I think I agree with you - but at least you can make the text larger or smaller on a screen!  Too often recently in dim restaurants, I've been struggling to read the menu and bringing it closer to or further away from the eyes helps not one jot!

Oh don't start me on templates designed with no user input.  Have fought a raging battle for the last two terms over one.  Guess who won? 

I hope the whole travel thing works out.  Was the system "broke" before or did they just decide to fix it? 

Hey there!

I haven't been anywhere just really really busy!  I first found DD when I worked at my last job and could finish what was required of me by about 10.30!!  Also, I have a different boss here to the one I started with and as she takes on more work, it trickles back (more like cascades, really!) down on me. 

I think I've come up to DD a couple of times, but not posted.  But your post really touched something in me and I felt compelled to throw in my two pence worth!

I love the job though, and working in College.  It's a good'un.  I reckon they'll have to carry me out in a pine box 

I don't envy you your travel training session.  Eek!  I use a travel agent that I've known & used for about 15 years - so much easier!!

You may have asked 20 questions yesterday and a 100 more than that today but ... I wonder ... given all that you said in the post that I replied to ... were you the only one asking questions?! 

Don't say it's nearly Friday.  I thought it was earlier!! 

Gee – on the whole, I so sympathise with everything you’re saying here.  I now work in an Oxford College, where I am one of two – I’m going to use the word “professional” - PAs.  The other one works for just one person.  As do I.  Except that that person runs the College.  The saying here is (and my lovely boss was the one who first said it!) “Well, I run the College of course but Gem (me!) runs me”. 

We also have with the College a number of other departments, each with their own administrator.  And I pull my hair out on a regular basis because of what those administrators do and do not do.  Can and cannot do.  One particular administrator here was forever getting the same thing wrong again and again.  In the end, I made a vow to just accept that she’s never going to change and try and not let it bother me - even though, some of those mistakes had a big impact on me when I have to clear up her mess. 

As the “senior” PA here, I think it behoves me to try and teach or at least guide the others when they get things wrong and my door is always open if someone needs to talk, or ask advice.  Accepting that they “fell into” their jobs by accident – say by temping - helps.  A bit.  And I have a huge amount of respect for temps – I’ve done a lot of it in the past.

The other PA couldn’t organise a social occasion in a brewery, if you get my drift.

As for other PAs around the University – well, some of them are exceptional, but some have, as you say, fallen into the position.  Oxford – and a lot of other places, I know – has a tendency to promote from within.  I was recruited into the role here from outside so I know it was for my skillset.  (And I know that I constantly surprise both my boss and others by the things that I can do that they might not necessarily associate with the job.  Thirty-odd years of experience will out!)

It is incredibly frustrating to have to repeat the same things to other people because they just don’t – or won’t – get it.  So, of your most recent post, I SO agree with all three points to a varying degree.

1.  I think that a lot of PAs have fallen into the job by default.  Also a strong believer in that a lot call themselves PA just to “big themselves” up – or their bosses do it.  I used to hate it – still do, actually – when people would say, oh I’m not a secretary, I’m a PA… thinking it was just word games!  It’s not, always, but a lot of people can’t differentiate.

2. Is common sense a thing of the past.  Oh yes.  Yes.  And YES.

3. Do Management accept there is a limited level of expertise?  Some yes, not all.  Some really believe that it takes no expertise to do what we do.  And others recognise that it’s a job needing a huge and varied skillset.

I think if you take one step back and one (or a hundred) deep breaths when you next come across a mistake that someone else has made – I always think, there but for the grace of God …

Oh, as for your rude Post Boy.  I came across one years ago.  Whilst I was temping.  But the PA I was working with never took any stick from him and she showed me that I had to do the same.  Bite back a little bit.  After a little while, he was as good as gold.  Even sent up wine and chocolates at Christmas… I’m not sure that would work in your case, but might it be worth a try?

Phew!  I’ve not posted for absolutely ages, and now this is virtually an essay!

