Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 minute ago, tigerburnie said:

rather nice spaghetti chillie dish

Cincinnati Chili? In the region it's comfort food, to the rest of the US it's considered weird.

[monkeysarefun]

10 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

I found out what turned the dial down on the fridge. The dial is close to the hinge side of the door and the top of a pot of yoghurt on the door shelf brushed against the dial every time the door was shut. 

I wondered why the light in my new fridge regularly failed to come on, then the next day would be fine. Tracked it down to it having a "Sabbath" setting set as default so every Saturday the light would stay off and the motor wouldn't run.

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, Andrew P said:

BIG Congrats to @AndrewC, I hope the new job is all that your expecting.

Woteesed

 

 

5 hours ago, PupCam said:

the trouble started when Personnel became Human Resources

HR : Hopeless Retards.  In my opinion most should join the telephone sanitisers and advertising account executives on the B-ark to Golgafrincham.  Planet Earth would spin more easily and life would be better without them.  Nothing personal.  It's the job not the individuals.  It took our mob five months to recruit me.  It still takes that long which leads to shortages of staff as some leave but cannot be replaced until they have handed in notice.  Neither can anyone there explain to me why I am both receiving calendar-monthly payments from and making four-weekly payments into the same pension fund ......... Surely it should be one or the other?  

 

6 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

A Common Blue Damselfly

And a big one at that judging by that picture!!!

[polybear]

7 hours ago, TheQ said:

in the terms of HR haven't a clue the latest person offered to my boss as a deputy..

 

"he's a mechanical engineer, but he is learning the 18th edition...."

 

Bear recalls a caller to a Radio Station; he worked at an Engineering Firm (in Luton IIRC).  The "lads" became curious as to the qualifications of their "degree qualified" young Manager (it seems he didn't know a lot about Engineering) - so asked him.  "Art" came the reply.

"Why do you have a degree in Art when you're working in an Engineering Company?" they asked.

"Because it's the easiest way to get a degree".....

 

2 hours ago, Andrew P said:

BIG Congrats to @AndrewC, I hope the new job is all that your expecting.

 

When I was asked at a leaving interview if anyone had contributed to my decision, I mentioned the Sales Manager who would often get into the back of a new car in the showroom of a Saturday and go to sleep.

After I left he was PROMOTED to General Manager, I guess, so he didn't have to work Saturdays again. 

 

Bear never had a leaving interview (did Puppers?) - perhaps Early Retirement doesn't count.  I did note that HR authorised my application "within 18 hours" (it could've been a lot less, though I've no way of knowing).  Fastest I've EVER known them to make a decision - perhaps I upset them?  Oh, I do hope so, I really, really do......

 

1 hour ago, JohnDMJ said:

I recall the anecdote of a retired person being invited by his ex-employer to assist in the fixing of a piece of equipment which he had tended during his employment. He accepted and duly fixed the problem. Then he presented his invoice for £5000.00.

 

Needless to say, it was queried.

 

In explanation, he broke it down to:

- Fixing the problem £1.00

- Knowing how to fix the problem £4999.00

 

 

 

I certain previous (long-term) owner of C&L Finescale used to bill his clients (in pre-C&L days) in Guineas.  And for the sort of money he was charging it was well worth doing so too....

 

In other news:

 

Bear has had a choc ice.  Seem to disappear quicker than ever....

The roof quote has come in - I did mention that I was planning to have the front fascia & soffit replaced this year with UPVC (the back of the house was done just before the conservatory roof was renewed) and that has been included in the price; I wasn't expecting this, but it makes a lot of sense and is likely to save Bear money in the long run.  The price looks fair/good, though there may be a little scope for saving a little - discussion tomorrow I think.

Tomorrows plan will revolve around altering the fixed cold water feed pipework for the washing machine - at the moment the isolation valve points vertically upwards, but the new aqua-stop pipe currently "in the post" needs it to be vertically downwards apparently.  Bear can do that.

I can also report that the last of the decorative end panels has at long last been fitted - it's a tall one too, so I'm pleased to get it out of the way at long last.  As it's next to a doorway I've protected it with a couple of layers of corrugated cardboard packing to protect it whilst work continues.

[PhilJ W]

When I took early retirement the HR department faffed and farted about so much that when they told me that it had been granted I told them that I was going to take the two months leave that I was entitled to starting tomorrow and that would take me up to my leaving date. The panic on their faces was a joy to behold. In the end I agreed to work the first month of my leave which meant that I was paid double for that month. Rick, that seems an over complicated way of making pension deductions as tax operates on a weekly or calendar month basis and if your pension deductions are like most not taxable it must create enormous problems for the payroll department.

