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I'm Going To Turn You Into Furniture
Aug. 1st, 2020 11:59 amSo that's me unemployed for the first time since March 2010. Yesterday, on such a gloriously hot summer's day, I went back to the office to hand back my things before heading out with the founding directors of the pre-takeover company and a few of the other people they are having to let go. It was quite an emotional day, but it was a very good send-off, with us having some beers at The Brew Society before heading over to the Keralian curry house for a meal. The last time I was there, it was absolutely rammed, but they have had to take many of the tables away to enforce social distancing rules. The same can be said for everywhere really, with a Friday night in Leeds resembling more like a Monday or Tuesday. Still, everyone was being very sensible with the distancing and mask wearing, and I felt incredibly safe in all three establishments we frequented. Our final port of call was The Head of Steam, where we had a final drink before splitting at 10pm. I was a little drunk by this point. Going back to The Brew Society, and we ended up sat in an alleyway overlooking a stainless steel staircase, and this is quite typical of "beer gardens" in the city. It was a pleasant enough place to be, and certainly out of the way, but I do wish more beer gardens here had a greater focus on the word 'garden' rather than 'beer'.
It was great seeing the directors again, who wished us well for the future and offered their assistance whenever they could give it. Working there has really felt like a family, but it did sadly change post-takeover and since then I haven't enjoyed working there at all. There were too many processes, too much focus on the bottom line and ultimately far less agency in what you could do. Before then, we had all grown the company together and had had so much autonomy. It just proved to me that I don't think I could ever work in a coroprate environment, preferring a more smaller and intimate working structure. The directors were clearly very sad about having to let us go, and it's hard to believe I'll never be in the office again, although it was looking quite different with the sanitation stations, 2m markings and barely anyone in there. Still, I'm hoping to organise an 18th birthday celebration for the company, COVID permitting, next month as it would be good to see my former colleagues one final time before we move abroad. The only negative was the office bigot pontificationg against trans rights and transgender issues, in much the same way as you would expect. It did sour the evening but at least this chat didn't last particularly long.
Friday's leaving and the preparations surrounding it have been where the majority of my focus has been this week. The weather has gotten steadily better, enabling me to sit outside on Thursday for a short while before Taneli came over for a BBQ. Arc is in Switzerland right now, so he came alone, but it was really good to see him, particularly as he is now affected by Bradford's strict local lockdown measures, which means we will not be able to see him for the foreseeable future. These were announced while he was here, but it was so cack-handed that we weren't sure what he could and could not do. Indeed, it was only this morning when we finally got clarity. Taneli and Arc are the only furs we have seen since lockdown started, so it's rubbish that this support network has been cut off for us again. The same is the case with Stray, whom we were planning to visit in Manchester later this month. That's off too. Still, we are planning a trip to Leicestershire at month's end to see Lunar Belle's crew, booking a very cheap hotel. She knows someone who owns a bar in the village of Thrussington and for £56 for three nights, we see it as a good opportunity to get away. I have started climbing the walls what with my frustration of being stuck here and my reasoning is that even if the Leicester trip does get canned, £56 is not a huge outlay and at least for the rest of the month, it gives you something to look forward to. Pony Chat on Tuesday ended up being Leo, Lunar, Wolfie and myself making these plans.
Back to Thursday's BBQ and we enjoyed sitting out in the garden deep into the evening, as Wolfie set up the chimnea, allowing us to keep warm. It was 24C on Thursday so not too cold, but once it gets dark, there is a certain nip in the air. It took a while for the wood to catch light, partly because Wolfie was throwing treated wood on it, but eventually we got it up and running. It was great just chilling and chatting, watching the sun go down and the night descend into darkness, with the silhouttes of the houses adding a greater eerieness as time went on.
There is not too much planned for this weekend. Wolfie's got some friends over to play with little men in the garage and the weather seems acceptable enough for me to sit outside and read my book. I had hoped to have gotten more reading in during furlough but the weather has been so poor that the opportunity to sit outside has been limited. At least yesterday, prior to going to the office, I got an hour in. Aside from this, tonight we'll do Stray's usual Jackbox and I think I am hosting Pony Chat again tomorrow as Blacksnip is still away. I suspect that may just be Lunar and Leo again, as the others seem to be busier now, probably as a result of lockdown easing in many places and summer things to do. Still, I do hope they can join in.
It was great seeing the directors again, who wished us well for the future and offered their assistance whenever they could give it. Working there has really felt like a family, but it did sadly change post-takeover and since then I haven't enjoyed working there at all. There were too many processes, too much focus on the bottom line and ultimately far less agency in what you could do. Before then, we had all grown the company together and had had so much autonomy. It just proved to me that I don't think I could ever work in a coroprate environment, preferring a more smaller and intimate working structure. The directors were clearly very sad about having to let us go, and it's hard to believe I'll never be in the office again, although it was looking quite different with the sanitation stations, 2m markings and barely anyone in there. Still, I'm hoping to organise an 18th birthday celebration for the company, COVID permitting, next month as it would be good to see my former colleagues one final time before we move abroad. The only negative was the office bigot pontificationg against trans rights and transgender issues, in much the same way as you would expect. It did sour the evening but at least this chat didn't last particularly long.
Friday's leaving and the preparations surrounding it have been where the majority of my focus has been this week. The weather has gotten steadily better, enabling me to sit outside on Thursday for a short while before Taneli came over for a BBQ. Arc is in Switzerland right now, so he came alone, but it was really good to see him, particularly as he is now affected by Bradford's strict local lockdown measures, which means we will not be able to see him for the foreseeable future. These were announced while he was here, but it was so cack-handed that we weren't sure what he could and could not do. Indeed, it was only this morning when we finally got clarity. Taneli and Arc are the only furs we have seen since lockdown started, so it's rubbish that this support network has been cut off for us again. The same is the case with Stray, whom we were planning to visit in Manchester later this month. That's off too. Still, we are planning a trip to Leicestershire at month's end to see Lunar Belle's crew, booking a very cheap hotel. She knows someone who owns a bar in the village of Thrussington and for £56 for three nights, we see it as a good opportunity to get away. I have started climbing the walls what with my frustration of being stuck here and my reasoning is that even if the Leicester trip does get canned, £56 is not a huge outlay and at least for the rest of the month, it gives you something to look forward to. Pony Chat on Tuesday ended up being Leo, Lunar, Wolfie and myself making these plans.
Back to Thursday's BBQ and we enjoyed sitting out in the garden deep into the evening, as Wolfie set up the chimnea, allowing us to keep warm. It was 24C on Thursday so not too cold, but once it gets dark, there is a certain nip in the air. It took a while for the wood to catch light, partly because Wolfie was throwing treated wood on it, but eventually we got it up and running. It was great just chilling and chatting, watching the sun go down and the night descend into darkness, with the silhouttes of the houses adding a greater eerieness as time went on.
There is not too much planned for this weekend. Wolfie's got some friends over to play with little men in the garage and the weather seems acceptable enough for me to sit outside and read my book. I had hoped to have gotten more reading in during furlough but the weather has been so poor that the opportunity to sit outside has been limited. At least yesterday, prior to going to the office, I got an hour in. Aside from this, tonight we'll do Stray's usual Jackbox and I think I am hosting Pony Chat again tomorrow as Blacksnip is still away. I suspect that may just be Lunar and Leo again, as the others seem to be busier now, probably as a result of lockdown easing in many places and summer things to do. Still, I do hope they can join in.
