Jester’s absence from the ‘Net

There have been lots of changes for this particular jester since I last blogged. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I no longer have unlimited access to a computer or the Internet, so blogging has become almost impossible for me.

I am still a jester at the Dark Satanic Mill but, after a sideways move, I no longer have the job of speaking to customers, who tend to be to a greater or lesser degree, completely mad and therefore either wonderfully entertaining or completely infuriating. Unfortunately, you cannot predict beforehand which they are going to be; thereby making my professional life a bit of a lottery.

I was beginning to feel the strain in the past few months and actually pointed out to one customer a few weeks ago that it was no fun speaking to him and I had decided that I no longer wanted to continue with such an unproductive activity and hung up on him. My senior jester took action and moved me to another area, where I don’t have to deal with customers quite so much.

So, the sideways move was for my benefit and also the Dark Satanic Mill’s. I am enjoying my new role because it involves far more investigation and suits my analytical mind perfectly. Also, I don’t have to speak to customers. I know I’ve already mentioned that but it is a major bonus for me.

Fortunately for me as a blogger, some things have not changed. The office is still freezing. Our printer is still broken and still complains bitterly if one of my fellow jesters is a little too heavy handed with it. Pennywise is off sick again. Jasper is still entertaining me on a daily basis. Recently, our fax machine did not work for a week until somebody noticed that the telephone connection had been unplugged. Business as usual.

Last week, we ran out of headed paper (and were without for a couple of days). Not a problem for me. I don’t have to send letters to customers any more but the huge majority of my fellow jesters do. Some of them have to send out FSA letters. If they don’t get sent, we’re in breach of FSA regulations and the individuals concerned could end up having to pay a hefty fine. One of our directors has said that jesters who breach this particular regulation more than once should get the sack. A bit draconian, I think, especially when the Dark Satanic Mill is unable to ensure that the jesters have the raw materials to avoid breaching the regulations. I would like to see her attempt to sack a jester for this particular crime; the reaction could be very interesting. Actually, I would like to see her try to do a jester’s job without actually going mad. That would be very interesting indeed.