Junk man

Haven't spilled the beans yet, but T and I have vastly different opinions on the issue he raised on his blog yesterday - see here to read more.

Here is the scenario. Once a year our local council has a 'hard garbage collection'. This is basically where you can leave junk too big for the garbage bin on your nature strip and the council truck turns up (eventually) to pick it up and take it to the tip for you. Good for people like us who don't have access to a trailer, nor a tip.

Now, having just had the front yard cleared and cleaned up, we hired some big skips and dumped all the garbage we could find. So we had nothing on our nature strip on Sunday night.

But the neighbours did. And people drive by, see something they think might be good or useful, pick it up and off they go. Now, just so you know, this is illegal. You aren't allowed to take the stuff from the nature strip - once it's put out there, it becomes the Council's property, so by taking it, you are taking Council property (stealing).

The discussion then leads to: The person who takes the stuff - is he merely breaking the law, or is he recycling useful things? What do you think? I'd be interested to hear!

How do you do it?

I like my job, enough to keep returning on a daily basis, enough to say thanks when the pay packet comes in. I like it enough.

I like my direct boss. It's just me and him in this office. I like that. He's pretty good as far as bosses go. Flexible, friendly, down to earth. I like the boss.

He has 5 Managers. I adore 2. Can't stand the other 3. Just can not stand them. When they ring, I wonder how I can get out of speaking with them. I don't - I always answer and I always answer nice and friendly like. But I still wonder how I can get away with avoiding their call.

There are several departments I would like to avoid. And would if I could. Yes, if I could buy that item without dealing with Purchasing I would. Yes, if I could do the mail without seeing certain people along the way, I would.

I have a time in the office that I now detest. It's generally between 8.30 and 9am, and it's when the security guard sticks his head in for a (I'm not kidding) 15 minute chat. Don't get me wrong, I like chatting with the best of them, but I'd really rather avoid these... confrontations. Today I set up the coffee machine while he hung around and watched.

How do you get by, avoiding certain people, without upsetting the order? I like being seen as a nice person, but I can't take this for much longer. I have said this in the past and I'm putting it here: these people are going to be the reason I leave my job.

And yes, I'm quite aware that it could be much worse somewhere else, but seriously, I won't have a predisposed opinion of people in a new workplace. So many years in one workplace are definitely a no-no. Time to move on.

Nicknames

Aussies. We're a funny lot.

I have a friend who is shorter than me, by I guess at least a foot. She calls me Munchkin.

I have another friend who is only 2 years older than me. He calls me Kiddo.

I love it.

If it were anywhere else, I'd be known as Tall Old person.

Not so much there to love.

Lights

Something so simple, but it appears there are a few people who do it. Check the rear lights of their car.

So many without brake lights, or even just one of the three working. Yesterday one with a rear indicator that wasn't working. I let him in front of me, as I saw the side blinking flashing.

Completely irresponsible and accident-in-waiting.

If I notice someone with an issue of no working lights, and I get the opportunity to tell them about it, like pulling up beside them at the traffic lights, i will always do so. I think it's a really helpful thing to do, and so far everyone has been appreciative about me doing so. Prolly thinking me a crack head all the while, but hey, if I can help them avoid a rear end collision, then crack head I continue to look.

If you own a car, please check your rear lights in a large window. It's not hard to do.

Smarties

Bought some smarties the other day and noticed their colours weren't as sharp, bright or shiny as I remembered them. Then I noticed the packaging had a bold change to it. A statement written across the front "No ratificial colours or flavours"

Hmmm.... I know they are bad for you, but geez, with the artificial garbage attached, they were much prettier sweets!

Friday

And I'm ready to go home.... Let's knock this day on it's head and skeddaddle!

Work and stuff

Have been itchy footed for a while now. I don't know what I want to do, but I do know it's not this. Not in it's current state anyway.

Have been doing some thinking and am waking up to thinking about what I DO want to do, rather than focusing on what I DON'T want to do.

It would appear that I need to build up my business from the ground up, re-do website, get new business cards, then market. Get some clients happening, instead of ONE client. Mr W, I love you, but I need more clients, not just you. Three jobs in 13 months do not make a very good business for me. Having said that, feel free to keep sending me your work as needed. I will always work with you!

So...what else do I want? Other than working for myself that is. Well, I have always wanted to do one sort of work. I'm going to look into courses - it's a niche market, and I'm not too sure how even to try to find work in it, but I'm aiming for that instead.

Mind.... If I get an interview for one of the three apps currently out there, I will do my best to move on. Just being sensible.