London attack

I haven’t written a post about any current event for a long time, unfortunately the one time I do it’s a terrorist attack. Thankfully nobody I know was harmed, very few harmed at all. I imagine that’s no condolence for the families of those killed yesterday. Fortunately officers managed to lay him the fuck out before he could kill anybody else.

The sun came up today and London continued as it would on any other day. It’s just a shame that we live in a world where this sort of thing is a possibility. That said Trump taking Khan’s comments out of context… unfortunately we live in a world where President Trump is also a possibility. I’m too focused on cleaning the shit in my own backyard to offer my condolences to those who did not vote for him. At least your President was voted for.

In the wake of this attack I am left with many questions. Questions about the nature of the attack itself, what new measures will be put in place under ‘national security.’ 

Then there’s Facebook, the filter which I personally find half assed as a show of unity. Solidarity just a click away but hey whatever makes people feel better. Then there’s the whole report yourself as safe feature, never seen this one before. The idea in principle is a good one but if you’re unemployed and from Watford I know you’re safe. 

I also feel for the Muslim people of this country who will suffer abuse as a result of this attack. It’s a virtual certainty, just as Europeans suffered abuse after the leave vote. I haven’t really checked the news since, I’m waiting for more information to come out regarding the perpetrator, sources to be corroborated etc. News that I did read in the immediate aftermath was chaotic to say the least. I’ve created a terrorism category for this blog, I hope this is the only post under it. 

I wish the injured a speedy recovery and my thoughts are with the families of those killed. As attacks go this is minor but to the families of those killed it’s life changing. I commend the actions of the officer who swiftly dealt with the threat and prevented greater loss of life.

-Misanthropist 

Here I go again.

About a week back now I applied for a job but instead of sending your average CV and covering letter I pitched. I started my old job in a sales position and went up from there. Everyone has to start somewhere right?

This summer: he was a salesman but the only thing he couldn’t sell… was himself. 

It’s a shit movie that either stars Rob Schneider or Will Farrell. Anyway, back to the point. So instead of the application I pitched him with ways I could improve and promote his business. I was pretty stoned and drunk if I’m honest and it was a shot in the dark. I never expected a reply.
I didn’t check my email for a number of days afterwards. I woke up one morning to the sound of my phone buzzing. I didn’t answer it right away and received a text shortly afterwards. I answered this message maybe three hours later and received another call. 

I answered this one. We had a short conversation during which I treated him as an equal rather than a potential employer. I asked him questions about his business. Extensive questions really, I wondered if I had been too forward but he was eager to talk to me.

Three days after the application he received my CV and I had a phone call within minutes. It went from a job application to a business meeting in a very short time. We arranged a time and a place. Liverpool Street, London. 

I attended the meeting and we sat down for drinks that he paid for. We discussed his business plan and marketing strategy. He was throughly impressed by my contribution and I now have a job with salary, bonuses and part ownership of the business. A small percentage but it’s a start. 

It’s funny really. I found myself again, like Ouroboros, exactly where I started. Outside dirty dicks in Liverpool Street. Where I had been staying with the Brazilian girl two years ago. I went in for a beer to celerate my success. It felt strange. I half expected her to come out of nowhere.

We walked down these roads together. I saw the ghost of her, the streets we walked and where we shared our first kiss. It was a strange feeling. If  we ever ran into one another again I’m sure it would end in one of two ways: fuck or fight. Still a part of me wanted to see her there.

So here I am, awaiting the paper work. The contract will be signed within a week. The business is vaping by the way. I’m getting part ownership with zero financial risk. I can’t complain about that. I still consider the man my boss as it’s his money and without him I’d still be up shit creek without a paddle.

God today has been weird. I have slept three hours in the last 48 and not eaten a single bite of food in the last 52 hours. Maybe that’s why I miss her suddenly. Maybe it was nostalgia. I don’t really know. Wherever gatinha is I hope she’s happy now. Jesus fuck I’m getting sentimental. 

I’ve never been so sad to be successful. 

-Misanthropist. 

Fuckin teenagers…

About a month ago now went out to the shops for some beer. On my way out I can hear teenagers, probably drunk on cheap shit and being very loud. Not a problem, I was a little shit once. As I passed these kids it suddenly went quiet, hushed voices and their pace increased.

