Phillbo’s Blog Site

Today was not even worth mentioning, but I do have this urge to vent some steam.

I get aggravated when people break stuff, and then blatantly deny all knowledge of doing anything. The good thing about being an old school BOFH, a logged history doesn’t generally lie. If they simply told the truth, a virtual slap on the wrist would be administered, but all would be forgiven, and the problem would fixed be fixed sooner than later. When they deny it, it makes your job ten times harder, as you have to determine exactly what they have done, and then attempt to fix the initial problem.

I also hate it when someone doesn’t follow your instructions as instructed. I know my methods may not be the best method, but they are proven and work. I am happy for people in my team to take inititive, in fact I encourage it, but it gives me the shits when they say one thing, do another, and still don’t get me the required solution.

In contrast to another staff member who actually resolved an issue at home, in his own time, just to prove his method works well. That gave me a big buzz. So that was the highlight of the day.

I suppose this is the challenge you face when leading a team, but I just hope that any decision I make will be respected, and not vetoed, otherwise my team will never reach their full potential, and my team has some serious talent.

On a more personal agenda, my nephew Joshua is participating in the MS-Read-A-Thon. A fund raiser to help beat the crippling disease of Multiple sclerosis. Feel free to give a donation for this worthy cause. Just a word of caution, if the link doesn’t work, try again later. Their SQL server isn’t the best, and it often times out.

Well I’ve had adhere to my advice, and I am now trying to focus on looking after me. Then something else comes along and turns my life upside down. But I am positive that I am in getting in the right frame of mind - and I am finally seeing some positive results too.

On David and Leanne’s wedding, I came to the realization that I am too fat to wear anything respectable, so it was embarrassing for me dress wise. I assumed everything would fit as planned, but it didn’t. I have never had a “wardrobe incident” before. So over the past two weeks, I have steadily lost 8kg through moderate exercise and good dietary habits. I think I will fit into my suit nicely now, but I am on the mission to keep going, and I am going with the flow.

I have Shane and Heather’s wedding in two weeks, so this time I will be able to dress for the occasion. I’ve never been to a wedding with a greek family involved, so this could be a day to remember - and not for just the bride and groom. I hope all goes well. Which reminds me, I must deliver David and Leanne’s wedding present. They’re still in my house! Doh!

I think I will have an early night.

Today I’ve had my ups and downs, and sometimes reality can smack you in the face head on. Work has been challenging, and I am not sure how to cope with what’s going around me. On the brighter side of things, my friend Esther announced her engagement, so I was very pleased to congratulate her.

My mind has also been distracted on other things, but I’d say they’re mostly positive. I saw Iron Man at the cinema yesterday (in a hung over state) after a Dave and Leanne’s wedding at the winery on Saturday. I think that was the first time I’ve been to a Gold Class cinema without ordering a beer.

I actually quite liked the movie. I also got to celebrate with my mate Ross being released from home detention. It was a momentous day.

But reflecting on today, I know that some tough decisions have to be made very soon, and I hope I have the wisdom to make the right choice.  I am physically and emotionally drained, but I will soldier on.