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Post by BenCMitchell on Jul 26, 2009 16:28:13 GMT
Hi people
I thought I would start up a thread about how people did at work that day! Its something different - I'm keen to learn more about my fellow HWI members. How popular this is remains to be seen.
I'l start:
Work at the Bike Hire was wet and boring - but my colleagues are usually up to some sort of prank on each other - luckily I'm not one of them! Compared to yesterday, where we had 215 bikes out by 1pm, we only had 45 out in the whole day. So much for the summer season! I much prefer it when its busy, its quite an active job - you're always running around, and when you're doing that it usually means its sunny, which is always good! When its rainy, all the horrible jobs have to be done, like oiling all (yes - ALL! - 400 bikes!) the chains and making sure all the tyres are pumped up and basic maintenance. However, there is always a plus side - leaving an hour early, driving home in my car listening to the ethereal tones of the one and only (no guesses who!)
Ok thanks everyone!
I wander if anyone elses day was better than mine....
Cheers
Ben
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Post by martindn on Jul 26, 2009 22:46:10 GMT
Funny, that! I like to listen to Hayley in the car too, but since I am part of a car pool, I can't usually impose that on my passengers.
Bur workwise, I work for a company that supplies Airfield Ground Lighting amd the associated power and control systems. We have equipment on airfields all over the world. My own area is the control systems that are used by the air traffic controllers to switch the lights, and by the maintenance people to detect and correct any faults. Our equipment is in use all over the world, which means I have many opportunites for travel. I don't travel quite as much as Hayley, but I'm not that far away, having visited Australia and California, as well as many places nearer home in the last year. But I always insist on being home if I have tickets for one of Hayley's shows. Last year I returned from Australia and from the South of France the day before two of her concerts.
Martin
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Post by BenCMitchell on Aug 1, 2009 20:29:38 GMT
Hi folks! Blimey, what a day I have had! 11 and a half hours of constant walking around and riding bikes without a rest. Starting at 8.30, the first job of the day is to start putting out reserve orders for the bikes that people want. That alone takes about 45 minutes, because when you think you've finished, and can get on with another job, someone else phones up wanting '6 bikes, 2 tandems and a trike' - all for an hour later! I had to help train someone today - not an easy task, especially when you have millions of tourists flocking around you asking for thisi and that. The rest of the day is basically serving people, walking up to the main store, grabbing bikes, adjusting seats, adjusting brakes, adjusting another seat, the all-to-familiar sound of 'this wont fit me' when the person has got their feet firmly flat on the floor!  frustration! My favourite customer is the one who keeps smiling and is willing to have a conversation, mainly about the trail that they are going to cycle, and is happy to wait a couple of minutes whilst I sometimes have to swap a bike for something else (usually smaller). By 1'oclock, all the availabe bikes to go out (250) have gone out, and there is an hour or so when you have to find crummy jobs to do whilst you wait for the next customer, either to want bikes or returning them. I was given the 'privilege' of having to lock up after a hard days work. Overtime is from 5 to 8, and most people go home at 5, meanign that a select few have to stay on and make sure the rest of the bikes are back. This job is made harder if you are stuck with a couple of slouchers who think that hanging a couple of bike chains on the wall constitutes a 10 minute rest All done at 8, and the slouchers have slouched off home, leaving me to set the alarm, turn the water off etc, and I can drive home to whatever piece is playing on Classic FM Ranting is a weakness of mine so I am sorry if reading this has wasted a bit too much of your time!  Cheers folks! Ben |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Aug 2, 2009 0:00:57 GMT
Hello Ben!
Thanks so much for sharing your workday with us. That's great that you work at a bike hire shop....sounds like you do a great job.
Hi Martin,
Your line of work is interesting as well. One takes for granted how important the lights in the airfield are.
I will fill you in on my job later on !
Cheers,
Joe
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Post by Jono on Aug 2, 2009 1:15:41 GMT
Hi all, Well I thought this thread was appropriate to reply to, since I'm at work right now...  I'm working part-time at a movie rental store (while studying at University)... The work here is very dull most days... serving the odd customer, and putting out returns...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do what we do, but I guess looking after the store takes some responsibility and common sense. On the day-time shifts like today it is extra slow...and very dull...but on the plus side we have the internet! It's a really nice day outside today, its frustrating being locked up inside... On a rainy Friday/ Saturday night it gets very busy, and the shift goes by very fast! Anyway, that's pretty much all I have to say...like I said, there isn't a lot to it!  Jono |
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Post by spiderman on Aug 2, 2009 2:36:29 GMT
what do i do at work all day?
