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Post by The Doctor on Dec 21, 2009 7:55:00 GMT
Powering down towards Chrimbo here. 3 days of work to go.
-Ralph
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Dec 21, 2009 10:33:58 GMT
Just the one day for me. In theory anyway: I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with more. As far as I can tell present buying is all done and now I just need to wrap everything. Then I've also got stuff I want to try and get done pre-Chrimbo, so It'll be a busy week.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2009 10:35:10 GMT
I've got a backlog of TF comics to get through and with the arrival of Bumblebee #1 today I've got one more. I must try and get a few of those read today.
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Hero
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Post by Hero on Dec 21, 2009 11:15:35 GMT
Being kicked out of the house either today or tommorrow so George can wrap my Christmas presents.
===KEN
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Dec 21, 2009 11:30:10 GMT
Last day of work for me today. Then off to spend a few days with family. Time off - at last!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2009 13:44:57 GMT
I have a day off today, work all day on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a half day on Thursday
Should have a few TPB Comics to come in the mail soon (or just after xmas maybe)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2009 17:31:45 GMT
I got a phone call from the jobcentre this morning telling me that this 'Job Club' thingy that they wanted me to attend in two days time has been called off. What the Job Club is is quite simple. The Jobcentre staff sign people up to turn up for it and threaten to cancel their benefits if they don't attend and then when these people do attend the Job Club they find themselves being treated like 5 year-olds by Jobcentre staff who seem to have ambitions of being primary school teachers. My father attended one many years ago and he told me the staff told him and several other unemployed 50+ year olds to wrire their name down on a piece of paper that was put in front of them! One person thought it was so patronising that he actually walked out! I also turned up to several of these Job Clubs about eight years ago and me and several others were again treated like 5 year-olds instead of grown adults.
What I remember most about these Job Clubs I attended last time was this video they showed us. It was nothing more than a badly written show starring bad actors and centered on three people attending job interviews for the same job. I remember the programme clearly. The first person - a woman in her 20's, walked into the interview room, sat down, took her coat off and started eating a banana during the interview! The second person - a woman in her 40's conducted herself with a little more decorum but outside the interview boasted to the cameras that she was convinced she was going to get the job. Then there was the third person - a man in his late 50's who conducted himself in the interview in the same way as the second woman did but outside of the interview constantly moaned to the cameras that there was no chance he was going to get the job because he was too old! Before the end, everybody watching this badly written pap correctly guessed that the moaning old man with the sob story would get the job and so the end was a bit of an anticlimax.
The following weeks Job Club the tutors (if that is the correct word for the people conducting these things) promised to show us a different video but when he turned it on it turned out to be exactly the same one as the previous week. When everybody pointed out to him that we had already seen this one the tutor said 'I'm showing you this video in a different context this week so therefore it is a different video!' Needless to say the numbers of people attending these Job Clubs decreased on a weekly basis until only about one person ever turned up.
Anyway, back to the reason why I started this post. The Job Club I was told to attend on Wednesday had been called off because they were too late in booking the hotel room for the club. Strange. Why did they sign a load of people up to attend this Job Club and going as far as telling them the exact date and time in which to turn up when they had yet to book the room for the event? Were the Jobcentre that convinced the hotel would say 'yes' that they arranged all of the attendees before everything else?
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 21, 2009 19:20:41 GMT
Good grief, I had no idea Job Clubs still existed. As far as I know, they are extinct in Scotchland.
In other news, I noted with wry amusement today that none of the local heavily iced pavements had been gritted...except for those outside of the corporate/investments banks. I spontaneously broke out in laughter when I noticed this, especially as I had almost fallen on my arse several times.
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Dec 21, 2009 19:54:47 GMT
Also amusingly the main pedestrian entrance way at the hospital where I work is also gritted... but none of the pedestrian routes from the bus stops or car parks that lead to it are.
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kayevcee
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Post by kayevcee on Dec 21, 2009 21:05:09 GMT
Indeed. The patch of pavement outside Toys'r'us and Asda were fully gritted this morning, but the route from the nearest bus stop was like a skating rink- I had to walk on the road to avoid ending up flat on my back.
It's been a hell of a day. My department manager was late because she couldn't get her car out after dropping her kid off at school. On the way home I stopped off at church for a mercifully brief penitential service (not that I didn't want to be there, but after 2 hours' commuting and nine hours in TRU I just wanted to get home and eat) then walked the rest of the way, which was easier going since the nearby streets are either main thoroughfares or in front of schools and thus gritted. The scene changed when I reached my home street, though. The whole world seemed covered in slippy, freezing slush. I was glad I had my boots on and my work shoes in my backpack.
Then I noticed the 75, parked at the stop and going nowhere. Ordinarily the 75 bus doesn't come anywhere near my street- it goes up the far side of my residential area and into the hinterlands of Castlemilk straight up the hill. Then I saw a bus coming the other way- a 46 which also normally gives my area a miss as it shuttles between Castlemilk and Parkhead. There were two native buses parked at the stop round the corner- not unusual to see them, but rare to see two together at this time of night.
