began maniacally scratching at it. Off it came again.
Let's try it in small doses, was the next plan and try it we did against much struggling, hissing and paw flailing in her efforts to escape the now hated and much maligned item. Again we persevered, afterall, gemmak, Poppy and Ditto all learnt within a few hours that collars were no problem at all.....but no, Tilly of course has decided differently.
This carry on was escalated somewhat last night. She had been allowed not to wear the annoying item all day whilst we were out, for fear that it would annoy her too much and we wouldn't be there to remove it, or that she might get caught somehow and again not be able to be rescued from her plight but once we were home she was back in training.......for half an hour, until she created a small disaster!
Not content with perpetual scratching and pulling in her endeavors to remove the collar she tried resorting to biting tactics, she ruined the loose end within minutes but no matter, new collars can be purchased. Finally however, she wriggled and fiddled so consistently that she managed to trap her lower jaw under the damn thing and impale her tooth into it. She shot off in panic of course, with PG and I in hot pursuit trying to catch her. The scene must have been reminiscent of a carry on film for a moment or two while we tried to corner her as she rushed wildly from one room to another. Poor little mite was terrified but after a few moments we managed to get all doors shut so she had nowhere to go, capture her and among scratching and struggling remove the offending thing and disengage it from her tooth!
So that seems to be that temporarily. I had I thought got the collar just right so that whilst it didn't nigh on strangle her, she couldn't catch her jaw in it....but somehow she managed too none the less! Why am I not surprised?!
So pink is definitely out for Tilly for a few days....though 'training' will begin again soon, she has to learn to tolerate a collar of some sort before she can go out or chipping will be the only option and here apparently that isn't a great success.
Perhaps she just objects to 'pink'!
Tuesday, 7 February 2006
gemmak ~ Laid bare, The answers
1. If you could be a cat, what breed and colour would you be?
Kitty.
A British Blue....so blue.
2.If you were a cat, is there anyone inparticular you would choose as your owner?
Karen.
Er...me? My cats have the 'life of Riley' and are loved to death!
3.Why do you usually choose slinky, sexy superbabes for your blog design? (Been wondering about this ....)
Barbara.
In the first instance they are all either just images I like or colours I like, secondly they are maybe my 'alter egos'. At five foot, 7.5 stone and built with too greater resemblance to a boy I can dream!
4. Not to mention where do you get the stunning artwork?...this one in particular.
Brian.
Most images are from stock image sites or are built up with PSP tubes.
5.Quote yourself... No. 30. "I'm not religious but I think I believe there is 'something'"... The Question is, what exactly?
Fletch.
The 'something' would be for me some power greater than ourselves but not a single 'God'. A power in all living things maybe that inherentlytly good but relies on all othlivingnig things not one supreme 'being'. A spiritual thing, not dependent on traditional worship but on caring for everything and attempting to understand rather than blame.
6.If you go back in time and re-live just one day in your life (a really happy one) which one would it be?
joanna.
January 31st 2002.
7. Worst decision you ever made?
Probably Marrying my second husband.
Why you made it?
Because I was scared of being alone, flattered and in lust.
How long to realise it was wrong?
Before I even did it..... in hindsight.
What did you do to rescue or make-up for the wrong decision?
First I tried to make it work and then I made the decision to leave despite the risks and my fears.
What steps did you take to avoid any repeat chain of decisions such as led to the wrong one?
I moved here with PG because it was the first time I hadn't had doubts about something....and I haven't rushed off to a registry office in a big hurry like I did on both previous occasions!
John W
8. Does PG read your blog?
Jennifer.
Very occasionally.
9.I'm finding this incarnation of the blog really difficult to read, can you do something about the contrast that's my question!
DR Rob.
No, maybe, but likely it won't be here for long.
10.Holy Crap, Scottie! Thirteen questions already! How come you haven't answered even one of them? Are you too busy? Are you at work? Have you checked your blog today? Why haven't you posted anything yet today? John asked five questions! Is there a limit?
Dale.
