I did some shopping yesterday. And, as I often do, I forgot to take a bag with me, and had to use one of the thin plastic bags available at the checkout. But then again, I'm not feeling too guilty because that bag has already been reused to take the cat's litter out to the bin.
It was the couple in front of me at the checkout that worried me. As they came to the head of the queue, the woman produced one of the heavier "bags for life", waved it at the cashier and said something along the lines of "This one's battered. Could I have a new one please?" And, without a second's hesitation (or any charge), the lad on the till took it from her, dropped it on the floor beside him, and gave her a brand new heavy duty plastic bag.
The bag the woman handed over didn't look that bad to me; just a little scuffed. Surely that isn't how "bags for life" are supposed to work? I've been using the same one since before Christmas for my regular Friday outing.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Friday, 21 March 2008
The kindness of strangers, the bitterness of friends
It's Good Friday, which means tomorrow is Easter Saturday. And that means tomorrow is the day that our local motorbike club is meeting up with others to take Easter eggs and soft toys (provided by ourselves) to our neareast children's hospice. It should be a very heart-warming day, and one I'm looking forward to, despite the weather.
There's just one problem. We don't have a bike at the moment.
It's a bit of a long story, but in essence the old one's been sold and the new one isn't quite ready because the dealer's got one person on holiday and one off sick. We should get it next week, and it will be wonderful. But it will be too late for the Easter egg run.
MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) met this Wednesday, the day after we learnt we had no bike. We've only been going a short while and don't know many people, but mentioned our problem to the club chair when we arrived. So, having called the meeting to order, he asked who was going on the run; every hand went up. Then "Luc's new bike isn't ready, has anyone got a spare bike they could lend him?"
A voice from the corner "Yes, he can borrow my Wing". So someone we've met possibly half a dozen times is lending us a Goldwing - which, for those of you who don't know is a pretty expensive bike - so that we can join in on a special day for the Hospice.
There are some really good people out there.
Compare and contrast with the tale below, which breaks my rule about not writing about work/colleagues other than in general terms.
I've been in my current job about 20 months and generally enjoy it. I would appreciate more involvement in the mainstream work of the Unit (I do finance, recruitment and other admin-type jobs while the others do the worthy medical research bit), and I would certainly not say no to more money, but it's an interesting environment and the people are, on the whole, a pleasure to work with.
Then one of my colleagues passed me a vacancy notice for a job elsewhere that would give me both more involvement and more money. I applied, interviewed and - to my great surprise - was offered the job. The next day I told my line manager (who was aware I had an interview) I'd been offered the job, and she asked me what it would take to keep me. This took me aback, but I gave it some thought and came back with a few ideas. She asked me not to make a decision until she had spoken with the Director, and I agreed.
Some time later, one of my colleagues told me in private that someone had started a rumour that I hadn't been offered the job, but had lied about it to try to get more money from my current employer. She knew me well enough to know this couldn't be true, but she had heard it from someone who's been there less than a year and doesn't know me so well, and was asking her if it was possible.
I'd already decided I was going to accept the new job, and did so without delay. I spoke with my line manager, and explained the reasons for my decision. Then, separately, I told her about the rumour, and that I would not be able to stay in any circumstances as my position would be constantly undermined. She was - to put it mildly - upset. She had no doubt that the job offer was real, having know me for six months, and was sickened that anyone could even suggest it.
I don't know for sure who started the rumour, but I have a strong suspicion and, if I'm right, it's someone who has been there since I started. The friend who told me of the rumour says it won't be anything personal, but "That's just how she is".
It's a shame that some people can only feel good by bringing others down. I bet the man who's lending us the bike tomorrow has never felt that need.
I really must find out his name.
There's just one problem. We don't have a bike at the moment.
It's a bit of a long story, but in essence the old one's been sold and the new one isn't quite ready because the dealer's got one person on holiday and one off sick. We should get it next week, and it will be wonderful. But it will be too late for the Easter egg run.
MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) met this Wednesday, the day after we learnt we had no bike. We've only been going a short while and don't know many people, but mentioned our problem to the club chair when we arrived. So, having called the meeting to order, he asked who was going on the run; every hand went up. Then "Luc's new bike isn't ready, has anyone got a spare bike they could lend him?"
A voice from the corner "Yes, he can borrow my Wing". So someone we've met possibly half a dozen times is lending us a Goldwing - which, for those of you who don't know is a pretty expensive bike - so that we can join in on a special day for the Hospice.
There are some really good people out there.
Compare and contrast with the tale below, which breaks my rule about not writing about work/colleagues other than in general terms.
I've been in my current job about 20 months and generally enjoy it. I would appreciate more involvement in the mainstream work of the Unit (I do finance, recruitment and other admin-type jobs while the others do the worthy medical research bit), and I would certainly not say no to more money, but it's an interesting environment and the people are, on the whole, a pleasure to work with.
Then one of my colleagues passed me a vacancy notice for a job elsewhere that would give me both more involvement and more money. I applied, interviewed and - to my great surprise - was offered the job. The next day I told my line manager (who was aware I had an interview) I'd been offered the job, and she asked me what it would take to keep me. This took me aback, but I gave it some thought and came back with a few ideas. She asked me not to make a decision until she had spoken with the Director, and I agreed.
Some time later, one of my colleagues told me in private that someone had started a rumour that I hadn't been offered the job, but had lied about it to try to get more money from my current employer. She knew me well enough to know this couldn't be true, but she had heard it from someone who's been there less than a year and doesn't know me so well, and was asking her if it was possible.
I'd already decided I was going to accept the new job, and did so without delay. I spoke with my line manager, and explained the reasons for my decision. Then, separately, I told her about the rumour, and that I would not be able to stay in any circumstances as my position would be constantly undermined. She was - to put it mildly - upset. She had no doubt that the job offer was real, having know me for six months, and was sickened that anyone could even suggest it.
I don't know for sure who started the rumour, but I have a strong suspicion and, if I'm right, it's someone who has been there since I started. The friend who told me of the rumour says it won't be anything personal, but "That's just how she is".
It's a shame that some people can only feel good by bringing others down. I bet the man who's lending us the bike tomorrow has never felt that need.
I really must find out his name.
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