Again, nothing exciting has been happening in my life lately but I felt the need to post because I’m bored this morning and can’t sleep.
Work is going really well so far, just a couple of quibbles. Such that the Staff West car park is almost back in Liverpool, it costs too much in petrol, there is one evil old woman who is out to get me (!) and the stocktake was shit so lots to work on. Other than that I’m slowly getting stuck into the work and resisting the urges to slip back to sales, usually helped by the fact that when I do I get the evils from the current sales manager We’re currently going through a relay along with also preparing for the security boundary move which (should) be happening on th 16th. So it’s pretty much all go at the minute, so when I’m done at work I’m usually coming home and collapsing in bed and watching TV.
Speaking of TV I’ve really got into the US version of The Office in the past two weeks. I’d always wore my hater pants on the US version before because… well, it wasn’t the original. And I think after seeing the pilot I’d kind of thought that as much as I love Steve Carrell I couldn’t watch him just being a carbon copy of Ricky Gervais. However, after watching some random second series episode the other week on normal TV I actually enjoyed it. So I downloaded S1, rewatched and found that it moved quite a way from the British version, in a good way. Whether I’m falling in love with it because I’ve fell in love with Pam Beesly, the squirrel haired cute receptionist, I’m not sure. But I’m sure it has something to do with it
Apart from that I’ve pretty much not done anything. I really need to go visit the family and sort out my room, but what’s new?
I am not dead. I am at Manchester. I am enjoying it. I’m sure I’ll write something more substantial in the near future. However, have some songs…
Hedley - Never Too Late its been too long and we’ve been down and out without laughter,
no smiling just tears
were tired of falling down and being such a disaster,
we’ve been here for years
According to Wikipedia a song about believing in yourself and the video is a parody of Rio by Duran, Duran. There you go.
3 Doors Down - It’s Not My Time I look ahead to all the plans that we made
And the dreams that we had
I’m in a world that tries to take them away
Oh, but I’m taking them back
For some reason the crash at the beginning just keeps reminding me of the crash at the end of S3 of HIMYM. Yes, I’m bizarre. But again, more 3 Doors Down goodness.
Buckcherry - Sorry This time i think i’m to blame
It’s harder to get through the days
We get older and blame turns to shame
‘Cause everything inside it never comes out right
Awww, the video is so cute, especially with it’s mock old lines drawn on it. Probably a college project or something? Also, there’s an acoustic X-Factor want-to-be on Youtube too!
Howie Day - She Says and when she says she wants somebody else
i hope you know she doesn’t mean you
and when she breaks down and makes a sound
you’ll never hear her the way that i do
Again, love this song too.
Anyways, it’s late and I’ve got a stocktake response to complete. The joys of being an Ops Manager ;(
Wow, it’s been a hectic and bizarre last week or two. As I’m sure most of you will know I’m moving jobs. Basically EvilBoss and me have been “not getting along.” I’d kind of resigned myself to not being able to get on with her after just having some insane clashes previously and had started to just accept that was the case and merely start responding to most assaults with a *shrug* or a “I don’t know” just because it was much easier than arguing.
I think I’ve come to the conclusion that the majority of the conclusions that Crishna came up with are correct. I think she’s very insecure and a control freak. A point in case is that she took the news team off of news last week, got her supervisor to do it and did some herself. The fact that she had insane amounts of other jobs on that week and wasn’t able to actually dedicate enough time to it so ended up fucking it up and missing getting credits checked off and rang through in time is by the by. I think she’s also quite paranoid as she keeps thinking that we are intentionally sabotaging things, hiding details from her and “ganging” up on her. Which is just insane. Some of the things I’m supposed to of sabotaged would benefit me more than they would her. Apparently, I sabotaged recruitment. Nothing to do with the fact she didn’t give me a vacancy list till only two weeks ago? But why the hell would I sabotage recruitment? Why would I intentionally want us to be short staffed? It’s not her that goes on the till, or does the rota and has to struggle with the fact there’s no one to cover the shifts, it’s me. So, surely, my life would be a lot easier if the recruitment was spot on, no? The same with the hiding stuff. Why would I bother? It’s petty and I don’t have time to be that petty!
But anyways, that’s all by the by because I’ll be free from her in one more working day. It should of been the end of this week as I wanted to see through the completion of the new unit, help out with us being short staffed this week and generally tie up any loose ends. However, we had a huge barney this morning that went a little like this.
Brett comes in at 4.45am, 15 minutes late but still with enough time to open all units on time, notices that EvilBoss is still in
Me : “Morning, how come you’re still here?”
EB : “Because the shops were a shit hole. I couldn’t go, they were awful and needed sorting out. Why?”
Me : “Well, there was no manager on last night and the supervisor had to spend 3 hours covering breaks, at which point there was only 1 person in each unit, as there was no one to help out and when I was in in the morning I had literally 2 other staff and me to open all four units, so I’m not hugely surprised it was a mess as we traded nearly all weekend without a fill.”
EB : “Well, that’s not good enough”
Me : “…”
EB : “You were the manager on!”
Me : “Yes and we worked our arses off to get stuff done but, tbh, we just didn’t have the time or the resources”
EB : “You were the manager”
Me : “I realise this, but I am only human and did end up working over 10 hours on each day, 4 over what I should of done”
EB : “I did 75 hours last week!”
Me : “And that is great for you, EvilBoss, and totally *your* choice. I am not paid for anything above 8 hours. I did 10, which is above that so it’s not like I just went ‘Ah, fuck it!’ and went home.”
This went on for some time where she was basically saying I was a law to myself and just came in and out when I pleased and basically insinuating that before she got here that we just basically came in and did whatever suited us and then buggered off. This *really* pissed me off as firstly she doesn’t know what we did when she wasn’t here and, secondly, we worked our fricking arses off for no extra money, hardly any recognition and a shed load of sleepless nights trying to get everything up and running. So, at this point it was 5am the staff were fleeting around whilst she was laying into me and I’d still not took my bag off yet. So, to say I was a little enraged was an understatement!
