Training courses, seminars and conferencesInspirational or a waste of precious slacking-off time? I once went on a buzzword bingo-laden training course which ended up with my being held at gunpoint in public. Could have gone better, to be honest. Tell us your tales from either side of the lectern
(
Scaryduck LIKES EGG, Thu 15 Mar 2012, 15:01)
« Go Back
oooh! Touchy!In mid 2000, I worked for one of our glorious awarding bodies. In an act that demonstrates exactly how they have far more money than sense, they flew me to Washington DC to take part in an education conference. While there I was also to go to vist the Department of Education and the British Embassy to discuss...well...incredibly dull things that never came to fruition, so it doesn't really matter actually.
After two days of dull conferencing broken up by experiencing the delights of a Georgetown club, it was my day to go off to the British Embassy. There's a road in DC known as Embassy Row, where lots of them are gathered together and nestled among them, next to the British Embassy, is the Vice President's residence. The British Embassy, like everywhere else in DC it seems, is guarded American soldiers, one of whom I got speaking to as I was leaving. All was going swimmingly it seemed until in a moment of youthful arrogance that assumed everyone in the world felt like I did I said 'So, I understand that's where the VP lives? Or your next President, we all hope, huh?'. And my bowels turned to jelly this heavily armed and suddenly very furious giant turned his face to me and said 'You goddamn superior acting Brits may hope so, but I sure as hell do not, boy. Now git your ass out of here before I git you out of here'.
I left. Sharpish.
Edit: To save other people needing to Google. This was the end of the Clinton presidency so the VP was Al Gore.
(
scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 15 Mar 2012, 15:51,
2 replies)
Bill Clinton & Al GoreI had to Google that. I think my mind is blocking out those dark, dark years.
Will spend the rest of the day trying to block out thoughts of what the world might have been like. 9/11. Fiasco after Hurricane Katrina. Two wars and ...
...I will need some strong alcohol, at the very least!
(
kila is reading clocks upside-down as usual, Thu 15 Mar 2012, 17:00,
closed)
Look on the bright sideHe was a soldier and hoped Bush would get in. So there's a good chance he's dead or maimed from being posted to Iraq or Afghanistan.
(
shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Fri 16 Mar 2012, 15:10,
closed)
« Go Back