Tonight's photo: I have run out of fresh photographs, so here is an old favourite of mine. It's water coming out of the tap in my kitchen:)As you can see, the blog is back to normal!
The other day I wrote, "Some regulars may recall me talking somewhat sarcastically about my regular meetings in Chatswood, (here is an example) and yesterday's was a First Class Doozie! All will be revealed later:)"
Now I can tell you:)
I turned up at a government related department for a scheduled meeting for which I had received TWO confirmations. God knows why two - but I guess they wanted to make sure they actually got something right for a change.
They failed.
Five minutes before the appointment I fronted the reception desk. I finally informed a young lady who had ignored me while she continued typing, that I had a 10 am appointment with Daniel, (not his real name). The snotty nosed little cow looked up and haughtily enquired,
"And who might you be?"
Bad move.
Casually I told her, "There is no 'might about it. I'm Mike Hitchen. Owner of Mike Hitchen Consulting and publisher of i On Global Trends. And you're the typist are you?"
She then looked at a diary and said, "Oh."
With this agency anything they say is bad news but when they say, "oh," you know that whatever follows will take the phrase, "cock-up" to new dimensions.
"Problem is there?" I enquired.
"I'm afraid Daniel is no longer with us and the person who was going to see you, phoned to say she is taking a few days off."
Oh bloody marvellous. I lost half a day's work and fees, just because some little union protected shirker in this workers holiday camp called Australia, decided to take a few days off.
"I will see if anyone else can see you shall I?"
"I suggest you do that. Perhaps you can call the manager. She knows me as she was very quick to email me with a nice but ineffective damage control letter after I sent her a catalogue of your incompetence, that I intended to make public in a newsletter to clients."
Her cockiness by now had receded at a faster rate than my hairline.
"She's on a flexi day." she told me rather meekly.
I took a deep breath and asked if there was anyone else available.
"You could speak to Susan" she suggested.
"Who is Susan? What's her position?"
"She works here." she replied.
"Odd one out is she?" I asked. Obviously her sense of humour had shot through as well.
Susan was phoned, and five minutes later greeted me with a hearty smile and an outstretched hand.
"Hello Mr Hitchen. Is this your first time here?"
Um no. I have been a client for three years. In fact, I have lasted longer than any of the staff!
It seemed a good idea to cut things short and told her, "That question tells me there is no point in me wasting my time going any further with this conversation."
I pointed to the reception desk and told Susan, "You tell the girl to make an appointment for me with the manager. If I arrive to be greeted by another wet behind the ears clerk like Daniel, whose whole career seemed to be based on using buzzwords he didn't even understand, I will walk."
I just relished the look on the receptionist's face when I referred to her as, "the girl"! God I am bad at times.
Wherever you may be - be safe!
