You want a nice reliable BMW, you do

How can running out of holidays and using sickies as extras ever be
classed as sad?

Actually I only had two days off sick last year and that was for a
broken finger so I don't think I took the piss too much.

 

You misunderstand. I meant people who can't even use up their basic holiday
allocation, so addicted to work have they become.

 

We're no longer allowed to carry any over, so I'll start taking mondays
and fridays off if I ever get into that position.

 

Well, I didn't have any paid holiday for the first year I worked. Only
the 22 days for compensation for the 35 hour working week. Of the days
that I could choose (one per month) to take off, I missed 5 of them and
got paid in cash for them instead. I was quite happy.

 

Do you actually have the sales statistics to back this up?

AFAIK the most popular bikes are BMWs (1200GS, I think) and some
scooters. Litre bikes actually don't score that highly, even though they
are popular around here.

 

I didn't sell it to him.

 

Because someone would notice either their lack of contribution or the
wheels come off without them?

Of course, they may just not want to spend time with their family.

 

Oh, I completely agree.

It's just that some chairs in every office seem to come with contact
glue smeared onto them and once sat in there, people are not able to
leave for some reason.

 

That one's pretty simple; I take my work seriously and take it very
personally if I can't deliver against the targets I've been set whether
or not those targets are reasonable. On occasion this means working
excessively and may result in my being unable (or unwilling) to take
leave. I realise this means that I'm not at the top of my game however
when a lot of what I'm working on has relatively short term targets it's
hard to take the longer view.

 

I didn't disagree, just gave my reasons for why I have missed holiday in
the past.

I think that corporate culture comes into it as well. Unfortunately my
crowd has a bit of a macho 80s "lunch is for wimps" culture. The
further you get up the pyramid the harder people work. My Director is
an exception (takes all of his holiday and only does an hour or so over
the weekend) but, when he is working he's probably doing 60+ hour weeks.
His boss doesn't stop.

I didn't mean to question whether you took your work seriously or not; I
assumed that you did.

Well, if I look at my peers they fall into two camps; ones who work
similarly hard and ones that don't. I'm not *that* exceptional to be
honest in terms of the work I take on.

Well, I've found that a healthy dose of the gym really helps.

 

Not in the UK it isn't.

IIRC none of the BMW range appears at all in the top 10 bikes sold new
in UK. The top sellers are CBR125, R6, R1, Gixers etc, with a couple
of scooters in there for good measure.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Hog

Look, I have to look in the mirror each morning. I *need* a blunted
aesthetic sense.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Falling apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando

 

It took me 20 or more years to realise that; but realise it I finally
did. I'm with you 100% Mr. C. I'm a much happier man for it too.

Now about that day out exploring fine new pubs on buses???

 

that bike is from the same era as mine: BMW quality was far superior at
that time. The bikes were assembled to a better standard and they had not
introduced the wanky electronics, that have caused some major issues on
later 1150GS and most of the recent models. Like in some other industries,
BMW have effectively made the paying customer a beta tester.

 

Lurking on this thread makes me glad that I just turn up, stand in front of
nineteen sprogs [1] for fifty-five minutes, **** off home and wait for the
government-endorsed pay cheque to drop into my bank.

D.

[1] or eleven, or fourteen, or fifteen &c. ..