Y i n k (dot) Net | Art, love & life

I was in the bathroom and due to the cold weather we’ve been having the boiler as on. This boiler was a few years old but shouldn’t have been making the rattling noise that it was making. I obviously assumed that this was down to it aging. As it had been inspected many times not for the noise it was making but for its operating capabilities to have it serviced etc.

The type of noise was a very loud something that had been over used and you could hear it in its neighbouring rooms. If the house was quiet you could hear it all the way downstairs. One day out of the blue I just happened to take a look underneath as it’s fixed against the wall quite high. I happened to touch a little metal plate that ran around the base of the boiler. Then the noise just stopped.

That’s when I realised that the plate wasn’t fixed in correctly and when the boiler was working it would rattle against the plate and amplify the rattle and make it sound like something wasn’t quite right. I had some rubber washers which I placed between the metal plate and the casing. This instantly stopped the noise and makes the boiler sound brand new. I couldn’t believe how big a difference something so small could make.

This was my attempt at being philosophical at work. It came about watching him getting into an argument with the customer. He is a young team leader and with still lots to learn.

TL: Wtf is he stupid?
Me: Well..
TL: ::starts to type out email::
Me: Right whenever you are talking to anyone over the email no matter who they are, always start politely. Put in a hello or hi or something you normally would do.
TL: ::looks at me like he knows better::
Me: Trust me.
TL: ::Follows my direction and enters in some niceties including regards at the end of the mail::
Me: The thing to remember is if something ever goes wrong and all these emails are made public you need to appear clean. He will end up looking stupid, but don’t stoop to his level. He will trip himself up in the end.
TL: Really?
Me: If you answer the emails the way he does then you are no better than him. You need to be like oil my friend.
Him: Like oil?
Me: Yeah oil floats on water everything else just mixes into the water and makes it look muddy.
Him: …

Just then our boss had caught onto what was happening and had read the silly reply back from the person he had been writing to and was quick to put them in their place. He felt a bit relieved after this point.

So remember to be like oil if you ever get into any arguments over emails!

I recently purchased a new chair to replace my old computer chair which had been systematically spitting out bolts for the last few months and was a little shaky to say the least. I had been eyeing up a chair which looked very grand and value for money. I finally got this chair and spent over an hour building it up. I haven’t fully got used to this new chair it looks super grand throne like with its polished metal and black leather and high back. It looks like it should be in a museum rather than in my office.

This happened to me quite some time ago. I was asked to provide a little guidance in helping a new small business get connected to the web and help with setting up email addresses and web space. So I had been in and sat down with the two partners asked them about the company and what would be the ideal domain name etc. After this had been agreed I went away and started to get things ready.

So I popped back in to let them know the email addresses were now live and once they had connected their computers in they could use them. On this occasion one of the partners arrived in just after and had with him a folder of the new print material which had been collected fresh from the printers. He proceeded to talk about how “Cool the new business cards” were. I took a look at one and indeed they were quite fresh looking. I started to read the information and noticed the email address had been written completely incorrectly and so had the website url. So I calmed the party down a little and said ‘hey the information is incorrect, if you end up printing these out with the incorrect information there will be nothing I can do to correct the web site url and email addresses to make them match’. He replied ‘Oh yeah, don’t worry about that these are just the test prints. They look cool thought don’t they I think they’re ready for printing’. I looked at his partner, we realised this guy had absolutely no idea of the implications. It was quickly agreed that none would be printed out until the web/url information was verified correct by myself.

Ever since I left the world of learning and started to look for work I’ve noticed a fascination with over hyping ones job role / title. I remember working for a large insurance company and one day everyone within the company department by department were given a new job title. Note this wasn’t a change in job or the tasks we were to carry out but rather new snazzy names. To provide an example the cleaner suddenly became a hygiene operative. I didn’t quite understand the reasons behind this must have been to make the staff feel better about their job I guess.

Whenever we would see an old college buddy we would ask ‘hey what are you up to now?’ and every old buddy you meet without question always claims to have a better job. Even if it’s not better the job title would definitely sound very exclusive. One person told me they were an IT consultant, which sounds brilliant. So I quizzed further “What type of things do you get up to then?”
“Ah well, lots of different things. I have to admit its not that exciting. I was in one firm and I was installing virus checks on all of there machines.” He said.
I couldn’t think of anything more boring so I asked do they not they have an IT department. He replied well yes they do but the IT department didn’t want to make a decision on which one to use so I was hired to work on a ‘security initiative’ with them.

The point I’m trying to make is no matter how snazzy our job role title is we’re all just hygiene operatives at the end of the day.

I just happened to witness this gem as a non participating member. I happened to be in another department using their computer. This department was quite busy at this point due to them carrying out some extra work which they don’t normally do.

We had a young team leader in the midst who regards himself as, quite simply a ladies man. You wouldn’t feel these vibes off him straight off the bat, but he can be very entertaining. Also the companies’ cleaner is a very good looking woman. Not something you would expect but it just happens to be the case. She walked in and kind of roamed around the office. After the niceties hello’s and hi and what are you guys up to, our man went into his stride.

“Oh there is some extra over time work happening in our department. Fancy doing a few hours?” he said.

(I know it doesn’t sound like game talk but trust me you have to start somewhere).

She replied “… doing that?”
He replied enthusiastically “Yeah!”
“I can’t think of anything more boring.” She replied very unenthusiastically.
He took a moment, “Hey don’t say that, you’ll be working with me. How can that be boring?”
“Exactly what I meant, I can’t think of anything more boring than that!” She replied as everyone in the room burst out laughing as the poor boy looked on deflated.

I had arrived into work early that particular day. I was on a run of arriving early. With the rest of the group, arrived the administrator. He looked as he normally does except for two bits of tissue paper that were stuck to his face. They weren’t particularly large bits of paper but quite small.

After he sat down and taking sneak looks. I quickly figured he had stuck bits of paper over cuts he’d suffered, obviously by shaving in the morning. It looked very odd to be walking into work with bits of paper stuck to your face. I didn’t realise people still did this and even if they did, I’m sure they don’t walk into work and expect everyone to take them seriously.

This is for my boss if they should ever accidentally happen to pass by my blog:

Dear Boss,

I think you are courageous and a valiant leader. I am humbled to be working for you. I admire how you take this difficult role within your stride and how you are fearless when things get difficult.  I couldn’t think of a better boss to work for.

Anything that I have written or may write which you in anyway happen to dislike is purely fictional. However anything I write which is complimentary in anyway is purely from the heart. As I said I love working for you and couldn’t think of anything better than doing so. So forgive any slip of my fingers where I was supposed to type something nice but the fingers hit the wrong keys.

Boss did I tell you how good you look?

I’m sure it has been discussed and ranted and raved for many many years. Yes, I’m talking about the silliness which kicks into even the most normal of person around the end of the year. I’m going to put another spin on this by saying I quite like this madness. Don’t get me wrong here I don’t wish to participate in this madness but I quite enjoy watching it from a safe distance. I quite enjoy the fact everyone wants to finish work earlier including the boss who with the help of everyone all join in force to make sure this happens. This is the type of group bond which only comes from a united consensus with everyone with one goal one mission and they all work together to make sure it happens.

It’s not quite the Christmas cheer, gleeful hope and union of faith which everyone should be feeling but nevertheless in its own way I’m sure you would agree it’s beautiful. At least I think so.

Wish everyone a very happy new year. A year that starts on a Friday surely must be a good year. Definitely fills me with excitement.