My, my Blogger, how long it has been. And how you've changed! I don't like it. Change it back. Do it now. No? Why n- oh don't give me the silent treatment. So I see you're as childish as you always were. That's fine, two can play at that game.
...Don't even ask, cus I don't know.
Anyway, it really has been a while, 2 months - more. I would say I've been busy with work, but that'd only be true for last week, with the dreaded 16 hour shift. For today's topic, I'm going to take a leaf out of Andrew's book and go with "A day in the life of just another MGt/DigitalUK employee". Ready for this?
So we'll start with a pretty bog-standard call.
"Good morning and welcome to Digital UK, my name is Zoe, may I take your name, please?"
"Hi there, it's Mrs Smith, I just wanted to ask about this switchover business."
"Alright, how exactly can I help you then, Mrs Smith?"
"Well, I keep getting told that if I don't retune before the 4th of April my TV will never work again, is this true? Is there a time limit?"
"Not at all, you can retune your TV at any time after 6am on the 4th of April Mrs Smith, all that happens is the signal changes, and from then on it will always be there for you to tune in to."
"Oh! That's such a relief, thank you so much!"
"Not a problem, is there anything else I can help you with today?"
"No, no, that's all"
"Well, thank you for calling Digital UK, bye!"
So I might have lied a little there. I never remember to ask if there's anything else I can help with, and neither do I thank them for calling. But that's neither here nor there. I'm a professional, honest.
How about a bit of angry people? A more rare call, but still pretty standard.
"Good afternoon and welcome to Digital UK, my name is Zoe, may I take your name, please?"
"Right, spare me all of that, and forgive my rudeness, but I'm just not very happy."
"All right, well, how can I help you, sir?"
"I doubt you can help me, you're just an advice line for this rubbish anyway, aren't you?"
"We're an advice line for the Digital Switchover, yes."
"Well, I didn't want any of this, I was quite happy to stick to analogue and don't want any of these extra channels and hassle. I want to know who to speak to fix it and change it back."
"Well the Digital Switchover is a governm-"
"Don't talk to me about the bloody government, that's all politics, and politicians don't know anything, they spout on about progress when it's just a bloody hassle!"
"I understand it's a hass-"
"No you don't understand, you're young yet, wait till you get to my age and people start changing everything around you right after you've just got to grips with the last new thing, this progress is a load of bullshit in my opinion. Now tell me, can you help me at all?"
"I don't think I ca-"
"Didn't bloody think so. Useless." [hangs up]
It's calls like those that make you feel like utter shite. At the same time though, can't help but feel sorry for the guy. Still don't appreciate being called useless though.
Oh well, how about we move onto the heartwarming ones?
"Good evening and welcome to Digital UK, my name is Zoe, may I take your name, please?"
"Oh hello Zoe, what a lovely name! I'm Margaret. You're Scottish aren't you? How's the weather up there?"
"Aw, thank you! It's actually quite lovely today, bright and sunny! How can I help you today Margaret?"
"I wondered if you might be able to help me retune my telly?"
"Yep, that should be no problem, if we do run into any problems I may need to refer you to the manufacturer but we should be fine, is that all right?"
"Ohh, that's brilliant, thank you love, now you're going to have to be very patient with me, I'm rather old..."
[I'm not typing out a full retune. If you want that, go call up Digital UK. Actually, don't. I don't want to get any of yous.]
"That's fabby, you should have all your channels back now, Margaret."
"Oh, brilliant! You're an absolute life saver, I don't know what I'd do without my telly! You've been so much help dear, thank you, thank you so much!"
"Not a problem at all, you'll need to do that again on the 18th, but feel free to give us a call back then if you're unsure on how to do it."
"Oh, I will definitely call, I do hope I get you, can I ask for you when I phone up?"
"That's really nice, but I think we'll be much too busy to be able to do that, I'm sure my colleagues will be able to sort you out just the same as me."
"Ohh, I doubt it, not often you find someone so polite and down to earth on a helpline, well, I better let you sort other people out, thank you so much again!"
