Winter has arrived, in name only I guess. Yes, it is getting cooler but I can still wear shorts during the day, although work is still very cold and sometimes when I sit at my desk my toes feel as if they are getting frostbite due to my steel toe caps.
We are now in the second half of the year and that means that I have only 6 months left at this job, mind you there is a good chance that they might want me to stay……….I’ll review the situation nearer to the time.
We have one staff member off on holiday this week and it certainly affects the running of the store. I am off next week and that will also impact the business but then again I’m on the retail side and not the trade so it won’t be so bad.
When I come back, dispatch will have someone away for two weeks, so it will be fun and games all around till the end of June and then, and then a member of staff that has been here for 7 years is moving on and she does a lot of the housekeeping admin jobs so the place will fall apart when she goes.
Interesting times ahead and all this time the powers that be won’t recognise the obvious, such as this branch is under staffed. It is the same old war cry from many industries. You are expected to work back and complete all the tasks assigned when there is not enough time to do so. Many will get stressed out. Some have done too much overtime but now the overtime has been stopped. However we are still expected to put the time in for free, but I won’t be giving any extra free time.
Businesses are run via the spreadsheet and reports and far away from the reality of day to day trading. Customer service is promoted as number one, however if you do not give them the time then they will not buy or come back.
I’m lucky because I currently don’t a lot of financial pressure, but many do. I’ve been in a position before where I could hardly make ends meet and if something had happened I would have been up shit creek, but I’ve reached a time in my life where the mortgage is under control and my debt levels are low so I have breathing space. The others that I work with are struggling a little bit financially and so they have a different attitude to the working day. If they lose their job it will impact them greatly.
On holiday.
As I write its Friday the 11th of June. My holiday has gone very fast, but I have managed to get a few things done. On Monday I put the car in for a service to see what needs to be done, see how many things need fixed. There was a bit of a list but some of the faults listed are things I can do myself and some are just outright bullshit. I recently had a transmission fluid change along with the filter and the garage told me that this needs to be done again. Aye right!
There are multiple oil leaks but I can fix a couple of them. Wheel bearings need done apparently and the cost to this is around $330, a bit pricey me thinks. Anyway I did go back today to get the main serpentine fan belt done, it’s a fiddly job and they wanted $100 to fit and replace and I thought that was a fair price.
Tuesday I went to see the skin doctor for me annual check-up, all ok thankfully.
Wednesday was the first of the Covid jags, I got the Astra Zeneca. I went to my local GP, it was painless. After the injection they ask you stay around for about 15 mins to see if you have any adverse reaction and then you can go on your merry way.
I had a huge lunch. I’ve heard stories about the side effects that some folk have been having so I thought that I would have a huge lunch and keep the body fuelled. It seems to have worked so far. Mind you I didn’t sleep too well.
Next morn I felt fine and got up fairly early, even although it was a very brisk morn. After breakfast I loaded up the trailer with the remains of the tree. I have two large piles of green waste in the garden and I think it will take at least three trailer loads to clear it.
In between doctor’s appointments and the like I have been busy building benches for the shed. Using the timber frames from the PVC pipe deliveries from work and also some of the shelving that I acquired a few weeks ago. The shed has shit everywhere and I am slowly planning for the time that I will once more put the contents of my life and home back into storage before I head to the airport with passports in hand.
Today Friday, I got the fan bet done in the morn and after I finish writing this I have another appointment with Dr Phuc, eye specialist. My vision is still not clear, although it does vary from day to day. Today for instance reading from the TV is fuzzy, but previously it had been ok. If I can clear up this infection then I’ll be able to get my eyes tested and get new specs, but until then I’ll have to put up with it.
I’ve enjoyed my time this week. Being able to wander about at my own pace and not really look at the clock. It takes me back to a previous life. If only I could win a Million on lotto and then I can get my lifestyle back.
It funny how it seems that time goes slowly when you have no agenda. This week I got out of bed later than usual but could have still managed to leave for work if I had too. Everything has been way more relaxed and I haven’t had to keep an eye on the clock……it’s great.
At the pace I have been going this week, I’m going to need quite a lot of time to get all the jobs around the place finished. I made a list but hardly scratched the surface.