Pamwe Chete

Solid dudes

Me and geoffkins are here together in Mud Island (in our leetl Engelend). We're listening to Mann Friday, culled a bottle of scotch and are full of the preverbial kak.

Solid (WTF!!!!)

Anyways will post soon

Cheers

*hic*

Frambosen

Yes Yes... I know I've been bad not updating the bog. Anyways these things happen.

So what's happened in the past 3 weeks....

Well some of you may already know, but my mom came out for a holiday and to see me. Was interesting in that Derek's mom was also on the same flight and we were both there at the airport to see them.

My mom was definitely shocked to see the weight that I had put on over the past 19 months (hell, it still weirds me out that I hadn't seen her for so long).

The statistics:

• My weight has gone from 75kg to 95kg since leaving Zim
• My waist size has gone from 34 to a tight 38
• My neck size has gone from 16.5 to 17

Kinda scary ain't it.

However I have started shedding the weight as have been eating regularly and have begun to learn to cook for myself (added bonus is the savings from not snacking out the whole time).

Well the last 3 weeks of my mom being around has been great - was a pity that she couldn't stay for longer.
Was quite sad taking her to the airport last night as it will be about another 6 months to a year before I see her again (Suppose I can take some comfort in that my dad will be coming over in about 2 and a half months for a break as well).

Other news...
Started with the new company on Monday and it has been nothing short of great. Most of the people I've met so far are all Southern Hemisphere folk and the one key partner I will be working for is a Zimbabwean. The vibe in the office is awesome - kind of reminds me of a cross between the old BRO'C and JHB office when I first joined the last firm. Definitely am enthusiastic and am hoping that the good vibe continues.

Anyways don't have a hell of a lot else to say at the moment but will post again soon

BTW - Frambozen is a Belgian Raspberry Brown Ale and have just tucked into one of those.
The Kriek is on it's way :-)

Counting Down

Yes it's that time again...

I have to say that the past week and a bit has been interesting and that if it weren't for the manager I work for here I would probably have gone out of my mind (ok... no snarky comments now... I probably already am, but I'm fragile).
Have been kept busy with the coordination of the beginnings of a massive engagement and have to say it's been the best fun I have had during my time here in the UK work environment.

Anyways as these final days go through their motions I have had one of those out of body experiences whereby you almost see everything happening around you from a completely different perspective. It's amazing the clarity it brings to one to just be able to see things from a different perspective with no agenda needing to be addressed.

As most of you know I've always been pretty passionate about my music... so imagine listening to an acoustic pop-rock band which is primarily composed of Zimbos who sing of Africa and call things as they are.
Now I know you probably think that this is the perfect cocktail to depression, but I find them also uplifting.
Check these guys out - www.mannfriday.com
They have most of their songs available for free download off their website.
A definite one to stirr up the emotions of Zimbos is hole in the door, whilst gin and tonic sky of love is all about beach holidaying in Moz. Anyways hope you guys have a look at the site and enjoy all the music and the memories that it will generate.

For once this is going to be a short post - kind of got listening to the music whilst writing this and am just going to chill and do the whole "Damn it feels good to be a gangster" thing. Stay tuned for a post sometime soon.

Reactions

Well reactions to the resignation have been interesting but on the whole fairly predictable:

• The departmental HR team have accepted it and are following procedure :-) [they'd fire themselves if they didn't - LOL]
  
• The managers that I have worked closely with have been upset by the news, but they understand my frustration
• Have heard nothing from my counselling partner
  
• Quite a number of my colleagues have come up and chatted with me over the week and to wish me well (some may also be deciding to leave over the coming weeks)
• Ah yes, my counselling manager.....
  

Now my counselling manager got hold of me at the beginning of the week to arrange a meeting with one of the resourcing partners, himself and me to discuss my decision.

Well... the resourcing partner got hold of me the next day and had a chat with me (sadly he said he wouldn't be able to make the meeting with my counselling manager). Basically he wanted to know all my reasons for wanting to go. At the end of it all he told me that he was shocked that I was going and that he would like to try and see if there is something that could be done that may make me change my mind and stay.