"Not a problem at all Margaret, it was a pleasure talking to you, bye!"
I almost cried after that phone call. There's nothing quite like the buzz you get from actually being able to help someone - and not only help them, but show them that they're more capable than they think they are. The elderly people I have spoken to in my time at DUK have actually restored my faith in humanity just a smidge. They come from a generation where showing appreciation is actually still valued, and I can't help but appreciate that in itself.
"But Zoe, these calls don't sound too bad, why do you complain about your work so much?"
WELL. At the same time as a lot of my customers restoring my faith in humanity, my colleagues kick it down again. I have never met so many utterly disrespectful people in a customer service environment in my life. I spent the last 3 hours of my 16 hour shift grinding my teeth and trying not to throw a particularly heavy rock at the guy sitting across from me on my pod. Sure, you're tired. Sure, you don't wanna be here. Sure, you might need to be patient. That does not give you the right to treat people like utter shit on the phone. You want them to respect you, be patient when you need to find information for them, be understanding when you just don't know the answer to their question, or give them an answer they don't want? Then you have to return that respect. Be patient when the 82 year old woman needs a minute or two to set herself so she can be on her phone and in front of the TV at the same time. Understand if the slightly deaf man needs you to repeat stuff once or twice. It's basic human courtesy.
I can't wait for these people to grow old, and see how they feel when they need a little support to do what seems like a menial task to us. See how they like it when someone 60 years their junior treats them like utter crap.
All of that said, them being arses made me all the more adamant to be kind and helpful, so I suppose my callers reaped the rewards.
Well, that turned into a bit of an angry rant! I can almost see the little grey thunderstorm over my head. BUT IS K, I HAVE SKITTLES OM NOM NOM NOM.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Saturday 28 April 2012
Thursday 16 February 2012
Valentine's Day 2012.
What a generic title. I'm ever so slightly ashamed of myself, titles aren't supposed to have anything to do with my blog, or give a hint at what they're about, what is this bullshit? Oh well, I'll come up with something super creative for the next one to make up for it.
So this Valentines was pretty much spent normally. What I did was irrelevant, but who I met was amazing, so this blog is going to be directed at them.
You, you wonderful person, are very close to me; someone I'm lucky to have. Over the past few weeks, months and years I've learned more and more about you, and all the while grown so much more secure with you.
You have a wonderful sense of humour - we laugh at the same stupid jokes over and over together, and make the same stupid puns (don't ask me to explain about the tree puns, or yew'll regret it. OH GOD N-). You can laugh at yourself as well as the bad stuff - hardship is always easier to get through with someone by your side, poking fun at the scary black smoke surrounding you. Best of all, I can be laughed at without feeling even slightly put upon.
A genuinely good human being. Not perfect - no-one is by moral standards. But it's the little imperfections that make you human. You're a good example of a humanity at it's best - open, caring, and most importantly - genuine. You're perfect to me.
D'you know what's really, really the best thing though? You're me. THAT'S RIGHT, I JUST SPENT MY VALENTINES POST APPRECIATING MYSELF. Because that's what people need to do sometimes. Single people and those in relationships alike need to take a step back and truly appreciate who they are, and stop thinking of themselves as a half to a whole, alone till they find that other half.
It doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't be that way. You (and this time, I'm speaking to you, my reader) are fantastic, because you're you. You don't need to be part of a pair to be defined. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
So, this has been my most srs fais post in a while. I like it.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
So this Valentines was pretty much spent normally. What I did was irrelevant, but who I met was amazing, so this blog is going to be directed at them.
You, you wonderful person, are very close to me; someone I'm lucky to have. Over the past few weeks, months and years I've learned more and more about you, and all the while grown so much more secure with you.
You have a wonderful sense of humour - we laugh at the same stupid jokes over and over together, and make the same stupid puns (don't ask me to explain about the tree puns, or yew'll regret it. OH GOD N-). You can laugh at yourself as well as the bad stuff - hardship is always easier to get through with someone by your side, poking fun at the scary black smoke surrounding you. Best of all, I can be laughed at without feeling even slightly put upon.
