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Jun. 7th, 2007 09:03 pmAn unexpected treat this morning - unusually for a Thursday, we had nibbles. Two bar cakes (one ginger, one iced layer) and a few biscuits. I got just enough people to interview to stop the time dragging, and finished on time for once. Since I still had half an hour to wait before the bus, I hung around to fill in the staff survey. As I went past them on my way out, Carol and Carolyn remarked I was late leaving, so I told them I'd been doing the survey and explained that we're meant to do it on our own time - we can do it at home if we wish - and can claim the extra. That didn't please them - they both declared that, in that case, they weren't doing it. Obviously an extra 15 minutes' pay isn't much of an incentive to them. I think they were miffed that they don't get to come off the phones to do it...
Went to the Town Hall this evening to see Jade honoured in the Volunteers' Awards Ceremony. It felt a bit strange going back there now as a member of the general public. As I arrived Jade introduced me to her friend Natalia and her boyfriend Martin. Also there was Andy; it was the first time I'd seen Andy since he and Jade got back together. We had a brief catch-up chat, then Jade and the other honourees got the call to go into the Council Chamber and the rest of us made our way up several flights of stairs to the Public Gallery.
The ceremony was a few minutes late starting. Andy told me his mum had died on Tuesday and he didn't think he'd be able to make it to Doncaster for her funeral :( When the Mayor and Mayoress entered, I caught sight of the Mayoress's chain, with the badge that was mine until last month dangling from the end... When the lady hosting the ceremony began to tell us about the first of the voluntary organisations whose people were being honoured tonight, it suddenly occurred to me that I had no idea which organisation Jade had been volunteering with. I had a feeling she might have told me some months ago, but couldn't be sure.
When Felicia Park were called, the lady said with a smile that she was calling them up early as their honourees were mostly teenagers, and she had a feeling they'd want to get away and get home "for Eastenders or something". Sure enough, after their group were presented they all left the Chamber - and a large number from the Public Gallery got up and left too. Several times during the ceremony the Mayor urged people standing at the back of the Chamber to sit in the vacated seats. Over the course of the evening a few more honourees, and a couple more in the Gallery, left once their own group had been presented. Eventually that led the Mayor to plead with people to stay as "there'll be tea, coffee and buffet after."
An hour later, there was just one little bundle of certificates still lying on the table, and Jade still hadn't been called. Then the mystery was solved, as the hostess announced that they were finishing with some "very special awards" - people who've passed the Preparation for Volunteering course. Jade's name was among them. As she went up for her certificate, Andy took a long-range shot of her with his mobile. The hostess and the Mayor gave brief concluding speeches, then we all drifted down to the Committee Room for the buffet. En route we met up with Jade, and Andy took a close-up pic of her holding her certificate and we all congratulated her.
As we made our way down the corridor, with the photos of the past Mayors on the wall, Natalia took great amusement in pointing out the pics of Jade's dad and my mum to us.
The buffet was quite nice. It included a new one on me - chicken pieces on sticks with peanut sauce. The sauce tasted, unsurprisingly, of peanuts. Unusual, but nice. Met the Mayor, who engaged me in a quick conversation about an area of East London where he grew up and then I lived when I was at Uni. A bit later, in the Parlour, I met the Mayoress. She was wondering what I was doing back in the Town Hall now - I pointed to Jade and explained that a friend of mine was being honoured. "Is she your girlfriend?" the Mayoress whispered to me. I rapidly put her straight - Jade and I have been friends since we were kids and that's all there ever has been or ever will be to it. She still didn't seem 100% convinced so I had to add the clincher. "There is a young lady I like, but she's not here tonight." At that the Mayoress advised me to "stay on the scene around her, and send her flowers".
I rejoined Jade and Natalia. Jade was a bit tired so flopped into one of the comfy chairs in the corner. We talked about South Coast Idol, the W*t*rfr*nt Festival (Jade was well excited when I told her Slade were coming, but visibly disappointed when she heard Noddy Holder is no longer with them) and telly until it was time for me to make a move.
Went to the Town Hall this evening to see Jade honoured in the Volunteers' Awards Ceremony. It felt a bit strange going back there now as a member of the general public. As I arrived Jade introduced me to her friend Natalia and her boyfriend Martin. Also there was Andy; it was the first time I'd seen Andy since he and Jade got back together. We had a brief catch-up chat, then Jade and the other honourees got the call to go into the Council Chamber and the rest of us made our way up several flights of stairs to the Public Gallery.
The ceremony was a few minutes late starting. Andy told me his mum had died on Tuesday and he didn't think he'd be able to make it to Doncaster for her funeral :( When the Mayor and Mayoress entered, I caught sight of the Mayoress's chain, with the badge that was mine until last month dangling from the end... When the lady hosting the ceremony began to tell us about the first of the voluntary organisations whose people were being honoured tonight, it suddenly occurred to me that I had no idea which organisation Jade had been volunteering with. I had a feeling she might have told me some months ago, but couldn't be sure.
When Felicia Park were called, the lady said with a smile that she was calling them up early as their honourees were mostly teenagers, and she had a feeling they'd want to get away and get home "for Eastenders or something". Sure enough, after their group were presented they all left the Chamber - and a large number from the Public Gallery got up and left too. Several times during the ceremony the Mayor urged people standing at the back of the Chamber to sit in the vacated seats. Over the course of the evening a few more honourees, and a couple more in the Gallery, left once their own group had been presented. Eventually that led the Mayor to plead with people to stay as "there'll be tea, coffee and buffet after."
An hour later, there was just one little bundle of certificates still lying on the table, and Jade still hadn't been called. Then the mystery was solved, as the hostess announced that they were finishing with some "very special awards" - people who've passed the Preparation for Volunteering course. Jade's name was among them. As she went up for her certificate, Andy took a long-range shot of her with his mobile. The hostess and the Mayor gave brief concluding speeches, then we all drifted down to the Committee Room for the buffet. En route we met up with Jade, and Andy took a close-up pic of her holding her certificate and we all congratulated her.
As we made our way down the corridor, with the photos of the past Mayors on the wall, Natalia took great amusement in pointing out the pics of Jade's dad and my mum to us.
The buffet was quite nice. It included a new one on me - chicken pieces on sticks with peanut sauce. The sauce tasted, unsurprisingly, of peanuts. Unusual, but nice. Met the Mayor, who engaged me in a quick conversation about an area of East London where he grew up and then I lived when I was at Uni. A bit later, in the Parlour, I met the Mayoress. She was wondering what I was doing back in the Town Hall now - I pointed to Jade and explained that a friend of mine was being honoured. "Is she your girlfriend?" the Mayoress whispered to me. I rapidly put her straight - Jade and I have been friends since we were kids and that's all there ever has been or ever will be to it. She still didn't seem 100% convinced so I had to add the clincher. "There is a young lady I like, but she's not here tonight." At that the Mayoress advised me to "stay on the scene around her, and send her flowers".
I rejoined Jade and Natalia. Jade was a bit tired so flopped into one of the comfy chairs in the corner. We talked about South Coast Idol, the W*t*rfr*nt Festival (Jade was well excited when I told her Slade were coming, but visibly disappointed when she heard Noddy Holder is no longer with them) and telly until it was time for me to make a move.