[polybear]

2 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

When I took early retirement the HR department faffed and farted about so much that when they told me that it had been granted I told them that I was going to take the two months leave that I was entitled to starting tomorrow and that would take me up to my leaving date. The panic on their faces was a joy to behold.

 

A friend ended up working the last few years of his working life at an Engineering Firm in Hoddesdon - he hated the place.  On his 65th birthday he walked into the Bosses' Office and handed in his pass - the Boss was somewhat confused.  My friend announced that as he was 65 that day he was now retired.  To say that the Boss - and HR - were embarrassed was an understatement.

[simontaylor484]

I didn't have any problems.with my ill health early retirement H R were very helpful they even chased the Drs for my medical records on my behalf the Drs had invoiced them and not sent them. 

 

my knees are blooming agony paracetamol naproxen and pregabalin have been taken to not a lot of result.

 

just catching up on Barnsley Casualty on 5+1 just in case I see anyone I know.

 

I find it amusing that they have to put subtitles on to cut through the Barnsley accent

[Tony_S]

We had a nice walk round the shadier parts of Hyde Hall gardens this afternoon. We did manage an ice cream each too. The gardens were quite quiet. Aditi had wondered about cancelling our visit as it was forecast to be quite warm but I said if it was that temperature on a Mediterranean cruise she would have gone on a tour without worrying. So we went. The journey home took a little longer due to tailbacks caused by earlier accidents. A gentle wander round Hyde Hall gardens seems to,be about my limit for a day out at the moment. I may even start to remember a few more plant names. 

It is raining heavily here, I haven’t heard any thunder yet. The radar map shows it out over the English Channel. 

Tony
 

Edited June 16, 2021 by Tony_S

[pH]

28 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

HR : Hopeless Retards.  In my opinion most should join the telephone sanitisers and advertising account executives on the B-ark to Golgafrincham.  Planet Earth would spin more easily and life would be better without them.  Nothing personal. It’s the job not the individuals.

I would say the individuals can have a great influence. I worked in a British civil service establishment where the HR department was superb, entirely due to the personality and character of the person in charge. They (he, really) acted between management, union and individual staff members with complete impartiality and discretion and were/was genuinely respected by all.

 

[simontaylor484]

Bear has been unfaithful to LDC again

[pH]

2 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

We had a nice walk round the shadier parts of Hyde Hall gardens this afternoon.

Rogue gnomes?

[simontaylor484]

3 minutes ago, pH said:

Rogue gnomes?

Sounds like the horticultural version of Soho

[Tony_S]

2 minutes ago, pH said:

Rogue gnomes?

There are various items of what I suppose are forms of sculpture but no gnomes. The annual scarecrow exhibition does have some dubious looking characters though.  

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Not been about much today but hopefully Emily will get some treatment and hopefully it’s not a serious issue. 
And congratulations to AndrewC on his new job. Hopefully it will be rewarding.

Been busy this week and have forgotten to thank  Chrisf for his information.

I recall couple of years ago contemplating the same ferry crossing. I think I was wanting to go to Koln and the cheapest way was by using a special offer by DBAG which was ferry and train ticket to anywhere in Germany for a set price but forgotten how much it actually was. SWMBO wasn’t keen as last time we did something similar it was Hull to Rotterdam and we’d booked reclining chairs to sleep in. We’d booked them as we were going with a single friend and he couldn’t afford a single cabin so we decided that we’d all book the reclining chairs. Absolutely terrible.

We have entered Switzerland by train a couple of years ago. I attended Intermodelbau in Dortmund and traveled to Interlaken by train changing at, I think, at  Mannheim and Basel SBB.

The reason I’ve been a bit busy is the usual mil, nephew and  Sydney  factor but SWMBO and myself are helping the neighbours across the road. You may, but probably don’t, recall the old dear across the road fell and broke her hip. Well,  she got herself discharged about a week ago by, let’s say a slight exaggeration, on the amount of help she had at home. Consequently SWMBO and / or myself have been popping over up to three times a day to check on her, water the garden etc. She’s absolutely fanatical  about the garden and it’s the only thing on her mind. We keep telling her that if she doesn’t do as she’s told she’s going to end back in hospital and the garden will suffer even more.

Felt terrible this morning whilst taking Sydney for a walk, I huge black wave came crashing over me. Early night tonight as up early for Docs appointment tomorrow so goodnight,

Robert

 

[Erichill16]

15 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

 

just catching up on Barnsley Casualty on 5+1 just in case I see anyone I know.

 

I find it amusing that they have to put subtitles on to cut through the Barnsley accent

It’s not my kind of programme so don’t watch it  but staff at work tell me it’s just like being at work, the same old faces turning up,

[figworthy]

51 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

HR : Hopeless Retards.  In my opinion most should join the telephone sanitisers and advertising account executives on the B-ark to Golgafrincham.  Planet Earth would spin more easily and life would be better without them.

