Fraggle Rock or The Muppets?

In a bizarre twist, I've learned from LM that HD and his departed pal, obviously unaware that this blog had them down as Fraggle Rock, had pictures of Muppets pinned up in their offices, and unguardedly told almost anyone who asked that they were representations of DoS and the Local Big Cheese. T3 told me this morning that at a dinner the other week (which I cried-off) HD spent the whole evening slagging off DoS.

DoS is back. And HD is flying back to Blighty tomorrow for a week's "business" and two weeks' hols. I have a feeling we won't see him again, but that could also be described as wishful thinking.

PTI: As One Door Closes...

I went to an excellent fish restaurant with LM on Thursday night. He is friendly with several of the students - having taught them through thick and thin in England for over a year - and therefore gets to know things.

So we talked about PTI, who he dislikes and I value for his comedy. The infamous meeting wherein he berated our local colleagues for their lack of punctuality and shocking absenteeism is going to bear fruit apparently.

There's a big question over whether he began the meeting by slamming the door. He told Fraggle Rock that the door slammed in the draught. LM's friends told him that they were stunned by the door slamming, but after a silence, somebody said "Did you mean to slam the door?" And PTI stood in front of them with his hands on his hips and said "Yes, I did". So there's a slight inconsistency there.

One of LM's pals, a cynic who I'll call Ben Massaud, later told him: "your friend should find a new job."

The fact that LM "fraternises" with students (our fellow teachers, it must be said, as soon as they get to C1 level, which will be very soon for the likes of Ben Massaud, but sometime never for poor Old Gomez), and indeed with me, has led to criticism from Fraggle Rock, who do not believe in friendships between ranks, or between us and the natives. They no doubt have time to think of these things, as they lie awake at night, listening for the sound of their doors being levered open with pickaxes.

Burglary

We start work at 7.30am, even when we aren't teaching. Most people outside the English department don't seem to have much to do, because they keep coming into our staffroom - only T3 and me there at the moment - to chat. And so it was with resignation that we noted HD's entry there before 8 on Thursday morning. He looked serious, however, and asked if he could have a word. We realised it was something perhaps significant when all three managers were there, (HD, L&M manager, and "Rick" - the whole population of Fraggle Rock, sans DoS, who is still mysteriously in England).

As all of the available ex-pat staff assembled in one of the classrooms, I looked at the serious faces of Fraggle Rock and could only conclude that DoS had indeed fallen on his sword at last.

But no. Rick, who lives in a big house in the country, had been burgled the night before, and was telling us "in the spirit of openness". The intruder came in the middle of the night, using some tools left lying around "by the men I've got in to do some work". Rick encountered him as he was trying to have it away with his laptop. He says he punched him, and he "rattled a bit". To my eyes, Rick was the one looking rattled. He's to move into The Bungalows with the proletariat. Nobody has told the police, that's being left to Mr Fix It.

Somebody asked if HD and L&M manager would be moving into the bungalows too, but HD said "we pay for security".

And that was that. PTI, as we were leaving the room said he'd be visiting a sports shop that night and mimicked the action of a baseball batsman, (are they called "batsmen"?)

So that was that.

Later I learned from LM that HD and L&M Manager have houses with a shared perimeter wall, a swimming pool each, and the gardener has to sleep by the gate - he's the "security". Also, when the project was being set up, Fraggle Rock were strongly urged to find accommodation in the City's only posh suburb, where the Embassies are situated, but ignored the advice and decided to live out in the countryside.

Sleep well, chaps.

Another Friday and A Happier Perspective

Friday, and a well deserved day off from the other staff.

Friday’s are a good day for catching up on blogging, cooking a good meal, avoiding everyone, and generally soothing one’s emotional and professional wounds from the week gone by.

I’m going to have to rename “Paul” PTI, for Physical Training Instructor because I’ve learned that’s what he was. He’s also a bloody idiot, though thankfully so far out there as to be comical. Last night I was on an expedition into the City centre with LM, when we bumped into PTI and Shelley.

This was in an upmarket area, and PTI told us that he’d just bought a suit, though the jacket was 56 (what kind of size is that?) and he indicated with his hands at shoulder height like the man telling everyone about the enormous fish he’d caught; and the trousers are 40, and he brought his hands in dramatically to waist height close together like a tart telling her friends about the same man’s little dick.

It was good to get out. LM’s become a friend now, which means I get more gen for this blog, that I learn a bit about middle management in case I ever want or need to do it, and also that we both have someone with an IQ in treble figures to confide in or let off steam with.

He told me that the gun turret of TOHH has turned from him on to me. I didn’t say anything, but think that this is a poor metaphor because it makes him, and then in turn me, look like victims who must cower in bunkers. Fuck that.

One starts out in these situation wanting to be a nice guy and willing to be pals with everyone. But five weeks have gone by now, and it’s clear that TOHH is a thoroughly nasty piece of destructive work, who will never respond to good manners or intelligent discussion. Yesterday, for example, after I’d snarled at her she was nice as ninepence, approaching me to arrange mutual use of the text books.

And so I’ve worked out a new survival technique. Far from seeing TOHH, PTI and the inhabitants of Fraggle Rock as sharks to be dreaded and avoided, see them as characters with immense dramatic and comic potential. Sit back and watch the show. Even better, give them an occassional prod – this is real life and it’s interactive, after all.