It didn’t take too long to get back to reality and stacking shelves. Simon the serial shagger had phoned constantly but I’d refused to take his calls. I’d had several long heart-breaking skyped conversations with Ahmed and his family; and this just added to the general air of despondency I was feeling.
Back at work my supervisor, Poison Penny,who had the personality of a bullfrog and the disposition of a whiptail stingray had singled me out for some of her more waspish directives that evening.
“Hope you didn’t take up with a Turkish gigolo whilst you were over there; all after a quick shag and a visa, but then again if that’s what you’re accustomed to” she sneered.
“And you would be an expert in intercultural relations because …………….”? I innocently enquired.
“Don’t forget you’re back at work now; you need to step it up a gear. You’re on frozen foods tonight and we’ve just had a delivery so get a move on” the wicked queen snapped.
Great I thought! Spending all night collecting boxes from the walk in freezers was just what I wanted to be doing, having spent the last two weeks in forty degree heat. Not the least of which, I would be working with Pen’s husband, lecherous Les, the night-shift warehouse supervisor who insisted that all the new female staff had a tour of his cold storage facility. Obviously, I was in no mood for his all too obvious sexual innuendo this evening but clearly he wasn’t getting the message.
“Did you have sex on the beach?” smirking at me
“If you are referring to the cocktail – then no, I prefer a Margarita”
“You’d enjoy one of my slow comfortable screws against the wall”, he winked suggestively
“As appealing as that offer is, thank you but I would rather have my eyes poked out with rusty nails”
“So that would be a no then? he jeered
“Sorry Les, frankly there is just not enough alcohol in Devon to tempt me”.
“Frigid that’s what you are – bet that’s why your fiancée was trumping your mate”.
Drawing myself up to my full height and looking him straight in the eye I pointed out that as my ex fiancée was an impotent fugly man with the intelligence of an amoeba; he, like Les, was just intimidated by a damn fine independent woman. I asked if there was anything else he wanted me to clear up for him as I had a date with a shedload of ice-cream.
As I soldiered on loading the trollies in my attractive company issue body warmer and gloves, I thought that there must be more job satisfaction working in the salt mines but at least when I was unpacking boxes I wasn’t thinking about Ahmed; so every cloud did have a silver lining.
At break time, I grabbed a coffee in the canteen with one of the other girls Liz; allowing the hot drink to warm my numb extremities. She asked me if I’d be joining them all for a McDonald’s breakfast after our shift finished. As I had nothing waiting for me back at home; a breakfast wrap and latte sounded as welcome as an Olympic Athlete’s washboard abs.
The rest of my shift passed by fairly uneventfully and as I made my way to my locker to change, a tanoy announcement requested I make my way to the office. Bugger I thought; another confrontation with Poison Pen. Just what I needed with a McDonald’s breakfast beckoning.
I knocked and she kept me waiting a further five minutes before she shouted “come in”. Poison Pen was seated behind her enormous desk drumming her immaculate scarlet acrylic nails on the diary in front of her. “You do know why I sent for you?” I admitted that I didn’t.
She continued on “Don’t be obtuse; I’ve seen you on the CCTV, behaving provocatively with Les in the warehouse. Are you aware that the company does not encourage fraternization? I know that some women don’t handle rejection well which may result in inappropriate behaviour. I understand that you have experienced a huge disappointment but I will not tolerate sexual harassment in any form”.
Struggling to restrain myself I said as precisely as I could “Thanks for that Pen. We were wondering when you were going to be tackling this issue with Les. I fully sympathise with your predicament as it must be really hard being married to someone who is socially inept and sexually challenged. Fortunately, I stopped myself from making the same mistake and I am grateful for your concern regarding my welfare. It is indeed a tribute to your outstanding management skills that you take the company Harassment & Bullying policy so seriously. Thanks for the chat Pen; we really must do it again”.
Straightening my skirt as I stood up, I beamed at her and bade her good day; then went in search of my colleagues.
Never did a McDonald’s breakfast taste so fine and never had Turkey looked so appealing. Today I might have won the battle but tomorrow I would face the war!
Hooray for your self-control and professionalism!
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I was shaking with rage inside though!
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I can’t wait to read this while waiting for my plane….I’ll get back to you….off to airport…off to Maine!
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How spooky! just watching your vid! Lucky you – God speed and safe journey –
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You are making Turkey sound mighty fine….. 😉
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That’s what I thought!
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Sometimes we are most eloquent when we are furiously mad. And you certainly were. Bravo for that. I would have clocked her (at least I like to think I would have). Now I have to ask: Where did you get that photo? Anyone you know?
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I wish! its Robbie Grabarz bronze medal winning high jumper
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I am going to pretend that pic was just for me lol
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Actually I was giggling when I posted it as I knew you would laugh!
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I have a big cheesy grin right now and am thinking naughty thoughts about what his flag is hiding notice i managed to refrain from offering to run up his flag pole
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Oh boy – you showed amazing restraint with Poison Pen! I´d have lamped her!