 

Didn't the B ark set out from Golgafrincham, ending up on planet Earth (which probably explains much).

 

Experience suggests that the junior HR staff (those who would have probably been called clerks before job title inflation took hold) were fine, it was the more senior people who came up with the policies that were the problem.

 

I concluded some time ago that there was no future in work, so bided my time until my pension was sufficient to live on, and duly informed my boss that I was leaving (which was two and a bit years back).  Given the unwillingness of manglement to scratch my back, I wasn't the slightest concerned that it caused them problems.   Part of our resignation process supposedly included the facility to have a chat with someone senior from your work area, but our area didn't have anyone listed (no surprise there).  However my bosses boss had a chat with me, and asked me to let him know what I thought, so I did.  When I list the various short comings, he said that they were aware of them, and were trying to sort them out, but it took time.  I then told him that I'd raised the same concerns over 13 years earlier, and though that the intervening time was more than long enough for a bit of progress to have been made.  After 33 years, I reckoned that retirement was the best career move I ever made.

 

Adrian

[The Stationmaster]

It is raining - a nice gentle sort of rain so far which means the decision not to water the garden this evening has been well justified.  more forecast overnight so it might cool things down a bit.

 

In my final big railway job our personnel folk  below one senior chap and the personnel director had very little to do with industrial relations matters so it was quite amusing when my director asked me to go and meet the General Secretary of ASLEF and sort out a  a manning issue they were querying (having been wound up by one of our Drivers.  And it was 'suggested' that i should take somebody from personnel with me - probably so they wouldn't feel left out (and maybe in case we needed someone to share teh blame with).  So this poor fellow and I duly set off for Arkwright House and it was rapidly all too obvious that he wasn't just nervous - he was scared stiff.  I told him not to worry and it was only the General Secretary we were going to see, not the full Executive Council of the union and there would be no problems - which hardly reassured him or helped hoim stop worrying about ASLEF's reputation.

 

Duly shown iinto the General Secretary's office and introductions made and still with personnel man looking like a rabbit caught in car headlights.  but then the GS siad I don't think we've met before' to which i replied no, but l was an old friend of  so & so and I think you were at his funeral as well although we didn't get a chance to speak'.  Ice firmly broken by the mention of that name (who had long been a power behind the ASLEF throne) and the fact that I had been a friend of his and down to business which took about 10 minutes then a long chat about past mutual friends and acquaintances in ASLEf and finally I was presented with a souvenir of my visit - a nice picture of a Western 'Castle'.

 

Personnel man was by now quite happy as he got the message there would not a be a stand up fight and when we left he asked how on earth I'd managed to get on with someone like that so easily and quickly.  Simple answer years of dealing with that union and knowing how it worked and how policy within the union was decided plus trust - you don't get that sitting in a personnel (HR) office having nothing to do with people who do the job.  It would have been even funnier if it had been one of the subsequent General Secretaries of the union because we'd have greeted each other by first names when I walked into his office.  

 

I get the impression that modern HR people simply couln't do that sort of thing.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well some progress has been made today, but not as much as I’d have liked. But I always knew it wasn’t going to be a quick fix, as there is an awful lot of crap rubbish under there. The house is almost 125 years old that’s a long time for ruby to accumulate and there’s never been a need to shift it until now, but then, that’s how it goes some days. 

 

In other news, Sheila went for her haircut this morning, but returned home a few minutes later, having not had it done. One of the members of staff is showing signs of Covid, so the owner was turning folk away. 

 

By 5 o’clock this evening, I’d given up hope of my parcel arriving today. But just before we sat down to tea, the door bell rang and there was the parcel on the doorstep and the parcel force driver waiting at the end of the path for me to pick it up. Deep joy, I’ve got something different to play with do/test tomorrow         Of course, I’ve already given it a good look, I mean, I just couldn’t help myself. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Dave Hunt]

I visited Dad today and was pleased with his progress. The physioterrorists are working him hard and the improvement is remarkable as he can now get in and out of bed unaided, walk at least fifty yards using a zimmer frame, and go up and down a flight of five steps. His eating has also improved and he is now on a normal diet. A lady from the OT team is meeting me at his house on Friday to assess what equipment is needed when he is discharged, which the way he is going should be within the next couple of weeks once an initial care package has been arranged.

 

As I suspected, the reunion lunch we were going to on the 25th of this month has been put back to August 27th so I've got another couple of months to get back to my svelte (?) pre-Covid self and get into my lounge suit without cutting off the blood supply to my legs.

 

G'night all.

 

Dave

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, figworthy said:

Didn't the B ark set out from Golgafrincham, ending up on planet Earth (which probably explains much).

Yeah - this is about sending them back.