Only after this did I realise exactly why. We have a lady down here who lost her leg to a blood clot. They need 24hr drive access because of her lack of mobility, so they place cones to mark off the area. The cones are strewn around the road with the possibility of causing an accident. Our roads are so narrow corrective action would likely make it worse.

I don’t like the people that own the house but that’s not the point. Some things you just don’t do. Like fucking with disabled people. So I shout ‘Hey you little shits this is a fuckin disabled woman’s house. You think this is fucking funny?’  One of them began to backchat me after which I informed him that I would slap him with the cone. They started running after that.

There’s always one brave one. So brave he’s on a bicycle for a quick get away, he starts mouthing me which pissed me off even more so. I went on to inform him that ‘You think you’re brave kid, I will fuck you in front of your friends.’ He was a bit less brave after that and said he had nothing to do with it which was a lie.

‘You better get your ass home then hadn’t you?’ Now I was tempted to rob his bicycle so he sent dad or big brother here then I’d return it but not before explaining that his little crotch spawn was fucking around with disabled people. There were about ten of them and I’ve seen them around but they don’t look me in the eye.

I make the point of waving at them to remind them if they do it again I will follow up. I don’t make it my business to scare teenagers but that was unacceptable. I was a shit as a kid but I never did that or anything like it. This legitimately pissed me off.

I Fucking hate teenagers, I must be getting old.

-Misanthropist.

I wouldn’t call it a post…

Hey all, I was recently informed that I haven’t written in some time. To be honest I let it slip, it  wouldn’t be the only thing but somehow I’ve managed to keep a hold on the most important things. My job is stressful, you might say welcome to the real world but this job goes above and beyond.

I guess that’s what has me paid so well but all this effort is nothing if my client isn’t serious. I’ve become more cynical in order to weed out the bullshitters, to be honest I fucking hate my job. I might aswell get an education and move to the top rungs of the food chain. Either that or I just become a police investigator.

I haven’t been doing so well because of people wasting my fucking time and my work place filling with idiots who dilute the quality work of my team. When I’m briefing lawyers I do it professionally. I understand the code of conduct and standards set and wouldn’t be briefing them if I wasn’t sure. The fucking newbies have fucked it up for everyone.

I guess I can’t blame it on them entirely. Management and training, to be honest I’m not sure how you would train someone for this? I wouldn’t fucking recommend it either unless you were thinking to become a private investigator, educate themselves in civil law. I feel like a low budget Sherlock Holmes saying that.

I was specialising in medical negligence and negligence in the work place, in my eyes these are clean. Very difficult to fake, I take no pleasure in suing a hospital believe me. When two idiot RN’s lift a client with a spinal injury and paralyse them for life I feel like I have done my client a service. I try not to take on anything else because I like to help people that have genuinely been injured.

I fucking hate the term whiplash, a name for diagnoses of a number of symptoms specific to a car accident. How easy do you think it is to trick a doctor, as long as you’ve had the crash and point to your boo-boo I wouldn’t blame the doctor for thinking it, after all it’s consistent with crash injuries. My point being that public falls and road accidents are easily faked.

I don’t personally feel comfortable with that. I’m trying to help people, not help them commit fraud. I use investigative questioning the moment a clients story doesn’t add up, there are certain indicators that someone is lying to me. For that reason I only like dealing with certain cases. Then the newbies go fuck it up for everyone. Fuck me. I guess I don’t hate my job but a sequence of unfavourable events has made our lives harder collectively.

Basically I hate my job, if not for the money I would be gone. I’ve been thinking of doing it freelance. I could deliver better quality service on both ends and a few people a month could support me, I’m not interested in money beyond my own survival and I always put my clients interests before my own both legally and financially speaking.

My ex boss and mentor once said that I ask more questions than anyone else who has been there. I feel a need to understand the ins and outs of the service I’m providing. I miss that motherfucker but I can understand why he left, even I want to leave. I’m doing well but it isn’t stable. I have plans for the future beyond this place. As I said before I would burn to leave this place, luckily I have principals?

