My life is really in the toilet at the moment. If something CAN go wrong it seems that it WILL go wrong. I am getting into a really depressed state and it feels like there is no end to it. I am almost at the same stage as I was around the same time last year when I walked out of my 3-and-a-bit day job.
On top of being stressed about not having a television or laptop at home (thus having nothing to do but read), my wages still are not sorted, and it doesn't appear that they will be until the next pay day which is still 10 days away.
I have been chasing them up since I came back to work on Thursday and it turns out that my boss was NEVER in contact with the wages department about my money, but was dealing with the scheduling guy!! The scheduler decided to add the missing days onto next months wages by putting me in for overtime days on my days off this month!
In addition to this it appears that my manager also failed to forward my complaint letter on to anyone, which is why no one at head office knew that I was making a formal complaint. I had sent this to him on the 18th Feb and was wondering why I hadn't received an reply.
I am therefore not totally unhappy to report that my manager has been suspended, on a totally different matter, since Thursday. This does, however, mean that his shifts need covering. I really do not want to do his job, not that I know exactly WHAT he does (the last shift we worked together he spent almost all of the day on a site called "Sickipedia" reading out dodgy jokes to me!)
The supervisor who normally covers his holiday is away this weekend and so I offered to cover the manager's shift on Monday (so the guy had time to get back and adjusted from his trip). Unfortunately, he and the building manager assumed that I was volunteering for the whole week! As the other supervisor didn't say anything about this I went along with it.
The next day, I found out that he was moaning to the suspended manager (they had met up for drinks) saying that if I think I am going to be his boss while the manager is off I have another think coming! So much for doing the guy a favour. I've decided that I will speak to the building manager on Monday and withdraw my offer to cover the shifts and get him to persuade this other supervisor to do them. I didn't really want to work 8 day shifts in a row anyway, especially as I only have 1 day off between those shifts and my previous 3 shifts (i.e. working 11 out of 12 days in a row!).
I am through being nice to people and always being the one who people ask favours of, because I never have any favours to ask back and so can never benefit the deals.
In addition to this, my landlord is, once again, pissed nearly every day! Last night he had a lock-in downstairs in the pub and for some reason left 5 American holiday-makers alone in the bar for who knows how long! They had to leave, but couldn't as the doors leaving the pub were locked. So, at four o'clock in the morning, one of them was standing at the bottom of the stairs which lead to the pub from the flat, calling up the stairs for someone to let them out. Kevin was nowhere to be seen,and the rest of my flatmates were ignoring the commotion as always so it was down to me again to let these people out via our flat! It took me ages to get back to sleep.
I haven't been sleeping well as it is, what with the worry over my wages, work annoying me in general and my lack of a social life (especially while skint!), so this was the last thing I needed.
I really need a change of luck. I think I have paid my penance now, for having the audacity to think that I could run my own business. It was a silly idea and I have been punished.
Now, Bad Luck, leave me THE FUCK alone and let me begin to enjoy life again!! I'm not a bad person, I don't deserve to be THIS unlucky!
Saturday 28 February 2009
Saturday 21 February 2009
Bemused & Amused
Yesterday I checked my bank account and noticed that £122.50 had come out of my account. Upon checking further I saw that this was taken by the SIA, and it was the amount that they had rejected, as being not enough, when I first applied for my licence renewal. They had returned the cheque to me. I was confused as to why they would take this (lesser) amount out of my account and so I phoned them.
I was laughing my head off when I was told by the person at their call center that it was because I was paying for a second licence (the reason why I thought I was entitled to pay the lower amount in the first place). I explained the situation carefully to the person on the other end of the line and they checked and explained that, because my primary licence had now expired the other licence becomes my primary licence. Therefore, as I am applying for the (now) secondary licence it is half price! Does that make sense to you?
So, my advice to all people with two licences is:
When renewing your primary licence, if you are able to arrange it, let it expire first and then you can renew it at half price. Then, do the same with your other licence, which would then be your new primary licence. It saves quite a bit of money.