Yes I've been at work, yes I've been too busy, yes I checked my blog (at 6am) and I haven't answered until now because I decided to do them all at once. Did I miss anything?
11.Ok, here's my question for you: What is the very best concert or musical you've ever seen? (enjoyed the most)Shephard.
Sting ~ Blue Turtles tour. Manchester Apollo. Sometime back in the 80's
12. Yikes, that opened up a whole new can of worms didn't it? My question is have you worked out what is happening with the trial and the visit to the south yet? Joe Cool Cowboy Poet.
No...sore point, more on that another time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twelve down, any more?
Kitty.
A British Blue....so blue.
2.If you were a cat, is there anyone inparticular you would choose as your owner?
Karen.
Er...me? My cats have the 'life of Riley' and are loved to death!
3.Why do you usually choose slinky, sexy superbabes for your blog design? (Been wondering about this ....)
Barbara.
In the first instance they are all either just images I like or colours I like, secondly they are maybe my 'alter egos'. At five foot, 7.5 stone and built with too greater resemblance to a boy I can dream!
4. Not to mention where do you get the stunning artwork?...this one in particular.
Brian.
Most images are from stock image sites or are built up with PSP tubes.
5.Quote yourself... No. 30. "I'm not religious but I think I believe there is 'something'"... The Question is, what exactly?
Fletch.
The 'something' would be for me some power greater than ourselves but not a single 'God'. A power in all living things maybe that inherentlytly good but relies on all othlivingnig things not one supreme 'being'. A spiritual thing, not dependent on traditional worship but on caring for everything and attempting to understand rather than blame.
6.If you go back in time and re-live just one day in your life (a really happy one) which one would it be?
joanna.
January 31st 2002.
7. Worst decision you ever made?
Probably Marrying my second husband.
Why you made it?
Because I was scared of being alone, flattered and in lust.
How long to realise it was wrong?
Before I even did it..... in hindsight.
What did you do to rescue or make-up for the wrong decision?
First I tried to make it work and then I made the decision to leave despite the risks and my fears.
What steps did you take to avoid any repeat chain of decisions such as led to the wrong one?
I moved here with PG because it was the first time I hadn't had doubts about something....and I haven't rushed off to a registry office in a big hurry like I did on both previous occasions!
John W
8. Does PG read your blog?
Jennifer.
Very occasionally.
9.I'm finding this incarnation of the blog really difficult to read, can you do something about the contrast that's my question!
DR Rob.
No, maybe, but likely it won't be here for long.
10.Holy Crap, Scottie! Thirteen questions already! How come you haven't answered even one of them? Are you too busy? Are you at work? Have you checked your blog today? Why haven't you posted anything yet today? John asked five questions! Is there a limit?
Dale.
Yes I've been at work, yes I've been too busy, yes I checked my blog (at 6am) and I haven't answered until now because I decided to do them all at once. Did I miss anything?
11.Ok, here's my question for you: What is the very best concert or musical you've ever seen? (enjoyed the most)Shephard.
Sting ~ Blue Turtles tour. Manchester Apollo. Sometime back in the 80's
12. Yikes, that opened up a whole new can of worms didn't it? My question is have you worked out what is happening with the trial and the visit to the south yet? Joe Cool Cowboy Poet.
No...sore point, more on that another time.
Twelve down, any more?
Monday, 6 February 2006
gemmak ~ Laid bare
Steady, don't panic, this is not going to herald the start of a decline into less savoury images, I am not that desperate for something to post though I know at times it may seem like it to some Fletch of you!
No, this is an idea I stole from Kitty, an idea for when the bloging mind is weak and struggling to come up with anything at all in the line of posts. I hadn't anticipated needing to use it so soon, anyone who knows me well will testify that it is rare I have nothing to say but hey, we all have a bad day!
So this is the deal:
Ask me a question, any question, post your question in comments and I promise to answer honestly...... though I do reserve the right not to implicate others.
Likely I've just ensured that I get no comments at all!