Me : “WHAT?! That’s Bullshit, EvilBoss, you weren’t here before you came here, obviously, so how the hell do you know what I was or wasn’t doing? Eh? How dare you say that we didn’t work our asses off? You’ve got absolutely no clue on what you’re talking about and you’re very close to having me just fuck off back home today because seriously I don’t need to deal with this first thing in the morning when I’ve worked my arse off to get the shops actually open for you everyday of the weekend so, please, don’t tell me that I’m a law unto myself who doesn’t do above and beyond the call of duty. If you want to work 75 hours a week, whoop-de-do, that’s fantastic for you but I’m no longer doing them hours for you because you just don’t appreciate it.”
EB : “…”
Me : “Now, what do you want me to do this morning, because we’ve wasted 20 minutes doing this when we could of been recovering the units!”
So, anyways, later in the day she rings up NewBoss and AreaBoss and says that she can no longer work with me and can he take me early, which he says yes to and the rest as they say is all history. So, tomorrow is my last day at Liverpool. At the end of the day EvilBoss came up to me and says that she’s doing this because she doesn’t want us to part on evil terms. I say to her that we’re not parting on bad terms, it’s all water off a ducks back to me. I’d be pissed off if the stores looked the way they did but she needs to learn not to jump down people’s throats before asking what went wrong. I doubt she’ll change, but I’m really not fussed because it’s not my problem anymore. Went to the managers meeting at Manchester and it all seemed to go well and, to be honest, things are looking pretty exciting over the next three months there with the landside/airside boundary moving and refits/relays/books unit coming up. So I’m a happy bunny!
Anyways, my little blue smurfs. Apologies about the post being all about work, but I needed to get it off the chest I’ll return to regular crap again soon.
Okay, so only one person gets that. Nevermind. I spent yesterday whizzing around London sat on the tube. I also met Jo, which was nice. So, slowly and surely I’m ticking off people that I’ve known forever on the internet and now know in real life. We walked around Harrow, up the damn hill and what not.
I haven’t really got much else to put as I’m kinda in a state of flux at the moment as I’m wondering what the fuck is going to happen when I return back to work on Monday. Well, technically I am back on Saturday but it is not until Monday when Michelle is back in and whatever it is that I’ve done that is bad will be communicated to me. Maybe I’ll have another performance review - because let’s face it, they are fun (!) I do wonder why she finds it so hard to manage me, it’s not like I haven’t made it clear how easy it would be. I am, after all, a simple man who just needs his ego stroked every now and then and the freedom to do his job well and to at least believe he’s being listened to even if he’s not. It’s not that hard is it? After all I thought the mark of being a good manager was that you can adapt to how each of your staff needs treating and react in that way to get the most out of them. I mean, surely it’s easier to actually get along with people as trying to purposefully work at cross angles all the time?
Anyways, here is some photos of underground signs and what not…
And that’s pretty much it… Off to watch Indiana Jones 4 tonight
I feel sad. I feel tired. I feel lonely. I feel pissed off.
Work is going not great. We lose three really good guys at the end of this week. Which means next week is going to be extremely thin on the ground and very tight but thankfully I’m off on holiday so it’ll be interesting to see how new boss copes with the stress of our store when she doesn’t have the backup of a full team of staff.
I’m not sure whether it’s her intention to make all the current staff (with opinions) miserable as can be and force them into leaving so that she can recruit her own staff or whether that’s just a nice little side effect she’s been left with?
As for other stuff in my life? Well, I just don’t have anything else. Answers on a postcard to “Where is Brett’s life?”
Anyways, here’s some nice photos.
I am into taking pictures of food at the minute. Is it because I love eating food? Or is it because it’s something I can take a close up photo of and it’s handy because my camera sits on my desk where I eat? I’ll leave the decision up to you!
Crishna actually took some photos of me that aren’t insanely horrible when I was in London a few weekends a go. But I’m still refusing to put up the photo of me in Portsmouth, I look more miserable than I do now!
Anyways, till next time… I’m going to ponder why I feel so alone and whether I like it or not.
Again, I have to apologise for posting. Again, it’s because it’s work that’s pissing me off. I finally spoke to my HR advisor yesterday to tell him that I’m looking to leave and that it’s because my boss is slowly driving me mad.
So a brief update on what it’s like to be ME!
* Hating work.
* Loving that I hate work, because it just makes everything seem so comical. I don’t know whether that is a bad thing or not. But the fact that I just laugh at everything makes me laugh. Erk, circle!
* Went to London last weekend to see Simon Amstell… Went to see Iron Man with Crishna and Han. Robert Downey Jr is lush. My man crush is back and I should probably go and rewatch Series 4 of Ally McBeal to see the wonder that is Larry Paul
* Simon Amstell was ace, but ill. His support act was a guy called Jack Whitehall who was pretty ace too. Although some of his impressions went on a tad too long but I did like “Sticks and stones may break my bones but fuck it I’ve got BUPA”
Apart from that that is pretty much everything I’ve been up to. I live a sad little existance, no? Anyways, have some photos
My Nokia n95 proving that it hates low light conditions, but I do love the green of the Greenwich foot tunnel entrance. I really wanted to walk under it… but I was with others so had to control my sad transport tunnel obsession
A beautiful chocolate orange tasting cupcake from a little cupcake bakery. Little being the operative word, it could only fit four people in the shop at once!
Enjoying some chocolate pudding!
Also, Crishna didn’t force me to tell you that she is incredibly generous and sweet for letting me stay at her house and she makes the best food ever, takes me to the nicest places ever and is possibly the nicest person in the whole of Surrey.
why do I always want the one labelled “doesn’t want you”? B
…you’ll probably move right through me on my way to you.
Like OneRepublic I apologise. Not because my songs are played over and over and over, but because I’ve not posted for a while. Mainly because…. well, work and the evil that is the new boss.
She’s been “with us” for coming up to a month now and I probably still despise her as much as a I did when she started, in fact maybe a little more. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for someone so… frustrating. Someone that wont let me do my job, or at least someone who obviously doesn’t trust that I can do my job. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to my superiors; all having a bigger knowledge of the business than me, employing me and having faith in my ability to do my job and not making my job harder by changing things that should be done by myself so that I’m almost in a state of confusion wondering what has changed.
