The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => The Library => Topic started by: Nick on December 21, 2014, 03:00:32 PM
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Like a friendly elephant
The Interim Manager in FE is a lonely breed. We roam the savannahs of FE like friendly elephants. We arrive to no induction and we leave without a tearful leaving do. Some of us do unpopular things and disappear before anyone realises we are to blame. We also spend too much time in hotels and questionable restaurants in places we would never voluntarily visit. It is not glamorous.
We compare notes with others via e mail and vie for which of us is in the ghastliest Travel Lodge that week. We borrow the hotel iron and ironing board and our best friend is Ms SatNav as we generally have no clue where we are. We are expendable and itinerant. It can be great fun.
I am presently on a mission in The North. No names, but a lovely cheery bunch of staff and a great team. We shall spend a few weeks together and then I shall vanish in a puff of exhaust smoke. So it goes.
I have been alternating between the Travel Lodge and the Premier Inn for three weeks but their corporate uniformity palls after a while. It is simultaneously predictable and disorienting. I find that writing the name of the town I am in on a piece of paper and leaving it by my bed helps me when I wake in the morning, otherwise I get confused. One could be anywhere.
In the last week of December I decided to branch out and go ethnic by booking into a local hotel run by local people. I struck unlucky.
Seduced by the hotel’s description of itself I booked for two nights. When I arrived the reception was shut. I wandered the deserted building (also a bar and restaurant) until I happened upon a member of staff. Her sweater announced, “Santa, I can explain…..” She was running the bar, restaurant and hotel by herself.
She managed to check me in and directed me to my room which was in an annexe resembling an old folks’ home. My room (slightly dishevelled and with a stained carpet) reminded me of CSI. I half expected people in rubber gloves to turn up and take photos. The windows were open and the heating off. It was -3 outside. And inside too.
The four page menu (“All food cooked to order”) was dubious. The food was adequate if you like home cooking and came from a bad home. On the second night I noticed a Specials board and ordered from that. Dinner was about 12 quid both nights. Arriving at my table I found a flier announcing a special offer of weekday main meals for just £5. I queried this with the waiter (who I later found was the manager). He read it, said, “I dunno what that is about,” and threw it in a bin.
Breakfast the next day was odd. Nothing doing. Suddenly the chef appeared and asked if anyone had a cigarette lighter. I obliged. He retired to the kitchen. There was a tiny click, a loud BOOM and some cheering. He returned with my lighter and without his earlier eyebrows. Breakfast was somewhat haphazard.
I returned to CSI and found (the radiator had jammed full on turning the room into a sauna so I had opened a window) an immense black and white cat in my bed. It looked comfy, so I left it alone.
I went to check out (and pay) but Reception was still shut, so I left my key and an apologetic note. It took two days to pay and when I did speak to them they explained that Reception was always shut at checkout time as they were busy with breakfast then.
Will I stay there again? Yes! It is entertaining in a way that the Travel Lodge will never achieve. And you know, the customer service in the college is much superior to that in the private sector. Most colleges lack gigantic cats and people in “Santa, I can explain…” jumpers. Ignore those who say colleges should be more like the private sector. They haven’t ever worked as an interim.
Nick Warren is a member of the Policy Consortium and an interim Marketing Manager in FE.
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Tl:dr
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Mongtard
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Tl:dr
You should, it's quite good once you get past the use of the unexplained "FE" in the first sentence
For some strange disturbed reason the phrase Fizzy Enemas leapt into my brain and rather stayed there throughout
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Since it is for FE WEEK it requires no explanation you QUorn eating mongtard Banghead Banghead Banghead
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Since it is for FE WEEK it requires no explanation you QUorn eating mongtard Banghead Banghead Banghead
Yes it would have been obvious IF you had said that in the post wouldn't it
But you didn't did you. How Mr Stew puts up with all this I really do not know.
