Enough

I wish I could give a certain someone a piece of my mind right now. And a slap.

I've really had enough.

This whole year a certain individual has been the cause of most of my husband's lamentations. I'd forgive you for (initially) thinking that it's maybe something he has done, or his attitude towards things, but the other people who are in the same situation as he is, feel exactly the same. Unmotivated, treated like school children, undermined, unsupported, and most importantly spiritually malnourished (in other words, bloody spiritually starving).

This whole year I've had to sit by and watch how this individual slowly but surely chips away at my husband's self esteem. I have even confronted this person about this issue, but somehow the blame was diverted. The worst part is that I just don't think that this person gets it. I don't think she grasps that she might be doing something harmful. We've tried to explain, but to no avail.

I am just so frustrated right now. I've had enough. I want this abuse to stop. I want her to know what we're going through - what my husband is going through, what I am going through. I want to make her see that what she says actually hurts. I want her to be in my husband's shoes; in mine.

I've been praying for a long time for God to change her heart. I'm so ready for God to answer my prayers right now.

Jackie who?

I'm on the brink of not watching ETV news anymore. They just can't say "Jackie Selebi" like it's supposed to be said. It's not Jackie Sel-i-bi, folks, it's Jackie Sel-e-bi. Weird thing is they ALL do it! I think they were briefed on the pronunciation beforehand. Probably by some ignorant white person.

*SIGH*

Job irritation

Why is it ALWAYS that when you do something brilliantly for months you NEVER hear any praise, but as soon as you make a single little mistake you are reprimanded? I think I do a brilliant job with the cash ups every day, I have NEVER made a mistake. For 6 months now. And today I get an email reprimanding me for one little error.
Isn't there something in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act against this sort of thing?!

I'm not sure if people think that we get a share of the company's profit or something, but ever so often we get people accusing us personally of the ridiculously high prices.
"Why do you charge so much?"
"You should give poor students a discount, you make so much money already."
It's note ME dude, I just work here. And definitely don't make money. In fact, I probably earn less than your parents give you every month.
Next time I am going to say:
"If you're concerned about the cost of education, try the cost of ignorance."

Fuming

I guess I should have expected a curve ball. It's come in the form of another stock take.

What?

Yip. You read right. We did a MAJOR stock take just 2 weeks ago (1 September). But now our company was sold to someone else, and we have to do another stock take. Not even sure why. They're not even telling us. This means we have to do the whole spiel again. Pre-count (TEDIOUS to say the least), scanning every single item in the store, and then checking for variances. This takes a whole day. In itself it is just ridiculous to do another stock take when one was done just mere weeks previously.

What really gets my goat is that the stock take falls directly during the time that my mom, sister and aunt (from Germany!) are visiting. This is the first "holiday" (it's not even that, just a few days off with work in between) that I have taken this whole year. The Saturday in question is the day that my family is leaving and rightfully my off Saturday. I have taken the Friday off and was hoping for a long weekend (I nearly had that Friday taken from me this morning, but I refused). I can't even spend the last few hours with them and drive to Durban to see them off.

No one here seems to understand why I'm so upset. I'm not sure I understand it myself. I think it's just that I feel a bit violated. I will be working all but one Saturday in September. That's 4 Saturdays instead of 2. This stock take has just been thrust on us. No one cares if your family that you haven't seen in ages is visiting. No one gives a damn about your feelings. I am powerless to stop this.

I HATE feeling powerless. When I feel powerless I always have to do something that helps me take my power back - like cleaning the house (guess what I did last night...) - I have power over what it looks like - or blogging - I can say what I like - rant on and on about how I am just one of a lot of employees that are pawns for the rich (helping them get richer).

Sigh.

Wow. I really do feel better.

Phonecall

*Gnome picks up phone and dials number of customer desperate for book. Phone rings a few times then is picked up but no one speaks*

Gnome: Hello?

Customer: I can't talk right now.

Gnome: Um. OK.

Customer: I can't talk right now I am in the middle of a meeting.

Gnome: OK.

Customer: Phone me at 12:30.