Whilst I’ve been a sales manager I’ve understood my job to have control of the sales floor and to use my expertise within the travel retail environment to help drive sales, support the sales team and to create a environment that is consistent with the company brand. And in a sense when I was sales supervisor at Leicester and Nottingham this was pretty much the same as there was no sales manager at these locations. The relationship with the store managers have always been that they suggest changes they want to happen, moves they want to make, staff they need to improve and I would “make it happen.” And I’ve always felt that way worked well. I got the direction from “up above”, the job would get done and they didn’t have to do it themselves so that they could concentrate on the things a store manager should be concentrating on and I get a sense of pride because even though I’ve followed instructions I’ve added my own flair to my shopfloor. And (never one to be big headed!) it’s worked well. Every store I’ve worked at has consistently been within the top 5 on the company for Counter Selling, which is one of the simplest/quickest ways to measure how well store is pushing. We’ve always been selected for store trials of new initiatives because, I assume, head office has had confidence that the managerial/store team can implement it.
Anyways, that’s just me ranting because… well, that’s what I do when I’m pissed off. I’ve been toying with the idea of leaving the store, leaving the company or sticking it out over the past couple of weeks and I’m still not 100% on what I’ll do, there’s pros and cons to each option. If I stay I can have the opportunity to smugly grin when it all goes tits up and piss her off more than she could ever piss me off. If I leave the store and go to another airport it’s the jump I’ve been wanting for a while. If I leave the company it gives me the chance to change direction and maybe find something a bit more related to computing. Of course the last option is the most risky and, obviously, most scary as I’ve got no certificate or formal qualifications I can wave and say hire me and it could all fail big time. If I stick it out then people tell me there is the worry that I could get the sack but as far as I’m concerned as long as I turn in every day, do my job to the best of my ability and don’t have any conduct issues then I can’t be fired.
Now I’ve got that off my chest I’ll try not to talk about work for a while! Here’s five songs that I’ve been playing quite a bit lately.
The Last Goodnight - Poison Kiss Everyone is juggling hearts
You think that you never make a mistake
You say, you say
Everyone else is to blame
I mentioned TLG last november. I’ve since purchased their album and found that Pictures of You is slightly different than most of the songs on the album, I think the rest of the songs have a distinct Maroon 5 feel, not that that is a bad thing of course. Definately sounds good on decent speakers or through some nice Sennheiser headphones.
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer I hold out for one more drink
Before I think, I’m looking too desperately
But so far has not been fun
I should just stay home
So this song has been playing a lot on *plug*The new KMGX, The Internet’s Music Alternative*end plug*. It has a bit of a Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out” feeling to the beat, but that might just be me. The video is pretty cool though with dudes in suits dancing on the street in an almost Thriller like thing. Apparently about the lead singer’s inability to talk to women.
Third Eye Blind - Never Let You Go I never let you turn around your back on each other
That’s a good idea, break a promise to your mother
Turn around, let’s trun on each other
Good idea, break a promise to your mother
They only seem to have live versions on YouTube, here’s a not live one. Anyways, old song. But I love it. Again, heard it lately on the internet radio which made me go “ooh, I haven’t heard that in ages.”
The Last Goodnight - Stay Beautiful Post cards, throwing darts, side kicks and super marts
Break dance, second chance, I will run to you
Sideways, back and forth, wake up, hit the floor
Oh no, where’d you go, I will come to you
Okay, I cheated by putting in another song by the Last Goodnight but I’m late and listening to that CD a fair bit, so sue me. No, don’t. More poison kisses in this song too and, of course, a cute girl never hurts.
The Rasmus - Not Like Other Girls She lives in the clouds
She talks to the birds
Hopeless little one
She’s not like that other girls I know
She’s not like the other girls that I know, true. And… shit I’m late!
I must go to work and face the dragon of my dreams.
Good evening pop tarts. I’ve lost my wallet so if you see someone using one of my cards politely reject their purchases. Many thanks!
Yesterday I had a day off and it was sunny. This is the second time in as many weeks that this has happened and I didn’t want to waste the oppurtunity so I packed up my bag, camera, wallet (!) and headed out for a drive. I figured I’d go and pick Tian up so I headed in a Chester-ly direction and just meandered round the country roads for a bit. I have to say that I do love Cheshire, it’s such a lovely area and full of little quirky parks, roman monuments and other assorted funkeh stuff.
Anyways, enough of the waffle here is some photos, click to see the full Flickr page and commend and the like…
I also made friends with some of the wildlife whilst I was there. A cute squirrel jumped out of a bush (literally!) at me and then ate an acorn just like GiR does.
I also found a awesome little duck, but then he left me for his friend.
I also found out that sometimes you have to lie and come across as a a bastard so that people will move on and benefit, even if it does leave you feeling a little shitty and with people not thinking the best of you.
I think you know what I’m getting at,
you said goodbye and I just don’t want you regretting that The world’s least famous, B
…that’s the way I feel when I see him touching her.
In a slight change from the long neglected Friday Five here are some songs from some of the albums that I’ve been listening to as of late. Basically for the past few weeks I’ve had the same CD in my car in an attempt to do what Crishna does and repeat songs until I like them. Or in my case until I want to hit skip on that particular track. The CD is compiled of Simple Plan’s 3rd studio album Simple Plan, Panic At The Disco’s second album Pretty. Odd., The Feeling’s second album Join With Us and The Spill Canvas‘ fourth album No Really, I’m Fine. So here are some of the songs that I don’t hit “Next” on…
Simple Plan - Your Love is a Lie So don’t try to say you’re sorry
Or try to make it right
Don’t waste your breath
Because it’s too late, it’s too late
Pierre and friends have come a long way since me and C saw them at Rock City in Nottingham all them years ago. I’ve loved all their music so far but their new album was, to me, a big dissapointment. I only *really* like three tracks on it. This one, Save Me and When I’m Gone which I’ve already mentioned before.
Simple Plan - Save You And there’s so many things
That I want you to know
I won’t give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever
I want you to know that
I like the ahhh-ahhh’s in the song the most. But otherwise it’s a good song
Panic at the Disco - She Had The World I don’t love you. I’m just passing the time.
You could love me.
If I knew how to lie?
But who could love me?
I am out of my mind.
This is a fan made video which was so weird I had to use it. But I like this song, quite slow but still good.