I discussed the weird goings-on with my folks when I got inside and discovered that the hill road up to Castlemilk was now so treacherous due to the slush and dropping temperatures that the buses had recently been alerted not to even attempt going up there. The buses in the area were all halted while the depot came up with new routes for them until it was safe. The good Doctor can vouch for the extreme topography of my area, but I've not seen the weather hit the public transport system this hard in years.
-Nick
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2009 21:47:17 GMT
Last year at around this time the weather was so bad in my area that all of the bus services to my village had been cancelled at about 2pm on the Friday of that week. In order to get home from work me and about two other workers from my village were given a lift by one of the gaffers (the gaffer who later on sacked me I would like to point out).
Also, talking about grit that reminds me of a story that happened at my former workplace about two or three years ago. It was another icy day with snow and black ice on the yard of the factory and it was so treacherous to walk on that the forklift driver coated the entire yard with grit. Unfortunately the bloke who worked on the yard disposing of the all of the waste then came along minutes later with his jet spray and hosed all of the grit down the drains! This yard wasn't too clever and he seemed to have a habit of spraying anything that caught his eye and this little incident of his didn't cause any injuries (he had replaced the grit with water on the yard which soon freezed over) because the forklift driver soon put some more grit down but it did amuse several people later that day when the forklift driver told everybody about it!
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 22, 2009 7:58:29 GMT
I discussed the weird goings-on with my folks when I got inside and discovered that the hill road up to Castlemilk was now so treacherous due to the slush and dropping temperatures that the buses had recently been alerted not to even attempt going up there. The buses in the area were all halted while the depot came up with new routes for them until it was safe. -Nick Does this mean Castlemilk is now cut off from the world and no-one can get in or out? This may not be a bad thing. In other news, I've had pretty bad insomnia since I moved and last night I saw every hour. Today will be a hard slog. I actually hope it's very busy so I don't get a chance to feel knackered until the end of the day, but the weather may stop folk coming in for appts. We'll see. -Ralph |
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Post by legios on Dec 22, 2009 13:16:48 GMT
In Falkirk the only pavement areas they actually grit are those that run from a two bus stops to the municipal buildings. Other than that people are just expected to slide about.
I am pleased that the whiteness is lasting though - it makes a great chance from the start of the year where the snow only lasted three hours.
I spent a lot of last night trying to nurse my internet connection back into life. It had stubbornly refused to connect for about an hour or so. At which point I gave up and went and watched Doctor Who and played Tekken. This morning I managed to get it to connect for approximately five seconds before it dropped the connection again - but only with the phone unplugged. I have a feeling that it may be a defective ADSL filter so I shall have to try a new filter this evening and see what happens.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 22, 2009 18:44:44 GMT
Actual work conversation:
Me: I am the Doctor.
Colleague: I believe you.
-Ralph
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kayevcee
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The Weather Wizard
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Post by kayevcee on Dec 22, 2009 20:30:57 GMT
I have just got home from work. My shift finished at six.
The Earth is a beautiful place. Bloody good thing too, as I've been trudging across it or staring at it out of a stationary bus window for two banana-stabbing hours.
-Nick
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2009 21:18:57 GMT
Well me and my work colleagues have determined that the cause of the cold weather is in fact our national rep, whom we all affectionately refer to as "Her Majesty" or "Her Highness" or my personal one "The Ice Queen" and her summoning up an evil storm
(BTW You may have noticed we dont like her too much)
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Post by legios on Dec 22, 2009 21:48:09 GMT
Actual work conversation: Me: I am the Doctor. Colleague: I believe you. -Ralph Quite so! Odd afternoon today. Most of my team had run out of things that they could reasonably start on before we finish up tomorrow and so were left without any work they immediately needed to do. I on the other hand was still trying to square things away and get myself sorted out. I'm still lagging a bit behind them as I have mornings work to do tomorrow. What I am going to do in the afternoon I am less clear on..... Quite amused by the BBC websites weather forecasts for Falkirk this evening . The five day says that we can expect heavy snow showers. Whilst the twenty-four hour forecast indicates two brief instances of light snow showers..... Two sets of weather being forecast by the same location..... As to the problems with my internet connection - it is always the last thing that you check isn't it? After messing around with a new ADSL filter I decided, more from hope than expectation to switch the RJ11 cable from my router just to see what would happen. Lo and behold, everything came back to life. The lesson? Anything in life that can't be fixed by reversing its polarity or applying a sonic tool of some sort probably just needs a fresh bit of snaking cable to sort it out... Karl |
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Post by dinogrrl on Dec 23, 2009 2:50:03 GMT
Well, we're getting snow over here as well. Couple inches so far today, but we're expecting more tomorrow, with the added drawback of colder temps. Just under freezing now, will stay at zero tomorrow. Of course freezing rain and snow are forecast for Christmas Eve when I will have to drive about an hour there and back to get to a friends' place for festivities. Ugh.
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 23, 2009 7:57:12 GMT
Last day at work before the break coming up. It'll be a ghost ship today as most folk will be on annual leave. In an ironic touch, as other folk are ramping down, I'm trying to ramp up! I hope for a busy day but I think the bad weather will stop clients from coming in. We shall see.