I don't know if I have explained that properly, but it is absolutely crazy, but that sums up the idiotic SIA quite well.
The end result is that I get to pay half price for my licence renewal, which is what I believed I should be able to do in the first place, but was told I couldn't. It is great news, but I could have done without the stress that I went through in the meantime!!
I would be ecstatic, but I am still over £300 short on my wages as my holiday pay has still not been put into my account. Hopefully it will be there for Monday, but I am not really expecting it to be as my employers are about as efficient as the SIA are!! To give an example of this, I ripped the shoulder of my (one and only) uniform jacket during the course of my duties about 6 weeks ago. I am still waiting for a replacement jacket. It's not even as if I am an unusual size!
I was laughing my head off when I was told by the person at their call center that it was because I was paying for a second licence (the reason why I thought I was entitled to pay the lower amount in the first place). I explained the situation carefully to the person on the other end of the line and they checked and explained that, because my primary licence had now expired the other licence becomes my primary licence. Therefore, as I am applying for the (now) secondary licence it is half price! Does that make sense to you?
So, my advice to all people with two licences is:
When renewing your primary licence, if you are able to arrange it, let it expire first and then you can renew it at half price. Then, do the same with your other licence, which would then be your new primary licence. It saves quite a bit of money.
I don't know if I have explained that properly, but it is absolutely crazy, but that sums up the idiotic SIA quite well.
The end result is that I get to pay half price for my licence renewal, which is what I believed I should be able to do in the first place, but was told I couldn't. It is great news, but I could have done without the stress that I went through in the meantime!!
I would be ecstatic, but I am still over £300 short on my wages as my holiday pay has still not been put into my account. Hopefully it will be there for Monday, but I am not really expecting it to be as my employers are about as efficient as the SIA are!! To give an example of this, I ripped the shoulder of my (one and only) uniform jacket during the course of my duties about 6 weeks ago. I am still waiting for a replacement jacket. It's not even as if I am an unusual size!
Like I said, IDIOTS!
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Hey Hey
Just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and I haven't abandoned you all! I have had 4 days off and still do not have a working laptop at home, so have been bored for four days. I also do not have a new television, but I did manage to replace my lost phone. One out of the three ain't bad I suppose.
My wages still aren't sorted and I have sent an official complaint letter to my head office today, not that I expect that to do much. I just hope that my money is paid in by Monday as I am off again on Tuesday and want to be able to sort out my debt payments then, which I can't do until I know exactly how much I will be getting.
On my days off I had quite a bit of trouble sleeping, for two reasons:
Firstly, because I was coming off of night shifts, it is always difficult getting back into day-mode.
Secondly, because every time I closed my eyes I kept going through scenarios where about how I would get my missing money and what I would have to pay off first if I didn't have enough to pay all my bills. Nightmare.
Good news though today was that I actually found a job that I could do and would want to do, and have applied for it. It is only a short-term contract (5 months) but it also has very high hourly rate (£17) and, if I did the job, it would look very good on my CV possibly leading to bigger and better (or at least similar) jobs.
Wish me luck, as I am really trying to be positive at the moment (a difficult thing for me to do lately!). I can but try!!
My wages still aren't sorted and I have sent an official complaint letter to my head office today, not that I expect that to do much. I just hope that my money is paid in by Monday as I am off again on Tuesday and want to be able to sort out my debt payments then, which I can't do until I know exactly how much I will be getting.
On my days off I had quite a bit of trouble sleeping, for two reasons:
Firstly, because I was coming off of night shifts, it is always difficult getting back into day-mode.
Secondly, because every time I closed my eyes I kept going through scenarios where about how I would get my missing money and what I would have to pay off first if I didn't have enough to pay all my bills. Nightmare.
Good news though today was that I actually found a job that I could do and would want to do, and have applied for it. It is only a short-term contract (5 months) but it also has very high hourly rate (£17) and, if I did the job, it would look very good on my CV possibly leading to bigger and better (or at least similar) jobs.
Wish me luck, as I am really trying to be positive at the moment (a difficult thing for me to do lately!). I can but try!!