firstly, and less relevantly, i sit next to the prettiest girl in hamilton...
i have a data management job in telecom, sending cable plans to contractors in the vain hope they dont dig a hole in them... and i have to listen to ingrateful customers want things they cant possibly have.... despite that i have some job satisfaction cos we have less damage than we used too...
the spiderman
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Post by Jono on Aug 2, 2009 2:46:38 GMT
firstly, and less relevantly, i sit next to the prettiest girl in hamilton... Sounds like a good job She must be very pretty, because I've been very impressed with the girls in Hamilton on my frequent visits there...About the only thing the town has going for it (In my opinion)  And I didn't mean to sound so shallow..  Jono |
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Post by spiderman on Aug 2, 2009 2:53:45 GMT
its a nice quiet office job... warm room, computer dont have to do too much work... except to "understand" all those young people and their ways...
she is really pretty yes, with a lovely personality to match.
oyu do kind of have a point, hamilton isnt the tourist trap it could be. .the zoo's good for a quiet afternoon in the sun, as is our gardens... at least its better than the jafa republic whihc only has an airport, a bookshop and a zoo..... now im getting catty though
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Post by Jono on Aug 2, 2009 3:05:34 GMT
at least its better than the jafa republic whihc only has an airport, a bookshop and a zoo..... now im getting catty though Ohh! That Jafa republic you talk about has everything Hamilton has but more...name one thing that the "Tron" has that Auckland doesn't? And I'll name about a million of the vice versa Of course I'm biased because I live in that "republic"...but I'm sick of the outsiders beating up on us! We got named one of the best cities in the world in some study! Above Sydney/ Brisbane/ Melbourne! Peace! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifJono |
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Post by spiderman on Aug 2, 2009 3:19:42 GMT
fair enough jon.... im a southern man in exile so i get a bit of geographical bashing so to speak... and the sheep jokes.. i think i'll just listen to eternal flame again..
but to answer at least one of your questions.. eternal quiet
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Post by BenCMitchell on Aug 2, 2009 20:02:33 GMT
Hi folks Day 2 of 4 - the summer period at the bike hire is such a hectic time that teams of workers have to be drawn up. Each team has 9 people, plus 2 senior guys. One team does 4 days, then 4 days off, meaning the other team works in that slot. Day 2 - halfway there to 4 days worth of lie - ins!  Some days I have good days, some days I'l have bad miserable days. I seem to be a magnet to taunts and abuse from one of my fellow employees. There is only so far a joke can go. Usually a joke is a joke and thats calling it quits - not this guy - little whispers in the ear when he walks past when I'm serving a customer, knowing that I can't retaliate, is quite a put down - they say getting stuff like this is character building - I've yet to build any sort of 'character' from this!  Ah well. enough about that - today was absolutely heaving with people. Basically, if there isn't any rain, people will cycle, even if there are clouds. That basically means the weather isn't beach weather, but people still want to be outside - perfect biking weather! Some people don't understand that this company is a 'HIRE' company, meaning that WE DON'T SELL ANYTHING If I had a pound for every time a customer comes in asking if we sell bikes or parts, I could easily afford to buy the £500 'Walking In The Air' album that Graham found on Ebay! It is not our fault at all if the customer slumps off muttering under his breath about how silly that is - 'HIRE' not SELL! The sign is outside in big letters! I am so glad I didnt do the late shift tonight - I would have been like the walking dead - this is a rare time when it is dangerous to listen to any of Hayley's music in the car when driving home - you could find yourself nodding off heading towards a set of headlights! Ah well, day 3 should be good. I start slightly later, so thats an extra half hour in bed! Hopefully the 'employee' isn't working tomorrow! One does hope! cheers folks! Ben |
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Post by BenCMitchell on Aug 3, 2009 18:37:14 GMT
Hi folks Day 3 of 4 out of the way. The 'employee' who gives me a hard time (as described in my previous post) didn't work today, so I was in a happy mood and it showed apparently - I was grinning and smiling more than usual when serving customers, according to my boss! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifThe weather was 'semi-wet' today, meaning that it wasn't rain as such, just a light watery mist. That didn't stop the tourists wanting to cycle though! All bikes out by midday! The best business my boss has done on a 'wet' day!  