One thing I've noticed in the four months I've been here is that work is mostly a foreign concept. I mean that literally and figuratively. It permeates through the entire society. Besides colleagues whom I've seen pass the buck time and time again, and the scrounging unwed teenage mothers, the public transport here is also one big mess.
Consider today. We wanted to visit one of the markets in Central Blundon. When we got to the station, the normal four trains an hour was reduced to two. Two minutes after P bought his travelcard, they cancelled the next two trains so we would have had to wait for an hour. Needless to say, I was not amused. I pay £1,800 a year for my season ticket to get to work. This allows me to ride on trains, the tube and buses, but what is the point of that if services are so reduced?! Honestly, we should get our Small Island government to come over here and show these lazy sods how it's done.
It also bugs me when I see young men living rough and begging on the street. Most of them would be capable of work if they were not drug or alcohol addicts. If it wasn't going to get me beat up, I would give them a good telling off. I wake up at 5.45am every morning to walk the dog, prepare lunch for us (because it's so bloody expensive to eat out) and get ready to go to work so that scums like that can take over 30% of my salary every month. Bitter, who me?
I know that there are good and bad things in every country and this place is no exception. But sometimes, the laziness and inefficiency of the people really bothers me. When I had my two-month performance review with my boss last month, she actually told me that I was working at a very high level and that I should take it down a couple of notches. I have never had an appraisal where I was told to slow down before. My boss is also from the same part of the world as I am and understands my frustrations with the way they 'work' here. I know that she doesn't want me to feel held back by the way they do things in this country. Too late!
On the positive side, I guess it's good for them that they have people like me to set an example. A foreigner that to comes to their country, works hard, and supports the useless lower strata of their society. I can only take comfort in the fact that it is character building and all that stress does keep me slim!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Love x Hate
Having now been in Brringland for four months, I can honestly say that while I've tried to immerse myself in the local lifestyle, the initial excitement at being in a new country and getting a fab job with a famous bank is wearing a bit thin.
While I still get the occasional sense of 'Am I Really Here?', I have very quickly come to realize that there are a lot of inefficient and lazy people who do not take accountability for their own behaviour and actions.
At work, everything takes ages to complete. We recently hired a student intern from my Small Island and it took two months to get his contract sorted out. As you all know, I went through a similar experience with own hiring process in getting my credit and reference checks done. If it wasn't so politically incorrect, I would tell them in Singlish, "You think I'm like your country people ah?! I'm a law-abiding and hardworking citizen from the Small Island okay! Don't play play!"
The daily news is also very depressing, with knife crime and inflation both on the rise. Sometimes I don't even bother with it all. This country makes things hard for people like me, but easy for those who are undeserving, like those who can work but who milk the welfare system for all that their scummy little bodies are worth.
I have felt some frustration at the incompetence of the people here, but I know that I shouldn't dwell on that too much as there are also some wonderful things about this place.
On Saturday, P and I went to a flower show with our new friends. It was amazing and we walked around the various marquees that showcased some beautiful gardens. I took over 60 photos but have just selected three of my favourites.
This concept is of a mirrored garden, which looks like an endless forest:
How Brringlish is this? I love the cottage and the beautiful vegetable patch.
I guess at the lesson of the story is that although this country has a lot of faults, what REALLY helps me is retail therapy. All kidding aside, I do miss my friends, family and food back on our Small Island. Still, I have to be careful that I don't become one of the locals and turn into a whinging p*m! Or is it too late already?!
While I still get the occasional sense of 'Am I Really Here?', I have very quickly come to realize that there are a lot of inefficient and lazy people who do not take accountability for their own behaviour and actions.
At work, everything takes ages to complete. We recently hired a student intern from my Small Island and it took two months to get his contract sorted out. As you all know, I went through a similar experience with own hiring process in getting my credit and reference checks done. If it wasn't so politically incorrect, I would tell them in Singlish, "You think I'm like your country people ah?! I'm a law-abiding and hardworking citizen from the Small Island okay! Don't play play!"
