Howdy from thebigcountry...
Dear All,
Following my experience as a New York policeman you can
see some new photographs in my role as a Rancher! The ranch is not one that can
be found in Argentina but in the industrial area of Leeds, where our headquarters
celebrated our annual barbecue.
One of the great features of the event was the Bucking Bronco.
The fibre glass strengthened bull which was operated by two bored looking guys
was installed in the middle of an inflated circular pool so that when the
riders were thrown, they would be protected when they fell against the air
filled structure.
It
was interesting to watch how our staff engaged in this dangerous event and though
I was tempted to join in, due to back surgery I resisted.
The party was a great success mainly because as it
started at 4.30pm hardworking thebigword staff could have a well-earned break
from their desk. I am always surprised when I walk through the Leeds office
which houses 370-400 people, at how long our staff are able to concentrate on
what is on their screen. We have tried all sorts of incentives to give staff
breaks from work including the sweet moments areas where the non-smokers can
suck a lolly or chew on candy and talk with their other clean living friends.
We have also put a shelter over the smokers so they don’t catch cold when they
go out for their fix, and we have now finished our own secret garden which
opens very soon.
I suppose their ability to concentrate for such long
periods of time on the computer is because they have grown up using computers
at home and I suppose that screen becomes another friend/colleague. I am also struck
at how dedicated they are as they remain so focussed during working hours. Thank
goodness I am in the position I am, as I am sure I would be fired within a week
for being disruptive.
Talking of being disruptive, that is exactly what we at
thebigword want to be in the language market.
We had a very exciting meeting this week with one of our
customers who transports prisoners and it was very impressive to note not just
how concerned they were about their officer’s well-being but also how much they
cared about the wellbeing of the transported prisoners, whom they termed
‘customers’.
We are working on a project to ensure that many of the
passengers (and there are a considerable amount who are non or limited English
speakers) should be able to feel less scared during this journey.
A number of them are of course regular crooks who know
the routine but many are very scared, of
course are innocent until proven guilty and may have suffered terrible
experiences at the hands of the authorities of the countries from where they
have arrived.
I will bring you up to date another time on an innovative
way to communicate with them during their journey and on arrival at the courts
that we have been working on.
I hope you are impressed that I have managed to sit still
long enough to write this blog. I am about to wander off and suck some candy!
Have a great week,
Larry