Panic at the Disco - Mad as Rabbits Don’t you remember when I was a bird and you were a map?
Now he drags down miles in America briefcase in hand.
The stove is creeping up his spine again,
can’t get enough trash.
The lyrics to this song are indeed mad as rabbits but this song has some of the things I liked about the previous album. The quirky-ness, the use of band style instruments and the fact it’s got a lot of influences but is just strange enough that it’s pretty unique in itself. Which to be honest can be said for most of the album I’m actually gonna stand up and say I like Pretty. Odd.
Panic at the Disco - Folkin’ Around allow me to exaggerate a memory or two, where summers lasted
longer than, longer than we do
where nothing really mattered except for me to be with you
but in time we all forgot and we all grew
Every review has slated this song as being out of sync with the album but I *love* this song. It’s short and it’s very folk-sy. Maybe it’s just me loving that kind of music or maybe it’s just me being pretty odd. (!)
The Feeling - Turn It Up Don’t say anything
You’re talking but you don’t say anything
You don’t do anything
You’re moving but you don’t do anything
Possibly my favourite off the album. Not sure as the songs on the album that I like I *really* like. There aren’t as many strong tracks as Twelve Stops but the ones that are strong are really good.
The Feeling - Join With Us Please take your seats
All aboard
Tickets please we’re leaving town
Those may oppose
We can leave those fools back home
I don’t know why but some of the guitars in this make me think of Grange Hill… I’m not sure if that’s why I love the song but hey ho! Annoying that these live tracks have sync issues on the video/audio. Still, it’s the best that YouTube has to offer me.
The Feeling - Without You Tell me what I’ve always known
Life is love and love’s at home
Wonder if they miss me in London
The latest single and I do wonder what the time is in London, but then I remember I’m never out of the time zone. Damn expensive plane tickets!
The Spill Canvas - All Over You I gotta feel you in my bones again
I’m all over you, I’m not over you
I wanna taste you one more time again
I’m all over you, I’m not over you
Four guys from South Dakota. Sometimes it’s true, you just need one more taste. And that’s why God invented chocolate
The Spill Canvas - Appreciation When the spark reaches powder, I will blow up
I’ll become the mist you breathe into your lungs
All of my love will then turn into yours
And you will feel hope bleeding out from your pores
A song about strapping a bomb to yourself and… well, it’s pretty self explanatory if you listen to what is said!
The Spill Canvas - Battles Polishing my social skills
With one more drink, and two more pills.
I do not feel good, I thought by now I would.
But then again…
Yes, they might of nicked the 1000 paper cuts line from one of their other not so popular songs, but it is a cracking line and a good song. And top marks for getting in the guitar bit after “you’re not afraid.” It made me feel like I was back at my ranch feeling lonely. Oh, hang on… no ranch?
Anyways, my little stinging vinegar bottles. And you’re not even tasty balsamic!
Today is merely three pictures to celebrate me finding something cheap and gorgeous. No, hookers only cover one of them options. To be honest, it’s also because I enjoy pissing about with my camera and trying to one day be amazing, or at least something better than not crap. Anyways, go grab yourself a PUDZ Frozen dessert from Tesco for a quid now…
And that’s pretty much it from me. I don’t dare write what has been happening in my last week as it’s ALL work related and all about my new boss and I’m sure if I start I’ll never shut up and maybe just implode from the anger. I’m sure it and I will get better over the coming weeks. Either that or my next post will be macro shots of tablets and action shots of men in white coats.
weather=good AND dayOff=true… segmentation fault B
…I wonder what I’d do if they all did just what I said.
Is it right that I’m more stressed at work now I have a boss? Will it take her long to realise that Travel isn’t High Street and it can’t operate like High Street? Will I be able to actually do some of my (ever increasing) jobs when I return on Thursday? Or will we sit in a meeting with no outcome again?
Saying that, I really like the new manager. She’s very firm and has already upset a lot of the staff and shocked them into getting standards correct without backing down at all. Which makes her top in my book. But I do wonder how long it’s going to take her to get a bit more realistic with the job and let me get onto implementing the retail basics before getting into the detail. Alas, it’s been an interesting and amusing couple of days.
Anyways, after the stress that was work I decided that I needed a little walk last night and so took my camera and my lazy ass for a little walk around the village in what was a gorgeous dark blue sky. I also snapped some shots of the Mersey Wave.
And that’s why I say I live in “Halewood Village“, not “Halewood”. Snob? Me? Yes.
That’s pretty much it. Day off, maybe a hair cut, possibly avoid mentioning Tibet and definitely some shopping as I’m pretty much out food.
this could be the one last chance to make you understand B
So, I complained the other day that there was no pictures of the minx-a-licious Margaret Mountford who is undeniably the star of Sugar’s Apprentice. I don’t so much watch it for the contestants, the only part they play is fucking it up badly enough for the dynamic duo of Margaret and Nick Hewer to roll their eyes. Anyways, as I complained, I’ve decided to screen cap a couple of them just in case no one has ever seen them before.
Margaret Mountford is not pleased.
Margaret Mountford has laser eyes.
Margaret Mountford can’t cope with your incompetence.
Margaret Mountford sees through your lies.
And then there is the two stages of Sugar…
He starts off by listening intently, although you can see the anger building as his lips purse more and more, he wont last much longer.
Yep, that’s the right. His reaction to your comment is the same as someone who has just trod in a big pile of shit.
The man doesn’t like the idea of being breast fed by Janet Street Porter Jenny.
…I’ve closed the lantern, find your own way back home.
Well, today has been… interesting to say the least. The arrogant little tosser, let’s give him the hypothetical name of Tom, actually turned up for his investigation interview literally as I was just typing up the letter to send to him saying that because he’d not turned up we’d be making a decision in lieu of him being there.
I get ready to note take and the other manager grabs his list of questions. Before we start he says can I just say something first. Yes, sure. “I know why I’m here and I admit to everything I’ve done there’s no condoning that but I thought you’d just like to hear why I did it?” We stare blank faces in our best bad cop, bad cop routine. “It’s because I don’t respect the company, because I don’t think the company respects it’s staff.” So, that’s the reason you think it’s okay to dip your hand into the till? Right.