Gnome: Right.

*Gnome puts phone down rather irritated. If you're in a meeting and can't talk, surely you'll put your phone OFF?!?*

Humility (extreme lack thereof)

Oh.My.Gosh.

I've just witnessed the most revolting, unashamed display of boasting. And it's making me feel physically ill.

One of the guys working with us at the moment (2nd semester rush) just grates me the wrong way. I haven't come across a more insincere, manipulative, insecure braggart since my ex.

Luckily he has figured out that he's not my favourite person, and thankfully steers clear of me. Too bad for the girl that we work with - he just won't leave her alone (admittedly she is a lot friendlier to him than I am).

Fate will have it that she is looking for a (better) job at the moment. The braggart took it upon himself to sms his bank manager friend and organise an interview for her. Since the manager friend agreed, he has been telling everyone that walks through the door about what he did for her (out of the goodness of his heart).

I could hardly believe my ears when he repeated the story for the umpteenth time to a pair of pretty girls who were discussing philosophy:
"So my colleague here is looking for a permanent job. She's got an Honours in Marketing. I sent this sms to my bank manager friend, right, and he said she must come in for an interview at 9 on Wednesday. I did that because I just love helping people. Not for any other reason. It's just good to help people out. I don't do it because I have to or because someone tells me to do it. I just love helping people out."

Right.
Noddy badge for you.

And it really helps to boost your self-esteem when you tell the whole world about it.

ARG.

This has just given me a headache...

Nevermind...

I KNEW this would happen. Just when I complain about it, here my post appears together with today's post. ARG.

Slow

So yesterday at about this time I did a post, and it STILL hasn't reflected on the site. I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't move to Wordpress or something else... I hate it when blogger plays up like this... ARG.

Don't fish

Really don't like it when people fish for information. If you have a question, just ask me straight out! I went to the doctor yesterday, and one of my colleagues was really curious why. But instead of asking me why I went, or what's wrong, she kept saying:
"Are you OK?"
"Are you sick?"
"M told me that you went to the doctor and you weren't well! Are you OK now?"

Gee whizz man. Eventually I told her just to get her off my back.

I'm right

I'm not one of those people who needs to be right all the time. But I can't stand it when I KNOW I have said something and people contradict me outright. When we source books from another branch, there is always a courier fee involved. I make sure that I inform the customer of this, and get here consent. I remember a particular case where a customer was desperate for the book. I suggested us ordering the book directly from the publishers (which would take 2 weeks) but he said he needs it desperately. The only alternative is sourcing it from another branch. I told him about the courier fee and he said it was OK, he would pay anything as he needs the book urgently. I phoned 3 branches before I finally got lucky at a branch in Joburg.

So today he comes in and wants the book. When my colleague T wants to charge him the courier fee, he puts up a fight. T calls me and the customer says that I never told him about the courier fee. But now it's my word against his. I try to remind him, as politely as possible, how the situation played out, but he just won't hear it. In the end I give in and he doesn't have to pay extra. It's just so unfair though! I know what I said! I just don't have proof. And of course: the customer is always right.

Broken pizza machine

So on Sunday night, when my husband had returned safely, we decided to go out to eat to celebrate our anniversary. We went to Primi which we'd never been to but had heard loads of good things about. It was pretty empty which suited us down to the ground. Before we went in we asked the waitress about the food, and she recommended the pizza - she said there were 8 slices in a pizza and it was really good. So we sat and admired the decor, stared into each others eyes and had philosophical discussions about pain. We started out with cocktails. After sitting for half an hour, we decided to look at the menu. But since we had our heart set on pizza right from the beginning, it was easy to choose one of the great pizzas available. When the waitress came and my husband asked for the Calzone, she said:

"Oh sorry! The pizza machine is broken. We don't have any pizzas today."

Mmh. Surely this is something you tell your customers? Even if the pizza machine only broke after we had asked about the pizzas, I think you should let your customers know to avoid any problems. Our waitress even suggested we have a burger instead... Um. No thanks. We want pizza.
So we left and went to Panarottis instead.
It was so worth it.