Consider this an update, I hate my fucking job. Money doesn’t make you happy but fuck me is it easier. My world is far from stable however I do enjoy the luxuries I never had, it’s not on credit, imagine my bank balance between lovely meals, alcohol and high grade cannabis. I’m working to get all that under control but shit my work day doesn’t help. All in all I’m doing well.

I took time off this month and it felt almost alien, I didn’t write or do anything but sleep and get fucked up, I don’t get to do that much or much of anything when I’ve finished work I want shower, spliff and bed. Tonight I didn’t even get to shower. You get the idea. It’s not glamorous but I like the raincoat and suit, liaising with clients, outwitting the institutions that seek to fuck them and giving the wolves a scent.

The fucking people I work with are a joke, I genuinely like at least 5 but other than that I’d rather not. Fuck management too, they’re shit I lost faith in the ability of the boss after she provided the most retarded solution. I can’t even get into that but it’s embarrassing. I have some admiration for our matriarch, she’s been at this longer than I’ve been alive. In many ways I’m glad she’s not my boss because I can learn from her I don’t have to go against her like I do my manager. Her advice is priceless as far as I’m concerned, we have a level of respect for eachother in areas we are knowledgable and that’s not something I can say for my manager.

I hope this was enough for anyone who was waiting for an update I can’t say I’ve had requests but I’ve been asked why I haven’t posted. Honestly I had to remind myself but I could do with a constant seeing as everything else slipped between the job.

This is for you, you know who you are because you were the one who reminded me to post. You’re doing great man, it’s not easy I know because I’ve been through it. It’s not comforting but their face fades and you forget the sound of their voice before that. Eventually it all fades, it’s a cut off point and I think you’re doing much better than I did in your position. I always have time for you just get ahold of me. Rarely are break ups so clean cut. Your conscience is clear, you’re good man and I understand what you’re searching for.

So uh, hey you guys… I need to sleep now. I didn’t check any of this before it was posted. I’ll do that later.

-Misanthropist.

Google maps has me seeing ghosts.

I recently used google maps to digitally tour a Finnish town, get an idea of where I will be going. To be polite you usually offer up a similar tour to the other party. As I looked down me street I saw him. My friend, the one I lost a while back. Google maps has me seeing ghosts. My neighbours curtains indicate that the photo is in the correct time frame. His hair is correct, he is wearing his hoodie and the only other person close to his description didn’t come to my house until at least a year after we stopped talking. 

It’s a really odd feeling, seeing him again. I saved the picture out of sentiment I think. I’m not sure how I feel now. Just a little sad, we all lose people that matter to us. Rarely do we expect them to show up on google maps to haunt us.

-Misanthropist 

Check. Mate.

  
Firstly I have to give special mention to my sibling. She’s hard headed and quicker to anger than I am. I’m quite proud of her actually. I expected her to lose her temper and end up dismissed. I also forgot to mention I work with my sister…

Basically I armed her with the law and we went over it all before hand but for some reason my sister was dragged in alone on the pretext that she was some kind of ring leader. She denied that, stated what we had spoken about and basically they outlined the companies policy on whistle blowing.

This isn’t the government so I don’t have to fear assassination. They may as well have raised a white flag. They’re protecting themselves on the pretext that my sister is afraid of losing her job. She isn’t. After they realised this they had no choice but to capitulate seeing as they’re moving against the law.

In short the whole thing is getting cancelled. My sister affected the work place and the managers on the floor are on her side because nobody wants to stay that late. It’s unreasonable and we are unable to do so, for the most part at least. Three of my colleagues left over it.

Everything came together quite nicely. Almost like chess. The pawns went forth and we lost a few by their own choice. All the knights, rooks and bishops did their part. Then the queen forced their King into a checkmate. I can’t take all the credit. A thank you to those who write the legislation that stops us from being abused by our employers.

I’m very proud of my baby sister for acting as the queen in this game. It was strange to watch as what I had set in place unfolded. I can only liken it to flicking back and forth between channels watching two shows at once. Like watching the first domino fall safe in the knowledge that the rest will follow it.

It went better than I expected. Knowledge is power I suppose. 

-Misanthropist.

When your employer attempts to mug you off.