The obvious answer is simply that I want a change in counselling manager, a promotion (and obviously the salary to match). I don't believe that these are unreasonable and at the end of the day I won't stay for less.

Given that the resourcing partner was unable to make the meeting with my counselling manager I wasn't very enthusiastic at having a meeting with my counselling manager as I didn't believe it would amount to much. To my surprise... NOT... Instead of it being a session to try and talk me out of leaving, my counselling manager successfully managed to turn it around and use it as a feedback session on all my perceived faults - ironic that I am the negative one :-)

I was initially impressed that he was able to keep quiet enough for me to get some of my main points out. However I knew it was too good to be true cos as soon as the opportunity arose, he siezed on the moment to point out my perceived deficiencies. He then went on to provide his constuctive feedback as to what I should always keep at the front of my mind in terms of character development. So all in all, he acknowledged some of my issues, but didn't do anything to try make me reconsider my decision to leave... [now this is exactly what I anticipated would be the outcome of a meeting with him - at the end of the day he is predictable and I knew the meeting with him only would be pointless].
Anyways he did suggest we have a drink or two later on as he will be away shortly [yes the poor man has to travel every now and again - arrogant bugger expects my sympathy - hell at least he gets to go to glamourous places] and may not have the opportunity to bid me farewell later on [Ahhhh Bless]

Ok... for a small dose of sh*ts and giggles I decided to do my little bit to annoy him and keep him waiting in reception whilst I packed up my things at the end of the day.
[Whilst this doesn't seem much on the surface, it appealed to my humour as he generally is the one who comes late to meetings and keeps me waiting].
It was such a pity that he was occupied on the phone whilst waiting that he didn't have to get irritated with my tardiness. Anyways the pub was uneventful for the first drink. Come the second drink he decided to test the water and offer me a different role in the department and possibly a promotion in 6 months if I meet the criteria.
[Now call me slow, but isn't this why I resigned, I want a promotion now - I already meet the damned criteria]

Oh well, at least I got a couple free drinks out the guy. Will just wait and see what the resourcing partner decides to do (if anything), but am not holding my breath. However to his credit he ain't some poxy manager with a closed mentality and did show a genuine concern when he first spoke with me. Stay tuned for future developments, however the show must go on and at present it is about to jump ship.

So guess that this is all for this week. Will add more bog in due course.

Endings (Gatvol) and New Beginnings

Hey all

*cheesy drum roll*....

I resigned on Thursday and have to admit that my feelings did swing from high to low with extremes of sweet and sour.

No I have not decided to throw away a decent paying job to do any of the following

• help the poor / blind / aged / orphans etc.
  
• teaching
  
• research
• find myself
  

Instead I am taking on a higher-level and more rewarding position with one of the competitor firms.
[Ahhh... bless ...]

Given the position I find myself in, the move seems like the best option for me in so many different ways. Those of you who know me will know that I am direct and do not appreciate being messed around. So when I found myself on the receiving end of yet another pathetic (oh and I do mean pathetic) excuse as to why I was not worth putting up for promotion I snapped and said "stuff it!" to loyalty. How completely satisfying it was that a few days later a recruitment agent just happened to get hold of me. :-)

Anyways it goes without saying the interviews went well and the job offer was made ironically during the department's get-away annual celebration conference (so much more to celebrate - OMG it sounds like a Multichoice ad)
The real beauty was that on Thursday morning I happened to have yet another meeting with my favorite (NOT!!!!!) person in the whole entire company and yet again had to listen to his wishy-washy approach at shaping my future.
[Image the mind switching off and dreaming of the sweetness that will follow the moment a resignation letter is handed in at day end to this same pompous pratt]

I could actually go on for hours about the whole thing, but at the end of the day one ending leads onto a new beginning [reminds me of "lightning crashes"] and that it would be the start of my blog.

Before I end there are two really great sites I have come across:
www.i-resign.com
www.gatvol.co.za

Stay tuned for more of my rants