The Lady Hooligan’s Page

I’m lonely.

If it wasn’t for a soppy love story (Nights in Rodanthe, no less!) I would never have admitted it, not even to myself.

In an earlier blog, I defined a passion as something I would pay for. What I would kill for, however, is someone who accepts me for who I am, regardless, and is willing to spend the rest of our lives together. Someone who would be the father of my children, and help me raise them, and grow old together… Someone that I could share my hopes and dreams with, and my fears and pain…. Someone who would indulge my whims and temper my impulsiveness with good old common sense…. Someone for me to look up to, and respect, and love….

Who knows…..

Maybe one day

I have the privilege of moving on within the next few weeks.  It is hard work getting everything set up, but I reckon it’ll be more than worth it in the end.

There is a new administrative assistant in my place already.  To be fair, she got the appointment months ago as a temporary replacement, but the boss asked that I stayed on.  Then one day she marched into his office and demanded that job, with the result that I gave over.  I didn’t complain too much - as I still had this current move to look forward to, and the knowledge that I wouldn’t be at this branch of the library for too long.

However, as time goes by, it is obvious that the admin person is totally not up to scratch.  She isn’t even computer literate!  So a lot falls back on to my shoulders again, with one major difference - I don’t do it!  No, Sirree, if she wanted that job so badly, she can damn well make sure she’s competent enough to do it!  And to be honest, I actually love sending people to her regarding matters that are part of her job description and watching her cringe.

I guess it’s the New South African way…. Appoint someone who is totally incompetent, let the competent ones do the work and see how the incompetent ones get the credit.  If that’s the case here, then I’m definitely not going to let her run over me.

However, let me end up with a more hopeful story, told to me by the father of the man in question…

The son - let’s call him Mark - worked as an assistant to one of the directors of a large company.  The director was appointed according to a policy of Affirmative Action and had no idea what he was supposed to be doing, with the result that Mark compiled all his reports and results and the director ended up taking the credit.  This went on for years, with everyone knowing it, but no-one doing anything about it!

Then a new CEO was appointed to see if the bottom line of the company could be improved.  At the very first directors’ meeting, he asked Mark’s boss a question.  The director turned to Mark, but before Mark could give him the answer the CEO cut in.  He asked why the director didn’t have this information himself, as it was definitely within the scope of his responsibilities.  By the end of the meeting, the director was fired, and Mark appointed in his place.

Mark later left the company to join a separate business venture, but I’m certain that he’ll always remember the lesson of that day.