Up the duff?

Pompous Ponce thinks that Bosswoman is up the duff. I think he's wrong, it's just her body structure. Why do I think that? When I first started working for this school several years ago, I thought she was up the duff too.

No baby has appeared yet.

An extra hour

Conversation last Friday with Young Secretary:
YS: Nice Spanish Teacher is still ill, so do you want an extra hour with group P next Wednesday?
MrT: Sure, an extra hour would be fine.

AN extra hour.

One.

I went into work on Monday and saw that she had given me three bloody extra hours with group P!

Annoyed part 2

(from last Thursday)

Economic Teacher and Nice Spanish Teacher were both ill last week, so the scheduled had to be adjusted to allow for that. Like I’ve mentioned before, people get ill and I have no problem working extra hours when that happens. We were given a revised schedule last Tuesday.

It turns out that I had to teach three forty-five minute lessons with one class (one was for NST) last Thursday. I walked into the classroom and the students looked quite surprised to see me and asked if I had been ill. I found that question quite odd and asked them why they had thought that. The told me it was due to the fact that they were supposed to have NST at that time and my lesson had been cancelled – needless to say that none of them had brought the books they use in my class. They also told me that they were supposed to go home after the second forty-five minute lesson. I was confused, so I ran downstairs to ask the office what was going on.

Bosswoman (I’m very glad she was here to witness this mess) finally figured out that the office had made the new schedule, posted it for the students to see, and then made some handwritten corrections on it and handed it out to the teachers, but had not posted the corrected version for the students to see. So, what the students had told me was correct (as far as they knew).

She went and got Bossman who was uninterested in all of this (even though it was very likely his mistake) and he said that we should blame it on the students (this is a frequent tactic he uses – nothing is ever his fault). I refused to do that, so BW went back up to the classroom with me to tell them that they had to stay til the normal end of the school day.

I resumed teaching a group of students who had no idea I was coming, with very limited resources (we did writing skills until the break). About five minutes later, BW knocked on my door to see if I needed any photocopies made or if there was anything else she could do for me due to the office’s mistake. At least someone other than me saw the idiocy in it this time.

Of course, the students weren’t happy with having to stay later than they had planned,so they complained to BM on their break, who then said that they could leave at the time their version of the schedule had said they were supposed to without being marked absent. All but one student left.

Needless to say I was quite annoyed at the whole situation.

Photo Friday

(a day late).

This week's subject: 'Rural'

Annoyed part 1

I had a meeting scheduled with Bossman for 14h15 yesterday, and he was nowhere to be found. The secretary said he had gone to lunch, obviously forgetting our meeting. I waited til 14h40, as long as I could without being late for my next (incompany) class and left.

Before I left, I wrote him a polite note letting him know that I had waited, and asked him to either call or email me so we could finally come up with a solution for a class problem before Monday (when we discussed it earlier this week, we weren't able to find a solution). Not a word. He's due to be at our other school today, so I don't expect to hear from him at all before their next class on Monday evening.

Quite frustrating and annoying.

I don't have time to write 'Annoyed part 2' now, but will do so soon.

Bossman is shrewd

We’ve just acquired a much needed additional (third) car at work. However, we had nowhere to park it due to the fact that our school is on a primarily residential street and we were unable to obtain a permit for our area (parking is done by permit in our city with preference given to residents).

Bossman to the rescue.

During her yearly ‘give me more’ chat with him, Bossman offered Young Secretary use of the car on weekends if she’d register the parking permit in her name (she lives on the same road a few doors down from the school). So, according to YS, Bossman has now given her a company car (she even refers to it as ‘My car’) that she can use whenever she wants, and she permits the teachers to use it if she feels like it AFTER they ask her.

The reality? The car is (legally) parked in front of the school, the key is located with the other car keys and teachers just take it and go off with the car when they need it. As far as the weekends go, we’re all allowed to use the cars at the weekends if we want (I rarely do) so BM’s ‘letting’ her use it is no big deal.

To sum it up: Bossman got the parking permit, YS thinks she has a car and we no longer have scheduling problems due to not having enough cars.

I am getting a bit tired of hearing YS bragging about ‘her’ company car, though.

Fresh Meat

New Girl arrives today at midday. As of last night at 21h, Bossman still hadn't found a flat for her. He had wrongly assumed that Young Secretary would let her move in to Secret Smoker's old bedroom and be YS' flatmate.

Also, I need to think of a better name for New Guy. What's he like? He smiles a lot, has a loud voice and laugh, is generally pleasant and has been known to sex up the truth a bit. He takes everything personally and frequently looks for implications that aren't there. Suggestions?

Bossman’s favourite game

Bossman left for our other school earlier than usual last week before I had a chance to talk to him about an important issue that needs to be handled before an evening class today. So, I emailed him Friday afternoon about it and have yet to hear back (he checks his email several times every day, including weekends).

I’m really getting fed up with his ‘ignore it and it’ll go away’ game.

****Update **** 15 Feb 05 - 22h

I walked into Bossman's office today and said, 'I've been trying your technique, but it's not working.' He asked me what I was talking about and I told him that I had been trying to ignore the problem with that class, but it's still there. 'What is Plan B for when your 'ignore it and it'll go away' thing doesn't work'?

He looked shocked that I would say such a thing, and we then discussed it.

Busy

I've been very busy at work, plus Fun Colleague is on hols so I'm covering a few of her classes too.

Overtime

I dreamt about work for most of the night last night. Does this mean I can put in for overtime?

Photo Friday

My Photo Friday entry is up (entry #461), albeit a bit late due to being on hols. This week's subject is Distorted

It's about time

I walked into the office one day last week and Old Secretary said, 'Goodbye' and walked out the door. She didn't have her coat on, so I asked Young Secretary where she was going, and the reply was, 'She's going to the computer room for a computer lesson.' Apparently Bossman has become fed up with ler lack of computer skills.

I really don't think it'll help much, though.

Off

Right, off I go into friendly skies in search of sun. Hopefully someone will pop in while I'm gone, if not, see you on 9 Feb.

I'll leave you with this:

Odd searches on that have found my blog:

PLAYING CARDS (BATTLING) (Google)
skylight blind in jakarta (Google)
broken photocopier pictures (Google)
Elmo bounce ball (Yahoo)
PACKER FANS MOONING BUS (Google)

Alcohol is good

New Guy, Friend-Visiting-From-Out-Of-Town and I went out for drinks on Saturday night. We started off at 17h30 at a happy hour and left the fourth pub at 1h15 this Sunday morning. Here's what NG volunteered:

1. Bossman has told him that I am a very good teacher a few times.

2. A big reason that other colleagues have a negative attitude towards me because when I say, 'No,' they think I'm telling them to fuck off.
Example:
Random Colleague: 'Mr T, do you know of any good games or activities for (insert grammar point)?'
MrT: 'No, sorry I don't.'

Apparently that means 'fuck off' to many of my colleagues. When I say 'No', I mean 'No', not 'Fuck off'. If I wanted to tell someone to 'Fuck off', I'd say 'Fuck off'.

Guest bloggers wanted!

I'll be away searching for the sun again 3 - 8 Feb and would like a few people to keep my blog company. Any takers? Leave a message or email me before 23h ((GMT + 1)) 2 Feb 05) All are welcome, especially those that have guest blogged for me before.