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hathycolI've had a scarily busy few days. But really, they've been worth chronicling.
Saturday, as we know, I was drunk. Sunday I was out to a party at my politics teachers house, with my old politics class. Actually, it was a combination of two politics classes, or at least those who could make it.
Of course, first of all we had to find out where Elaine lived. This involved RAC Routeplanner and when we did get there, Jess hid under the window in case we had the wrong house. We thought we did, given that we were banging on the door and creeping around to the back to see if we could find anyone. In the end, I somewhat sensibly phoned Elaine who then came and opened the door. Madness.
I sat down in the garden and quietly didn't take a drink. Elaine spotted this. "Why aren't you drinking, you miserable sod?"
"Erm. I start a new job tomorrow and there's a lot of vodka still swilling around in my bloodstream?It's probably a bad idea."
"Do you not brush your teeth? Have a beer."
So I did. First cider, now lager. God. And I managed to get slightly plastered and have a fantastic night - met Simon's boyfriend (who is a friend of someone I knew from high school - small world) and squeed somewhat incoherantly whilst giving piercing advice; did the same over my quiet RPS slash between two people which I Will Not Discuss For Various Reasons; got more drunk; ate chocolate cake; felt really, really sad at the end. Especially since I had to miss Christine's party as Amy was so drunk she vomited spectacularly. Was planning on taking her home and everything, but she was that bad we couldn't get the taxi to take her. Eeek.
So, I woke up on Monday morning feeling a wee bit crap. I was having the fun of dehydration due to hangover so I gulped down far too much water and felt sick. I also felt slightly sick as it was my first day of a new job, which always has a certain sense of 'ARGH'. I ate some toast. I attired myself in sensible clothing and Dad drove me since I was still veeery slightly drunk. Mistake number 1.
I was given the briefest of training, despite the fact I emphasised - repeatedly - that I had no experience at cleaning and couldn't remember my way around. Training consisted of learning how to turn the washing machine on, how to work the dryer and where the cupboard with the supplies was. And that was it.
HOLY FUCK.
My first day at work was Very Very Very Bad, to say the least. I spent an hour in the laundry, getting used to that and reading over the scary itinery of stuff I had to do. Just me. As sole housekeeper with no experience. ARGHARGHARGH. I sort of got into it, towards the end of the shift, and it was kindly explained to be by Blonde Carer (I know NO ONES name yet) that it really didn't matter if everything didn't get done as they'd been making do for months. Well. You can tell, frankly, as I spent fucking hours scrubbing the furniture in the dining room. And we will not discuss the fact that no one has mopped the floors of the lounges in months. Oh no.
So at the end of the shift I dragged myself out with the horrible knowledge that I was being paid £4.71 an hour for this and still being excited as it was a major pay increase. I also knew that I smelt. However, I kept on telling myself as I trudged up the road, at least the fact that I cleaned toilets for money is going to look really good in the autobiography.
To make up for my sucky day, I went to Iona's, as she is just up the road from my work. We watched TheEmpty Unearthly Child, which is beyond brilliant. Seriously, I loved it and want to write fic about Susan. In fact, I think I will.
Then I went home because I got a lift. I am so lazy. We went via Tescos and I bought my own fabulous pink gloves which I have labelled. I am refusing to work in any section without gloves but from another perspective, using the same gloves that I used cleaning the toilets for the dining room? Not nice.
Today, though, was much better. I had a better handle on what to do and in what order, although I am horrified at the lack of cleaning that's taken place so far. I have had to scrub the insides of the cupboards. God knows what was the last time they were cleaned out. However, now I am here the staff are revelling in not having to clean. Milk spillages suck. And no one had explained to me yet how I order new stuff. Apparently chlorine tablets are also important, but I know not why.
See, I may be able to wangle an awful lot of this through common sense, washing up liquid (I kid you not, brilliant for dry dusting, THANK YOU Kim and Aggie) and what I do around the house but there have got to be some health and safety concerns here that aren't going to be addressed until someone gets ill. And that's not good.
Despite all of this, and the fact I'm cleaning toilets, and don't know anyone's name, and am treated like I'm some sort of blithering idiot by the student nurses (to which I want to bellow "I HAVE A-LEVELS! POSSIBLY FIVE OF THEM!") I'm actually quite enjoying this job. Mostly because I feel like I'm doing something useful rather than just being a slave to the capitalism, like in Homebase. I am, actually, helping people out, even if I am just cleaning their toilets. And the work doesn't involve customers, which is also fabulous at any time.
However, today is was torrentially raining and it took two hours to get home due to a shockingly long walk and train ride. Getting into the bath afterwards and soaking in almost scalding hot water was very comforting, though.
And now - pasta.