A genuinely good human being. Not perfect - no-one is by moral standards. But it's the little imperfections that make you human. You're a good example of a humanity at it's best - open, caring, and most importantly - genuine. You're perfect to me.
D'you know what's really, really the best thing though? You're me. THAT'S RIGHT, I JUST SPENT MY VALENTINES POST APPRECIATING MYSELF. Because that's what people need to do sometimes. Single people and those in relationships alike need to take a step back and truly appreciate who they are, and stop thinking of themselves as a half to a whole, alone till they find that other half.
It doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't be that way. You (and this time, I'm speaking to you, my reader) are fantastic, because you're you. You don't need to be part of a pair to be defined. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
So, this has been my most srs fais post in a while. I like it.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
LEAVE THE FUCKING FISH ALONE, TIQ.
It's my sister's 21st birthday! I wish her a wonderful birthday and many, many great presents. I am of course only writing that in there because if you read this and I didn't say it after mentioning her birthday, I'd seem a pretty shit sister. But no, I'm actually gonna BE there, making her birthday wonderful, and giving her an absolutely FABULOUS present.
It's also two weeks before the dreaded V-Day. I KNOW I'VE DONE THIS POST BEFORE. That was from the perspective of someone who'd been in a relationship for a month and therefore understandably squee-ful about the first Valentines day she'd ever had actually with someone. This time, from the perspective of someone who was in a relationship for a year, and is still healing.
So, now that I'm a bitter singleton, has my view on V-Day changed any? Too right it fucking has. What a bullshit commercialised holiday, designed to make single people feel shit. I mean, what the fuck?! Couples are ALREADY happy in their couples, so what the fuck gives them the right to rub it in our single faces and make us feel even MORE like shit? Seriously, we singletons should build an army and kill half of every fucking couple out there, THEN THEY'LL KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
Ah, ahhahahahahahahahahaha. Can't do it anymore. Though I have to admit, saying "fuck" that many times in one paragraph was oddly satisfying. No, my opinion hasn't changed a jot on the subject, I still think it's an overly commercialised excuse to pay attention to your relationship, and I still resent the fact that single people are completely ignored by the card companies for a day. Hey, we need some commercialising too, y'know! I should sell them my business plan. Pick a month, and make the 14th Singles Day. Print out 10 million cards, sell them all at £1-£6 (only the truly good friends will give their single friends an expensive card, they'll judge you if you don't, buy the expensive card!). PROFIT! It'll catch on, I tell ya.
So how will I be spending Valentines Day?
Why, sitting in my room traversing the wonders of the Mass Effect 3 demo with my wonderful Charlie Shepard, of course.
Who is infinitely sexy, by the way.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
It's also two weeks before the dreaded V-Day. I KNOW I'VE DONE THIS POST BEFORE. That was from the perspective of someone who'd been in a relationship for a month and therefore understandably squee-ful about the first Valentines day she'd ever had actually with someone. This time, from the perspective of someone who was in a relationship for a year, and is still healing.
So, now that I'm a bitter singleton, has my view on V-Day changed any? Too right it fucking has. What a bullshit commercialised holiday, designed to make single people feel shit. I mean, what the fuck?! Couples are ALREADY happy in their couples, so what the fuck gives them the right to rub it in our single faces and make us feel even MORE like shit? Seriously, we singletons should build an army and kill half of every fucking couple out there, THEN THEY'LL KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
Ah, ahhahahahahahahahahaha. Can't do it anymore. Though I have to admit, saying "fuck" that many times in one paragraph was oddly satisfying. No, my opinion hasn't changed a jot on the subject, I still think it's an overly commercialised excuse to pay attention to your relationship, and I still resent the fact that single people are completely ignored by the card companies for a day. Hey, we need some commercialising too, y'know! I should sell them my business plan. Pick a month, and make the 14th Singles Day. Print out 10 million cards, sell them all at £1-£6 (only the truly good friends will give their single friends an expensive card, they'll judge you if you don't, buy the expensive card!). PROFIT! It'll catch on, I tell ya.
