h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's just a job is today's mantra.

I have been royally messed around by my manager who can't communicate what it is she wants me to do. Then when I produce something that isn't what she had in mind, I'm told I'm not getting to grips with the job So far I've had no explanation of how I can change what I thought was the right thing to what she thinks is the right thing and I'm left dangling

Fortunately this is only one of my projects (I have five others) so my sanity is only slightly tested....


Fb

Very dear fb,

It is obviously the green-eyed monster rearing it's ugly head.

That is the problem with being too efficient, and good at one's job. One arouses a lot of feelings of jealousy.

Do not let it get you down. Just be kind and thank her for her help. That will give her the most tremendous shock. !!

With much affection

Christiane
AR80/81

You are quite right, Christiane I shall be smiling and kind to her and not let the situation get to me.

I'm home now and as usual I'm able to breathe deep and clean again and think about work in the context of the real world.


Fb

Ah, yes. The old saying that the best way to defeat an enemy is to make him a friend often works. Not always, but often.

Good luck with the whole situation. Office dynamics can make you crazy. We have a small crew at the library, but there are always conflicts.

I am fortunate that most of my work is running relatively smoothly and hassle-free. It's only one project which is particularly complex and which everybody has different expectations from: and surprise, surprise which nobody (except muggins here) is prepared to lead I had a full day of that project yesterday.

Today I shall smile and be content again once I've written up a few notes and the forward programme as I understand it from yesterday's final meeting

You tell em girl

there, there, lass, it will all seem betterer in the morning

It felt better as soon as I walked out of the office on Friday afternoon Helped by another manager approaching me and suggesting we have a wee chat early next week because he realised that I'm having difficulty with one particular individual. Hurrah

It's really hard for w*rk not to get on top of me sometimes. I know that if I had a partner I would find it a whole lot easier to switch off. However, I am learning the trick of looking at *real* problems and putting my piddly little grumps into perspective

On Friday the real issue that put me in my place was the death of the father of one of my oldest friends. He died from cancer and had been in a hospice since Christmas He was a lovely great bear of a man, always up for a drink and a flirt with his daughter's girlfriends He gave four of us a holiday in Crete in 1982 and managed to survive 10 days of 20-year-old girls

Ahhh... managers

When you get a good one it's like having a favourite uncle who always gives you a tanner when your parents are watching and half a crown when they're not When you get a bad one they can mess with your whole worklife and beyond

My GM is mostly like the uncle. One or two of the floor managers though couldn't tell their arse from a hole in the ground. A week or two back one of them was having a full-on panic attack in a manner which, had they been someone I didn't know and in public, would have me backing away from them the way you do from the bus nutter. We've had some real gems in the past four years.

And I know what you mean about having someone around giving you more of a chance to switch off. When you live on your own and/or don't have a... well now, at my age you can hardly call her a girlfriend, and you have the kind of work ethic that I think you and I both have you never really stop thinking about work. It's good to have someone around to help take your mind off work-related things... or rant at about work related things and get it off your chest.

Don't know about you Fb, but I need to get out more.

It does put things in perspective Frenchbean, doesn't it? As you say it is just a job, but it would be nice if it was always a pleasure. You have good memories of your friend though.

Gosho, you are never too old to have a girlfriend for heavens sake. I know some *girls* over ninety that would give you a run for your money I think we should all get out more

Websailor

Do you have their phone numbers?

Websailor

I find walking does the trick, Gosho I switch off my brain and the rhythm of my steps lulls me into a meditative state. Works a treat

Getting out more? Nope... I reckon I've got a great balance at the moment

Fb

Watching a good movie does it for me. I can easily find myself so wrapped in the story that the rest of the world doesn't exist. A classic 1970s sitcom like Open All Hours, Porridge, I Didn't Know You Cared, The Good Life or The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin will have the same effect

Gosho, Gosho. I'm older than you are and was able to rustle up a boyfriend. You aren't trying hard enough.

Yeah, but Gosho's not trying to rustle up a boyfriend. I don't think so, anyway.

It's so much the rustling up, it's just the idea of someone my age being a *girl*friend, and me being a *boy*friend. I mean, people never believe me when I tell them I'm 52, but even if I look 10 years younger than that I really don't qualify as a *boy*

Give over, you will always be a boy, most men are underneath and you are still a youngster yet

Websailor

It sure don't feel that way when I try to get out of bed in the morning

Oh, I know that feeling so well, but there is some excuse for me, being somewhat It is cold today and it is even worse. We keep getting a few warm days and then it goes cold again

Websailor