Wish I Hadn't Bothered

Posted on 2005/11/03 08:08:31 (November 2005).

[Wednesday 2nd November]
The daytime was slightly better than the previous two days. Had some meetings in which I felt for a change I was able to make a valuable contribution, and my new role is starting to clarify a little bit.

The evening was, however, a bit of a downer. There was a plan to go to a kind of steak house place with some of the staff from the American office. When I heard about this the day before, I had spoken to the guy organising it, saying iI would rather gave it a miss, given that I somewhat doubted my dietary requirements would be that well met at this sort of establishment. I was cajoled into going, although I really would have preferred to have just gone back to my hotel straight after work (for one thing Chie had the day off, and it would have given us an opportunity to chat for a bit). It was difficult to refuse point blank though, as the organiser bloke had phoned up the restaurant to check, and they said they did have a vegetarian option. To have put my foot down would have looked very unsociable I suppose.

When I got there however my fears were confirmed. It was that sort of brain dead we-want-huge-slabs-of-flesh sort of place I had imagined it to be. When the waitress came round I ordered the vegetarian option and it transpired they had ran out. They offered me a salad instead - one which normally comes with bacon - and offered to do it without the bacon. It was utter crap, I thought I really liked spinach, but somehow they managed to make it soul destroyingly inedible. I ate about a tenth of it, and just couldn't be bothered to waste my jaw muscles on it any more after that.

Oh well, these things happen I suppose!

In my view, John, you're doing pretty well. The company have already learned it's not easy to push you around. You're spot-on about your free time too. There's nothing worse (well, yes there is but...) than being forced into work/social situations you can do without. I'm also tempted to joke about a well-known company making promises (about food!) that in reality can't be met!!! Tee-hee! (Please delete if considered "inappropriate" !!) Look on the bright side - you're getting to see first-hand how a large corporation goes about it's business. This will be useful when you create your own business start-up... !

Posted by Nigel at 2005/11/03 09:28:37.

Bravo ! Now you are most certainly regarded by your colleagues as a fussy unsociable and alcoholic bugger... Next time, EAT MEAT ! Your contract depends on it for God sake ! :-(

Posted by Sheri at 2005/11/03 11:33:54.

God's sake. Pardon me, O my Lord, for that miserable grammatical mistake.

Posted by Sheri at 2005/11/03 11:39:22.

Tell them to sod off next time.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2005/11/03 14:14:20.

John, does your hotel have a pool or gym? Go buy some trainers and go for a run on the treadmill or have a swim/sauna relax. You'll feel $1,000,000 Plus you may find an opportunity to charm someone with your English accent and make a friend

Posted by dsp at 2005/11/03 16:45:19.

What is this I hear. I haven't looked at your page in ages and I read 'Wish I hadn't bothered' and 'The day that wouldn't end'. Hang in there, the start is always a bit bizarre, especially if you are having to do loads of training crap. I agree with Nigel - if you don't want to go out, don't. They will only have a better opinion of you for not being a push-over. As long as you are part of the team in work and get the work done, it is nothing to do with them how you want to spend your evenings....phew, glad I got that off my chest!!!

Sorry I didn't get to see you before you headed off, I take it you got your passport ok.

Next time they want to post you overseas, wangle the UK.

P.S. When you gonna open that vegetarian cyber-restaurant?!?!

Posted by Michelle at 2005/11/03 17:49:06.

What is this I hear. I haven't looked at your page in ages and I read 'Wish I hadn't bothered' and 'The day that wouldn't end'. Hang in there, the start is always a bit bizarre, especially if you are having to do loads of training crap. I agree with Nigel - if you don't want to go out, don't. They will only have a better opinion of you for not being a push-over. As long as you are part of the team in work and get the work done, it is nothing to do with them how you want to spend your evenings....phew, glad I got that off my chest!!!

Sorry I didn't get to see you before you headed off, I take it you got your passport ok.

Next time they want to post you overseas, wangle the UK.

P.S. When you gonna open that vegetarian cyber-restaurant?!?!

Posted by Michelle at 2005/11/03 17:50:03.

What is this I hear. I haven't looked at your page in ages and I read 'Wish I hadn't bothered' and 'The day that wouldn't end'. Hang in there, the start is always a bit bizarre, especially if you are having to do loads of training crap. I agree with Nigel - if you don't want to go out, don't. They will only have a better opinion of you for not being a push-over. As long as you are part of the team in work and get the work done, it is nothing to do with them how you want to spend your evenings....phew, glad I got that off my chest!!!

Sorry I didn't get to see you before you headed off, I take it you got your passport ok.

Next time they want to post you overseas, wangle the UK.

P.S. When you gonna open that vegetarian cyber-restaurant?!?!

Posted by Michelle at 2005/11/03 17:51:23.

Sorry John, I posted that 3 times - I blame Steve for making me use Opera, saying that Internet Explorer is for plebs. Obviously Opera is for plebs because it doesn't download properly on the screen making you repeatedly send things.

P.S. I am using Internet explorer this time.

Posted by Constantly frustrated by computers - Michelle at 2005/11/03 17:56:21.

Nice of you to drop by Michelle!

Yea I know starting a new job is always a bit crap. I remember hating my previous job to start with, then eventually I got round to really liking it... and then eventually I ended up hating it again!

I am not sure what the chance are of being sent to the UK - there isn't really much of a presence there for the work I do... but we do have counterparts in Dublin (I met some of them today) so who knows one day I might end up there for a while.

P.S. I couldn't possibly comment on the relative merits of different web browsers given my current position... It would be highly inappropriate of me to tell you which one I use.

*cough* Firefox *cough*

Posted by John at 2005/11/03 21:35:55.

John!

Are you in New York? If you are, I could've taken you to some really cool restaurants with great food.

Somehow I get the feeling you're not in NYC though... oh well :)

Posted by Catherine at 2005/11/04 04:17:54.

No sorry, I'm not in New York, I'm in Seattle - it's right the other side of the country isn't it?

Posted by John at 2005/11/04 06:56:48.

Oh yeah, Seattle sucks lol

Posted by Catherine at 2005/11/04 15:59:17.

Well, it could be worse...!

Posted by John at 2005/11/04 16:58:55.

Yeah, you could be in Reading!

Posted by Michelle at 2005/11/04 20:33:46.

Way to go John!! It's part of being veggie to have such experiences I guess... Still I think you are doing great, just hang on in there, it's only 3 weeks and one has already gone by...

Posted by Lox at 2005/11/05 06:35:12.

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