Anyways, we continue with questions and he basically admits to everything and we don’t need to show him any of the CCTV footage lovingly collected two weeks prior and sitting in the DVD drive of the computer. Damn, ’cause he looks so good in it! His attitude is starting to really piss me off and I break my supposed silence as a notetaker a couple of times due to me almost foaming at the mouth. So, you’re caught on CCTV taking a fiver out of the till, did you take £5? “Yes” Why? “I don’t know, it’s not like I need the money, I just don’t respect the company.” I called an adjournment because we were originally going to sack him and not get the police involved as really we didn’t have a shed ton of hard theft evidence, more lots of evidence of not following company policy.
Whilst we’re out of the room I tell the other manager that I don’t care anymore that he’s only 16. He’s running rings around us because he thinks he’s above us and that he doesn’t think we’ll do anything. So I ask him to add in that we will be looking to prosecute and are seeking Police advice currently.
When we return we explain what will happen next and summarise it up and then tell him that we’re actually getting the Police involved as this is a criminal offence. His face drops at that point and as he’s leaving I shoot him a look which is the first time he’s actually looked me in the eyes. In your face, biatch.
Later in the afternoon I actually ran into one of the Airport police dudes and just went through it all and he’s agreed to come back tomorrow and will at least visit his house to get the message across that breaking the law is not a trivial thing, even if you don’t respect the company. As I said to the Police I’m not hugely interested in getting a conviction or the fact he stole from me anymore, that’s been done. I’m more interested in wiping the smug little grin off the bastards face. And I know he’s not told his “upper class spoon feeding parents” and I think a visit from a man in a yellow coat would be much more effective at grounding the little git.
I also caught the “Flake Moments” shoplifter today who’s been plaguing our stores for the past couple of weekends. He was just your regular smack head smelling of piss, although quite a bit older than your average junkie, around 50ish. But they’re all the same in that when confronted (even by Michelle our little pixie of a member of staff) they panic. So when I got him in the other shop he finally gave up the game, for today and went sniffing fag ends outside. So all round been a weekend spent full of kicking the asses of thieves. Joy.
In other, not theft, news it snowed this morning and it was B-E-A-U-tiful. The sky was perfect blue and the ground was perfect white and I vandalised some poor soul’s car…
And now I’m going to cook a Fray Bentos pie. Yum! If I’ve configured my blog/Facebook correctly all my BuhSnarf.net posts should also appear (not in the best formatting in the world, mind) on my Facebook page too?
How good am I? I promised an update and I’ve given one in just under a day. So… a quick round up of things.
* New boss starts on Monday. It’ll be quite odd not being the person that the buck stops with again. But I think after the insane three months (really, is that all!?) I’m going to be glad of a little less accountability. Excitingly we’ve also got contractors/engineers/project managers etc. coming on Tuesday for a pre-build meeting for our new unit. We’re only a month behind schedule so far.
* The F1 season has started again and I’ve discovered that the best way to watch it is via Torrent. As long as I don’t get the results spoilered I can usually have it downloaded and ready to watch Monday evening and it’s the whole race in glorious HD quality and with all the ads lovingly removed by some amazing dude. Of course next year there will be no ads as thankfully the BBC have won the contract. Is it wrong that I’m not 100% behind Lewis Hamilton? I guess I’ve always loved the underdog, Hill, Mansell… It just seems there isn’t enough competition. No Schumacher, no Senna, no Prost.. But then again I guess I long for the days when I used to watch every race sat on my Dad’s sofa having some quality father-son time and was able to identify every driver from the colour of his helmet.
* Visited Woking the previous weekend as Antony told me to take a day off as I’d probably worked 15 or so straight days. Watched the final episode of Jericho with added Han commentary. Thank God I’d already seen it We also visited a craft fair, Kingston for a Creme Egg Shakeaway and I ate turnip which was actually quite yum and I got my one and only Easter egg. Ta Crishna! The craft fair had insanely expensive rings, clothes, candle stick holders and stained glass with possibly the world’s most condescending and egotistical woman.. “These are all for sale!”, “Yes, I think it’s the way I mix the colours.” Here is an insanely expensive ring…
There was also a nice table with the River Thames etched into it. It cost £1200, but don’t worry it came with TWO matchstick boats so you could pretend to motor along the river. Personally, for £1200 I’d of expected a working scale model of the flood barrier and Tower Bridge. Crishna got her shoulder in the way… *tut*
* I’ve started watching The Apprentice with Sugar daddy again. The first two episodes have been pure genius and actually make me feel good about myself as I seem to have better business skills than “16 of the countries best business minds.” It’s also come up with some classic SugarQuotes such as. “What ? Oh, Hello how are my pants doing?” And of course the amazing Margaret Mountford with the stares of death. I really wanted to put up a picture of her doing her snarling “Are you serious?” face but after Googling for the past half hour I’ve found all sorts of weird and wonderful tributes to the silver legend that is the Mount but I’ve yet to actually find a picture of her doing the almighty stare. However, I did find an awesome brick film which I’ve embedded below for you.
Apart from that… well, I’m knackered and have a loverly sacking day tomorrow!
I *will* make a new post soon. I know it’s been pretty much a month so I appologise but it’s pretty much the same reason as last time. Insane amounts of work, watching too much TV and trying to fit in a little sleep in around that.
* Tomorrow I get to sack somebody, if they turn up.
* I have, finally, fixed the problem with my Internet cutting out all the time. Seems it was a randomly faulty NIC. £39.99 later it’s all better. Although the help in PC World was awful.
Me : “Excuse me, do you have one of these open so that I could just have a look at the chipset?” PCW : “No.” Me : “Oh.” PCW : “Why would you want to look at the chipset?” Me : “Because I run Linux and I want to make sure this is the revision with the Atheros chipset, which works, as opposed to the other revision which doesn’t.” PCW : “Well none of them say they’ll run on Linux” Me : “Yes, I know that because manufacturers would never commit to that, but if I look at the chipset I can tell. Can I bring it back if it’s wrong then?” PCW : “Yes.” Me : “Fine”
I guess at least he’d heard of Linux, I don’t think I remember them ever knowing about that last time I used PC World. Also, it was possible he was just a random Scouser wearing a PCWorld uniform to steal a flat screen TV as he was messing with them and had a very broad Scouse accent!