No, this is an idea I stole from Kitty, an idea for when the bloging mind is weak and struggling to come up with anything at all in the line of posts. I hadn't anticipated needing to use it so soon, anyone who knows me well will testify that it is rare I have nothing to say but hey, we all have a bad day!
So this is the deal:
Ask me a question, any question, post your question in comments and I promise to answer honestly...... though I do reserve the right not to implicate others.
Likely I've just ensured that I get no comments at all!
Winter wonder
In typical gemmak fashion, when presented on the way home from work on Saturday with one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen, I only had my phone with me! I really must invest in a second camera....or remember to always have the one I have with me.
So....an apalling quality image I'm afraid, even some degree of manipulation can't disguise that, but you get the gist......the biggest, boldest winter sunset I think I have ever seen.
So....an apalling quality image I'm afraid, even some degree of manipulation can't disguise that, but you get the gist......the biggest, boldest winter sunset I think I have ever seen.
Sunday, 5 February 2006
Saturday, 4 February 2006
Saturday silliness Tilliness
Last time it was PG that had inflicted this look of silliness on Tilly but of late she has taken to turning just one ear inside out herself when she cleans.....and leaving it in that condition until one of us unravels it for her. She seems not to notice!
Friday, 3 February 2006
How utterly, utterly typical!
You may remember, or you may not, the incident last September when a cretinous fool caused me to have to attempt to run a small marathon in order to detain him for theft.
A time later I was required to attend an identity parade, which I duly did, and then it was a waiting game, waiting to hear if 'Joe Toe-rag', he of idiot proportions,would plead guilty or not and whether I would be called as a witness.
Time went by and I forgot about it, or rather I persuaded myself forget about it. The whole hoo ha, and particularly my employers response to my efforts at saving their expensive stock, annoyed me intensely, their only reaction had been to chastise me for 'not adhering to company policy, blah, blah, blah' in giving chase, not a word of thanks, absolutely zip gratitude! So, to save myself mulling and fidgeting about said response I stopped thinking about it....that was until today.
Today the inevitable happened, a letter requesting my presence at court arrived with a plonk on the doormat, of course Joe Toe-rag hadn't done the decent thing, of course he hadn't pleaded guilty, do they ever?
This in itself is not a problem, I will happily potter into court and say my bit, what is a problem though, is that having moved heaven and earth for PG and I to get a few days off work together and visit my parents for the first time since last summer and the only time we can, before this coming summer, the court date is smack, bang in the middle of our planned week away in London!
Bloody, sodding typical! There are 365 days in the year, almost any other one of them would have been just fine and dandy with me but no, that would be way too straightforward, it just had to be in the middle of our holiday didn't it!
Our traveling dates and the length of visit make it pointless to go sooner in the week or later, as much as I love to see my parents an 800 mile drive for one or two days just isn't viable.
Bugger, bugger, bugger!
So I have done what I can, I have alerted my parents and I have called the 'powers that be' in the world of court dates and they are 'seeing what they can do'. Quite what they can do I don't know but I suspect not much. Forgive my cynicism but I imagine I would have more chance of consideration if I were on the opposite side of the law.
So that's it, my efforts have earned me a telling off from the employer who's gear I was recovering, half a day fiddling about going to an I.D. parade, damn sore legs at the time (I'm too old for this running malarky) and now likely the cancellation of a much anticipated holiday, probably only to go into court, hang around for a morning and hear that the case has been adjourned for one thing or another.......... and I don't have to appear yet afterall! Oh and of course, there is always the possibility the Joe Toe-rag will change his plea at the eleventh hour.
Arghhhhhhhhh!
A time later I was required to attend an identity parade, which I duly did, and then it was a waiting game, waiting to hear if 'Joe Toe-rag', he of idiot proportions,would plead guilty or not and whether I would be called as a witness.
