I cannot say that Steve leaving was a complete surprise .... after all he had been at Eastney for almost a year, and managers here don't seem to last past that point for some reason - ambition, us being used a a general train ground by those in head office ( i.e.: if they can cope here, they should be able to cope anywhere ... ) etc. - but it did happen very quickly this time. One moment he was here , being his loud and boorish self , then within a week he wasn't. I am kind of sorry ... was just getting used to being annoyed and wound up every day ( j/k!) ... but at least I might now turn back into a human being in the eyes of others (management) and get called by MY NAME once in a while ....
As for the newcomer Tony - well, he isn't actually that new. He has been here before ... as a Deputy to She-who must-be-obeyed ( in other word, Emma), and that wasn't even my first experience of him ... I worked with him in a previous store when he first joined the company (about 7/8 years ago). So he isn't such a shock to the system as someone who we had never seen before .... but .... and there is a but .. it still means a lot of upheaval and change. Firstly, he is now top dog here and not just a monkey to the chief Organ Grinder like the last time ... yes, he has been here before, but that doesn't mean anything - he is going to treat us in a different way now because HE is in charge now . He is going to want to stamp his authority on the place - cue everything changing to HIS particular way of working - out with the old, and in with the new ( even if the old worked ... ). Also, the rumour mill has been turning - it is said he was moved here because Hayling Island wasn't doing as well as those-in-power wanted it to , so he has been moved out to allow Mr I-know-everything to go charging in and save the place ... leaving Tony with something to prove here perhaps ? EVERYTHING is going to under scrutiny ... he is going to be extra picky I think ... for failure is just NOT an option as fair as he is concerned. Toes are going to be stamped upon I fear ....
So a new era begins. Tony has been here about two weeks now, and as of yet he has left me mostly alone - but that is changing. The cleaning - or lack of it in his opinion- has been highlighted and I have just had my first mention of the dreaded "W" word from him. I have reserved judgement on him for now, but I have a sinking feeling it is going to be as bad here for me as ever before soon. Here we go again .... everything changes, but nothing changes.
