Aylana Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I could rant for years about the way the civil service is run and the stuff we put up with. In fact I have started keeping a little diary of all the completely ridiculous things that happen there. I might publish it one day to let the world see what really goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Good idea Is it very "yes minister"?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aylana Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 A bit yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 As a civil servant struggling to deal with the current headcount reductions that the government has already given us I wouldn't be voting for you. People have this strange idea that civil servants all sit around drinking tea all day or something and that getting rid of us will make the world better. Yay - Aylana - well said! I used to work in the benefit office (in a former life) and also in the rates office (when the change to poll tax was being made...) It is (in my opinion) simply lazy to bash the "Civil Service" - politicians do it all the time and refer to so-called "front-line services", "Front-line" staff could never operate without backroom infrastructure... with glee they point out what seem (on the surface) to be ridiculous jobs.. BUT... Doesn't running a lab in scotland to test the bodies of dead birds at first sight seem absurd? But all of a sudden polticians are demanding to know why every village in the land doesn't have 24-7 dead-bird testing facilties and trained staff to cover the job... Mmmm... let me think why that might be... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I'm a civil servant too The bird lab was criticised for not having staff on call to deal with the bird but if you have people on call you have to pay them for it even if they don't get called out At a weekend that would be a nice tidy premium payment which is probably now happening even though our chances of finding another bird are almost zero so the bods in Perth must be having a fine time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Recycling: I am thrilled to announce that I have started to recycle plastic and glass as well as the paper and tins which I already did. The council collects paper and tins but I will have to go to a recycling centre for the rest. I bought these bags (OK I know any bag will do, but having the right tool for the job helps me to do it!) http://www.homerecycling.co.uk/catalogue.php?product_id=44 They cost £5 for the three bags and £2 for postage. I thought at that price I could try it out and see if I get on with it OK. I am loving it! I love too the fact that I can just pick up the bag and put it in the car to go to the dump. (Possibly too far and too cumbersome to cycle!) I'm enthused! But there is more to wash up now with all these plastic and glass things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 It's interesting that some areas have different recycling rules from others; my folks can't recycle any paper products other than paper - i.e. no cardboard, but they can put glass in on eof their bins for collection. We ca recycle everything except for glass, which I have to take to a recycling centre. In Norfolk, they are really picky and won't take plastic food cartons like yoghurt tubs I can understand this because different areas use different recycling contractors, but it is frustrating for those people in areas where they are so fussy. I thought that I was keen on recycling until I spoke to Buffie at the weekend - her OH tidies stuff into the bins even quicker than I do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 here in Havering we can bag all our stuff together (except glass) - and it is taken with the ordinary rubbish.. cardboard, paper (including glossy), plastic bottles (including the milk ones), plastic bags, steel cans, aluminium cans... but - NOT YOGHURT POTS.. I think the yoghurt pot exclusion is quite widespread. incidentally - we have a problem with space - keeping the recycled stuff until collection day - particularly the sheer volume of plastic bottles - my kids get through gallons of milk and fizzy drinks! so I've just ordered one of these: http://tinyurl.com/zvl29 expensive ... probably a bit of a boys toy... but imagine the hours of stress relief that will provide - CRUSH THOSE PLASTIC BOTTLES AND CANS!!!! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 £105 ! You'll have to advertise to your neighbours and get them to bring round all their cans and bottles too, just to make sure you get your money's worth! Couldn't you just jump up and down on them, thus getting some exercise too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 I got a can crisher from the hardware store for £8.99, but I guess that it's not quite tall enough for plastic bottles. We don't have any of them as we don't drink pop, but I guess that if you stamp on them then put the lid back on, they'll stay compacted. We are allowed to put yoghurt pots in so long as they are rinsed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
