~Off Topic Thread~

[Jeraly 4]

Haha - I feel glad that I have had a little experience driving here to prepare me for driving there... I know I will be nervous but I figure if I can avoid the I-10 and take the "normal" roads then I might feel better

[Alex & Rachel 78]

I'm going to see if I can learn to drive before I get my visa. I haven't booked any lessons yet, but my friend's offered to insure me on her car and my parents are giving me driving lessons as a Christmas/birthday present so I'll have to do so soon!

[Jeraly 4]

Sounds good although expensive!! You sure it wouldn't be worth just learnign out there? Then you don't have to worry about losing old habits because you won't know any different! You won't have to get used to being on the wrong side or anything!!! Plus it is prolly cheaper out there as well!!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Well, I figure it'll do me some good to get some driving practise. Also, if possible I'd ideally like a UK driving licence for the times when I visit family and maybe hire a car for a week.

Plus, free lessons! Can't complain about that. And it'll cost me very little apparently to insure myself on my friend's car...even if I forgo the lessons and just ask my parents to give me money instead, I could probably still get a little driving practise in on that!

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

The senior director at my work has got a bleedin' nerve!

Yesterday all of his typing was completed in the morning apart from one letter which was dictated in the afternoon... but he didn't get around to checking any of the letters until 17:00 and hadn't even sorted out the enclosures to go with them. So 17:30 passes by (meant to be hometime) and my colleague and I figure he's intending to send them tomorrow instead so we get our coats on and at 17:35 he comes down fussing about the letters needing to go out - so we bundle them up and frank them. We're then on our way out the door at about 17:40 (the final pick up at the post office is at 17:45 and it takes me three minutes to walk there) and he calls us back because he's got more letters ready!!!

This morning he had the cheek to come down and complain that a letter that should have been hand-delivered was accidentally franked and posted instead.

And now he's just announced that he won't be back until 17:00 today and that it'll be a bit of a rush again tonight because he hasn't got the enclosures ready to go with these either! And technically we're allowed to leave early on a Friday if we come in early or take a shorter lunchbreak... *sighs*

[Jeraly 4]

Grr - I hate it when people just don't recognise what you do. Where I work at the moment one of the managers comes by and says hi every morning and also thanks us every Friday for our work and lets us know what targets have been met and tells us how much we are appreciated it!! Saying that it was one of the 2007 top 100 best companies to work for in the UK... pity I'm moving!!!

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

and tells us how much we are appreciated

I don't think most managers realise how important it is and how much more motivated and dedicated employees would be if they only got more positive feedback.

[Ban Hammer 13,133]

g'morning all, it's friday

[Krikit 1,163]

I used to work with a guy like that. He moved on and I moved up. I learned a few lessons from working with him. When I resigned, my staff had tears in their eyes because I had insight into what they go through to get things accomplished and appreciated all they did. During the farewell party, I thanked them publicly and presented them with individualized gifts. One of my first visitors to the United States was my former assistant and her husband.

I'm writing this not because I think I'm "all that". In fact, quite the opposite. What I'm trying to say is that sometimes the things that are sent to try us are really blessings in disguise. They inform us and help us build good character. And, if we're not too thick, we use these lessons to the greater good. Well, that's my take on life, anyway.

[Jeraly 4]

Yeah - I defo want to be in a position where I can treat people how they deserve to be - from a managerial point of view that is - I mean I always try to be nice

[Alex & Rachel 78]

A lot of the problems I see in workplaces are with managers who've never had to experience being under anybody (working in a shop, this was commonplace - fresh graduates would often be selected for managerial positions) - although it works both ways; you can also get problematic underlings who have no idea how hard it can be to manage a company!

I have two bosses who are a little like 'good cop, bad cop'. One is really sweet and lovely and always apologises and reminds me of my grandfather. The other is brusque and rude and turns everything into your fault - instead of 'I've made a mistake on this letter, please can you correct it?' it's an impersonal 'this letter has a mistake on it! Correct it!'

[Krikit 1,163]

You know, as much as I like to learn from others, that is one thing that drives me crazy..... when other people have made a mistake.... then act like you're the one who did it. No wait! I think there's two things that drive me crazy! When you're the one who makes a recommendation and it falls on deaf ears. And then, sometime later, either your boss (male) or another male who was in that same meeting makes the same recommendation and they're pronounced brilliant and it's implemented. No wait! I think there's three things! People who take credit for your work.

Ah heck. I'm so thankful for the break from that dog-eat-dog world. Thanks for the reality check. I was beginning to regret leaving.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

As if life wasn't already sweet what with my new driver's license, I have this, even more stunning piece of happiness:

I woke up at 7am and noticed there was a missed call on my UK mobile. I called back -- it was Bruce calling from Dundee. And...

HE WAS AWARDED HIS PhD!!!!

Oh my god, I think I have the vapours, this has been such a great 24 hours. He said they grilled him during the defence, and he wasn't sure that he would get it at all, but he fought back good and hard and stuck to his guns. At the end, he was told that they all enjoyed reading it, it was a very mature and original piece of work, and he was being heartily recommended to receive his doctorate. They invited him out to lunch to discuss what sort of book he wants to write out of it...

WAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Freak out on the smilies!

[weedebz 0]

As if life wasn't already sweet what with my new driver's license, I have this, even more stunning piece of happiness:

I woke up at 7am and noticed there was a missed call on my UK mobile. I called back -- it was Bruce calling from Dundee. And...

HE WAS AWARDED HIS PhD!!!!

Oh my god, I think I have the vapours, this has been such a great 24 hours. He said they grilled him during the defence, and he wasn't sure that he would get it at all, but he fought back good and hard and stuck to his guns. At the end, he was told that they all enjoyed reading it, it was a very mature and original piece of work, and he was being heartily recommended to receive his doctorate. They invited him out to lunch to discuss what sort of book he wants to write out of it...

WAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Freak out on the smilies!

wow. Give bruce my congrats. You truely have been blessed these last 24hrs. Want to pass some of that luck this way!?!?

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

I woke up at 7am and noticed there was a missed call on my UK mobile. I called back -- it was Bruce calling from Dundee. And...

HE WAS AWARDED HIS PhD!!!!

That's really great news! B)