Gone ... and already forgotten ... by some

Yesterday was quite a busy day for me. I had quite a few things to do during the morning, including sorting out the Wargame Developments accounts (no problems, just time consuming), sorting out my company's accounts (some problems [of my making thanks to transposing two numbers by mistake], quite time consuming), and a visit to the local cash-and-carry to buy some much needed household supplies and some new storage boxes that I will use when I 'Spring clean' my toy/wargames room.

The afternoon was taken up by a return visit to my former place of work for the end-of-term barbeque. I had been specially invited, as the Principal wanted to publicly thank me for everything that I had done, and I wanted to take the opportunity to say my final 'goodbyes'. I was also supposed to collect my final contract payment.

As expected, things did not go too well. The barbeque started at 2.00pm, and by 3.00pm the food and soft drink was gone (there was no alcohol available), and the assembled staff began to disperse. At 3.15pm there was an urgent announcement that we should all return to the area where the barbeque had taken place as the Principal was now ready to make the presentations. Furthermore, the alcoholic drink (wine and beer) had now arrived ... after the organiser had realised that none had been bought!

I was one of several people who were thanked for the work that they had done, and presented with a small token of thanks ... which in my case was a bottle of Merlot ... and a comment that the Principal had never before experienced a deputation from a group of students demanding that a member of staff should not leave (Nice one, ladies and gentlemen!).

We then said our final 'goodbyes' ... or at least I managed to say mine to most of the people I had worked with, but not all. One of my closest work colleagues had not bothered to turn up as she was having some TOIL (time off in lieu) for working over half-term, and my line manager was working in her office and had not thought it necessary to go to the barbeque. It is funny how you can work with people for three years and they don't want to or can't be bothered to come to say 'goodbye' to you ... and then they talk about how important it is that we respect each other?

Oh! One final thing. My payment cheque was not ready. It had been raised and authorised ... but was still awaiting a signature. I doubt if I will get it before September.

C'est la vie!.