I said I would stop talking about work and I promise all of you I will do so but tonight I need a good moan. I appreciate that the title was very British. Sometimes in life things are too good to be true like for example my job. I was quite happy there until today. Until my employers believed I was stupid.

My work place is a changing environment. People come and go, regulations/policy change has happened twice during my time there. However they try to paint it, I’m not stupid, I’ve looked them up. I learned a long time ago that you have to do your research. Never go in completely blind.

Ex-employees have restarted the company and despite the turn over its going quite well. I understand employees have to make small sacrifices in order to ensure the welfare of the company especially at an early stage. I understand from the point of view of the employer.

I don’t appreciate being lied to about the small things but being a misanthrope these lies dominate most of the conversations I’ve had and will ever have. Even if you can see them and they irritate you it would do you no justice to point them out. Let them feel comfortable in their lie. Sometimes you have to.

There is a certain part that bothers me, one in which I find myself disinclined to acquiesce to my employers request. It’s the part where they’re taking an almost illegal punitive measures. They expect me to work outside of my contractual hours without compensation for my time or efforts.

This being illegal. If my contract states this and it doesn’t fall in line with the law of the land then it becomes null and void or at least the clause stating that I should do so. Basically I’m not legally required. Willing or even able to work that hour. Especially not without pay.

I complained about HMRC previously but in this case it was their website where I gained a greater understanding of my rights. I had an idea this wasn’t legal but now I’m backed by law. Dismissing me for refusing to work that extra time is good for an unfair dissmissal tribunal.

This should be a barrel of fun. My colleague is a member of a union who I will consult through him and provide evidence where necessary. I’m about to butt horns with a stagg. It’s a good thing the lion still has claws. I’m prepared to get my way, negotiate if necessary or for zero hour. I have to be thankful, I’ll admit to that, to the state in this case. It will be the first time it has ever worked in my favour. 

I know 80-90% of the company is not on board but just how many are willing to stand up and shout ‘I am Spartacus.’ I bet 70% would across the company. Some are willing to walk out but I’d like if I could solve this without any of my co workers leaving. I like them. It’s just sad that I have a greater picture than people who have been there so long. Maybe a better nose for people’s bullshit.

Like I said I’m willing to be political about this. I’m willing to strike a deal to my advantage or to equal advantage but I’ll obviously push for my best interests and prospects. After all they’re in the wrong. I want to keep the job but I’m not worried about losing it too much. 

I actually enjoyed my job before all this fuckery. Obviously I haven’t revealed the extent of my aresenal in this post. Showing one’s hand is foolish. I’ve only put it out there that I know my rights and this is the general sentiment. If our company is democratic as it should be then we will win. 

I was a part of a walkout today. All of us collectively said ‘fuck that.’ We went home after our day had ended as per our contract. Nobody was staying and my boss didn’t even want to stay. There was some poor attempt at asserting his authority ‘ it starts tomorrow.’ Now, I know the man wants to make a living but I also know he answers to people and the equipment isn’t his.

I’m willing to work with the man if he is willing to be reasonable. Tell my man shut up and let me handle my shit. I’m moving weight at this company. Day 2 of the month and I’m 25% of my target. I like working here and my check hasn’t entered my fucking bank yet but shit when it does. I’m not going to complain. 

That’s the other fuckery… From 7 plus, sometimes during lunch I deal with personal affairs and admin/finance for my home. This 8 o’clock shit isn’t gonna fly unless I get paid. Even if I did capitulate which I won’t, how the fuck am I took cook diner?

Long and ranty like most of my posts….

World wide warranty, satisfaction guarantee so if you aren’t happy just bring it right back to me.

-Misanthropist.

Tax…

There was an interesting vote at work today on the issue of our employment. Some are self employed and others like myself are on contract. To you Americans this probably seems stupid but I honestly can’t be asked with the hassle of my own tax.

Or I couldn’t. I’ve done some reading and now understand my taxes well and understand deductions. I understand deductions quite well. It is more work but at the end of the day I will be the beneficiary of that work unless I decided to hire an accountant.

I’m wary of the taxman. I don’t like HMRC much because I’ve experienced a lot of fuckery as a result of their mistakes. I’ll make sure I make no mistakes on my side. Looks like I’ll be paying 20% after my personal allowance. It looks doable from my perspective. 