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evil: evil: Mr Stew is about to go into a new incarnation cloud9: cloud9:
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evil: evil: Mr Stew is about to go into a new incarnation cloud9: cloud9:
Another couple of incarnations and Mr Stew could qualify as an Interim FE Manager rubschin:
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;D ;D ;D
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evil: evil: Mr Stew is about to go into a new incarnation cloud9: cloud9:
Another couple of incarnations and Mr Stew could qualify as an Interim FE Manager rubschin:
Mr. Stew.. away in an manger like...? rubschin:
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evil: evil: Mr Stew is about to go into a new incarnation cloud9: cloud9:
Another couple of incarnations and Mr Stew could qualify as an Interim FE Manager rubschin:
Mr. Stew.. away in an manger like...? rubschin:
No room at the Inn TravelLodge
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Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead cussing: cussing: cussing:
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"An elephant never forgets"
Why, therefore, are you writing the name of the town you are in?
Such factual inaccuracies are simply intolerable. D-, could do better...
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Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead cussing: cussing: cussing:
Well what do you expect when you go nasty at people that said the article was good?
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"An elephant never forgets"
Why, therefore, are you writing the name of the town you are in?
Such factual inaccuracies are simply intolerable. D-, could do better...
drumroll:
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I didn't mention it you utter dwarf mongtard Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead
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I didn't mention it you utter dwarf mongtard Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead
In your narticle, you do indeed mention it. You ginger uber mongulant.
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What town or hotel?
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I didn't mention it you utter dwarf mongtard Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead
In your narticle, you do indeed mention it. You ginger uber mongulant.
Much as I hate to leap to the defence of the all New Nasty Nick the lasher outer at those who merely praise his work but . . . .
I don't think he did
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It would have been better had you written it yourself rather than having some first year student ghost-write it on your behalf. noooo:
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It would have been better had you written it yourself rather than having some first year student ghost-write it on your behalf. noooo:
happy001
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Like a friendly elephant...blah, blah, blah///
I find that writing the name of the town I am in on a piece of paper and leaving it by my bed helps me when I wake in the morning, otherwise I get confused...blah, blah, blah...
In other words, you forget.
:thumbsup:
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cussing: cussing: evil: evil:
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https://www.tes.com/news/further-education/breaking-views/no-induction-no-leaving-dothe-loneliness-interim-college (https://www.tes.com/news/further-education/breaking-views/no-induction-no-leaving-dothe-loneliness-interim-college)
whistle:
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https://www.tes.com/news/further-education/breaking-views/no-induction-no-leaving-dothe-loneliness-interim-college (https://www.tes.com/news/further-education/breaking-views/no-induction-no-leaving-dothe-loneliness-interim-college)
whistle:
AFFS ;) https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/index.php?topic=7084.msg629770#msg629770 (https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/index.php?topic=7084.msg629770#msg629770)
But it is an excellent read Nick and :thumbsup: on getting it published. The Dalek and esp the Goebbels lines are priceless. worthy:
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I Sent him another. He wants me to do a series, like....
Like a friendly elephant
The Interim Manager is a lonely breed. We roam the savannas of FE like friendly elephants. We arrive to no induction and we leave without a tearful leaving do. Some of us do unpopular things and disappear before anyone realises we are to blame. We also spend too much time in hotels and questionable restaurants in places we would never voluntarily visit. It is not glamorous.
We compare notes with others via e mail and vie for which of us is in the ghastliest Travel Lodge that week. We borrow the hotel iron and ironing board and our best friend is Ms SatNav as we generally have no clue where we are. We are expendable and itinerant. It can be great fun.
I am presently on a mission in The North. No names, but a lovely cheery bunch of staff and a great team. We shall spend a few weeks together and then I shall vanish in a puff of exhaust smoke. So it goes.
I have been alternating between the Travel Lodge and the Premier Inn for three weeks but their corporate uniformity palls after a while. It is simultaneously predictable and disorienting. I find that writing the name of the town I am in on a piece of paper and leaving it by my bed helps me when I wake in the morning, otherwise I get confused. One could be anywhere.
In the last week of term I decided to branch out and go ethnic by booking into a local hotel run by local people. I struck unlucky.
Seduced by the hotel’s description of itself I booked for two nights. When I arrived the reception was shut. I wandered the deserted building (also a bar and restaurant) until I happened upon a member of staff. Her sweater announced, “Santa, I can explain…..” She was running the bar, restaurant and hotel by herself.
