Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[Stickyfinger]

I will keep this one thanks !

[bobins]

These are down the bottom of my office - to the left of them is the old water mill, to the right, the lake

Bryant and May and the littl'uns - Own work

[elma]

You both have nice offices too.

[Zelandeth]

Conversations like that just remind me of some of my escapades lending an extra pair of hands to friends who I've sadly lost touch with in recent years. One such incident involved a probably ten hour or so stint having wedged myself in the back of the engine bay of a Leyland Olympian (because I was the skinny one with long arms), sorting out a shedload of wiring issues and re-plumbing half the fuel system (it had suffered a - thankfully minor - electrical fire). Must have been a Gardner engined example...as I'm sure if it had been a Cummins there would have been a load of turbo gubbins in the corner I was wedged in and we'd have had to pull the engine.

*phone rings...*
Mum: How're you doing? Haven't heard from you in ages.
Me: Been busy. There's more diesel in my hair than the engine, I can't even remember what colour my hands or face are meant to be, and I'm pretty sure that I've eaten half the wiring insulation from the back of this engine bay. Oh...and I think I'm going to need a crowbar to get me back out of this corner I've wedged myself in.
Mum: You're thoroughly enjoying yourself then aren't you?
Me: Haven't had a better afternoon in years, yeah.
Mum: Dinner's at seven.
*click*

[Hell Razor5543]

[elma]

The vans have been changed round today.
I'm not impressed, the one I've been given has had the oil topped up with the wrong stuff and is a filthy state.
I protested but the guy that swapped them outranks me, he only did it because mine was clean.

I now have no transport so I really hope the company get the oil sorted out fast.
I can go until Friday morning until I need to go shopping and I'd hate to have to get a taxi.
I need to pick up my glasses from the optician as well.

The new van has an oil leak from the turbo, it seems to be coming from the big black pipe going to it's centre. I'm braindead at the moment from a ridiculous long day so I can't work out why thats happening, I'm sure I'll realise in the morning. I'll need another look because I can't remember if it's the input or output side of the compressor but I think output.

It gets to me how people don't look after company stuff, they don't understand that our wages are linked to how much stuff we waste.
Last time I saw this van it was in far better condition than the one I had, now it really isn't.
The one that left always had weaker brakes and a less eager engine but as it was racked out inside is the preferred one by almost everyone.

Works demoralising me a lot at the moment too. I'm way ahead of schedule with about 200 of 240 trees planted that need doing by Saturday but I'm spending all my time shouting at the labour. Dangerous stuffs happening and I'm fed up of it and, to be honest, terrified. I'm not being listened to so I had to voice my concerns to the office which makes me look like I can't handle my work. I'm tempted to take the keys to the plant away and just finish the trees myself so no one ends up under 5 tonnes of JCB. I've had someone jump on the tracks of the digger while it's moving today. I've had someone walk under the digger boom whilst digging and I've had the JCB nearly roll over it's operator for the second time as he refuses to use the handbrake if I'm not looking because it's stiff. I'm going to bed dreading tomorrow and wishing I could just disappear.

[GiveMeABreak]

Team meeting James - time to get tough and take no prisoners.

[elma]

Done it Marc, it's over to Senior management now as I'm being ignored.
It needs dealing with by someone with the power to dismiss workers.
I imagine they get listened to when I don't, not been in this situation before.
It's stopping me sleeping though which isn't very nice.

[Stickyfinger]

Your "team" is not just you down, it goes up as well. Employ your team to get the results you need, if bigger guns are needed, deploy them.
Knowing when to use them IS part of the job you have and does NOT show any lack of skills...

[elma]

Wise words and that's exactly what has been done.
I won't feel calm until the plants gone though, the consequences of a mishap are too serious to take lightly.

[CitroJim]

I've had someone jump on the tracks of the digger while it's moving today. I've had someone walk under the digger boom whilst digging and I've had the JCB nearly roll over it's operator for the second time as he refuses to use the handbrake if I'm not looking because it's stiff.

I see a number of Darwin Awards waiting in the wings...

Hope things soon improve James....

[elma]

Thats exactly what I've been thinking.
In many ways I loathe to intervene and prevent natural selection but I'm obliged to.

[CitroJim]

In many ways I loathe to intervene and prevent natural selection but I'm obliged to.

Yes, the paperwork and admin aggro that results from any successful acquisition of a Darwin Award is horrendous and best avoided if at all possible...

[elma]

Sort of sorted now.
After no sleep I was half an hour late for work because I was rocking in the corner thinking bad things.
Then I had a brainwave and fetched the spades.

All plant keys were confiscated and spades were issued.
Labourers were quite unhappy as it's chucked it down all day.
They were responsible with the spades so I'll let them have the keys again tomorrow.
They will come with the warning that at the slightest hint of stupidity it's back to spades and it will be 2 days next time.
Being ahead of schedule affords me this luxury and they know it.
Found the whole thing quite satisfying in the end.

The best news is that I have a trusted, English guy coming down next week.
I must have known him for about 20 years now.
Having someone like that to oversee the idiots when I can't is just amazing.
I know I can set him a task, assign labour and it will be done as asked, in safety and with problems reported to me rather than hidden.

The van with the oil leak is going to the garage next week for repairs and an oil change.
I've been asked to get 3 quotes first but I think thats impossible because there are a number of reasons why it may be leaking.
Still got to try though.
I will have to either shop online or take taxis this Friday or Saturday.
Probably the Taxis because I'd like my glasses back from the Optician.

Kelvs expensive blood test results came back and they show that he's fine. Well as far as the Kidney and Liver go he is anyway. Next one will be in 4 weeks and will test his digestive system. He's losing more weight than I expect with age related muscular degeneration so I'm going to investigate every potential avenue. I think I'm the vets dream, most people probably want to avoid these sort of test / bills but I'd rather get it done and know early if there's anything to take care of before it does serious harm. I actually went down and asked for it rather than waiting for an emergency and having it done under advice.

I'm totally exhausted now and planning on taking Kelv for a splash in the rain before having a shower and going to bed. I hope to be reenergised in the morning. Despite the positive things happening I still feel very negative so I could do with the rest.

[Hell Razor5543]

Nice idea James, and it should work out well.