So here I come again with another of my workplace stories.

For the first few days of joining office I didn't know what my phone extension was. So, on the third day, when Dinky Mind finally started working, I dialled zero, and asked the receptionist what my extension was. 180. Wrote this on a Post-it note and pasted it on my phone set so if anyone asks I could tell them without putting my tiny brain through recall-trauma. I also made a one-page post-it extension directory and pinned it on my soft board above the phone (sadly, we don't have glass panels to stick post-it notes on).

So, the real story began 4 days ago when my phone rang and I picked it up:

Me: "Hello!"

Caller: *pause* "Umm... okay, sorry!"

and the line goes dead.

Next day:

Me: "Hello!"

Caller: *baffled* "Uh... oh!"

and the line goes dead.

Another day:

Me: "Hello!"

Caller: *silence*

and the line goes dead.

On the other day:

Me: "Hello!"

Caller: *pause* "Umm... is this Mr. XYZ?"

Before I could even think of a reply, he'd hang up, realizing what a silly question he asked!

And a second later, I would hear the same voice yelling, "Mr. XYZ, isn't your extension 180?"

And a distant voice would respond, "Nah, 181!"

Grrrr... Hello! Make a directory!!! Or borrow one from someone and get it copied! And also pin it up on your board! It's so annoying. The desk I'm using was not occupied by anyone for the past few months. And so was the phone. And so 180! I sometimes wish to have a Caller ID on my phone. :( I hope I don't get such "accidental" calls again :/

Cheerio folks!

PS: Do I really sound like a Mr.? :(

|

Till this moment I thought my phone had some issues, but when I called Ufone's helpline, I changed my opinion. When I dialled 333, I was greeted with a female robotic voice giving me really good news - "Respected user, this is to inform you that from July 15th, the charges for calling Ufone helpline have increased to Rs.1, exclusive of taxes. And if you want to talk to our service centre representative, then it would cost you additional Rs. 1, exclusive of taxes. Please dial 1 for...." I wish I could vent my anger out at the mechanic voice!

Anyway, I pressed zero, as it would direct me to the service centre representative. Thankfully he picked up on the 3rd bell, and greeted me by my father's name [my sim card is registered on his name]. I explained him the problem (if you remember, I once talked about my phone not able to send txt messages) and he, very professionally, asked me the cell phone model, and how many messages I had in my inbox and outbox. He also asked me to delete all the sent messages, check the message centre number and restart the phone. He said he just sent a message centre number on my phone (and I did hear a beep). So when I held up and checked the 2 txts on my phone, I found them both to be from Ufone about their silly and ultra stupid services!!! There was NO message center number anywhere in any of the txts! You can't believe how blood-boiling it was. I've been facing this problem for the past 5 days and silly, irresponsible Ufone reps are so darn unhelpful, it's plainly... ARGH!!!

Needless to say, I checked the message center number, deleted the sent messages, restarted my phone and since it's Ufone, the problem persisted! I even restored the phone to factory settings, but still, no success. Now I'd go home, charge my phone and call that silly guy again to text me the message centre number and not promotional SMSs.

It seems like in my life its a rule to talk to one silly person a day *sigh* :(

|

The first thing you notice when you walk into my office (which you won't) is the whiteness (or call it 'seriousness' in better words), and, aslso please add, the mind-numbing chill. It certainly wouldn't be wrong to call this place Mini Moscow. The moment I sit on my desk, I can feel all the evil AC ducts directed towards me and my poor nails start turning blue in 2 seconds. Even my lime-green jumper (yes, there are certain advantages of working in a sourcing company) fails to keep me completely cozy. It's of no use even when I try to stretch the poor sleeve down to my hands. Seems like I might need to buy a pair of woollen gloves real soon.

Believe it or not, this cold literally jams everything! My brain, my hands, my feet, my cellphone! *shivers* Trust me, typing becomes a real challenge in this mind-blowing chill. My feet freeze even when im wearing woollen socks and shoes. They become so numb, sometimes it feels like I don't even have feet :( Scary! And that's not just it. My cellphone can also feel that chill and it has now stopped functioning properly. Poor thing can't send txt msgs anymore. RIP, my dear N82. :( I hope I don't get any serious ailment during my stay here :(

The most striking thing about this place is that everything is so white, so dry and so very plain that sometimes I just wish I could paint all these walls in lilac-and-pink stripes (or any other color, if you want). I've planned I'm going to personalize my desk real soon. And I'd make sure it has more colors other than just lime-green (jumper) and yellow (post-it notes).  

Enough rants for today. If they can't let me paint the walls, I can just make my desk colorful. And I'm sure I can then start loving work here ;)

Cheerio folks!

PS: I'm writing this post in my lunch break. Promise!

|