So how will I be spending Valentines Day?
Why, sitting in my room traversing the wonders of the Mass Effect 3 demo with my wonderful Charlie Shepard, of course.
Who is infinitely sexy, by the way.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Thursday 17 November 2011
OH, ALSO.
The woman who served us at Premier Inn was called Liliana. I can't believe I forgot about that.
It made me kinda happy. >:3
It made me kinda happy. >:3
Tuesday 15 November 2011
That stupid Andrew.
I came on here all ready to write my first blog in months and that bastard Andrew beat me to it. He even stole my topic!
So I'm gonna go ahead and write my blog on the same topic like an uncreative sod. Except mine will be from the point of view of the one who wasn't HORRENDOUSLY GRUMPY on Friday morning, a Within Temptation superfan (who's been waiting to see them for four years) and a gig veteran. As opposed to a gig virgin. Like Andrew was. There, I said it.
I WANT A STREPSIL!
I'll admit, the bus down was horrendous. I decided to do the nice thing and switch seats with Andrew so he could sit next to the cool window. To be fair I kind of deserved it, seeing as I somehow managed to pick the seats right by the toilets (your own fault, you made me pick). With all the horror of the travel though, and the lack of sleep, I'm quite proud that I was not HORRENDOUSLY GRUMPY like some people.
Permission to squee? PLEASE?!
There I was, standing in the queue, freezing my ass off, my feet pulsating in pain, almost bouncing up and down with excitement. Fast forward an hour, and I was bouncing up and down, standing at the barrier (I have never been anywhere but right at the front at gigs), waiting with insane trepidation for Anneke Van Giersbergen could come on, feeling half excited about Within Temptation and half guilty that as amazing as Anneke performed... COME ON, WITHIN TEMPTATION WAS COMING NEXT! Half 8 comes along, Anneke's set is finished and it's The Half Hour. The only thing standing between me and Within Temptation. Andrew had imposed squee restrictions. All I could do was stay silent and drumroll on the barrier, bouncing away.
Such was the experience of finally getting to see my favourite band of all time. There is no feeling like it. Every song was amazing. Every high note was perfect. Every guitar solo was orgasmic. Goddamn, I was grinning from ear to ear throughout the whole thing. My life was made. I still can't describe it.
AGAIN, AGAIN?!
Within Temptation are doing another acoustic set such like An Acoustic Night at the Theatre which will feature songs from their newest album. I personally loved An Acoustic Night at the Theatre. As I described it to Andrew (then got a funny look for sounding weird) it's like they brought a whole new energy to their songs, changing them just enough to be beautiful in a whole different way. These shows however are only performed in the Netherlands. I had a little bit of a look into how much it would cost, just a little bit, mind you.
Travel: £28.99 outward flight, £34.99 return flight. Tickets: £76. Accommodation: £69, bringing it to a total of £274.96 for two people.
Yeah, just a little look into it. Hey, that's totally doable right?!
On a completely unrelated note, guys, see for Christmas, forget presents. Gimme money. Lots of it. All of it. K? K.
Also, just realised I've mentioned Andrew 4 (5) times in this blog. Huh.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
So I'm gonna go ahead and write my blog on the same topic like an uncreative sod. Except mine will be from the point of view of the one who wasn't HORRENDOUSLY GRUMPY on Friday morning, a Within Temptation superfan (who's been waiting to see them for four years) and a gig veteran. As opposed to a gig virgin. Like Andrew was. There, I said it.
I WANT A STREPSIL!
I'll admit, the bus down was horrendous. I decided to do the nice thing and switch seats with Andrew so he could sit next to the cool window. To be fair I kind of deserved it, seeing as I somehow managed to pick the seats right by the toilets (your own fault, you made me pick). With all the horror of the travel though, and the lack of sleep, I'm quite proud that I was not HORRENDOUSLY GRUMPY like some people.
