Life begins...
Got James Bamber and Sally Raynes' book Wacky Nation from the parents, cracking interesting read.
There were Happy 40th Birthday balloons hanging over my desk when I arrived there this morning, plus banners taped all around it and coloured dots scattered all over it. Got a lovely array of cards from people in mine and the surrounding sections, plus an iTunes voucher from my team. Late in the morning Bev came over to 'have a look at my cards' - in fact she'd come to act as a decoy while Demelza let off a confetti bomb behind me. A little later Demelza noticed I'd cleared the confetti from my keyboard and paperwork, said "It's your birthday, it's no use trying to tidy it up" and scattered the stuff all over the shop again. My selection of nibbles was a big hit with the ladies, especially the chocolate caramel slabs, while Demelza was happy as I'd included a tub of her favourite, snowballs.
On my way out this afternoon, the clocking in and out reader flatly refused to acknowledge the presence of my swipe card. A West End farce followed, as I went to see Vanessa in reception to report the problem to her. She sent me upstairs to HR, where the ladies looked me up on the records, said that I was logged in on the system OK and that no-one else had reported a problem so my magnetic strip must have given up the ghost...and sent me down to Vanessa to get a new card issued.
When I returned to reception with the latest news, Vanessa said sorry, she'd thought I'd said the reader was wonky. She sent for Ron the security manager to make up a new card. While he was doing that Vanessa handed me the phone and told me to ring the facilities helpdesk. I did and told the lady who answered the situation...she had no idea what I was talking about. I managed to get the message across, and she asked my name again, put me on hold and read out a code number to write on the form that Vanessa had just laid in front of me. Vanessa went into Ron's office with the form and he came out with the card, leaving me to swipe out and lug my balloons (for which Vanessa thoughtfully provided me with a black bin liner) and gifts out to the car.
Not a bad way to earn an extra half hour on the clock, I guess.
There were Happy 40th Birthday balloons hanging over my desk when I arrived there this morning, plus banners taped all around it and coloured dots scattered all over it. Got a lovely array of cards from people in mine and the surrounding sections, plus an iTunes voucher from my team. Late in the morning Bev came over to 'have a look at my cards' - in fact she'd come to act as a decoy while Demelza let off a confetti bomb behind me. A little later Demelza noticed I'd cleared the confetti from my keyboard and paperwork, said "It's your birthday, it's no use trying to tidy it up" and scattered the stuff all over the shop again. My selection of nibbles was a big hit with the ladies, especially the chocolate caramel slabs, while Demelza was happy as I'd included a tub of her favourite, snowballs.
On my way out this afternoon, the clocking in and out reader flatly refused to acknowledge the presence of my swipe card. A West End farce followed, as I went to see Vanessa in reception to report the problem to her. She sent me upstairs to HR, where the ladies looked me up on the records, said that I was logged in on the system OK and that no-one else had reported a problem so my magnetic strip must have given up the ghost...and sent me down to Vanessa to get a new card issued.
When I returned to reception with the latest news, Vanessa said sorry, she'd thought I'd said the reader was wonky. She sent for Ron the security manager to make up a new card. While he was doing that Vanessa handed me the phone and told me to ring the facilities helpdesk. I did and told the lady who answered the situation...she had no idea what I was talking about. I managed to get the message across, and she asked my name again, put me on hold and read out a code number to write on the form that Vanessa had just laid in front of me. Vanessa went into Ron's office with the form and he came out with the card, leaving me to swipe out and lug my balloons (for which Vanessa thoughtfully provided me with a black bin liner) and gifts out to the car.
Not a bad way to earn an extra half hour on the clock, I guess.