Man down!

Well what a horrible thing to do...

I just had to fire one of my team, not a nice thing to do at any time, but this was the first firing I have had to do personally. Not that he didn't have it coming mind you, the guy was consistently late and calling in sick and just generally unreliable. In a support industry you just cant have that, our clients rely upon us being there and they never knew what was going on with their queries as we never knew when he would be in... but still not a nice thing to do to anyone.
Actually this is the first time I've had that conversation from either side so it was particularly hard as I had no inkling of what to say having never had it said to me, so I kept it short and sweet... well maybe sweet isn't the word... short and brutal would probably be more accurate!

Still, I imagine its like killing a man... it's never pleasant but it gets easier each time...

Oddly my working relationship with him started when I shot him in a high noon style shootout when we went paint balling with company... we were duelling to see who got to keep James as our name in the workplace... the loser had to adopt a girls name...

R.I.P. Becca


Here is a picture of Jim when we made him go bling (made him a target) for the paint balling.. oh happy days! (Is it wrong of me to reminisce about shooting an employee?)



Incidentally look out for my new blog: 1001 Excuses to skive off work - the Jim Blog

Dear diary...

Something thats always sat at the back of my mind was, well is: does anyone actually read this blog or is it purely me rambling off a bunch of random thoughts? I guess what I'm asking is whether this is being read by the masses (hi mum) or if this is just a glorified digital diary? Though I've got to say your feedback has been fantastic! Only the other day I was saying to myself, you know what James, that blog of yours is alright actually. This was acceptable as I was at home alone at the time and you are considered perfectly sane if you only talk to yourself in the confines of your own home. Of course things slip and occasionally I do find myself chuckling to a joke I just told myself at the bustop... eh whats that? No they dont need to know about that, shhh!
Anyway I invite you all to comment on any post you feel like... go on make me happy!

Irritatingly my personal email has been playing up recently. It's my useless ISP; I'm thinking of chucking them and going for another, of course this means changing my email address which is a pain.

I should really gt back to work... I am a manager after all and should lead by... wait I AM a manager after all and should darn well be able to do what I like! Do what I say not what I do damnit! Ahh the sweet sweet look of fear in their worked to hard eyes... nothing like the smell of despair.

Long time no see everybody!

Well yes I know... it's been a long time, and I've been lazy...

So now I'm thinking, do i just blurt out everything thats happened in the last year since last we spoke? Or should I tease it out, so it looks like I loads to say over the next several days...
Lets face it, if I dont tell all now it might be another year before you hear from me again, so here we go...

So, new job. yup I now manage a team of IT engineers for a company based in Putney in London... but thats work and thats quite enough of that.

You may remember way back in May last year, I was talking about my band? No? Well scroll down a bit you lazy b4st@rds! Anyway, I'm sad to say that the band is no more... well thats not entirely true the band is definately alive, just not in its original form. Yes thats right With Neil (founding bassist) working hard down under (I'm pretty certain he's only working hard on his tan) we have had to turn elsewhere. Where better than our good friend, local pub landlord, and sometime band photographer! Yep, Simon Spiken joined forces and once again we were all "workShy". Shortly after we were also joined by Charlie whom had on occasion joined us for a spot on the stage. We were now a four-piece. But enough about that! If you want to read more about the band go here: www.myspace.com/workshytheband and yes the writing style of the band blog may feel very familiar as it is indeed yours truely. oh one more thing about the band whilst I remember, we have another gig coming up and you are all more than welcome, details are on the aforementioned website as is a demo (gulp).
I have also been asked to sing in another band.. very tempting. I havent decided yet and of course you will be the first to know the outcome. If I do it certainly doesnt mean the end of workShy, just something else.

We have builders coming in next week to gut and redo our bathroom. I've got to admit I am pretty excited by this, it marks a turning point in the completion of our flat. That said I am also fairly apprehensive of this work as due to some spectacular planning (we have no kitchen currently) we will be with out water for a few days (remember... no kitchen, and I'm including the sink there!)... I did have one thought which I am undoubtably going to go to Hell for, let me fill you in...
Ok so you have the big picture I need to go back a few weeks/months (I cant remember the exact timeline), oh hang on... I think this deserves an entire posting of its own. so to cut a long story short, our neighbour fell and broke her hip a few weeks ago... leaving her flat empty... am I bad for hoping she will stay in hosptial another week or so? I mean theres free running water going towaste over there and we have been taking care of her cat for her....
Is it so wrong... it is isnt it? Damnit theres something wrong with me, can I justify it by the fact that the builders are going to need copious cups of tea and the water has to come from somewhere... I'll be quiet now...