Time went by and I forgot about it, or rather I persuaded myself forget about it. The whole hoo ha, and particularly my employers response to my efforts at saving their expensive stock, annoyed me intensely, their only reaction had been to chastise me for 'not adhering to company policy, blah, blah, blah' in giving chase, not a word of thanks, absolutely zip gratitude! So, to save myself mulling and fidgeting about said response I stopped thinking about it....that was until today.
Today the inevitable happened, a letter requesting my presence at court arrived with a plonk on the doormat, of course Joe Toe-rag hadn't done the decent thing, of course he hadn't pleaded guilty, do they ever?
This in itself is not a problem, I will happily potter into court and say my bit, what is a problem though, is that having moved heaven and earth for PG and I to get a few days off work together and visit my parents for the first time since last summer and the only time we can, before this coming summer, the court date is smack, bang in the middle of our planned week away in London!
Bloody, sodding typical! There are 365 days in the year, almost any other one of them would have been just fine and dandy with me but no, that would be way too straightforward, it just had to be in the middle of our holiday didn't it!
Our traveling dates and the length of visit make it pointless to go sooner in the week or later, as much as I love to see my parents an 800 mile drive for one or two days just isn't viable.
Bugger, bugger, bugger!
So I have done what I can, I have alerted my parents and I have called the 'powers that be' in the world of court dates and they are 'seeing what they can do'. Quite what they can do I don't know but I suspect not much. Forgive my cynicism but I imagine I would have more chance of consideration if I were on the opposite side of the law.
So that's it, my efforts have earned me a telling off from the employer who's gear I was recovering, half a day fiddling about going to an I.D. parade, damn sore legs at the time (I'm too old for this running malarky) and now likely the cancellation of a much anticipated holiday, probably only to go into court, hang around for a morning and hear that the case has been adjourned for one thing or another.......... and I don't have to appear yet afterall! Oh and of course, there is always the possibility the Joe Toe-rag will change his plea at the eleventh hour.
Arghhhhhhhhh!
Thursday, 2 February 2006
We need us some of these!
Ok, so doubtless I am setting myself up for some seriously negative, if not abusive comments here but Ditto's is old and raggy and Tilly is just about big enough to need one. Methinks these are a necessary purchase!
Hardly Harrods I know but hey, that's one hell of a journey..... and even I, with my cat obsessive nature, don't go to the extremes of the real deal in carat weight for cats! ;o)
Hardly Harrods I know but hey, that's one hell of a journey..... and even I, with my cat obsessive nature, don't go to the extremes of the real deal in carat weight for cats! ;o)
Scrub the last six months please?
Whilst I may bemoan my lot here from time to time where my day job is concerned it is very much the 'company line' that causes the anger and resentment, as it probably is for most of us, not those that I work with. There are of course one or two individuals who I am less than fond of but it is always thus, not everyone can like or be liked by everyone and for the main part our little band of approximately fifty employees, are in my experience, quite an exception in that we really are almost an extended family to one another.
Why that should be I am not sure, I suspect it is because the lack of employment in these parts means that staff turnover among us is very minimal in comparison to most areas and the small community, whilst it's lack of anonymity can be aggravating for a city girl like myself, also dictates that we know rather more about one another's lives than is the norm elsewhere.
We may have our issues with those in the ivory towers off site, we may feel 'undervalued, overworked and a lack of loyalty from on high..... but on site we are a pretty close bunch who work together well and look out for one another. Loyalty and support among those of us at the sharp end is unusually strong for the main part and we potter along like an over extended and slightly stressed family, day to day.
Maybe because of this the last six or so months have been particularly difficult, for in that short period it seems the work God's have not been smiling on our merry little band. I doubt any of us have experienced a time like it before and I hope none of us will have to again. We all have sad or bad news occasionally, colleagues who suffer one problem or difficulty another, but in the few months to which I refer, we barely seem to have picked ourselves up from one trauma before the next is presenting itself.
