All packed for Chimay

You say 100 miles, I say 3 corners, lets hope we don't fall off.

That's exactly what failed to happen when I had squared-off 2CTs a fresh
set of Corsa 3s.

If the 120 quid blown on tunnel crossing, hotel and wristband wasn't
enough to stimulate me into going to Chimay even if it's a bit wet, the
promise of a new set of tyres when I get back certainly would be.

 

This is pretty much my take on it, too.

 

There's another possibility.

Perhaps there's no problem with your level of incompetence or
laziness, but they want someone cheaper, that's just as incompetent
and lazy.

 

Heh.

It's the opposite here. The boss is being suspiciously pleasant and
reasonable, and I'm wondering if that's because he's preparing my P45
or because, given the present staffing situation, he's realised I'm
the only guy who can hold the thing together.

 

I've been wondering how things are here - we always get positive
propaganda about how the business is doing but you never really know. So
when a colleague recently handed in his resignation (moving abroad) and
the boss said he was hiring a replacement, I took that as rather
reassuring.

Aforementioned boss is quite aware of how lazy I am, mind... I just
don't think he's worked out my laziness pales in comparison with my
incompetence.

 

That's about the size of it for me - I took it from Protyre down the
A10, pulled a dubious U-turn at the next junction, then back up the
A10 over the M25/J25 junction to the next roundabout, round that 3
times, then back down the A10 and home - that's run in as far as I'm
concerned.

When I picked it up from Coopers, I was riding like a totally fucking
ninny, slowing down more than cars on bends, as it felt really fucking
vague. It didn't feel quite as bad this morning (partly I think
because I was still a bit pissed from last night first thing) but with
the new tyre on it feels like a different bike.

 

Luck's not an issue. Basically, and despite a lot of vocal
protestation by the French that it's not happening, they're obviously
moving IT entirely, slowly but surely, to Paris, and in fact probably
downgrading the entire London operation to "remote site" status rather
than "joint head office". Permanent people are being made redundant,
and contractors are disappearing in London and the positions
reappearing in Paris. We had a "permie only" IT Staff meeting a couple
of months back - it was pitiful - something like 25 people, compared
to the ~75 there were when I started in 2003. And, /strangely/ enough,
the contractors we still have in London now seem to be 75% French.

Oh, I've had no stick - the people that have been made redundant in
the past 9 months have mostly been completely competent people, they
just haven't been French (or at least in France).

 

Perhaps they started monitoring the Post count to UKRM?

 

You are a family man with responsibilities now, so shape up!

FWIW I couldn't be arsed so shipped out instead ;o)

I'm slightly surprised after their support in the post IoM recuperation.

 

After the Printer debacle I should bloody think so!

 

Substitute France with India, Brazil, Czech Republic, and other 'low
cost countries' and you could be describing just about any IT outfit.

Of course the French being retarded probably haven't saved money on
their scheme, but will have more people to kiss at the coffee machine
each morning, and a better justification for their 3 hour lunch
breaks.

 

TBH that sounds more like he is going to tell you someone else
(significant) is going to seek CDE

 

FFS!

I'm going. I'm going for probably 10 nights so no matter what.....

I reserve the right to chase the sunshine of course.

I'm not exactly packed but I am more prepared than is usual.

 

Kinda, sorta.

this isn't a money-saving scheme - it's a "control" issue. They don't
like the idea of anyone making decisions of any nature, at any level,
outside of Paris.

 

I'm being thick - CDE?

 

I'd still wager it's all about the coffee machine snogfest.

 

Career Development Elsewhere

 

Ah, OK - no, it wouldn't be that - they'd just announce that sort of
thing "by accident" through an email to AllITLON@

 

Depends if they want you to replace him. This is not as ridiculous as it
sounds: the French are cunts, and this sort of thing very often has a strong
requirement for "fitting in". Once the replacement is lined up, then
they'll go public.

 

Well, yes, quite. I think there's one, maybe two, people here who
could have pulled off that trick. The amusing thing was the reluctance
of anyone else to take a responsibility, in the absence of the boss
(who was on holiday), and I had to say: "Let's just fucking do it, and
I'll cop for the flak if it's a wrong call."