I see there is some discussion on employment.

I have an interesting time that I somehow survived. Under the latest setup with my work, people in any administrative role can technically be uplifted and embedded in any other department in the University. Will this be effective? No. Will they try it anyway? Turns out, yes.

I got a phone call from my bosses, bosses, boss. I'm on good terms with him, I've helped new staff enter this cesspit of "structural change" since I started, all out of my usual office hours. He called me to ask if he could visit, I said of course, and he's headed over.

Now this is odd, I wonder why he's coming to talk to me in person? Turns out, he wants to yank me out of my department (also the only effective department under his control, because of yours godamn truly) and place me into the worst performing one, because the administrator there is extremely unhappy and wants to be relocated.

"Why is she unhappy?" I asked - thankfully he was very honest, which I think may have been his undoing. He said the Head of Department and the Finance Manager both make life very difficult for her - she feels bullied and unwanted there. Well that's a simple answer for me, thanks but no thanks. He fires back with "You're the only one I can ask to try and steady this ship" (He's referencing cricketer Kane Williamson but I ain't about that). I then asked, is there any chance of me getting a payrise or some kind of compensation out of this? He is again honest, not a chance in hell. I decided to say I would think about it and let him know ASAP.

I call my boss and let her know, and she admits he told her about his plan just yesterday and his words then were "This is a courtesy call really, he doesn't have a choice". Which is when I decided to say no in the way that makes it very hard for me to be shifted.

The next day I sit down with him and my boss (who is supporting me staying, if nothing else because whoever they replace me with, simply won't be as good) and I explain that I am worried about being placed in a known toxic environment, and that if I were to find it unpleasant enough to want to leave this could be considered constructive dismissal, given there is clear evidence of said environment. I explained that asking the lowest paid person in the department to fix the issue of an arrogant Head of Department who is one of only a handful gastroenterologists in the country (who are also interested in medical education) is a big fucking ask. One that would require some serious HR support and financial compensation, but given that HR exists to protect him from me, and not me from others, I don't have high hopes for my success.

He blinked a few times and agreed that wouldn't be healthy.

Long story short, I'm not going anywhere. Fuck structural reviews. "Can we pay these people less and make them work more? We can?! Do it".

Huh.. Well that's depressing.

I just wanted to come back and chuck this link up.

https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/otago-daily-times/20200530/282192243199623?fbclid=IwAR2720wMnCUR1-6-SuwdOcfBNEsGaMqWavKwflb0asaotlVxRzkjBt9fC0c

It's a brief write up of my late grandfather. Kinda put in perspective all he achieved, a solid chunk was during retirement! The piano mentioned in the middle section is now sitting in my lounge - from his mothers house, to his and then to mine.

It was a nice read, wanted to share it.

The lesser used full sentence is - Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawa. "Be strong, be brave, be steadfast".

I'll be the first to admit we have a long ways to go as far as NZ race relations are concerned. Maori make up a ridiculously high percentage of our prison population and life is far more likely to be difficult if you're Maori.

But the language is taught in most schools, the culture and history is becoming well known throughout. There's a good amount of care taken to ensure it is involved in a child's life at the very least.

Going through my phone and clearing out texts, came across this beauty the night before we all went into lockdown here in NZ. Got me feeling kinda strange that lockdown came and went, 2 months flew by. I'm not a hugely patriotic person but that "Kia kaha" at the end did make me a little teary.

I've finished The Last of Us Part 2. It's good, the gameplay is excellent as expected. I just found the story to be so fucking dark. I know it's post-apocalyptic and all but damn, it was harrowing. Maybe I'm just getting too old, but I found it difficult to enjoy the game when I was just feeling so bad for every character involved. It was honestly a depressing bloody time..

9/10.

I honestly didn't believe he said that, initially. Surely he wouldn't say something like that.

But he did.