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Really really wanted to bitch slap her into the middle of next week though!
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Having nothing to lose, and nowhere worse to be, is about the only positive aspect of a bad situation… good on you, and great post 🙂
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what a lovely sentiment! Thank you!
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Once again, I find you simply hilarious. Oh boy, Poison Pen is certainly going to have it in for you tomorrow but good for you, standing up to her like that
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Think I may be on facilities hygiene duty – cleaning the loos!
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Your boss deserved the other little speech and perhaps a slap? And slap the husband – It would only be fair 😀
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But would just the one slap be enough?
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Broken nose for her, kick in the balls for him?
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Well said! I wish I had that much self restraint 🙂 I can totally see Turkey looking great haha!
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Even a weekend in Bognor Regis was looking great at this point!
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War indeed. Fair dues to your self-restraint in that office with Pen, I’d have wanted to grabbed a stapler and chuck it in frustration! Haha 🙂
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You’re absolutely right I should have stapled the old troll to desk
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Wow what an awful experience back at work! You handled it so well, though! I’d like to think that I could be that good with words if it ever came to it…
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It was purely temper talking!
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I think I am going to channel CTTTT (that’d be you!) next time I feel an anger coming on… So impressive!
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It must have been jet lag as I am not normally that self – restrained!
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I really didn’t need one more blog to follow, but I couldn’t resist this one. Can’t wait for part 12. I’m sure my blog audience is waiting with the same level of anticipation for my “Do-ahead Party for a Crowd, Part 3″…. 🙂
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Thank you and I’m just popping over to check out the above post!
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You did know I was kidding, right? Appetizers don’t exactly make for cliff-hanger 🙂
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But far more tasteful! I have a HUGE case of cookery envy because I am such a numpty in the kitchen so I just drool at all the recipes and hope I will wake one morning transformed into a cordon bleu chef
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Great as always! And diggin’ the olympic athlete photo 😉 rawr!
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Thought you might like a bit of eye candy obviously not as attractive as the guys I work with but thought he’d do!
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Ha! What a great and mischievous response to pp. That is some clear headed thinking from a damn fine independent woman. Good work…and that Olympian, yah, go that direction 😉
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Completely out of character for me! Any excuse to post a honey!
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OMG! I love your writing! I know it’s been said many times but you should write a book. I’ve often said I could write a book with all the things I’ve seen since living in Turkey… I couldn’t, but you definately could! What a great response to poison penny 🙂 Love the pic too!
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I think you are a far better writer than you think you are! I really enjoy your posts particularly as you tell a little story about each pic – it’s nice discovering a little more about the country you live in, particularly the history and the myths.
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That’s the kind of self control I always want to show, yet when it comes to it I always end up losing my temper. Or bursting into tears. and I can’t decide which of those is more embarrassing.
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Believe me, I do both with alarming regularity, however, enough is enough
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I can definitely see where this is leading and will be sitting right here waiting to hear more…
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Life definitely sucked!
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I know that feeling…
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your literary visuals are amazing… right up to the enemy nicknames! cant wait to see what happens next!
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I find allocating some of the bullies in my life pet names very therapeutic! Does that make me sad?
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it makes you a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!
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I am amazed by your self controll! I would have slapped the husband and given poison pen a few not to be said outloud words!! After you finish all these honeymoon stories I think you should put them alltogether and use it as a book! I love your writing!
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It is a damned pity people like that can get by with treating employees like dirt.
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I LOVE reading your posts, always so wonderfully written with such wit! Your type of writing is the type one can curl up on the soft with!
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That’s good to hear because I find it very therapeutic being able to write about the situations I find myself in; they do say laughter is the best medicine! Thank you so much for your very kind words it really is appreciated!
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Very interesting post, love your self control, you go girl!
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I think she’d caught me on a good day!
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You’ve got some crazy characters in your life, that’s sure, and your writing makes for a fun read! Can’t wait for more. You must secure a book editor apace! – Kaye
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Standing ovation for how deftly you handled Poison pen!!!
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Clearly she’d caught me on a good day that time around!
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Adding my applause to your adroit handling of Poison Penny 🙂 She wouldn’t have seen that comng!
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You’d have thought I have learned my lesson but hell no, I go back to work for her a second time!
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if that isn’t a toxic work place, I don’t know what is!! yikes…and yes, you showed amazing constraint!
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I am a magnet for bullies and crazies; I just can’t help bringing out the best in people (I blame my Dad)!
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Old Pen was sure in denail…floating down the river…..
Well done Dallas!
Sherri-Ellen & still snoozing Nylablue
( Let’s introduce Simon to old Pen…)
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In hindsight now I can see that deep down she was a very insecure person probably because of her relationship but it never excused her constant bullying
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Insanely insecure….I am glad you are out of there; sounds like it was a terrible work enviroment!
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A girl’s gotta pay her rent
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😉 I hear you!
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