Monday
"This clampdown on social networking, does it mean that we can't
talk to people in office time?" asked Mavis.
"Not unless it is about business. We are cutting down on people
using work time for personal matters." I explained.
As I left the office that evening, I discovered that the Jag's
battery was flat and I had to wait over an hour for the AA man to
come. Though why I called Alcoholics Anonymous in the first place
is a mystery.
Tuesday
I told Mavis about the flat battery when I came in. "You might
have thought someone would have said something," I said. "Oh they
did, several people e-mailed to say you had left your lights
on."
"So why didn't you tell me!"
"I was going to, but it sounded like talking about personal
matters in work time to me and you said... anyway I deleted all
e-mails and added the senders to our new social networking abusers
register."
Wednesday
The flood of Christmas cards from people I have never met
working for companies I have never heard of is in full swing.
Twenty seven this morning. You can tell who has spent time and
money on a professional image designer, who has chosen carefully
from the charity catalogue and who has just left it to the temp in
the office to order the cheapest.
The latter approach is probably best as they all go straight in
the bin anyway. I remember when we used to get bottles of scotch
and tickets for West End shows. Not, of course, that I was ever
unduly influenced by these blandishments. Especially if the show
tickets were non-transferable and the scotch was blended.
Thursday
Met up with old colleagues Mo "Moneypenny" Howsyerfather, Laura
Minesaguiness, Jib Bullfrog, and Keeps Whoring for a seasonal
snifter. We come mainly to pay homage to the Lone Jedi, but on this
occasion he failed to show - probably realigning the karma of a San
some place.
Keeps is a man who makes Bernard Manning seem like a
Guardian-reading liberal who respects social workers and rejoices
in our multi-cultural society. He once told me my open sauce should
be sent back where it came from and believes that object oriented
programming is to be discouraged on the ground that it sounds
gay.
He tells us his employers have appointed him to the Diversity
Steering Group. Don't worry Keeps, it will be good for your pay and
reward points - or maybe not.
Friday
Christmas shopping. Well... I need stuff.