Permission to squee? PLEASE?!
There I was, standing in the queue, freezing my ass off, my feet pulsating in pain, almost bouncing up and down with excitement. Fast forward an hour, and I was bouncing up and down, standing at the barrier (I have never been anywhere but right at the front at gigs), waiting with insane trepidation for Anneke Van Giersbergen could come on, feeling half excited about Within Temptation and half guilty that as amazing as Anneke performed... COME ON, WITHIN TEMPTATION WAS COMING NEXT! Half 8 comes along, Anneke's set is finished and it's The Half Hour. The only thing standing between me and Within Temptation. Andrew had imposed squee restrictions. All I could do was stay silent and drumroll on the barrier, bouncing away.
Such was the experience of finally getting to see my favourite band of all time. There is no feeling like it. Every song was amazing. Every high note was perfect. Every guitar solo was orgasmic. Goddamn, I was grinning from ear to ear throughout the whole thing. My life was made. I still can't describe it.
AGAIN, AGAIN?!
Within Temptation are doing another acoustic set such like An Acoustic Night at the Theatre which will feature songs from their newest album. I personally loved An Acoustic Night at the Theatre. As I described it to Andrew (then got a funny look for sounding weird) it's like they brought a whole new energy to their songs, changing them just enough to be beautiful in a whole different way. These shows however are only performed in the Netherlands. I had a little bit of a look into how much it would cost, just a little bit, mind you.
Travel: £28.99 outward flight, £34.99 return flight. Tickets: £76. Accommodation: £69, bringing it to a total of £274.96 for two people.
Yeah, just a little look into it. Hey, that's totally doable right?!
On a completely unrelated note, guys, see for Christmas, forget presents. Gimme money. Lots of it. All of it. K? K.
Also, just realised I've mentioned Andrew 4 (5) times in this blog. Huh.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Monday 10 October 2011
A blog for the ages.
Och Aye The Nee says
omg
this is probably the most manly thing ive ever done in a while
cooking meat that is
and fawning over it
"look at that meat. it literally falls apart. god its like sex in a pot"
its done btw
and it does fall apart and off the bone just by gravity
me: *tastes it* "oh fuck! its giving me a man boner"
me: "i wanna have sex with it. i want it to rape my throat with juicy goodness"
i will never forgive you if you use these against me
Zoeh QK says
xDDDD
*copies and pastes into blog*
Yes, that was the only reason I blogged. Better blog to come later.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
omg
this is probably the most manly thing ive ever done in a while
cooking meat that is
and fawning over it
"look at that meat. it literally falls apart. god its like sex in a pot"
its done btw
and it does fall apart and off the bone just by gravity
me: *tastes it* "oh fuck! its giving me a man boner"
me: "i wanna have sex with it. i want it to rape my throat with juicy goodness"
i will never forgive you if you use these against me
Zoeh QK says
xDDDD
*copies and pastes into blog*
Yes, that was the only reason I blogged. Better blog to come later.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Thursday 15 September 2011
So, I'm back at uni.
Well, we all knew this blog was coming just as well as I knew as soon as I got back in today I knew I'd need to go back out for something (ice cream).
As many of you knew, when summer started to get boring (after I got my exam results, anticipation wore off and I was certain I'd be at uni at all) I have been desperately willing time to go forward to send me back to uni. This wasn't without it's drawbacks, obviously, just like for every decent Eluveitie fan there's about 150 pre-pubescent fan girls and boys squealing at Justin Bieber concerts. I was worried I'd repeat last year, the mind-blowing laziness (seriously, it was getting really bad), the positively negative motivation (yes, that makes sense, words with more than one meaning ftw) and the terrible attitude towards taking care of myself.