The daily news is also very depressing, with knife crime and inflation both on the rise. Sometimes I don't even bother with it all. This country makes things hard for people like me, but easy for those who are undeserving, like those who can work but who milk the welfare system for all that their scummy little bodies are worth.
I have felt some frustration at the incompetence of the people here, but I know that I shouldn't dwell on that too much as there are also some wonderful things about this place.
On Saturday, P and I went to a flower show with our new friends. It was amazing and we walked around the various marquees that showcased some beautiful gardens. I took over 60 photos but have just selected three of my favourites.
This concept is of a mirrored garden, which looks like an endless forest:
How Brringlish is this? I love the cottage and the beautiful vegetable patch.
And imagine if this was in your backyard. I definitely wouldn't say no to it!
I got into the spirit of things by wearing my vintage Burberry mac (and also because it was a typically drizzly afternoon), eating fish and chips and drinking a refreshing Pimms. I was definitely cheered by the fact that P bought me a pair of wellies (blue with pink roses) for walking the dog in winter and a gorgeous shabby chic patchwork bedspread.
I guess at the lesson of the story is that although this country has a lot of faults, what REALLY helps me is retail therapy. All kidding aside, I do miss my friends, family and food back on our Small Island. Still, I have to be careful that I don't become one of the locals and turn into a whinging p*m! Or is it too late already?!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Never mind Brrrringland!
It's just BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Mark Twain obviously never crossed the Atlandtic. If he had, he would have experienced the coldest winter during the summertime in Brrringland and not in San Francisco!
It's the second week of July and it has been p*ssing down with rain. It is truly cold, grey and miserable. I've tried to make the living room look cosier by lighting candles but there is still a chill in the air. I am sat in my favourite (and only) armchair in a jogging suit with a fleece blanket over my legs and drinking a winter Pimms to keep warm!
At night, we are still sleeping with a winter-weight down and feather duvet. Unbelievable. P also bought me brushed cotton pyjamas and I sleep with those on as well as socks. Romance is definitely dead and thank goodness P remembers what I looked like when I was sexy!
Where has the summer gone? Not that we had much of one anyway. I blinked, so I think I missed it. The sun has shone intermittently over the last couple of months but cloud has definitely been king.
Winnie the Pooch is definitely not a fan of the rain, though she still needs to do her business. When I take her for a walk, the guys hanging around at the pub near our house laugh at her because she blinks in the cutest way when the water falls on her face. Thank goodness she normally does what she has to do in double-quick time and the two of us can scuttle back into the shelter of the house!
We are due to attend the Hampton Court Flower Show with some friends this Saturday and fingers crossed that it won't be a complete wash out. Sigh...
Mark Twain obviously never crossed the Atlandtic. If he had, he would have experienced the coldest winter during the summertime in Brrringland and not in San Francisco!
It's the second week of July and it has been p*ssing down with rain. It is truly cold, grey and miserable. I've tried to make the living room look cosier by lighting candles but there is still a chill in the air. I am sat in my favourite (and only) armchair in a jogging suit with a fleece blanket over my legs and drinking a winter Pimms to keep warm!
At night, we are still sleeping with a winter-weight down and feather duvet. Unbelievable. P also bought me brushed cotton pyjamas and I sleep with those on as well as socks. Romance is definitely dead and thank goodness P remembers what I looked like when I was sexy!
Where has the summer gone? Not that we had much of one anyway. I blinked, so I think I missed it. The sun has shone intermittently over the last couple of months but cloud has definitely been king.
Winnie the Pooch is definitely not a fan of the rain, though she still needs to do her business. When I take her for a walk, the guys hanging around at the pub near our house laugh at her because she blinks in the cutest way when the water falls on her face. Thank goodness she normally does what she has to do in double-quick time and the two of us can scuttle back into the shelter of the house!
We are due to attend the Hampton Court Flower Show with some friends this Saturday and fingers crossed that it won't be a complete wash out. Sigh...
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