She managed to check me in and directed me to my room which was in an annexe resembling an old folks’ home. My room (slightly dishevelled and with a stained carpet) reminded me of CSI. I half expected people in rubber gloves to turn up and take photos. The windows were open and the heating off. It was -3 outside. And inside too.
The four page menu (“All food cooked to order”) was dubious. The food was adequate if you like home cooking and came from a bad home. On the second night I noticed a Specials board and ordered from that. Dinner was about 12 quid both nights. Arriving at my table I found a flier announcing a special offer of weekday main meals for just £5. I queried this with the waiter (who I later found was the manager). He read it, said, “I dunno what that is about,” and threw it in a bin.
Breakfast the next day was odd. Nothing doing. Suddenly the chef appeared and asked if anyone had a cigarette lighter. I obliged. He retired to the kitchen. There was a tiny click, a loud BOOM and some cheering. He returned with my lighter and without his earlier eyebrows. Breakfast was somewhat haphazard.
I returned to CSI and found (the radiator had jammed full on turning the room into a sauna so I had opened a window) an immense black and white cat in my bed. It looked comfy, so I left it alone.
I went to check out (and pay) but Reception was still shut, so I left my key and an apologetic note. It took two days to pay and when I did speak to them they explained that Reception was always shut at checkout time as they were busy with breakfast then.
Will I stay there again? Yes! It is entertaining in a way that the Travel Lodge will never achieve. And you know, the customer service in the college is much superior to that in the private sector. Most colleges lack gigantic cats and people in “Santa, I can explain…” jumpers. Ignore those who say colleges should be more like the private sector. They haven’t ever worked as an interim.
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:thumbsup:
Or you should write a book - seriously. 'Like Friendly Elephants' is a great eye catching title and the Goebbels line a good first page 'must read more' reader grabber
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I Sent him another. He wants me to do a series, like....
Like a friendly elephant
The Interim Manager is a lonely breed. We roam the savannas of FE like friendly elephants. We arrive to no induction and we leave without a tearful leaving do. Some of us do unpopular things and disappear before anyone realises we are to blame. We also spend too much time in hotels and questionable restaurants in places we would never voluntarily visit. It is not glamorous.
We compare notes with others via e mail and vie for which of us is in the ghastliest Travel Lodge that week. We borrow the hotel iron and ironing board and our best friend is Ms SatNav as we generally have no clue where we are. We are expendable and itinerant. It can be great fun.
I am presently on a mission in The North. No names, but a lovely cheery bunch of staff and a great team. We shall spend a few weeks together and then I shall vanish in a puff of exhaust smoke. So it goes.
I have been alternating between the Travel Lodge and the Premier Inn for three weeks but their corporate uniformity palls after a while. It is simultaneously predictable and disorienting. I find that writing the name of the town I am in on a piece of paper and leaving it by my bed helps me when I wake in the morning, otherwise I get confused. One could be anywhere.
In the last week of term I decided to branch out and go ethnic by booking into a local hotel run by local people. I struck unlucky.
Seduced by the hotel’s description of itself I booked for two nights. When I arrived the reception was shut. I wandered the deserted building (also a bar and restaurant) until I happened upon a member of staff. Her sweater announced, “Santa, I can explain…..” She was running the bar, restaurant and hotel by herself.
She managed to check me in and directed me to my room which was in an annexe resembling an old folks’ home. My room (slightly dishevelled and with a stained carpet) reminded me of CSI. I half expected people in rubber gloves to turn up and take photos. The windows were open and the heating off. It was -3 outside. And inside too.
The four page menu (“All food cooked to order”) was dubious. The food was adequate if you like home cooking and came from a bad home. On the second night I noticed a Specials board and ordered from that. Dinner was about 12 quid both nights. Arriving at my table I found a flier announcing a special offer of weekday main meals for just £5. I queried this with the waiter (who I later found was the manager). He read it, said, “I dunno what that is about,” and threw it in a bin.