So, last weekend was nice. I went to London to watch Jericho & Lost visit Crishna. I decided this time that even though I have a car and it’s convenient taking me from A directly to B I’d go by coach as it would cheaper by a factor of 3 and, supposedly, good for the environment. So, the 4 hour trip down was fairly uneventful although unfortunately I did have to sit next to a rather smelly foreign dude who kept receiving phone calls that I could hear over my MP3 player. Grr!
Saturday meant Kingston meant Shakeaway and I did the unthinkable… I tried a new flavour, Mars (Milky Way to US peeps), and now I know why I stick with the flavours I know so well. It was too sickly and too malt-y, probably due to having some Malteasers as a topper, too. It’s back to the tried, tested and loved Creme Egg, Strawberry Cheesecake and Boost for me on the next visit. And I forgot to take my freebee voucher, too
Lost - AMAZING, real mind fuck of an episode. I love Desmondo and I love the insane-ness of his time travel episodes, although I’m not sure I could cope with more than one per season! I’ve gotta do the review things so I’m sure I’ll mention it more then.
Jericho Ep3 - AMAZING, although predictable and was my second viewing meant that I picked up some extra bits that I missed the first time and also, of course, this time was accompanied by the almost-famous Han commentary. It was an odd experience having someone so passionately shouting at the screen.
Jericho Ep4 - OH MY GOD, just watched it now and I didn’t see that ending coming - honest.
And I just read on WL that Sun might be a casualty this year, from Lost… WTF will I do without my Korean beauty?
The trip back from London was slightly more odd and event filled. Firstly I caught a train from New Eltham (as I went straight from Han’s) and sat in a coach on my own for a bit of peace and quiet. That was my first big mistake of the day. Out of the toilet comes my new best mate, Mark the Mugger (?), and sits down behind me and for the next five minutes continues to tell me about how he’s going to steal my wallet and stab me with his knife if I don’t give him it. Which I thought was a little odd, but y’know this is London so I carefully and quietly moved all my cards/notes from my wallet to one of my bazillion combat trouser pockets while pretending to ignore him. I thought, y’know, best be safe than sorry. Anyways, then I had to laugh a little inside because he told me he was going to do it as he got off the train so no one would catch him. Then the silly fool gets a phone call and answers and he proceeds to talk to his “brother” telling him he’s gonna get to New Cross in 5 minutes. So, me being me and having actually read the departure signs listing where my train would stop think to myself, hmm, there’s still a couple of stops before we get there, so as we pull into Hither Green I get off the train walk towards the exit and then just get back on 4 cars back. What a pillock.
Arriving at Cannon Street I found that in their infinite wisdom TfL had suspended service on the Circle/District lines so I had to take a little walk to Bank and thank the lord that I’d left with enough time. Also, whilst changing at Oxford Circus some guy thought it’d be good to try and open my laptop bag to which I just gave him a stare and told him to pack it in. Grr!
The coach back was nice, spacious and I got a good way through the book I bought from Victoria WHSmith.
Okay, so this is it. Episode 2. Here’s some random thoughts and oddities..
Mimi & Stanley are boring. She likes barcodes and order and tracking packages. She’s just the cutest thing ever. And could Stanley be *any* cuter? Probably not. Although I have to wonder, how did they not hear that helicopter? I loved how Mimi stood behind Stanley like a scared animal. Them two have good chemistry.
The president is going for a “one of the people” approach it seems?
A closeup of a clock, to show things are back to “normal”? Beck likes Jake’s uniform. Lanyards and credentials, it’s like the good ol’ days. The pres is the biggest bird in the west.. is that the bird Jake looks at? I’ve no idea what a Condor looks like!
Chavez and Hawkins are planning to uncover the truth, but unfortunately it means that Chavez will get burnt. So, tomorrow they’ll either be changing history in Texas… or DEAD!
Beep, de beep beeep “J&R RAN BOXCAR” What is boxcar?
How does Darcy’s looks not give away the fact she’s undercover? Hawkins needs to do a bit of DIY.
Why do I feel like Darcy’s new Super Spy status is going to land her / Rob is some serious trouble double quick?
Special Guest Star… BONBON! And at least she’s using her head, unlike lover boy. D’oh!
Don’t you love how terrorism means that everyone’s privacy is eroded.. And how long is it before that system flags up our war torn super hero Jake?! Okay.. I guess he wont..
Emily is flagged up.. And Alex Utley, security clearance A, “Modesto Bee” is introduced. Darcy so discreetly (!) snags a walkie talkie. And what a surprise it’s only Jake that notices, hand that man a medal.
The condor arrives, I love how the two soldiers give Jake the hand… He’s the SHERIFF, fools!
The one man army, known as Hawk, takes out half of the secret service without breaking into a sweat.
Journalists don’t exist anymore? Does that mean no more annoying stories about Amy Whorehouse? Oh, what’s that? Not real. God damn!
Another excuse to the absence of the real mayoress of the town and Boring Eric actually gets a little snarly with Grey. Why does every TV show in the world have a big plasma in the office that is just literally relaying the output of another computer. I’ve yet to see this in a real office, apart from lecture theatres of course. And the scrolling text… fucking garbage, at least make it look at least a little techie! Perhaps she is a superspy after all. Well done on blurting that out in front of a REPORTER, Jake!
Awww, poor Jake looked caught in the headlights after Chavez jumped him and Darcy looked guilty as sin.. Why does no one just look at people’s expressions?
Jake is so gullible, bless him.. “Someone doctored the results?” Yes. And Jake is now finally acting like the action hero we know and love. Yay.
As much as I love BonBon (and I do, dearly) was her “You can sign?”, in sign, question a little like saying “If you can’t hear me say no.”? I’m assuming that Stanley doesn’t want to track a UPS parcel full of Star Wars glasses that was lost before the blast.. I’m gonna go for Mimi’s family?
Was it just me or did anyone else think that the chant as the soldiers presented arms after Smarmy Pres gave Grey the flag that they were going to shout Power & Chaos? No? Just me? Fuck.
