Hectic Tuesday

I got a bit caught up in a new Quest on my online game and went to bed a bit later than planned. As a result, I woke up a bit later than planned. I had some trouble with attention-seeking Mips while I’m trying to gulp down some coffee and get ready for work. Mewthos in particular, keeps chewing the USB stick to get my attention. I had to distract them with a jelly sachet so I could sneak out to go to work.

At work things are immediately hectic. A flood of e-mails has come in regarding ... everything. Project management expects the labour-intensive job will be done BEFORE they get around to placing an actual purchase order (i.e. guarantee to pay). I get lucky, the company is willing to do that, so now I need the data to get them access to do the job – preferably tomorrow.

While I’m frantically trying to get that all set up, the truck driver, who is here to collect the Carnet Container, calls me – Security won’t grant him access, claiming they don’t know anything about a container collection (they were here to inspect and seal that container yesterday!). And just to add another bit of fun: the truck company hadn’t bothered to let the driver know WHERE inside the factory, we are! I had specifically attached a map with directions – but the dimwits behind their desks never care to pass such relevant information on to their drivers. At least they did have the sense to give the driver my cell no! If I were to contact the clerk to complain about their lack of communication they will seriously blame the driver!

To add a bit more fun to the already suddenly hectic day: Tomorrow will be a nation-wide strike! And one never knows, whether strikes will remain peaceful or get violent. Will it be safe to come to work tomorrow? Can the truck get from PE to Uitenhage unmolested?

First, though, I need that data I asked for. So: Call again, follow up.

Then I finalise the Health & Safety file and hand it in to the client.

An hour later: call to follow up again to get the data I absolutely need NOW.

It is getting so late, I’m beginning to fear that this job won’t get done this week anymore – but: From next week onward, I’m on my own on site! With the strike tomorrow, the equipment unavailable on Thursday, Friday a public holiday – I’m getting seriously worried. So I write to project management (together with the site manager) asking if the site manager can postpone his flight home – trying to keep myself a safety net!

By three I have had no response from anyone. No data to get access for the crew. Nothing from project management. So I pack up and walk towards the gate. Halfway to the gate, the site manager calls to let me know replies have come in – so I turn around and go back to work.

The reason, the project manager replied so quickly is obvious: His answer – “Tough sh.t!” Oh, and he spiced it up with a couple of digs – threatening to send me a real fathead for support! He knows me too well – and he knows what I’m capable of. He knows very well that I will find a way to avoid having that fathead coming back! Good management or good manipulator? A bit of both, I’d say. But then again, he is a cat owner, he he.

The second mail was the data I needed – with no apology for the five hour delay! Unfortunately, it’s too late to get access documentation for the crew. So I call them, the admin answers. I explain the situation – get no apology for the five hour delay in sending me the simple data I needed – but I’m now told the equipment is available on Thursday. What the &%$§? Why did you a) tell me this morning that it is NOT available on Thursday and then b) delay sending me the data until it’s too late?

Anyway, I’m promised the access first thing tomorrow morning and the crew with equipment available tomorrow – they’ll wait for my call (when I have their access), and IF they can’t do the job tomorrow, they’ll do it Thursday.

Why, oh why is it so impossible for anyone to meet requirements – when I already go out of my way to not only spell them out, but even make it simple for them to do so (as in, do half the job for them already)? Why must I, the paying client, go five extra miles to meet the purchased and agreed upon requirements? It is frustrating and exasperating!

Well, if all goes well, I’ll only be left with the four containers ready to go, which I’ll have to get done by myself. Sigh.

Back at home after an extra long day – both Ziva and Romeo welcomed me! Not together, though, Ziva gave Romeo a piece of her mind. I’m HER human, he better know that, ha ha. As it was late, the Mips did not get much play time in the garden. It was also too late for my neighbour to sit outside – it was rather nippy. And I am too exhausted – having spent the day rushing from crisis to crisis like a cat on a hot tin roof! The rushing may not have been physical, but believe me when I tell you mental exhaustion is actually worse than physical exhaustion! I’ve experienced both – having worked night shift, having done physical work ... in my life I have done a vast variety of jobs and work!

Fortunately dinner was just a matter of re-heating yesterday’s experiment (and I enjoyed it very much!). Quick shower, some play and cuddle time with my cats – Ziva kindly came in early tonight, so I could shower and go to bed early. She wasn’t happy that I wouldn’t let her out again – but eventually settled down to her fate.

I better get a good night’s sleep, tomorrow will probably be another hectic day.