~Hathy_Col~
Saturday, as we know, I was drunk. Sunday I was out to a party at my politics teachers house, with my old politics class. Actually, it was a combination of two politics classes, or at least those who could make it.
Of course, first of all we had to find out where Elaine lived. This involved RAC Routeplanner and when we did get there, Jess hid under the window in case we had the wrong house. We thought we did, given that we were banging on the door and creeping around to the back to see if we could find anyone. In the end, I somewhat sensibly phoned Elaine who then came and opened the door. Madness.
I sat down in the garden and quietly didn't take a drink. Elaine spotted this. "Why aren't you drinking, you miserable sod?"
"Erm. I start a new job tomorrow and there's a lot of vodka still swilling around in my bloodstream?It's probably a bad idea."
"Do you not brush your teeth? Have a beer."
So I did. First cider, now lager. God. And I managed to get slightly plastered and have a fantastic night - met Simon's boyfriend (who is a friend of someone I knew from high school - small world) and squeed somewhat incoherantly whilst giving piercing advice; did the same over my quiet RPS slash between two people which I Will Not Discuss For Various Reasons; got more drunk; ate chocolate cake; felt really, really sad at the end. Especially since I had to miss Christine's party as Amy was so drunk she vomited spectacularly. Was planning on taking her home and everything, but she was that bad we couldn't get the taxi to take her. Eeek.
So, I woke up on Monday morning feeling a wee bit crap. I was having the fun of dehydration due to hangover so I gulped down far too much water and felt sick. I also felt slightly sick as it was my first day of a new job, which always has a certain sense of 'ARGH'. I ate some toast. I attired myself in sensible clothing and Dad drove me since I was still veeery slightly drunk. Mistake number 1.
I was given the briefest of training, despite the fact I emphasised - repeatedly - that I had no experience at cleaning and couldn't remember my way around. Training consisted of learning how to turn the washing machine on, how to work the dryer and where the cupboard with the supplies was. And that was it.
HOLY FUCK.
My first day at work was Very Very Very Bad, to say the least. I spent an hour in the laundry, getting used to that and reading over the scary itinery of stuff I had to do. Just me. As sole housekeeper with no experience. ARGHARGHARGH. I sort of got into it, towards the end of the shift, and it was kindly explained to be by Blonde Carer (I know NO ONES name yet) that it really didn't matter if everything didn't get done as they'd been making do for months. Well. You can tell, frankly, as I spent fucking hours scrubbing the furniture in the dining room. And we will not discuss the fact that no one has mopped the floors of the lounges in months. Oh no.
So at the end of the shift I dragged myself out with the horrible knowledge that I was being paid £4.71 an hour for this and still being excited as it was a major pay increase. I also knew that I smelt. However, I kept on telling myself as I trudged up the road, at least the fact that I cleaned toilets for money is going to look really good in the autobiography.
To make up for my sucky day, I went to Iona's, as she is just up the road from my work. We watched The
Then I went home because I got a lift. I am so lazy. We went via Tescos and I bought my own fabulous pink gloves which I have labelled. I am refusing to work in any section without gloves but from another perspective, using the same gloves that I used cleaning the toilets for the dining room? Not nice.
Today, though, was much better. I had a better handle on what to do and in what order, although I am horrified at the lack of cleaning that's taken place so far. I have had to scrub the insides of the cupboards. God knows what was the last time they were cleaned out. However, now I am here the staff are revelling in not having to clean. Milk spillages suck. And no one had explained to me yet how I order new stuff. Apparently chlorine tablets are also important, but I know not why.
See, I may be able to wangle an awful lot of this through common sense, washing up liquid (I kid you not, brilliant for dry dusting, THANK YOU Kim and Aggie) and what I do around the house but there have got to be some health and safety concerns here that aren't going to be addressed until someone gets ill. And that's not good.
Despite all of this, and the fact I'm cleaning toilets, and don't know anyone's name, and am treated like I'm some sort of blithering idiot by the student nurses (to which I want to bellow "I HAVE A-LEVELS! POSSIBLY FIVE OF THEM!") I'm actually quite enjoying this job. Mostly because I feel like I'm doing something useful rather than just being a slave to the capitalism, like in Homebase. I am, actually, helping people out, even if I am just cleaning their toilets. And the work doesn't involve customers, which is also fabulous at any time.
However, today is was torrentially raining and it took two hours to get home due to a shockingly long walk and train ride. Getting into the bath afterwards and soaking in almost scalding hot water was very comforting, though.
And now - pasta.
~Hathy_Col~
no subject
Date: 2005-07-06 09:20 pm (UTC)...but yeah, it's a rewarding job 'cos you get to spend time talking to the patients (or service users! - I was supposed to call ours 'clients' but that made me uncomfortable). Enjoy.