Breakfast the next day was odd. Nothing doing. Suddenly the chef appeared and asked if anyone had a cigarette lighter. I obliged. He retired to the kitchen. There was a tiny click, a loud BOOM and some cheering. He returned with my lighter and without his earlier eyebrows. Breakfast was somewhat haphazard.
I returned to CSI and found (the radiator had jammed full on turning the room into a sauna so I had opened a window) an immense black and white cat in my bed. It looked comfy, so I left it alone.
I went to check out (and pay) but Reception was still shut, so I left my key and an apologetic note. It took two days to pay and when I did speak to them they explained that Reception was always shut at checkout time as they were busy with breakfast then.
Will I stay there again? Yes! It is entertaining in a way that the Travel Lodge will never achieve. And you know, the customer service in the college is much superior to that in the private sector. Most colleges lack gigantic cats and people in “Santa, I can explain…” jumpers. Ignore those who say colleges should be more like the private sector. They haven’t ever worked as an interim.
Thumbs: Thumbs: Thumbs:
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I Sent him another. He wants me to do a series, like....
Like a friendly elephant
The Interim Manager is a lonely breed. We roam the savannas of FE like friendly elephants. We arrive to no induction and we leave without a tearful leaving do. Some of us do unpopular things and disappear before anyone realises we are to blame. We also spend too much time in hotels and questionable restaurants in places we would never voluntarily visit. It is not glamorous.
We compare notes with others via e mail and vie for which of us is in the ghastliest Travel Lodge that week. We borrow the hotel iron and ironing board and our best friend is Ms SatNav as we generally have no clue where we are. We are expendable and itinerant. It can be great fun.
I am presently on a mission in The North. No names, but a lovely cheery bunch of staff and a great team. We shall spend a few weeks together and then I shall vanish in a puff of exhaust smoke. So it goes.
I have been alternating between the Travel Lodge and the Premier Inn for three weeks but their corporate uniformity palls after a while. It is simultaneously predictable and disorienting. I find that writing the name of the town I am in on a piece of paper and leaving it by my bed helps me when I wake in the morning, otherwise I get confused. One could be anywhere.
In the last week of term I decided to branch out and go ethnic by booking into a local hotel run by local people. I struck unlucky.
Seduced by the hotel’s description of itself I booked for two nights. When I arrived the reception was shut. I wandered the deserted building (also a bar and restaurant) until I happened upon a member of staff. Her sweater announced, “Santa, I can explain…..” She was running the bar, restaurant and hotel by herself.
She managed to check me in and directed me to my room which was in an annexe resembling an old folks’ home. My room (slightly dishevelled and with a stained carpet) reminded me of CSI. I half expected people in rubber gloves to turn up and take photos. The windows were open and the heating off. It was -3 outside. And inside too.
The four page menu (“All food cooked to order”) was dubious. The food was adequate if you like home cooking and came from a bad home. On the second night I noticed a Specials board and ordered from that. Dinner was about 12 quid both nights. Arriving at my table I found a flier announcing a special offer of weekday main meals for just £5. I queried this with the waiter (who I later found was the manager). He read it, said, “I dunno what that is about,” and threw it in a bin.
Breakfast the next day was odd. Nothing doing. Suddenly the chef appeared and asked if anyone had a cigarette lighter. I obliged. He retired to the kitchen. There was a tiny click, a loud BOOM and some cheering. He returned with my lighter and without his earlier eyebrows. Breakfast was somewhat haphazard.
I returned to CSI and found (the radiator had jammed full on turning the room into a sauna so I had opened a window) an immense black and white cat in my bed. It looked comfy, so I left it alone.
I went to check out (and pay) but Reception was still shut, so I left my key and an apologetic note. It took two days to pay and when I did speak to them they explained that Reception was always shut at checkout time as they were busy with breakfast then.
Will I stay there again? Yes! It is entertaining in a way that the Travel Lodge will never achieve. And you know, the customer service in the college is much superior to that in the private sector. Most colleges lack gigantic cats and people in “Santa, I can explain…” jumpers. Ignore those who say colleges should be more like the private sector. They haven’t ever worked as an interim.
Thumbs: Thumbs: Thumbs:
happ096