Festering Charm School #2
Posted: Mon 10 December, 2007 Filed under: Charm School, Festering Season, Work-related Leave a comment »
How to upset people around the Festering Season – the second in a number of lessons.
On receipt of a christmas card from a colleague. (Note: Doesn’t matter whether you like them or not)
“Great, thanks.”
[Buzz, Whirr (The sound of the office shredder in action)]
Note :The office recycling bin works just as well in this situation
Festering Charm School #1
Posted: Sat 8 December, 2007 Filed under: Charm School, Festering Season 2 Comments »How to upset people around the Festering Season – the first in a number of lessons.
(Note : This one was witnessed by me, not said by me)
“Oh, congratulations, I didn’t know. When’re you due?”
“I’m not pregnant.”
[Frosty Silence]
Delivery Times
Posted: Fri 7 December, 2007 Filed under: Customer Services, Domestic, Festering Season 3 Comments »Recently, I’ve had the fortune (or, in some cases, misfortune) to do a bundle of different purchases (No, not for the Festering Season™, but for birthdays, myself, and all that guff) and it still amazes me the difference in order processes- and in particular the delivery processes.
About a month back, I used DrinkOn.com for some wine, to be delivered elsewhere. The order process was really nice, dead easy – but wow did the delivery side let them down. They used a bunch of couriers called APC, who are (in my opinion) nothing short of shit. The first attempt at the order ended up with three bottles out of six broken. We complained, and DrinkOn sent out another order – which did get delivered OK, but all told it still took nearly three weeks to get it right.
Last Monday, I ordered two things from Amazon for my mum’s birthday, which (as it turned out) came from two different suppliers. One was despatched the same day, and got to my mum’s place the day after. The other one – ordered (and supposedly despatched) at the same time – finally arrived there today.
Then yesterday afternoon I ordered an OWL Wireless Electricity Monitor for us. And it arrived today – less than 24 hours after ordering it.
Now that is impressive.
Adverts
Posted: Wed 5 December, 2007 Filed under: Cynicism, Festering Season 3 Comments »Why is it that electric razors are only ever advertised in the run up to the Festering Season?
Is it that these men only ever shave in December/January ? It’s all very bizarre.
1 Month to go…
Posted: Mon 26 November, 2007 Filed under: Charm School, Domestic, Festering Season, Travel Leave a comment »Just think, this time next month the Festering Season will be over, and we can all go back to “normality” once more.
Of course, the coming month is one of ridiculous work levels and travelling – on Friday we’re at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham, on Saturday we’re down in Esher for something for Herself, and on Sunday – hmm, what’s Sunday? – oh yeah, Herself is doing a craft show locally. Then in a couple of weekends time we’re down in Reading for the Saturday night – being sociable etc.
There’s also a whole bundle of other things going on, but that’s the main stuff I can recall for now.
Still, one month to go. Not that I’m counting or anything, you understand…
Christmas Is Coming – Part One
Posted: Thu 22 November, 2007 Filed under: Domestic, Festering Season Leave a comment » It’s coming up to that time of the year again. Yes, in five weeks’ time, the Festering Season will be over again. Not that I’m counting or anything, obviously. *cough*
Already the outdoor Christmas decorations are going up, and the stores are full of Festive Tat. They’re playing bloody carols in the shops too – which I’m doing my best to avoid, of course.
Actually, for some reason I’m not quite as Scroogian and filled with animosity towards the Festering Season as I usually am, despite the fact that there’ve been mince pies and advent calendars on the shelves since bloody September. I don’t know why I’m less narked about it this year, but there we go.
Who knows, maybe I’m mellowing out. Then again, we’re not actually in December yet. It could all still change. What’re the odds?
Way too organised
Posted: Tue 6 November, 2007 Filed under: Cynicism, Domestic, Festering Season, Getting Organised 3 Comments »I’m beginning to worry about myself now. Following on from a couple of conversations with Herself over the weekend about stuff for next year, I’ve just ordered her main pressie for the Festering Season™. This is notable because it’s far more organised than I usually am.
Now OK, I’ve at least waited ’til after my birthday to do this, but it’s all a bit of a surprise, seeing that I normally don’t even start getting organised for the Festering Season™ before December. At the same time, this week we’ll also complete the pre-order stuff for the Christmas Day lunch, and can get that all delivered and sorted.
All in all, it’s just a bit of a shock to the system…