Coffee with Candi and a touch of sauce

Candi is always a pleasure to spend time with, we are very much like two peas in a pod, or as I like to put it, we were twins in another life. However you like to word it, we always manage to have a giggle together and possibly seem completely bonkers to everyone else unfortunate enough to be within earshot of our conversations (and no, alcohol is not always the cause of this - we're naturally that way inclined). Nevertheless, I always leave with a distinct ache in my jaw brought on from laughing and smiling too much. Is there such a thing as smiling and laughing too much? No not really, but when it hurts to not smile, that's when you know you've had a really good time.

Today was one of these days. Candi lives not too far from me, so I picked her up and together we set off to have a coffee, a bite to eat and a good old natter (leading to a lot of chuckling and guffawing). I'm not too sure what the staff in the shop thought of our illicit discussions; Magic Mike, love, life, sex, BBQ's, cocktail nights and everything above, below and almost certainly in between, in a lot of detail, but the two ladies, deep in their own conversations, didn't seem at all disturbed when my giggling led to a furious attack of laughter further amplified by Candi's loud exclamation for me to swallow (referring, I should add, to my mouthful of hot chocolate). Luckily, I did manage to get myself under enough control to swallow without any severe embarrassment or unpleasant drooling of anything (yes, unfortunately, that has happened once before).

3 hours later and we're still chatting, giggling and guffawing, mixed in with a bit of gossip and sharing of secrets. Altogether it was a lovely way to spend a Thursday afternoon with a fab friend, and I'm already looking forward to the next time. 

Back to Square One with a Bump on the Head

"Equal Employment Opportunities" which so many companies claim to offer, actually leave a lot to be desired. What they essentially mean is that anyone from any ethnic background with or without disabilities and of any religion and sexual orientation, will all be equally considered for whatever role they are applying for. However the part where this apparent "equality" is limited or does not apply, is when you are a temporary worker.

My job contract at Britvic Plc recently came to an end and I was given a total of 5 HOURS notice (so that I could finish anything I was working on).. I was told that they had wanted to "give me as much notice as possible". Following this, I spoke to my agency, Cobham Consulting Limited, and it was explained to me that the company had no obligation to give me notice because I am a temporary worker. This is the same agency who had politely asked that, if I decided to change roles or was offered a permanent role elsewhere, I was please give them a minimum of 1 week's notice.

Perhaps it was naive of me to expect that I would be given the same courtesy and treated equally in this matter..