The sun is shining….

Isn’t it refreshing. We have had no Spring, none at all. It’s the first time of living in Tiddlydum to have no spring to talk of. The birds are tweeting, however, it seems that the foliage in the garden has gone from looking dead, to looking marginally alive. The sun has been shining today though, which has resulted in some happy people, especially the ones who couldn’t resist the ice cream trolley outside the front door.

The day in the life of The Green Welly Stop continues. Following last week’s crisis of losing staff, I was pretty pro-active today being involved in collecting our new additions to our ‘family’. They missed their connection last night, from Edinburgh>Glasgow>Tyndrum, so the plan was to collect them on the morning train. Went to the Lower Station at 10.25 on the nose, the train arrived, my heart sank, no staff.

Hawd on a mo… top station, off I zip, up to the Upper Station. No train. Luckily, Chris Sangster from the Gold Mine was there, and he explained that the summer timetable had taken effect. That explained the 4 carriages on the Oban train. Next train, 11.10am. Bugger, back to work, more caffeine. Off out again, up the the station. Train eventually comes in… it’s rush hour. No staff.

Rush hour in Tyndrum

I have my walkie-talkie with me and I hear a crackly message; “They have been delayed again, they’re coming in on the afternoon train.”

Ok, more caffeine.

My day continues, my office assistant Shannon is not well. OK, sort out what you HAVE to do, and then go home to your bed. Leave me a list about what needs done. Crap, I hope I haven’t played merry hell with the office…. Not good at that shit, being organised and stuff. I need a PA. Between that, and answering the dog and bone, it was an interesting afternoon.

More caffeine.

In the meantime, Edward and Iain (my big brother) have spent their morning in the toilet block. It seems like someone has gone out their way to shoogle the toilet handles until they break. How can you otherwise explain 4 toilets being knackered? Poor Iain, he was struggling to get into the gap between the outside wall and the toilet, not that he’s a big lad, it’s due to the limited space between the outside wall and the toilets. That’ll be the toilet block that Derek built (my much missed, departed Dad). He looked ‘quite stressed’. I chose at that point not to tell them about the staff not turning up… The toilets are still not fixed.

More caffeine.

So, anyway, 2.30 is approaching. By this time I have sorted out the induction packs for the new starts tomorrow and am quite organised, for a change…. sort of. I trot down from the office, no fecking car!!! Damn. Helga offers to go and get them. Sorted. Fortunately, our new family members arrive… woohoo! WELCOME TO THE MAD-HOUSE! In the meantime, I have a notice in my training room, that says words to the effect of; “You don’t have to be mad to work here, but we’ll train you!”

More caffeine. (spot a pattern here?)

It’s been a tough week, HR wise. Staff have left; planned ones and non-planned ones. Our recruitment agent has provided us with replacements. We have had ‘issues’ with our telephone interviews when staff have turned up, and it’s obvious that it wasn’t the people that were spoken to on the phone. Sorted that now; the question is asked, “What’s your date of birth?” Just like when you are checking someone’s ID for buying alcohol. Don’t ask them if they have ID, just ask them how old they are. You can’t help yourself. You will give the right answer. Thank you Molly, for that wee bit of psychology! In the meantime, I love asking our ‘older’ customers if they have ID, whilst keeping a straight face.

In the meantime, I have to confess that I have struggled in the last week. Those of you who know me really well, you already know this. I know that I need a couple of days off. I really do. It’s not good in Fi world right now… however, I have my motorbike to fall back on. I was asked to go out on my bike tonight, I declined, I know I am not in the right space to go out, as much as it was tempting. I opted for wine o’clock at Mum’s with Jess and Blair.

Jess is creative. She is. As we sat there and blethered, she was totally focussed on ‘homers’.

jess-productive

Jess Bling

In the meantime, we ate Mum’s dinner (literally). Chicken. Oven. Rice. Salad. Sorted. then Ed spotted the girls in the garden. GARDEN? Did I say GARDEN? OK, it’s a meadow, however, it seems the girls like it.

Keep left, deer.

In the meantime, life is an apple. You can eat it or not. Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes you just want to spit it out. At then end of the day, it’s all about being yourself. Deal with it. I am trying to. Run out on the bike on Monday, anyone? I am taking a day off. Would love some company. Tuesday for that matter, is a big day, for me. HUGE, in fact, canny wait!

If you have read this far, congratulations. Respect. It’s random, that’s for sure.