As it is a weekday, the 2 senior guys were working today, as they don't work weekends, and they make everyone laugh! Always finding something funny to talk about, whether it be a customer who complained about something or just the random story of 'funniness!' One customer was quite stroppy today. When bikes go out, they each have to have a license disk on them, as the local council limit the number of bikes that can be sent down the trail at any one time. I told this to the woman who wanted bikes when she arrived asking for some, and I said that if she waits in the queue for a while, then as soon as the first group comes back from their cycle, she can have the bikes - first come first serve basis. She however walks into town, and during the time it took her to walk into town and come back, someone had got her space in the queue and got some bikes. She was not happy! If you leave the queue, you have to join it again at the end! Like anywhere else! Anyway, i held my own ground and explained this to her, and the look she kept giving me could have turned milk sour! Luckily then a group returned, meaning she could get bikes and go! The heavens opened at 5 minutes to 5pm, when the 3 doing the late shift turned up, so I'm very glad I'm not on the lates team tonight!! Cheers! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBen |
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Post by gra7890 on Aug 3, 2009 22:49:42 GMT
Hope the garage roof is going better Graham, weather not so clement here
Be careful we are not as young or strong as we used to be My work today ! i.e changed threads to answer you  Hi Paul, Good timing .... I have been waiting for a five day dry spell ( Barbecue summer etc ) Gave up on that idea so settled for yesterday and today to make a start ! Really need another three day window to finish the job without having to work a twelve hour shift . ... It is a double garage + utility +rear lobby, so it is a large job, it would take fifteen 8 x 4 sheets of plywood for decking the whole roof.... I need to replace 10 this year and have done 5 so far i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifYou a right... I used to be able to work a 12 hour shift and then go and play golf after i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif today I might just manage to crawl to bed Best Wishes, Graham |
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Post by BenCMitchell on Aug 9, 2009 18:51:44 GMT
Hi folks What a day (as always) Started at 7 in the morning - meaning the sun was just creeping up when I was cycling the Camel Trail to work at half 6. Another great time to listen to Hayley - having 'Listen To The Wind' in my ears was a perfect song for the setting - crisp early morning wind, no one else around , the tide at its highest - it was mesmerising - if only others could have experienced it - heaven on earth!  I could have cycled all day, but good things have to come to an end - the sound of Radio 1 blaring when I entered my place of work, shattering the illusion by my other colleages. GRRR  The day was hectic - 210 bikes out by midday, another 100 or so out in the afternoon - my boss is rolling in it!! The one who gives me a hard time has not been in lately - swine flu me thinks...  i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I'm glad I wasn't on the late shift again - 150 bike still out when I left - not for me!! Ah well, the ride home was peaceful - Hayley in the ears again, this time was 'Pure' - just like the setting again - sun setting, glistening over the water, birds chirping (I think!!). All I need now is to get HSJS 1 +2 through the post so I can experience the same feeling with some of Hayley's other beautiful music. "Sigh" good times.... Cheers folks! Ben |
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Post by Caitlin on Aug 10, 2009 3:40:45 GMT
Sounds like your days are like mine - crazy! I work at a County Fair and the fair begins tomorrow... The other day in the midst of an intense thunderstorm we learned one of the workers who were putting up the entertainment tent had fallen 30feet from the roof of it - he had fallen through! Not ten minutes later than do the railroad tracks nearby get struck with lightening and the power goes out. My day today started at 6:30am. I got to work at 7:50am and had just enough time to open the building, turn on the lights, boot up my computer before the first vendor came to check in. From then on it was non-stop until 8:30pm when I got to head home. As I was putting the emergency booklets into all the buildings I got to pet a calf and then Minnie-Me (as she was called) licked me and tried to eat my shirt and jeans. I thought I wanted a cow before, but now I REALLY want one. Tomorrow I know will bring more craziness as all the vendors must be in with all their forms in. I will definitely be having a Meat Pie from NZ for dinner! <3 Caitlin |
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frustration! My favourite customer is the one who keeps smiling and is willing to have a conversation, mainly about the trail that they are going to cycle, and is happy to wait a couple of minutes whilst I sometimes have to swap a bike for something else (usually smaller). By 1'oclock, all the availabe bikes to go out (250) have gone out, and there is an hour or so when you have to find crummy jobs to do whilst you wait for the next customer, either to want bikes or returning them. I was given the 'privilege' of having to lock up after a hard days work. Overtime is from 5 to 8, and most people go home at 5, meanign that a select few have to stay on and make sure the rest of the bikes are back. This job is made harder if you are stuck with a couple of slouchers who think that hanging a couple of bike chains on the wall constitutes a 10 minute rest 
I could have cycled all day, but good things have to come to an end - the sound of Radio 1 blaring when I entered my place of work, shattering the illusion by my other colleages. GRRR 
