An antithesis to the usual shitheads that people have worked under.
When working on the 'all new singing and dancing portal' for the local ISP back in 2000, there was to be a shit load of information about clubs, organisations, theatres and other stuff. Basically, info on what to do in Hull.

I was asked to sort out some pictures for the site so I thought "I know, some pics of nightclubs will look funky and maybe some of the leisure facilities will be good". I drew up and printed out a list of the major clubs and sports centres, printed out a map and using the maths behind 'the travelling salesman problem', I even calculated the most efficient order in which to go take the pics. However, the boss passed on the list to a local photographers who usually take the pics that appear on the front of the directories.

About a week later, I was given a pack of photos and was asked if I could scan them in, and was told there was a scanner in that cupboard I could use. So, I plugged the scanner and began looking through the pics whilst waiting for the drivers to download.

They'd only gone around taking pics during the day. Have you ever seen a nightclub during the day when it's shut? They look a bit like this (opens Google streetview)

maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.742763,-0.343033&spn=0,0.003428&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.742681,-0.343008&panoid=6TNDTPQqdVLRY3ifw5f71A&cbp=12,297.09,,1,2.32

That does not say "Come to Hull, it has a lively nightlife".

I went to see the manager in her office. "What the bloody hell are these?"
"They're the pictures you wanted" she replied
"I can't put these on the site. They're bloody awful" I said.
"You mean to say I've wasted £350 on pictures that you don't want anymore?"
"No, you've wasted £350 on pictures of nightclubs that were taken during the day, and the photos of the sports centres look like they were taken on a Sunday outside the gates when the place is closed"

Everyone knew that she had all the people skills of Stalin and was a bit of a moody battleaxe at the best of times. There was another sort of assistant supervisor woman in there and she fell very quiet.

"Let me see" and the boss snatched the photos from me. She sent the other woman out of the office and I expected a bollocking for something or other. She thumbed through the pics.

"You'd think they'd use a bit of common sense wouldn't you? If I'd known you was going to spend that much, I would've gone round in a taxi on Friday night and taken them myself" I said
She huffed and then I added "I hope you kept the receipt". I was waiting for her to kick off. I don't grovel and creep around managers. I never have. I spoke to her with the same abruptness as she spoke to me and she didn't seem bothered by it at all.
"Well I can't be arsed, you sort it. I've got to sort out the printers in Sweden"
"What shall I say?"
"I don't know or care. Anything. Now sod off" such were her people skills.
So I did, I called them up and told them they aren't getting paid until they produce some proper night-time photos and we wanted them Monday (thus giving them the weekend to take decent ones.

Twenty minutes, battleaxe manager opens her office door. "SLVA get your arse in here" she bellowed. I got up and peope were muttering. Someone piped up 'you're in trouble now'.
"Did you tell them they aren't getting paid?" she barked. The bastards had grassed me up.
"Damn right" and I told her about my stance on consumer rights. A bit more discussion and she thanked me.
I was grilled by some of the other people in the office and they couldn't believe my tone of voice towards her. They also couldn't believe she actually said thank you. I don't think anybody had ever done anything except whimper in front of her before.

At the end of my 6 week probationary, I had a meeting with her. She praised my attitude and assertiveness. Which was nice.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Wed 16 Jun 2010, 16:58, 2 replies)

Hull nightlife
presumably they then came back with these photos:

Circus Circus - www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=49796

LAs - www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=36354

aah, Hull, how i miss thee
(Alphabet Soap boshboshboshbosh, Thu 17 Jun 2010, 11:40, closed)

aah, Hull, how i miss the
I bet you don't.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 17 Jun 2010, 11:55, closed)