I mean, it's possible he was trying to say "Of course numbers are going up, we're testing more and more. If we didn't test the cases wouldn't increase the way they are". But he's just done an absolutely awful job of conveying his thoughts? God that almost sounded like I defended him but I really want to know how that lil tumbleweed thinks.

"All countries are shaped like squares, as it is God's favourite shape."

...Tell me more.

Welcome back! Just reminded me it's been like.. months since I replied to you on Reddit. Do forgive me if you can.

Seriously she made a big ol tray of it and said "This should get us through some of the week!"

I had polished most of it off that night. Poor dear, she's opened the gates and let her powerlifting partner in for a carb-coma.

Hah it exists! I did think it was suspicious how readily she put it all into the pan.. It was excellent.

Yep Rum for me just reminds me of my 18th, where my brother poured 2 beers down a funnel for me, and poured straight Bacardi in as a chaser. I don't remember the rest of the night but I've steered clear of Rum for all my years since. Since learned in different ways that Rum does not start and end at Bacardi, and that Bacardi was also not really the culprit of that night.

Out of lockdown for 4 weeks now. Life is relatively normal so far but there are a number of shops in town that have simply closed/emptied which is sad to see. I certainly don't miss lining up for groceries, even though that was always an impressively civil encounter for all involved.

With some new cases being announced this week after 28 days of no new ones, the political posturing has begun again and fuck me I'm sick of it.

I designed our undergrad exams to be taken online and they all went smoothly thank goodness, only 3 of a few hundred didn't take the exam, about what we'd expect in normal exam settings with the odd student deciding not to attend at all.

Now.. Until this week I had never had Mac and Cheese. I don't particularly enjoy cheesy things, and it's never made it's way into my cooking repertoire. Normally I do the cooking in our household, my partner isn't a huge fan of cooking and I really like it - but this week she wanted to make Mac and Cheese so she set to it. Lawd. It was amazing. I had three servings that first night. Goddamn it was just lovely, and she had leeks, spinach and leftover bacon fried up as a laughably makeshift but delicious salad.

I am converted.

Oh I also found this delicious spiced rum called Moko, I'm not a rum guy but holy shit this stuff tastes like a vanilla liquer and it's delightful. I feel like a new man.

I honestly don't think I've spoken to a cop in uniform in about a decade. Friends who are cops, sure, but overall they are a rarity outside of their cars.

If I was obviously Maori though? Bet I'd have a few more stories to tell.

I must say it's fascinating hearing voices of usernames I've at the very least read comments from over the past like.. 5 years. Cool vid :)

The fact that he tweets his thoughts constantly is quite impressive. I can't imagine being in a country where the elected leader just spouts what they want via social media - Jacinda giving a Facebook update in a baby-vomit stained sweatshirt was endearing but that's about as far as we go.

Though as the article points out, it's not surprising he's sowing the seeds of a 'fraudulent' election already. I'm just trying to picture any of our politicians doing this and coming up blank.

I do think a big part of why people listened so readily was our PM being so clear about what the plan was, what the country might face if we cannot adhere to said plan, and making the message very personal.

I recall her announcement 48 hours before we went into full lockdown -

It's been pretty surreal the last few months, lots more to come too but it's certainly relieving to see the numbers drop to 0 finally.

We always read about the plonkers who flout the rules we've been expected to follow but overall it seems the vast majority of the nation just did all that was required.

This is why so much actual progress in academic situations is accomplished by walking up to someone unannounced and asking them for a decision or approval face to face - it knocks them out of their academic register and forces them into a managerial fight-or-flight situation.

This is how I handle the academics I work with, if I need their sign-off or a decision I just go to their office. If I email anything, they will either take weeks to respond or flat out ignore it. They don't appreciate me always dropping by but I always say "it's better than being ignored and having to clean up the mess you made by ignoring me".

Edit: My experience is that of administration of course, but your words certainly echoed that experience for me.

From an outsider looking in, I'd still be kind of surprised if he doesn't get a second term. I mean it'd be shithouse if he does, but I expect it to happen.