The Meeting.
Wednesday 16 May 2007
Well, the meeting seemed to go okay, primarily because the head of security never actually showed up - as most of us figured he wouldn't - and so #2 had to chair it. #2 is a thoroughly decent bloke who always listens to what we have to say, which is all you can ask for, really, isn't it? He also has a way of presenting things to the boss so that he thinks they're his ideas, which increases the chances of them being actioned. Time will, as always, tell.
I'm not sure I've mentioned before how many days Bilbo takes off. About a month ago over a two week period he actually took eight days off, and he has this really irritating habit of not coming in on his entire weekend shift, say, then coming into the park on a Monday - his actual day off - and spending all night drinking in one of the bars. As opposed to, you know, helping out given he's just had two freebies anyway.
Well, it hasn't gone unnoticed so he's had to get clever, and there have been several cases where he's mentioned about wanting/needing a certain day off in the week, but has been unable to find anyway to cover his shift. So, lo and behold, on the actual day itself he'll either (a) be ill, and not come in, or (b) come in, but about half an hour into his shift get an 'emergency' phone call and have to leave immediately to deal with it. With no exaggeration, this has happened about half a dozen times, with the incidents ranging from an arrested daughter to an ill mother, and several deaths.
Tonight he had another passing; his nan.
Now, this all may well be the gospel, and he could be just on an incredibly bad run of luck. But there's something all a bit dodgy about it, as said. However, that aside, he was called up to the lodge today just after 6pm and came back about quarter of an hour later, looking all lost and bleak. He told me what happened and I offered my condolences. I have to do the right thing of course and when he started asking if we'd be okay, I told him to go home and deal with it. Then, without thinking, said, "Don't worry mate - it'll be dead down here tonight."
Cringe.
He never seemed to notice, but still; bad form and all that. It's probably fortunate that I didn't add, "The place is like a morgue."
Still, it was. It's the ideal crowd for the complex, really; big drinkers, but peaceful ones. The only incident of note tonight was one chap so pissed that he decided to go into the disabled toilet - which also doubles as the 'mother & baby' room - for a crap, but elected to not only leave the door unlocked, but leave it open. Hence, panicked 'mother & baby' rushing up to me to report the sordid news. Eventually he finished his business, and then promptly came out and collapsed over a table. Classy. We took him outside and he collapsed twice again before he'd moved out of sight. He's probably dead now. Still, one less to worry about tomorrow.
posted by Sheamus @ 2:00 am
