I woke up this morning with a plan: get to the city early so I can be at work on time. After all, it’s my first day in a new job with the same employer, in the same business unit but under a new manager. Phew!
I take bus – train – bus to the office, then bus – train – car when going home.
So it’s morning. The bus stop is a short walk from my house. From the front lawn I already see that the bus stop is deserted. It takes me only 12 steps to get there. I wait a few minutes, then think Moddafocker, I missed the bus! but then I look up the road and there’s a man at the other bus stop. Did he miss it, too? I think not.
Another minute goes by. The man starts to walk towards me. Stops. Looks back. No bus. He walks. Stops, looks back. Then he notices me, so he stops and stares, then looks down at his watch. He must be wondering the same thing. He’s about 30 metres away by now, and I wonder whether he would come join me and whinge about the bus or if he would go back to the bus stop. Please go back, I thought. I’m not in the mood for a bitchy conversation.
Another minute goes by. No bus.
Hmm, perhaps the Scientist should drive me to the train station. Or I should check with Transperth first. I reach for my mobile from deep within my one-compartment bag. I ring Transperth InfoLine:
“Um hello?” I say.
“Yes, how may I help?” The lady answers.
“My bus, I want to check if I missed it or…?”
“What’s the stop number?”
“2 something something…” I answer, as I keep my eyes on the man.
“Ah, the 5xx bus comes at 7.40.”
[the man is watching me from afar]
“No, the 7.13 did it come?” I correct her.
“Lemme check…”
The man looks up the road, throws an arm up as if to gesture For fark’s sake! then runs back to his bus stop. From round the corner, as if on cue, out pops the bus.
“Oh, it’s coming now!” I shout down the phone.
“That’s good, I’ll let you go?”
“Sure, thanks!”
-click-
The bus collects the man then stops in front of me. I get on, the machine is down. I tuck my electronic card back into my purse. I put two and two together: the bus is late because the machine was down. The driver must have spent some moments caressing his machine to try and reboot it.
No apology from him, just a “Take a seat! It’s not working!” So I march down to a seat. Well, at least he waited before taking off!
The bus is more than 10 minutes late and because of the domino effect – late bus causes late Me to miss the train, wait another 10 minutes for the next one, then miss the other bus to work. So as there is nothing I can do, once I get to the bus stop in the City, I buy my coffee from Pie Face while I wait…
While waiting I start to think. And it does hurt to think. This is going to get worse with Transperth’s plan to shut down services next week at the Perth Underground station. I would have to walk further to catch the bus once I get off the train… Arrrrrgh!
I walk into the office, only five minutes late. Tadaaaah! Plus a nice Goodbye from one team and a cheery Welcome from the new team. It feels weird, I’m only about 10 metres away from the old desk! It’s been three years since my last resignation and three years since I was last a new team member. But thank God this time I won’t need to get to know new people, new policies and new organisational cultures!
Now my job would involve more face-to-face meetings with other stakeholders, but let the fun begin!