To be honest, I've been here since Monday now, and I feel fantastic. My sleeping pattern has miraculously fixed itself; going to sleep at 2am last night yet still getting up at 8am this morning. I worried I wouldn't have the motivation to cycle into uni every day after months of not cycling, and Dad shelling out for a new saddle, but I did it today and it was lovely! Currently having lunch - soup and bread. Pasta for tea, toast for breakfast. I'm even eating breakfast! I'm surprised, and pleased as hell my lifestyle is become a bit less... sloth like.
Back to the point - I'm back at uni, and had my first lecture today. I suppose that helps in putting me in a winning mood; philosophy always does! It really helps learning when you actually can't wait to start talking about it, and thinking about it, call me a geek and a philosophy nerd but I absolutely adore the subject.
It would also appear I've made a friend today. By chance happened to be walking to the back of the room when someone just came in asking if it was the right room for second year philosophy. By some massive sheer coincidence, we just happen to both be studying psychology too, as well as having the same philosophy seminar. Go me!
Zoe - 1. Shyness - 0.
I did however chicken out of signing up for the rock society. But, I can cheat, and join the rock society Facebook page and write a post so pleading and pathetic in nature so as to make some kindly soul take pity and offer at best friendship, at worst, mild acquaintances.
Zoe - 1.5. Shyness - 1. STILL WINNING.
That is one bad thing about uni. Feels like I'm still in first year, cus back then I didn't have the confidence to properly get stuck in and make friends. Now it's just sad if I try. See conversation; "so is it your first year?" "Nah, I just didn't make any friends last year. I don't have leprosy, honest."
Zoe - 1.5. Shyness - 2. Well, not that it matters, I don't think you can really win in a self awarded points battle with... yourself...
I'm beginning to realise why I have no friends.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
As many of you knew, when summer started to get boring (after I got my exam results, anticipation wore off and I was certain I'd be at uni at all) I have been desperately willing time to go forward to send me back to uni. This wasn't without it's drawbacks, obviously, just like for every decent Eluveitie fan there's about 150 pre-pubescent fan girls and boys squealing at Justin Bieber concerts. I was worried I'd repeat last year, the mind-blowing laziness (seriously, it was getting really bad), the positively negative motivation (yes, that makes sense, words with more than one meaning ftw) and the terrible attitude towards taking care of myself.
To be honest, I've been here since Monday now, and I feel fantastic. My sleeping pattern has miraculously fixed itself; going to sleep at 2am last night yet still getting up at 8am this morning. I worried I wouldn't have the motivation to cycle into uni every day after months of not cycling, and Dad shelling out for a new saddle, but I did it today and it was lovely! Currently having lunch - soup and bread. Pasta for tea, toast for breakfast. I'm even eating breakfast! I'm surprised, and pleased as hell my lifestyle is become a bit less... sloth like.
Back to the point - I'm back at uni, and had my first lecture today. I suppose that helps in putting me in a winning mood; philosophy always does! It really helps learning when you actually can't wait to start talking about it, and thinking about it, call me a geek and a philosophy nerd but I absolutely adore the subject.
It would also appear I've made a friend today. By chance happened to be walking to the back of the room when someone just came in asking if it was the right room for second year philosophy. By some massive sheer coincidence, we just happen to both be studying psychology too, as well as having the same philosophy seminar. Go me!
Zoe - 1. Shyness - 0.
I did however chicken out of signing up for the rock society. But, I can cheat, and join the rock society Facebook page and write a post so pleading and pathetic in nature so as to make some kindly soul take pity and offer at best friendship, at worst, mild acquaintances.
Zoe - 1.5. Shyness - 1. STILL WINNING.
That is one bad thing about uni. Feels like I'm still in first year, cus back then I didn't have the confidence to properly get stuck in and make friends. Now it's just sad if I try. See conversation; "so is it your first year?" "Nah, I just didn't make any friends last year. I don't have leprosy, honest."
Zoe - 1.5. Shyness - 2. Well, not that it matters, I don't think you can really win in a self awarded points battle with... yourself...
I'm beginning to realise why I have no friends.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
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