It seems that the tradition of waving silly little flags when politicians speak is carried over from the USA to the ASA (no, not the Advertising Standards Authority.) And the President tells the people what will become of this wonderful nation running from the Mississippi to the Pacific and everyone cheers, apart from Stanley, BonBon, Eric, Emily & Grey who feel the shots from the military display as shots through the heart of the country they once lived in… Yes, I sobbed a tear for the US, too.
I still don’t trust Chavez and I’m sure that phone isn’t really clean?
How obvious was it that it was going to be Ravenwood and more specifically Goetz that Valente would send? I certainly saw that coming, anyways..
All in all a good ep. 0 screen time for Heather was a pisser. More BonBon, please.
Anyways, let’s go play army my little veterans…
I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight B
W-O-W! Normally I’m not a fan of Sayid’s flashbacks. But I loved his flashforward. He’s even more bad ass and mercenary. Yet, he’s still thinking with his heart and working for Ben! Holy fuck, I was almost expecting Christian Shepard. But I wasn’t expecting Ben, AT ALL! I, personally, thought that Ben was “The Economist.” Just, wow.
What’s been resolved?
* Sayid works for Ben in post-Island work.
* It’s an almost certainty that time distortion is in place on the Island. The “payload” was around 30 minutes late.
* Ben definitely has left the island.
New questions?
* Where’s Jacob’s cabin disappeared to?
* Who is the Economist? Is he also the leader of the Freighters?
Numbers, Connections & Re-occurances…
* Hurley in a cupboard was reminiscent of Cooper in the magic box.
* Kate witnessing Sawyer’s feet enter the room from under the bed was reminiscent of Sawyer witnessing his Dad kill himself when a young brat.
* It seems that Ben still gives lists post-Island time.
* Elsa and Naomi both wore the bracelet and were both looking for Ben Linus.
* 3.15 was displayed on Dan’s clock, this was also carved in Eko’s stick.
Character thoughts…
* Sayid makes a lot of deals in this ep. That he could be nearer the hole in golf. That if he got Charlotte back he’d get a seat on the chopper. Charlotte for Miles.
* Sayid also closes the eyes of two dead people in this episode, Naomi & Elsa.
* Ben has a little hidden room where he keeps his off island gear. Lots of clothes, a fair bit of different currency and passports.
* Sawyer almost proposed to Kate, telling her to stay on the Island and live happily ever after in the barracks with him. Sweet, even if deluded.
* Sayid is going on the freighter to help get to the bottom of the Freighter’s intentions.
* Dan and Charlotte stay behind but tell Frank to go on the EXACT bearing. This certainly backs up the theory that there is only 1 entrance / exit from the Island.
* Elsa was also a trained killer. Sayid tried to protect her, but in the end it was him that needed protecting.
* Ben really liked ancient masks, his house was covered in them. A hint to the fact he has many identities?
* Does Daniel have a little crush on Charlotte?
Team Update!
Team Locke : Whilst it was Team Jack looking strong last eppy. It seems the other way this time. Team Locke was working like a well oiled engine this episode. Hurley’s little deception of Team Jack, Sayid Branch, was fantastic and had me fooled.
Team Jack : Team Jack might have to admit they’re wrong. They’ve also lost Kate now but she’s been replaced by Dessie from the beach section of TJ.
Team Chopper : Frank, Sayid, Des and Naomi are headed back to the Freighter on the chopper.
Memorable quotes…
Hurley : “Oh great, the boat sent us another Sawyer.”
Kate : “So, what, I’m your prisoner now?”
Sawyer : “If that kind of thing works for ya.”
Jack (to Kate) : “So, does that mean I wait 20 minutes and go anyway?”
Miles: “Of course I’m affected, she was hot and I liked her accent.”
Theories…
* Each member of the Freighter’s has a different picture and different reason for being on the Island. This was probably used to sell each of them on the Island jaunt. Although so far we’re not sure why each person has a specific picture.
* Who is the Economist? Is it Jacob? He has a fear of technology as does the Economist.
* Or is it Alvar Hanso, or descendant. Hanso funded the Dharma initiative. Ben wiped out all the Dharma initiative. Hanso wants Ben dead. The motive fits…
Did you miss?
* The episode opened with Sayid’s eyes, both of them and closed. I think this is the first time we’ve opened with two eyes? Significance?
* Naomi’s bracelet is inscribed with “N, I’ll always be with you. R.G”. Who is RG?
* Elsa had the same bracelet, although no idea if it was inscribed.
* Sayid states in the “prison cell” that the day he trusts Ben is the day he sells his soul.. Has he sold his soul?
* Ben’s name on his passport was “Dean Moriarity.” A character in Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road.” Had an Abusive father. Or could be derived from Prof. Mariarity in the Holmes books. Widely considered to be literatures first “supervillain.”
* Daniel and Frank definitely know who Widmore is.
Guys, girls, transgenders. Tonight is the LONG awaited return of possibly the best post-apocalyptic TV show in the last five years. CBS have given it a lifeline by giving us 7 episodes to prove ourselves. To make sure we get the word out, to make sure that we get as many asses in front of seats so that the advertisers are happy and then they may extend us for a third series.
If you’re American, tell everyone… “Catch the best show on TV. 10pm eastern time on CBS!”
For us in the rest of the world, support it when it hits Hallmark UK in May and also support the downloading of it, I’m sure the companies must look which shows are popular on the Pirate Bay or ISOhunt, no?
And some fan videos…
The last one made me chuckle, it’s very old from before it got renewed, but still funny to watch I think. And here’s a behind the scenes look at the town and cast of Jericho… 26 minutes long, so sit tight!
I didn’t think they could beat last week’s episode.. But I was actually squeeing a fair bit through this one. WTF is going on?
What’s been resolved?
* The outside world DEFINATELY thinks that 815 has been found in the Sunda Trench, nr Bali.
* Rescuing the Losties is not the primary reason for the Freighters - Benjamin Linus is.
* Matthew Abbadon ISN’T an Oceanic Lawyer, but still not sure exactly what he is. Apart from bad ass scary, that is.
* Locke didn’t die from being shot as he has no kidney where the bullet penetrated him.
New questions?
* Why are the Freighters after Ben? Where is the picture taken? Doesn’t look like an Island location.
