It was the 8th of August, the eve of our nation's birthday.. though i have been out of school for nearly 1 year and a half. I lamented about not having given a half-day for the eve.. haa...
tested the waters by actually asking my second boss if it would be a half day for us. Really brave for a few months old employee.. well, the answer was; 'You think you still student ah? No, no half day." *sobz*
sulkily, i pulled myself out of bed to go to work the next morning. at least, i felt consoled that i was in the morning shift.. well, but still indignant that i didnt have my half day, I put a huge nick on MSN messenger claiming that i had no half day which brought about loads of replies, stating that they too dont have half day.. hahaa.. ok.. i was just whining..
was wondering why the office was so quiet today. Not that many were off that (they either specially took leave or were not working that day anyway). and y?? there were only like 3 staff in the office.. and i had the highest authority that morning.. haha..
all were curious to know why was the morning so calm. normally, phone calls would be coming in; of all types, complains, enquiries etc. sometimes i wonder if i am working in some call centre. Had tried to make a phone call with the office phone and realised that my phone was like malfunctioning and also had those weird sounds coming out from the phone line.. thinking that only my phone was faulty, i asked my other colleagues to try out their phones too.
then a 'miracle' happened..
the phones' LCD display, went blank.. all the phones were out.. muahahahahaa.. which means to say, people could call in, but we cant hear a thing coming out from the phone or even see which lines are calling. no wonder the peace and quiet.. OUR PHONES WERE DOWN!!! 'yay!' my heart was screaming with joy.. so there's my half day of doing no work other then my usual email replies.. hahhaa..
had to scramble around though to try to find out what had tripped the phones (again, i am blur abt what my job scope is.. now i seem to the electrician..). Called my boss to let her know that our phones are down and also had to sent out a mass email to tell about 2500 employees and directors that our phones are down (ie, we are working.. though phones are down, we are in office.. not skiving..). man.. the very next second i had just sent out that mail, 100 plus mails came replying to my mail; mails that states who-and-who-is-on-leave-and-would-only-reply-on-when. ahhhhhhhh. mail flood.. these are automatic out-of-office replies. Now i know who is off today or who is on maternity leave etc.. but for WHAT!! i had to start clearing my mailbox!!!
Didnt really understand all the switches anyway, so decided to call the phone company.. and that guy from the phone company (Toshiba, must write it out as to show how 'efficient' they are.) told me that he had too many records of our place and that if he was to open one, alot of work has to be done (which means very troublesome for him to do it!!!). so he told me to give him the invoice instead or some reference number for him.. gosh.. though we maybe a organisation and it is a must to keep our invoices or records of any sort, did he really think that we can find it out so soon for him.. the phones were bought like donkey years ago.. We will be glad if the invoices are not already half-eaten by some bug.. after searching high and low for it.. (yes, I am using my handphone through out this whole conversation.). I was transferred to another lady and told that they will tell the electrician to come down to take a look and that the earlier guy would contact me again about the time. After waiting for some time, that guy didnt call back, so i called. I was told that an urgent message had been sent out and the electrician would be coming within 4 HOURS!! I mean.. really!!! 4 HOURS!!! eh.. how urgent does that sound??!!! (*sweat sweat sweat*). Told him that i am calling from an office and we cant delay for that long.. its not like its a residential phone breakdown.. He said that is considered ASAP!! GOSH!! felt like stranggling him, not because i was angry that the phones would be down for so long; another 4 hours or so; but the way he actually replied.. so.. dumb... and so.. irrelevant!!
a colleague of mine.. someone very much more senior in terms of experience came in and told us that the switches were down thats why. there was a trip in the circuit. with that discovered, we managed to get the phones working again.. called that guy and said we no longer needed their services.. (really.. in that 4 hours.. we maybe sending out letters instead, the letters may reach our customers much faster than waiting for their help!!)
and so.. that was my National Day 2006 eve..