Thursday 12 February 2009
Halfway There
Yesterday, when I got back from working the night shift I was so tired. As usual, I went straight to bed when I got in and stayed there until I woke at around 13:30. I got up to watch Neighbours and Home & Away in the living room and then I went back to bed for another couple of hours.
Tonight at work I am not as tired as I was, and it has seemed to go alot quicker, but I am still not hapy. I just feel that there isn't much around for me at the moment.
I am looking forward to Saturday, my first of four days off, so that I can begin to sort things and get my life back on track. I have sourced a new mobile phone for less than £30 (the same model as my old one actually). The laptop and television will have to wait until I get my holiday money paid into my account, so I can see what I have spare. My debt payments will also have to wait until then, so that I know what I can increase my payments to, to be able to clear the debts quicker.
Tonight at work I am not as tired as I was, and it has seemed to go alot quicker, but I am still not hapy. I just feel that there isn't much around for me at the moment.
I am looking forward to Saturday, my first of four days off, so that I can begin to sort things and get my life back on track. I have sourced a new mobile phone for less than £30 (the same model as my old one actually). The laptop and television will have to wait until I get my holiday money paid into my account, so I can see what I have spare. My debt payments will also have to wait until then, so that I know what I can increase my payments to, to be able to clear the debts quicker.
Monday 9 February 2009
I Hate Flat Sharing
I am quite a considerate person, even if I do say so myself. When I have a day off, I always wait as late as possible to have my shower, so that my flat mates can get washed and out to work when they need to. But, however late I leave it, there always seems to be another person using the bloody thing! Case in point today! I don't know who is off work today, probably Jess as she never seems to be AT work, but I just went to have a shower (yes I know it is 11:30, but I have been working on my CV, looking for jobs and speaking to the SIA already so give me a fricking break). I really need a shower to wake me up and get me motivated to do nothing for the rest of the bloody day, like yesterday! But I can't get in the shower. It is so frustrating.
Top this off with:
Top this off with:
- Drunken singing the other night around 02:00;
- Random people sleeping in the living room almost every week;
- The flatmates never filling, emptying or turning on the dish washer;
- Always putting the rubbish in with the recycling and the recycling in with the rubbish;
- Eating my food and drinking my drinks;
- Leaving the freezer door open all night making food inedible;
- The slamming of the door to the pub which shakes my bedroom door, walls and windows;
- Filled up ashtrays left everywhere;
- Water all over the bathroom floor almost every day;
- Clothes drying in the hallway and living room, EVERY day;
- Noise through the single glazed windows;
- Condensation because of the single glazed windows, causing damp on the inside of both my external walls;
Do I need to go on?
When I lived on my own, I was skint (because I had to pay more rent PLUS bills), I never got any visitors because I was in North London, and it took me an hour to get to work on the tube. But I liked my flat. It was more home than this place. I feel like I've been living in a hotel for two and a half years! Yet another reason to get my finances sorted.Bad News, Good News
Okay, the Bad News first:
I contacted the SIA today about my licence renewal. They were meant to be phoning me back on Thursday afternoon before 17:00. I never heard anything from them. They were closed over the weekend (again showing that they do not understand the industry that they are working in). This morning I phoned them and they told me that they had tried to call me back, though I have not received a call and no missed calls were showing. Suspicious that, eh? Lying b@s+@rds!
The Good News?:
I did confirm with the SIA though that my second licence does cover me to work in the control room, so my manager has confirmed that I can go to work tomorrow. I was half hoping that I wouldn't be able to so that I could get more time off work, but I need the money so I have to convince myself that this IS good news! :-)
The second piece of good news today was that, in response to my blog entry "Word!" yesterday, a lovely man by the name of Barry has informed me that Open Office documents can be saved in different formats so that should enable me to get around the uncompatable nature of the program. Problem solved. Thanks Barry. (I still want to get another laptop / PC though!)
Aren't good and bad news meant to come in threes? I'm waiting for the third one now. Premium Bonds people, are you listening?
