The First Of 2008 - Here's To Another Year Of Rants

God its been so long since I did an entry, partly through laziness, partly coz I couldn't think of anything to say. Ok scratch that last one. I was too lazy. Simple as that. As its been a while, I guess a brief over view of events is in order. Workwise:- our company is moving premises hopefully by the middle of Feb. Goodbye damp walls, cramped offices & flooded toilets & hello to warmth, space & extra lie ins... the new place is only a mile away from my house. Wohoo!!

Also I have got my long awaited payrise.... & a new admin assistant. Which brings me on to my main rant. Following three failed attempts at giving trainee's on schemes a chance, while I was on holiday (details to follow in a mo!) it was decided to place a advert in the local Job Centre for an experienced admin assistant. I got back & thought "great no more wasting my time training people only for them to leave". I shouldn't have really. After a week we had 4 applicants. J saw the first & on the basis of a war & peace-esque CV put her on a two month trial.

Now correct me if Im wrong but a trial means you wait til near the end of it before you say whether they've got the job or not. Not J. Once again one day in she gave this girl the job. This girl is 19 & fresh out of college. No experience whatsoever. So what the fuck are the Job Centre playing at sending her for an interview at our place. I saw the other CV's. Way better qualified yet they didn't even get the chance of an interview. I could have done the interviewing if J couldn't be arsed, which quite clearly she couldn't. Which company do you know only interviews the first applicant & no others for a job?!

So now we are having to pay for this girl to go on an intense phone training course the likes of which call centre staff go on. Further more I don't like her. For a start she's too goody goody & honest & I can see she's going to cause problems re my rule bending. Quite frankly if we played by the rules fuck all would get done. Anyway I'm waiting for the fall out on that one. As if me being dragged from my regular work isn't enough I now have to nurse maid this girl & I now have 5 weeks worth of government fuel claims to catch up on before Directors start screaming at me coz lazy colleagues couldn't be arsed to do it while I was on holiday when their was only 2 weeks worth to do. It's just snow balling. It'll be 7 weeks worth before I even have time to glance at them never mind action them.

Anyway this is making my blood boil so Im moving on to my holiday at new year. I was so looking forward to it for ages. I need not have bothered. It went wrong from the very start. When we arrived at the self catering apartment complex - let it be known I hate apartments - & went to check in, we found they didn't have enough rooms for our party of thirteen. They claimed a floor had flooded so some apartments were unavailable for use but 1) they wouldn't show us proof of the flood so we could take photos to make a claim with when we got back to England (my idea - i watch too much tv!) & 2) you could see when you looked around the complex that all apartments were full - the clothes drying on balcony's gave it away! Basically they'd double booked us. They expected six adults to share a two bedroom apartment for a week without re-imbursing us.

We argued for two whole hours but got no joy that night save for a free complimentary breakfast the next day (which never materialised) & a measly 60 euros per couple compensation. We declined the later & are currently claiming damages etc as we are back in the UK & the last time something really minor went wrong on holiday (didn't have premium seats on a flight to Florida& that was what he booked) my dad got £850 back so you can see why we elected to tell them to stuff their 60 euros. Actually credit where it's due my dad is pretty savvy for that kind of thing!

So the next two days of our holiday (bare in mind we were only away for a week) was spent trawling across Los Americas & Los Cristianos literally knocking on apartment complex's & hotel doors begging them for a room. We also asked every damn person from my home town if they knew of ANYWHERE that there may be a spare room. We did manage to find one just down the road from us as it happened & it turned out cheaper than where we were & way better. Typical isn't it. So this year to save on moaning, we are in a beach front 5 star luxury Cleopatra Palace hotel (pictured above) in Los Americas so there. & this time I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Anyway things settled down til New Year eve itself. As per usual I began my new year in tears but then in all my 24 years I've never not shed tears at new year. Blame my dad for reason's I don't need to go into coz you all know why!! So I didn't speak to him til my demands were met & it just so happens he caved in on Jan 7th. My mam & dad also fell out New Year eve because he kept telling us both to shut up & wouldn't let us have an opinion or speak if our views went against his. He basically tried (or tries Im not sure which tense to use) to treat us as children & he is our lord & master & we MUST do as we are told. I made my stand & stuck to it & got satisfaction from it. My mam didn't so she is no better off. It remains to be seen if I continue to be seen as an adult & individual & not a child through the rest of 2008 but here's hoping.

Ciao for now

TJ