It doth amuse me how this country grinds to a halt when we get a bit of bad weather. This weather happens every year, yet our infrastructure cannot cope.
-Ralph
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:21:24 GMT
The adbot is at it again! Just because Ralph mentioned the word Chrimbo at the top of this thread I'm now seeing Ebay listings for Bo Selecta masks!
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Post by legios on Dec 23, 2009 12:05:10 GMT
Last day at work before the break coming up. It'll be a ghost ship today as most folk will be on annual leave. In an ironic touch, as other folk are ramping down, I'm trying to ramp up! I hope for a busy day but I think the bad weather will stop clients from coming in. We shall see. It is fairly quiet in my office at the moment as well. The only manager that we have in was stuck on the Forth Road Bridge for two hours this morning. Not been many folk in the office so far today and we are all running out of things to do (well, the rest of my team are playing Trivial Pursuit which should keep them going a while). Indeed - I got down to the station this morning and my usual train was cancelled and their were warnings up advising "customers should not travel". I just nipped to the supermarket to buy a vacumn flask that I am in need of and then came back for the train a half-hour later. As it was still snowing at half-ten this morning though my immediate supervisor who lives in Stirling decided that she had to leave because she didn't want to get stuck in Edinburgh. Meanwhile myself, who lives between Edinburgh and Stirling and my colleague who lives in a little village off the beaten track in the middle of East Lothian remain here at our posts. Karl |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:13:44 GMT
This morning:
1. I almost slipped up on the ice on the bridge going to the train station this morning
2. I walked into a tree, also going to the train station this morning
3. I mis-judged the difference between the door of the truck I was unloading this morning and the floor, so I jumped quiet far (made my legs wobbly for a few seconds)
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 23, 2009 17:28:38 GMT
Well that's work done and dusted for the year. Happily I had stuff to do and we all got away early though I got away a bit later than most as I had people to see, hooray. To be honest, I was prepared to stay until the death.
Today is a bit of a milestone as it was on the 23rd of December last year that my employment keyworker assisted me to register for the STRIVE programme which eventually got me back into full-time work and in a brand new career to boot. And in a different city! Back managing my own affairs again! It's too early to say, but if the new direction doesn't work out it will down to me not being a fit for it rather than other factors. Still, glad to get a few weeks taster of the job and I'll give it a good shot when coming back for the New Year. Fingers crossed.
So, on a break, eh. I look forward to payday on the 31st. My last proper pay was August. I am down to emergency cash and don't care.
-Ralph
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 17:32:00 GMT
My former workplace doesn't seem to have any interest in winding down for Christmas. The days off the workers have during this period are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. If one of those days falls on a weekend the following is taken off to compensate for this.
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 23, 2009 17:36:01 GMT
I am now relaxing with the last of the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Irish Cream Liqueur while I wait for my roast potatoes to cook. I shall have them with turkey. Yum.
Then, some Doctor Who viewing I think.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Dec 23, 2009 18:14:56 GMT
We actually got away early as well. After one of our Managers eventually got into the office after about three hours trying to get into the city he was a little concerned about those of us who live outside the city getting home again, as more snow was apparently forecast for the afternoon. He spoke with our Director and a decision was taken to close the office and release us all to go home at lunchtime.
I popped down the road for a very nice Cajun Chicken and Jalapeno Panini from a sandwich shop near work and then caught myself a train home. I have spent the afternoon doing some last minute pottering around the house and getting a few things sorted (like hacking through the ice on my bins so that they can be opened....).
It was lovely to walk home past folk sledging on the hillside up near the canal , and I do love the look of this kind of weather from outside of the train window as the white landscape rolls past. There is something quite comforting and peaceful about a good winter.
I'm not being terribly imaginative for dinner myself - I have a pizza in the oven which will be done shortly. I have poured myself a small whisky for this evening and I think I shall sit down and watch episode 35 of Superdimensional Fortress Macross after dinner - "Romanesque" is after all set on a snowy Christmas so it seems somehow appropriate.
Karl
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kayevcee
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Post by kayevcee on Dec 23, 2009 21:09:13 GMT
All the folk who couldn't get in to Toys'r'us yesterday due to the madness on the roads and rails seemed to turn up today. It was demented non-stop from about half past nine till after five. It slowed down over 'dinner time' and was starting to pick up again when I squeezed out the door just before half past six. I am shattered, and tomorrow I'm doing it all again. Yay.
Not planning to go to Midnight Mass this year. I fear I would fall asleep during the homily.
-Nick
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Dec 24, 2009 0:46:18 GMT
Just down visiting my folks in the south this week. Today we did the relative rounds and saw a few Aunts, Uncles, cousins and Grandparents around the south of England. Epic adventure starting at 6 am and ending at 9.30pm during which we endured snow, ice, hail, heavy rain, high winds and thunder storms at various different times. Phew!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 5:13:05 GMT
last day of work before xmas today, we're meant to finish at 12, but we might very well leave earlier, I mean we're not sending out any orders today (no point) and I doubt nayones going to order that much (judging by this last week)
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 24, 2009 9:41:00 GMT
Off to see the folks shortly, presuming the trains are running (ho ho).
-Ralph
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