I contacted the SIA today about my licence renewal. They were meant to be phoning me back on Thursday afternoon before 17:00. I never heard anything from them. They were closed over the weekend (again showing that they do not understand the industry that they are working in). This morning I phoned them and they told me that they had tried to call me back, though I have not received a call and no missed calls were showing. Suspicious that, eh? Lying b@s+@rds!
The Good News?:
I did confirm with the SIA though that my second licence does cover me to work in the control room, so my manager has confirmed that I can go to work tomorrow. I was half hoping that I wouldn't be able to so that I could get more time off work, but I need the money so I have to convince myself that this IS good news! :-)
The second piece of good news today was that, in response to my blog entry "Word!" yesterday, a lovely man by the name of Barry has informed me that Open Office documents can be saved in different formats so that should enable me to get around the uncompatable nature of the program. Problem solved. Thanks Barry. (I still want to get another laptop / PC though!)
Aren't good and bad news meant to come in threes? I'm waiting for the third one now. Premium Bonds people, are you listening?
Sunday 8 February 2009
Scotland
Today's Six Nations rugby match between Wales and Scotland was much more exciting than yesterday's England / Italy match. A lot more rubgy was played, mainly by Wales, but Scotland seemed to wake up late in the second half. Here are the hotties from today's losing side: 
Brothers Max (above) and Thom (below) Evans;
Sexy Simon Webster who knocked himself out while tackling a guy in the air today;
Scott Gray;
Ross Ford; 
James Hamilton;
Another set of brothers, Sean (above) who has bared all for the Dieux du Stade calenders, and Rory (below) Lamont;
Kelly Brown (who has rather unfortunate eyebrows);
Euan Murray;
Alasdair Strokosch;
Dan Parks;
& Alasdair Dickinson;
Brothers Max (above) and Thom (below) Evans;Sexy Simon Webster who knocked himself out while tackling a guy in the air today;Scott Gray;Ross Ford; James Hamilton;Another set of brothers, Sean (above) who has bared all for the Dieux du Stade calenders, and Rory (below) Lamont;Kelly Brown (who has rather unfortunate eyebrows);Euan Murray;Alasdair Strokosch;Dan Parks;& Alasdair Dickinson;
Word!
I am getting a bit frustrated with not having Word on my laptop. When I bought it I stupidly assumed that all laptops and computers had a word processor included, then found out that mine didn't. I won't make that mistake again. I couldn't afford at the time to buy Microsoft Word (any version) and so had to settle for the only free word processor I could find which was Open Office. As far as it goes it is okay. It is only worth what I paid for it when it comes to communicating with other networks though. Most computer systems cannot read Open Office, so I have limited luck when it comes to forwarding my CV for jobs. I really need to buy a new laptop / PC WITH Word this time so that I can communicate effectively.
At work last week, where we do have Word, I entered the details of my (poorly set out) CV and forwarded it to some friends to get their ideas for improving it. I received a reply back from one of my friends and made some changes from home and forwarded it back to them both to see what they thought. Unfortunately neither could open the file as they don't have Open Office on their PCs, so couldn't open the file to have a look.
This also frustrates me when it comes to arranging a compilation of my written work (which isn't much admittedly). I want to be able to have it all available electronically in case an opportunity arises necessitating a quick reply by email. Yes, I can post the print offs by snail mail, but not many places deal Royal Mail nowadays, at least not initially. Even so, as I am unable to do otherwise, I am going to ready a pack of my best work in case I have to post it off. Shouldn't take long! lol
At work last week, where we do have Word, I entered the details of my (poorly set out) CV and forwarded it to some friends to get their ideas for improving it. I received a reply back from one of my friends and made some changes from home and forwarded it back to them both to see what they thought. Unfortunately neither could open the file as they don't have Open Office on their PCs, so couldn't open the file to have a look.
