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Jun. 4th, 2009
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Jun. 4th, 2009 10:19 pmElaine showed me round my new department this afternoon and explained to me what I'd be doing - basically assigning codes to deaths, according to their causes - and how I'll be going about my duties. She introduced me to Sue, who's to be my line manager, pointed out my desk and showed me round the area, meeting the six of my eight colleagues who were present on the way round (she said she didn't expect me to remember all their names, but I can remember nearly all of them). Then, back at her desk, she gave me a glance at the heavy code books I'll be working with, and talked me through a few more things. It all seems most agreeable, they seem a good bunch and I have a damn good feeling about this.
Had an hour's break before going on my final evening shift on the phones. Before the first half hour was up, I got an elderly lady whom the notes warned me could be difficult. She certainly was. As soon as it became clear that she wasn't going to get away with just saying "nothing's changed, goodbye", she became somewhat angry. She initially agreed to the survey when I told her it would only take 10 minutes - "but no more than ten minutes, I'm a busy woman". Yes, busy watching television and lobbing bloody gin down your gullet. No sooner was the introduction over with than she reverted to Mrs Angry mode and demanded "Don't ask me any questions that you've asked before." I had no choice but to give up on her.
The rest of the shift was rather busy, though I didn't get anyone else awkward apart from a foreign guy who had trouble understanding me most of the time. Though he kicked off in the middle about how after the first wave he'd thought we'd just be ringing up every three months to check he was still at the address and not asking anything more, he did finish it. Meanwhile, whenever I passed Sue #3 and Sue #4 they lifted up their index finger with a big grin and said "One day left!"
I was still on an interview at 9.15, when Helen had sidled up to me to see if I wanted relieving. When I finished a couple of minutes later, Hannah, Laura and Jay were there to say their goodbyes to me and wish me luck in my new job. Next was Julieann - although she, like me, is working tomorrow morning she still let me hug and kiss her *x* Some others came over too, including Steve who wondered "Who am I going to talk to about football now?" I reminded him there was Peter, but Steve said "I don't talk to him, he's a West Brom fan." He then said he'd be all right as Old Pete was a Portsmouth fan. (Although I have no interest in Pompey, Steve found me acceptable because they look on H&W as a little brother.) Lots of the girls were keen for me to drop by and say hello on a regular basis. Sweet.
Had an hour's break before going on my final evening shift on the phones. Before the first half hour was up, I got an elderly lady whom the notes warned me could be difficult. She certainly was. As soon as it became clear that she wasn't going to get away with just saying "nothing's changed, goodbye", she became somewhat angry. She initially agreed to the survey when I told her it would only take 10 minutes - "but no more than ten minutes, I'm a busy woman". Yes, busy watching television and lobbing bloody gin down your gullet. No sooner was the introduction over with than she reverted to Mrs Angry mode and demanded "Don't ask me any questions that you've asked before." I had no choice but to give up on her.
The rest of the shift was rather busy, though I didn't get anyone else awkward apart from a foreign guy who had trouble understanding me most of the time. Though he kicked off in the middle about how after the first wave he'd thought we'd just be ringing up every three months to check he was still at the address and not asking anything more, he did finish it. Meanwhile, whenever I passed Sue #3 and Sue #4 they lifted up their index finger with a big grin and said "One day left!"
I was still on an interview at 9.15, when Helen had sidled up to me to see if I wanted relieving. When I finished a couple of minutes later, Hannah, Laura and Jay were there to say their goodbyes to me and wish me luck in my new job. Next was Julieann - although she, like me, is working tomorrow morning she still let me hug and kiss her *x* Some others came over too, including Steve who wondered "Who am I going to talk to about football now?" I reminded him there was Peter, but Steve said "I don't talk to him, he's a West Brom fan." He then said he'd be all right as Old Pete was a Portsmouth fan. (Although I have no interest in Pompey, Steve found me acceptable because they look on H&W as a little brother.) Lots of the girls were keen for me to drop by and say hello on a regular basis. Sweet.