I just need to see what I can deduct. I have a few ideas already. It’s kinda funny how I was against it and now I’m thinking of what I can deduct from my taxes. I’ve decided I don’t care anymore. If it comes to paying my own tax I’ll have a plan. I’ve already got three quarters of a plan.

I’ll find out tomorrow either way. Employment is getting interesting. I just want to get paid already. I promise I’ll stop talking about work now.

-Misanthropist.

And if it isn’t one idiot it’s another.

  
Another idiot, only this time he has a law degree. Now to preface this post: you know the procedure. I won’t name people or institutions involved. Also I’d like to say that partially I understand why they wouldn’t take the case. Risk. Risk that they would lose and have to pay fee. With the circumstances surrounding the case I’m sure they could have won. We work with so many different law firms that we could have just passed her to another had the lawyer not been rude to a 70 year old woman…

The client herself was sharp as a tack and rather well educated. She had been a pleasure to speak too. She even knew how to use a computer which surprised me considering her age, she was what is known as a silver surfer. Her case was pretty clear cut to me. I saw no reason she couldn’t win, even if there had been doubts on one side, the sheer amount of people who had experienced the same thing would have counted towards the case our lawyers were making.

She worked at a hospital, the same hospital she would end up falling down in as a result of the flooring being slippery. By her own account patients and staff had both been injured as a result of this flooring. Now to me it would make sense to spend about £2000 paying out for the flooring to be changed rather than endangering patients and staff by pretending it wasn’t an issue.

In our initial conversation she had told me that a payout wasn’t what she wanted, she wanted the recognition and she wanted something done to ensure the safety of staff and post ops/ patients going back and forth in the hospital. That is a goal I emphasised with. How are you going to continue on in negligence if it has been made clear to you on numerous occasions?

I had wanted to be a doctor, if I had worked in a place like this I think I would have spat the pacifier over this even if it meant losing my job in this particular hospital. I personally believe this is a gross negligence on the part of the hospital in question. Especially after your elderly patient who came in for an unrelated operation then fell in the same corridor and shattered her hip requiring her to need another surgery.

The hospital were aware of numerous cases. Yet nothing had been done. Shut the corridor for a day or two in order to prevent the possible deaths on patients. I’m sure there is another entrance that can be used, or maybe carry the work out at night. If none of this is achievable then lay something over it that has grip. An even cheaper option would be to stop buffering the damn floor to the point it’s like an ice rink.

Shiny floors are nice right? I hear claret adds to the shine. Everything was in order, all information was gathered and when the lawyer was doubting the case from a business point of view I thought ‘No worries, I’ll explain to her myself what’s happened and then I will resource her to another firm that isn’t maned by complete pussies unwilling to take a risk for a greater good.’

That’s when the lawyer was rude to her… Now maybe it’s just me, even as a seasoned Misanthropist, I am usually never rude to old people. Manners and conduct is important to those people and this woman isn’t senile. She was able to describe her injuries to me with all the detail of a fully qualified MD. She had won my respect quite early on.

I called back after the lawyer had finished and by that point, because of his bad attitude we had lost her. She said she would call me if she decided to go ahead and I could not sway her. All because of a damn idiot with a law degree. When he rejected her case it wasn’t as a lawyer it was as a businessman. I can respect that to some degree but listen to her and don’t be rude, her next words could be the arrow you need to hit bullseye.

As far as I’m concerned we’ve lost her but I hope that she continues with another lawyer who will take a risk and will win the case for her because I don’t want to look through the paper and hear that she or someone else had died as a result of that unsafe flooring.

I was rather pissed off at that lawyer and basically I’ll bite my own tongue off before I send another client toward that firm.

-Misanthropist 

Misanthropy

Good news for the blog, my job also happens to fuel the Misanthropist in me. I see people getting fucked over by employers, insurance companies and a lot more. It really helps you in your disgust or distaste for humanity. Provides plenty of fuel for the fire as such. The one I’m definitely can’t detail is something involving the NHS…

You can imagine I’m sure, that said I support junior doctors and nurses in their struggle against the government.

-Misanthropist.