This also frustrates me when it comes to arranging a compilation of my written work (which isn't much admittedly). I want to be able to have it all available electronically in case an opportunity arises necessitating a quick reply by email. Yes, I can post the print offs by snail mail, but not many places deal Royal Mail nowadays, at least not initially. Even so, as I am unable to do otherwise, I am going to ready a pack of my best work in case I have to post it off. Shouldn't take long! lol
"Friendship" emails
I don't know about you, But I really hate getting those soppy, pointless emails from friends and family that say things like "I'm sending this because I care". It is so pointless, because if someone really cared they would have created a message themselves and not just forwarded a (twenty) generic email(s) that they had been sent to them.
My sister Maxine is a prime example of someone who forwards every single one of these stupid, pointless emails. I'm sure she means well but this morning one of the five that she sent me was really quite sinister. It gave 2 examples to start of people who hadn't forwarded the email (or who hadn't forwarded it to enough people), they both died horrific deaths!
Firstly, I don't believe this shit anyway, I mean has good fortune only existed since email was invented?
Secondly, if these two people died for not sending the email, how come they are mentioned in the email?
I found the threat of this email quite sinister: Send this email to at least 5 people or you will die a horrible death! Nice. Thanks a lot sis! Just what I need on a Sunday morning when I'm trying to sort out my working life that's going to shit!
My sister Maxine is a prime example of someone who forwards every single one of these stupid, pointless emails. I'm sure she means well but this morning one of the five that she sent me was really quite sinister. It gave 2 examples to start of people who hadn't forwarded the email (or who hadn't forwarded it to enough people), they both died horrific deaths!
Firstly, I don't believe this shit anyway, I mean has good fortune only existed since email was invented?
Secondly, if these two people died for not sending the email, how come they are mentioned in the email?
I found the threat of this email quite sinister: Send this email to at least 5 people or you will die a horrible death! Nice. Thanks a lot sis! Just what I need on a Sunday morning when I'm trying to sort out my working life that's going to shit!
Saturday 7 February 2009
The Weak Link
On Channel 5 at the moment is an episode of NCIS, from season 1, which has a good selection of gorgeous men in it.
First, obviously, we have Special Agent DiNozzo, played by the gorgeous Michael Weatherly.
Secondly, we have Doug Savant, playing a motorcycle riding priest with a weird sense of humour.
Thirdly, there is Adam Baldwin playing Commander Rainer, I like a big sexy guy in uniform.
And finally we have Matt Battaglia, probably the sexiest of all, playing Petty Officer Porcaro.
Despite all these men, I have seen this particular episode at least 4 times already so I am watching the Italian Job (remake), on Channel 4, with Jason Statham, oh and some other famous people.
Favourite Adverts
There are a couple of good adverts on the telly at the moment. My favourite two are:
The Dairy Milk advert, simply because it is so amusing:
and this Virgin Atlantic 25 years advert because of the nostalgia (I remember Asteroids, Our Price, Wimpy etc etc):
Enjoy!
The Dairy Milk advert, simply because it is so amusing:
and this Virgin Atlantic 25 years advert because of the nostalgia (I remember Asteroids, Our Price, Wimpy etc etc):
Enjoy!
Is anyone else using Twitter yet? I heard about it on the news the other day and thought I'd give it a go, but at the moment I don't see the point, as I can express myself here on the blog and am not limited by 140 characters per entry (and I can put in pictures which I know you all like). I invited some friends to join it though to see what would happen and so far one person has accepted. We shall see if I can be bothered to continue with it after more than a week.
Friday 6 February 2009
Jeremy Walker
I'd seen pictures of this gorgeous guy on the internet for ages and often admired him. I thought Jeremy Walker was "just" a model, but today I found out that he also performs in porn, thanks to one of my favourite sites, Dudetube. You can check out a preview of the horny looking "The Coach 2" starring Jeremy, Chris Rockway and Reese Rideout, here. (Obviously, being porn there will be explicit scenes, so be careful!). How's this for a horny trio. I don't buy porn very often, but I may just make an exception this time. Phew!