It began at the end of July with the sudden death in suspicious circumstances of a long time colleague. On the previous evening he has been at a works party, the next morning he was dragged from the sea, to this day the circumstances surrounding his sad demise are unclear. Just weeks later a colleague with whom I am particular friends was diagnosed with cancer, she is still fighting that brave battle. In December we lost another colleague, though this time only through resignation but again under very sad circumstances and now, yesterday, we learn that another of our number is facing the battle of a lifetime in having just been diagnosed with motor neurones disease. He too, like my friend battling cancer has chosen to continue working, these are very courageous individuals but come on, upsets of this magnitude are supposed to arrive in three's, what is going on? We are onto number four in only seven months! :o(
I can honestly say I haven't ever experienced this before and neither have any other of my colleagues, once in a blue moon in the workplace we all receive terrible news but never before have any of us encountered four incidents of such in such magnitude in such a short space of time.
I don't know if we are such a close and supportive little group because of, or in spite of all this sadness and upset but one thing I am sure of is that I am damn glad we are, not only because we can help one another but because those that are most affected by these incidents, those who have had their lives turned upside down feel they not only have the support of their nearest and dearest but also, in our small way, the added support of this unusual little 'extended family'.
Why that should be I am not sure, I suspect it is because the lack of employment in these parts means that staff turnover among us is very minimal in comparison to most areas and the small community, whilst it's lack of anonymity can be aggravating for a city girl like myself, also dictates that we know rather more about one another's lives than is the norm elsewhere.
We may have our issues with those in the ivory towers off site, we may feel 'undervalued, overworked and a lack of loyalty from on high..... but on site we are a pretty close bunch who work together well and look out for one another. Loyalty and support among those of us at the sharp end is unusually strong for the main part and we potter along like an over extended and slightly stressed family, day to day.
Maybe because of this the last six or so months have been particularly difficult, for in that short period it seems the work God's have not been smiling on our merry little band. I doubt any of us have experienced a time like it before and I hope none of us will have to again. We all have sad or bad news occasionally, colleagues who suffer one problem or difficulty another, but in the few months to which I refer, we barely seem to have picked ourselves up from one trauma before the next is presenting itself.
It began at the end of July with the sudden death in suspicious circumstances of a long time colleague. On the previous evening he has been at a works party, the next morning he was dragged from the sea, to this day the circumstances surrounding his sad demise are unclear. Just weeks later a colleague with whom I am particular friends was diagnosed with cancer, she is still fighting that brave battle. In December we lost another colleague, though this time only through resignation but again under very sad circumstances and now, yesterday, we learn that another of our number is facing the battle of a lifetime in having just been diagnosed with motor neurones disease. He too, like my friend battling cancer has chosen to continue working, these are very courageous individuals but come on, upsets of this magnitude are supposed to arrive in three's, what is going on? We are onto number four in only seven months! :o(
I can honestly say I haven't ever experienced this before and neither have any other of my colleagues, once in a blue moon in the workplace we all receive terrible news but never before have any of us encountered four incidents of such in such magnitude in such a short space of time.
I don't know if we are such a close and supportive little group because of, or in spite of all this sadness and upset but one thing I am sure of is that I am damn glad we are, not only because we can help one another but because those that are most affected by these incidents, those who have had their lives turned upside down feel they not only have the support of their nearest and dearest but also, in our small way, the added support of this unusual little 'extended family'.
Wednesday, 1 February 2006
Hell, it's cold!
We were promised the coldest winter in memory this year by those with the meteorological models, temperatures the like of which most of us don't recall but thus far it seemed it hadn't materialised.....until yesterday morning that is. Ok, so to be pedantic it may not be the coldest in memory at minus seven, but it's damn cold! Even when the sun had been shining most of the morning the mercury couldn't struggle any higher than minus two and it never made it above minus one before darkness fell again, taking the temperatures back down with it.
The frost prevailed all day, last nights having added to what was already clinging to every surface, shining and sparkling like a million jewels in the bright sunlight.
I promise you this is frost not snow:
(Images clickable)
The frost prevailed all day, last nights having added to what was already clinging to every surface, shining and sparkling like a million jewels in the bright sunlight.
I promise you this is frost not snow:
(Images clickable)
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