I'd guess to about 20 or so letters a month on average.  My current boss is a great one for email but it does depend so much on the person.  Boss before last was a great letter writer - probably a 100 or so a month.  But as times are changing, more and more goes via email.  As Gee said, if it needs a hard copy, original signature, letter is the only way, even using pdf wouldn't be acceptable.

I would le Boss Lady know.  Although, I have to say, on a couple of occasions SHE has been the one to let slip! 

Hi Gee and congratulations on the upcoming milestone / anniversary.  Knowing the c£*p you've been through that's one helluva great achievement and I am really pleased for you!   

My longest time was just over 10 years, all in the same department but last three of that was a slight move-up so I had someone reporting to me.  The shortest permanent position was three months, then eight months.

I've kept in touch with a few co-workers, some more regularly than others but, as others have said, it depends on if they were friends or acquaintances at that particular company. 

One, I'm pleased to say, is now a friend of over 15 years standing.  This particular lady I started temping for years ago when she had very little respect for temps because she was always being sent those below standard by the agencies (she was very surprised I could even type over 30 wpm!) and later asked me to take on her role when she was going out of the country on extended leave!  I consider that she taught me everything I know about being a good secretary / PA / getting-things-done-person!!

Other friendships have come & gone but this one endures!

Somehow I missed this in the chaotic madness of last term and pre-Christmas!!  Gee - I am so pleased that you're pleased - it sounds great.  And I loved your comment about carpets and gosh greenery!!    It's funny how good even the most basic things can make us feel.

I hope things are still going well - have a great 2010 - and that goes for and to all of us!

Most of my present shopping is done now and it's been a mixture of both shops and online purchases.  I have veered from one extreme to the other in ideas of what to give people.  It's a real mixture of stuff I've made (yep, honestly!) to things I wouldn't ordinarily give as gifts (homemade (by other people!!) chutney) for instance, for a couple of people I'm making up small hampers of foodstuffs etc that I would like to receive.

I've tried to individualise gifts, too, rather than just throwing money at things I've seen in the shops.  It'll be an interesting Christmas morning for sure, seeing the reactions when they unwrap 

I've made most of my own cards this year, for the first time ever - my own photos of this year's heavy snow, with a little glitter thrown to for frosty effect!

It's now quiet for me because a) term has finally ended (two weeks ago) and b) bossie's left the country for the holidays. 

Having said that, though, I'm slowly working through all the things I don't have time for in full term!!  But it's a quieter pace, which is a GOOD THING!!

Got sent this today by a MAN!


At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down.  Finally , the guys' side of the story.

We always hear "the rules" from the female side.  Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!  Please note.. These are all numbered "1" on purpose!
 
1.   Men are not mind readers.  (first & foremost rule)

1. Learn to work the toilet seat…
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports, it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.  Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.  Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.


1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.  In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days…


1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.  Don't ask us…

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.  Not both.  If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. All men see in only 16 colours, like windows default settings.  Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
 
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong.   We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle..

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...  Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football or hockey.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape.  Round is a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.  Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight.


But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

It is extraordinarily low and will be quite the lowest I've ever received.  But I did exceptionally well what with one thing and another last year, so will try my damnedest not to complain too loudly 

Should equate to a packet of Pringles a week, I guess!  Good job I like Pringles  Still waiting for the "good news" - perhaps coming in this month's paypacket?  Who knows!!

Very annoying but I would just get on and do it but, as Cathy S says, make sure that it's known you're resolving something started by another.  It wouldn't hurt to contact the other person and see if she has anything helpful she can add to the mix - perhaps point you in the right direction to get it cleared up.

I've had to deal with similar stuff in the past - it's all part & parcel of taking on a new job.  Annoying having to clear up someone else's mess but par for the course.

And of course, brownie points with the new boss when it's all sorted professionally and efficiently!

Good luck!  And hope the new boss is going to be easy to kick into shape