Nepotism
That is what I need. A bit of nepotism. Everyone else seems to get it, but not me. I loathe people who get ahead solely through this unfair system, but I'm not looking to get ahead, just to get a job. Only once before in my life have I received any form of nepotism, and this was when my mate Lee told me of vacancies at his then place of employment. That is when I first began to work in the City of London. It wasn't exactly nepotism as Lee wasn't in a place to ensure I got the job, just to put a good word in to the recruitment department and the rest was up to me. This is all the nepotism that I need, I just need that initial chance to prove myself. I think he even profited from me taking the job, as the company were rewarding recruitment recommendations at the time, though despite telling me we would go halves on this bonus, I never saw a penny of it!
All I need is a chance, and I should be given this because, given the opportunity I am a hard and enthusiastic worker. I just need someone to tell me where THAT job is and I will do the rest! Wish me luck, I need it.
All I need is a chance, and I should be given this because, given the opportunity I am a hard and enthusiastic worker. I just need someone to tell me where THAT job is and I will do the rest! Wish me luck, I need it.
Still waiting
I still have not had a call back from the SIA. They have replied to my email, but wanted more details before they could deal with anything! So will just have to wait until they feel they can be bothered to get back to me.
In the meantime I have re-written my CV with some advice from Francis and I think that it looks better. It's amazing how different people can have such different ideas on how a CV should look: put a photo on / don't put a photo on; put (ancient) school qualifications on / or don't; write the intro in the first-person / or don't; It is so confusing.
But, as I said, I have made some changes and I think it is for the better. Now, all I have to do is upload the new CV to all the job sites that I am registered with and find an actual job to apply for! Sounds easy, doesn't it? I wish!
In the meantime I have re-written my CV with some advice from Francis and I think that it looks better. It's amazing how different people can have such different ideas on how a CV should look: put a photo on / don't put a photo on; put (ancient) school qualifications on / or don't; write the intro in the first-person / or don't; It is so confusing.
But, as I said, I have made some changes and I think it is for the better. Now, all I have to do is upload the new CV to all the job sites that I am registered with and find an actual job to apply for! Sounds easy, doesn't it? I wish!
Thursday 5 February 2009
Wage Woes
I forgot to mention that my wage situation had allegedly been sorted, sort of. It turns out that my holiday request form was mislaid (by whom I don't know, but I suspect it was my manager). But I will now get paid for the holiday days, though it probably will not be with my monthly wage on Wednesday. Therefore I will once again probably be paying emergency tax on it in a separate payment (just like the last 2 times they failed to pay my holiday hours). If this does happen, I will be making a formal complaint to my employers, with the backing of my building manger too! That's if I am still employed by the time I ger paid. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Stressed Out
Today was another nightmare at work! Another morning of being stuck in the Control Room for hours alone (my boss decided not to turn up at all today, without informing anyone!). I thought, to help pass the time, I would check on-line to see how my security licence renewal application was progressing. Unfortunately the website requires a "plug-in" which our work computer doesn't have (and we aren't allowed to download!). So I couldn't check.
As fate would have it, while I was on my lunch break I got a phone call from the SIA. I was incredibly pissed off when the woman, who never even told me her name, informed me that I hadn't sent enough money. I had sent a cheque for £122.50, as the website had stated that you only have to pay half the usual fee for a second licence. This woman told me that I had to pay the full amount as this renewal was for my "main" licence. I lost my patience and had a bit of a rant at her. She told me that if I couldn't pay the full amount on the phone there and then the renewal application would be noted as failed! I wasn't sure how much I had in my account (as I had only budgeted for the lesser amount). I couldn't risk paying the full amount and incurring charged from my bank. So I had to tell her to fail it!
When I had hung up on the totally unhelpful woman, I stormed down to the bank to check my balance. It was lucky that I was still on my break otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. I DID have enough money, just about, in my account so I went back to work and phoned the SIA on the only number showing on their poorly designed website. It was an automated system and took at least 3 minutes before I actually got to speak to a human voice.
What a waste of time it was though. The person I spoke to was in a different department to the one I'd spoken to earlier and he couldn't transfer me. The application was now showing as failed and, even though it had been less than half an hour since I spoke to the other SIA person, he could not change that. He was totally unable to help me with anything. I asked to speak to someone else and he said he would have to get someone to phone me back. When I enquired when that would be, he told me that it would be within 2 hours! Guess what? They didn't phone back.
