Journal Entries
I'm still here (ssh, don't tell anyone!)
Posted Aug 29, 2003
Well I'm sort of still here, but being quiet and surreptitious about it.
1. Work is being neglected and I think they're getting suspicious
2. Hubby, whom I love and adore, has sort of said I am spending too much time on here and not paying him enough attention! 
I have grave feelings of guilt 
So because this place is so highly addictive and totally consuming 
this is turning into a bit of a game and I must prove to myself that I am managing everything in order of priority.
Unfortunately h2g2 must go further down the list... BUT not the people whom I consider virtual friends, who are as important as ever and must rest assured are in my thoughts. Human life, however virtual, should never go further down the list. 
I'm rambling again.
So if I'm here or not here, I'm still around, as they say, but still getting less round by the week! 
Be good and have fun
x
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Latest reply: Aug 29, 2003
Good Manners Day
Posted Aug 15, 2003
Good morning to you!
I heard on the Radio - the blessed Terry - that today is "Good Manners Day"! So, I thought, "my manners are usually perfectly respectable, I greet and treat people as I would hope they would behave towards me. After all it costs nothing to smile and be courteous. However, today I will make an extra effort" 
.
What do I find first? Local ne’er-do- goods have broken into my garage. They have stolen a couple of non-valuable, but essential and sentimental, items and have caused some damage. They now also know what else I keep in there and will, no doubt, return to pick up the rest of the booty! I must clear out anything I need and set to effecting a swift repair. Hubby departed for work several hours ago and I am left to my own devices - namely a hammer and nails! I must remember to thank them when they break in again!
So secondly, I arrive at work, late, with thumbs throbbing and bruised, to find a deputation of disgruntled clients awaiting my arrival. They see I am distressed and flustered but ignore that. I wish them a cheery good morning and deal with them as efficiently and politely as I can muster, given the nature of their antagonism and the fact that nothing in what they say to me contains a “please” or a “thank-you”.
If I were to blame for the problems they perceive, or indeed if I were responsible in any way, shape or form and could actually solve or prevent them, it would be almost understandable. However I deal with them and wish them a pleasant day, thanking them for drawing the problem to my attention, assuring them of my concern and sympathising with their plight .
What happens next? While administering first aid to my now pretty pathetic looking thumb the phone rings and I reach it - late. Just as it cuts into my "Sorry, I've popped out of the office for a few minutes, please leave a message" speech, the machine jams. The client launches into "You're never there when you're supposed to be... this is just not good enough... I'm so fed up with this place... getting up a petition... it's a disgrace...”.
I clear the fault and in my calmest, gentlest voice say "Good morning, you're through to ... I do apologise for the fault, and so sorry you were unable to hear me..." .
Her voice completely changes. "Oh hello, dear, that's alright, I was just ringing to say how sorry we were about our little misunderstanding earlier. Mrs ... and I talked it over and realise it’s nothing to do with you and not your fault. We wanted to say sorry and to let you know you it won't go any further!"
I remember Terry, and bite my tongue. The dear lady didn’t realise I had heard her ranting on, even though she hadn’t been able to hear me. I thank her for her “very kind call” and again wish her a pleasant day. What a good job she couldn’t see the expression on my face or clenched fists! 
And its still only 10:30 am. What will the rest of the day hold for me?
Another client, a little old man, walks past and I wish him “Good morning” . He wishes me the same in his lovely Geordie accent, but doesn’t recognise me. Then he realises. “ Gracious, I didn’t know it was you, you’ve changed! You’ve lost a lot of weight and you're looking lovely!”
I’m still smiling! 
Thank you so much for reading and “have a good day” 
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Latest reply: Aug 15, 2003
Annie Mouse
Researcher U234390
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