* How does each person fit the mission. They are all “there for a reason”
* Who is the “man on the boat”?
* Why does Daniel cry when learning of the fate of 815?
* Why wasn’t Frank flying 815?
* Why did they bring gas masks?
Numbers, Connections & Re-occurances…
* This episode was the first to break the one character-centric episode since Season 2 (Exodus). This one had four septate flashbacks. Yep, flashbacks are, er, back!
* The helicopter’s number has both 8 and 42 in it.
* Whilst Miles is ghost hunting there is a poster and two lottery tickets that have the number 15 on.
* There was 324 (3 x 108) on board 815.
* There was 4 in the helicopter.
* Saving lives. Miles saved Charlotte’s, Charlotte saved Ben’s, Locke’s father saved his.
Character thoughts…
* Daniel Faraday - Physicist - seen crying whilst watching the footage of 815 being found.
* Charlotte Lewis - Archaeologist - seen finding a POLAR BEAR in Tunisia with a Dharma Hydra collar.
* Miles Straum - a Ghostbuster(tm) - seen ridding a woman’s house of her murdered grandson, and some cash.
* Frank Lapidus - a Pilot - watching the news footage and then ringing the Oceanic hotline to claim “that’s not the pilot!”
* Miles knew that Naomi was in trouble, sister was code of having a gun to her head. He wants to see her body to see that Kate’s story checks out.
* Sayid & Juliette’s gun toting entrance was fantastic. I really thought Jack was blagging at first.
* Ben wasn’t messing around this episode. He shot Charlotte twice in the chest and was then had the shit beaten out of him by Sawyer.
* Locke was going to shoot Ben however Ben convinced him that he needed to keep him alive as he knows all about the Freighters and has a “man” on their boat.
* Frank had memorised the manifest and knew instantly Juliette was a native.
* Didn’t notice Jin, Sun, Desmond, Rose or Bernard this episode.
* Locke got in the meta-reference regarding Walt being taller.
* Locke was again able to predict within seconds when the rain would stop.
Team Update!
Team Locke : Locke & Sawyer seem to be struggling for control of Team Locke. Vincent has changed camps, taking Charlotte’s transponder with him.
Team Jack :
Memorable quotes…
Miles: “Where’s the chopper?”
Frank: “I saw a cow.”
Locke : “What’s the monster?”
Sawyer: “Taller? What, like a giant? Okay, what exactly did Walt tell you?”
Locke: “He said I had work to do. That I had to stop this woman, Naomi, from bringing the rest of her people here.”
Sawyer: “You didn’t ask any follow-up questions?”
Locke: “Whatever they came for, it isn’t us. We keep moving forward as planned.”
Sawyer: “Sure. Who are we to argue with taller ghost Walt?”
Karl: “Keep your mouth shut, Mr. Linus.”
Ben: “Karl. Now, if you’re going to sleep with my daughter, I insist you call me Ben.”
Theories…
* Why would they want Ben? They are all in some way connected to Dharma and want to enact revenge on Ben for wiping them out…
* I really like the theory that Michael is the spy on the boat. It would explain where he’s been and enable us to bring him back in this season.
Did you miss?
* The cow that was Frank’s encounter was wearing a bell. Was this the same cow from Mikhail’s ranch?
* Ben and Locke seemed very surprised that Hurley knew of Jacob’s shack of weird fun.
* Jeff Fahey (Frank) isn’t listed as a cast member, so is his time on the Island going to be short?
* Sawyer called Locke “Colonel Kurtz” and Ben “Yoda”
* Daniel says that the light “doesn’t scatter right” on the Island. What does he mean by that?
* The Oceanic hotline is a real phone number linked to the show.
* It’s now Christmas Eve 2004!
* Charlotte is Charlotte Staples Lewis. Similar to Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis.
* Dan Faraday. Faraday is a famous physicist in the field of electro magnetism.
* Miles gave Charlotte her vest, effectively saving her life as she was shot by Ben later.
* Whilst Miles was Ghostbusting the pictures in the hall changed. WTF?
* Lots of tie ins with the ARG, Find815 this episode.
* A poster for the Lost-verse band Dirt Spigot can be seen in the room Miles hunts for the ghost in. In the episode “Fire + Water”, the director of the diaper ad says that he actually wanted Dirt Spigot for the ad instead of Drive Shaft.
I can’t work out if I like Charlotte or not… she’s cute, no? B
25 years young. A geek working in retail. Kubuntu Hardy Heron user. Watcher and listener of many Podcasts. Lost Addict. Nokia N95 owner. Tube lover. Talks about crap. Lover of much music. Eternally poor. Part time web hacker. Multi-lingual. Cynical & sarcastic. And everyone's favourite Mole.
Bonjour!
We’re currently going through a relay along with also preparing for the security boundary move which (should) be happening on th 16th. So it’s pretty much all go at the minute, so when I’m done at work I’m usually coming home and collapsing in bed and watching TV.
…Mr, Mr Raven!
…you gave up all your dreams, along the way.
I’ll return to regular crap again soon.
…you’ll probably move right through me on my way to you.
…that’s the way I feel when I see him touching her.
…I’ve closed the lantern, find your own way back home.
…and on your knees.
..and do you think about me when he fucks you?
…that never knew their names.
Okay, so this is it. Episode 2. Here’s some random thoughts and oddities..
Another excuse to the absence of the real mayoress of the town and Boring Eric actually gets a little snarly with Grey. Why does every TV show in the world have a big plasma in the office that is just literally relaying the output of another computer. I’ve yet to see this in a real office, apart from lecture theatres of course. And the scrolling text… fucking garbage, at least make it look at least a little techie! Perhaps she is a superspy after all. Well done on blurting that out in front of a REPORTER, Jake!
W-O-W! Normally I’m not a fan of Sayid’s flashbacks. But I loved his flashforward. He’s even more bad ass and mercenary. Yet, he’s still thinking with his heart and working for Ben! Holy fuck, I was almost expecting Christian Shepard. But I wasn’t expecting Ben, AT ALL! I, personally, thought that Ben was “The Economist.” Just, wow.
I didn’t think they could beat last week’s episode.. But I was actually squeeing a fair bit through this one. WTF is going on? 