I am seriously considering not bothering and just going unemployed. With the fact that I absolutely hate the job, I'm completely bored all the time at work, I don't actually like any of the people I work with, and the environment isn't exactly healthy with most of the building being freezing cold ALL the time.
I'll work tomorrow on my scheduled shift and then on my four days off I am going to have to search even harder than I have been for a job. I will even take a job and forgo my notice period (they are going to muck up my wages anyway so I've nothing much to lose!)
As fate would have it, while I was on my lunch break I got a phone call from the SIA. I was incredibly pissed off when the woman, who never even told me her name, informed me that I hadn't sent enough money. I had sent a cheque for £122.50, as the website had stated that you only have to pay half the usual fee for a second licence. This woman told me that I had to pay the full amount as this renewal was for my "main" licence. I lost my patience and had a bit of a rant at her. She told me that if I couldn't pay the full amount on the phone there and then the renewal application would be noted as failed! I wasn't sure how much I had in my account (as I had only budgeted for the lesser amount). I couldn't risk paying the full amount and incurring charged from my bank. So I had to tell her to fail it!
When I had hung up on the totally unhelpful woman, I stormed down to the bank to check my balance. It was lucky that I was still on my break otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. I DID have enough money, just about, in my account so I went back to work and phoned the SIA on the only number showing on their poorly designed website. It was an automated system and took at least 3 minutes before I actually got to speak to a human voice.
What a waste of time it was though. The person I spoke to was in a different department to the one I'd spoken to earlier and he couldn't transfer me. The application was now showing as failed and, even though it had been less than half an hour since I spoke to the other SIA person, he could not change that. He was totally unable to help me with anything. I asked to speak to someone else and he said he would have to get someone to phone me back. When I enquired when that would be, he told me that it would be within 2 hours! Guess what? They didn't phone back.
I am seriously considering not bothering and just going unemployed. With the fact that I absolutely hate the job, I'm completely bored all the time at work, I don't actually like any of the people I work with, and the environment isn't exactly healthy with most of the building being freezing cold ALL the time.
I'll work tomorrow on my scheduled shift and then on my four days off I am going to have to search even harder than I have been for a job. I will even take a job and forgo my notice period (they are going to muck up my wages anyway so I've nothing much to lose!)
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Another Nightmare Day
Today, everything was pretty much back to normal, weather-wise, which made for a really boring day. I was stuck in the control room, mostly on my own, all morning apart from my half-hour break. I was so fed-up of having absolutely nothing to do except play games on the computer, which loses its apeal after the first four hours of solitaire! I really need a new job, something to occupy my mind, so I registered for another two job-seeking websites (CV Library and London Office Jobs), one of these sites has to pay off soon! I was just relieved to get out of the bloody place at 19:00. 2 shifts to go and counting.
Oh, and guess what? I asked my boss to double check that I would be getting paid for my four days of holiday last month, as I had to argue for all of my holiday payments the last three times that I have taken any holiday. And, again, they hadn't put me down for payment. He said he will sort it, but I doubt he has, so I will have to chase him up again tomorrow (at whatever time he decides to come into work!).
It's bad enough hating a job, but when they don't even pay you what you are due for doing it, it is just unbearable (not to mention stressful!). If it isn't sorted in time, THIS time, I will be making a formal complaint.
Oh, and guess what? I asked my boss to double check that I would be getting paid for my four days of holiday last month, as I had to argue for all of my holiday payments the last three times that I have taken any holiday. And, again, they hadn't put me down for payment. He said he will sort it, but I doubt he has, so I will have to chase him up again tomorrow (at whatever time he decides to come into work!).
It's bad enough hating a job, but when they don't even pay you what you are due for doing it, it is just unbearable (not to mention stressful!). If it isn't sorted in time, THIS time, I will be making a formal complaint.
