Trying to get anything about what people would like for Christmas, parents especially. Asked reasonably far in advance (as they are the kind to just buy for themselves) and still got nothing, tomorrow is the last day I plan to go out to do the shopping

Chocolate and / or alcohol. Price range from £1 for a small "I thought of you" box of chocolates, up to £££s for a good single malt.

I've given up buying people stuff because most people I know already have all the (affordable) stuff they want. Cash is boring, and while gift certificates do have a place when you're physically separated they're generally worse than cash.

Fail: me at motivation. Is there an app for that?

Who was it that said work expands to fill the time available? The rate I'm getting things done, anyone would think I had all the time in the world.

For instance, updating the map on our website to a Google map. The current static image is out of date since we moved 2 years ago. It's a 10 minute job. All the instructions are on the Google help pages, and it's pretty much copy-paste. I think it's fair to assume I've had those 10 minutes available at some time in the last 2 years. In fact, I could have done it in the time I've spent on here today

Answering other peoples' calls and looking a complete dick because the person at the other end assumes we all do the same job

Wouldn't it be better to let the call go to voicemail if you're unlikely to be able to deal with it?

In a sensible office, yes. In an office where I'm sat right by the phones that continually ring and surrounded by bitchy morons...

Can't you just turn the ring volume on their phones right down?

My nokia expressmusic,just buzzes feebly & blank screen


yours wecrookie

It's the whole public servant bit... That and the fact the phone system is borked in every way, from the switchboard to the hardware, to the muppet end users. What are we doing about it? Enacting a telephone rota that doesn't take into account human nature; it's a long tragic story, and I won't bore you with it.

Which would be all good and well but buying those is an individual gift, one doesnt drink the other doesnt have a sweet tooth

In the process of buying a new (to us) car and should collect this weekend

Through I had £x in a savings account (not my main bank and only internet access so never look at it ) only when I finally went to have a look that I remembered that I had used some early in the year and a now were a few £k short.

Phoned the bank and all sorted so should be able to collect the car but a fail in money management

Don't have that problem. I never have any money

What are these "savings" you speak of?

being an old codger they are something that as you get old you normally manage to accumulate

All I ever seem to accumulate is more grey hairs, wrinkles and dust.