Monday 2 February 2009
Techno-Problems
I really do not know what is going with me lately, but almost every piece of tech that I have is playing up one way or another. I have not been able to access some of my favourite blogs lately, for almost a week in some cases; some documents that I have been working on have been seemingly altering themselves between me saving, shutting down and opening them up again; the reception on my old television is getting worse and worse; the colour ink cartridge for my printer is almost out (again); and then this morning one of my lamps, the fan heater and the television weren't working! I am beginning to expect everything to play up.
I managed to sort out this morning's problems (it turned out to be a fuse in the extention lead that had gone, I didn't have a spare fuse, but I did have a spare extention lead).
I hope that I can avoid any other techno-foul-ups though.
I managed to sort out this morning's problems (it turned out to be a fuse in the extention lead that had gone, I didn't have a spare fuse, but I did have a spare extention lead).
I hope that I can avoid any other techno-foul-ups though.
Standstill Britain
Today, Britain was brought to a stand-still once again by a slight change in the weather. The snow started yesterday afternoon, halted for a couple of hours and then began again in earnest at about 18:00 last night and didn't stop until late this afternoon.
When I walked to work this morning, not having the luxury of using the weather as an excuse not to turn up, there was about 4 inches of snow on the paths and roads. This being the centre of London, so you can just imagine how bad it was out of the central areas. I personally do not remember a time when I have seen it snow for such a long time continuously.
Out of a team of 6 only 3 of us turned up this morning, so we had a boring day of myself and one other guard swapping position while the manager went outside and built a snowman! I wish I was joking! Tonight though, only one person turned up out of a team of 3 (he actually never bothered going home, but slept in our rest room). As a consequence of this the manager is staying all night. What a shame.
I have three more shifts and it is meant to be snowing for all of them! I hope that some of the guys make it in for some of the shifts, but I can't wait for my next day off already.
When I walked to work this morning, not having the luxury of using the weather as an excuse not to turn up, there was about 4 inches of snow on the paths and roads. This being the centre of London, so you can just imagine how bad it was out of the central areas. I personally do not remember a time when I have seen it snow for such a long time continuously.
Out of a team of 6 only 3 of us turned up this morning, so we had a boring day of myself and one other guard swapping position while the manager went outside and built a snowman! I wish I was joking! Tonight though, only one person turned up out of a team of 3 (he actually never bothered going home, but slept in our rest room). As a consequence of this the manager is staying all night. What a shame.
I have three more shifts and it is meant to be snowing for all of them! I hope that some of the guys make it in for some of the shifts, but I can't wait for my next day off already.
Sunday 1 February 2009
The Holiday Is Over
I am sorry to report that I am back to work tomorrow. I have only had 12 days off, but it feels like I've been off for ages (and it's still not long enough away from that place!!). I really do not want to go back, but I have no other option.
The most depressing thing about all this time off is that I have searched for jobs every day and still have not found one to even apply for, let alone get turned down for! How depressing is that. (Not that I am depressed, just fed up! Big difference).
Oh well, only four shifts and then I am off for 4 more days (maybe more if they enforce the alleged expiration of my security licence which would be on the 9th if the SIA are to be believed!).
p.s. I am wondering how much longer it is going to be snowing too! I went to Waitrose earlier and it started while I was inside. It is still snowing now, and it's settling. How deep is it going to be in the morning and how unfortunate is it that I can't use it as an excuse to be late for, or not turn up for, work as I only live around the corner.
The most depressing thing about all this time off is that I have searched for jobs every day and still have not found one to even apply for, let alone get turned down for! How depressing is that. (Not that I am depressed, just fed up! Big difference).
Oh well, only four shifts and then I am off for 4 more days (maybe more if they enforce the alleged expiration of my security licence which would be on the 9th if the SIA are to be believed!).
p.s. I am wondering how much longer it is going to be snowing too! I went to Waitrose earlier and it started while I was inside. It is still snowing now, and it's settling. How deep is it going to be in the morning and how unfortunate is it that I can't use it as an excuse to be late for, or not turn up for, work as I only live around the corner.
:-(
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