cough and splutter…

it’s been a hectic time at work over the last few weeks… we’ve been rfid tagging our whole collection while the library’s been open to the public… you have to be alert, but it's repetitive, and physically taxing (twisting, turning, bending, stretching, pushing, pulling) - there have been lots of sickies (including me just a couple of weeks ago for 2 days - i doubt there's anybody there who hasn't had time off during this time), we’ve got a number of staff on extended leave (bad timing for us, good timing for them!), a few off (or with limited physical abilities) due to other work-related injuries, and some staff rostered off-desk specifically to tag (along with temporary agency staff) – there’s a time limit on the equipment we’re using so it’s been crucial to get it done as quickly as possible – which of course means fewer already overworked people to cover desk while having to deal with altered workflows to capture untagged items - i was either on desk or tagging, or at other branches, last week and my usual work is falling behind - the webpage has been neglected, i've been trying to update the winter biography reading list for weeks now - it's still only partially formatted - by the time it gets published it'll be spring...

all that leads to stress, stress and more stress… which leads to illness, and more illness… exhaustion is taking its toll on the staff… thank fuck we’re nearing the end of the tagging - but that's only the first part of the process…

and of course weekend work for those ‘left standing’ is just an added burden…

we were short on friday so i ended up working the close at another branch – and with sickies at the weekend, this idiot foolishly took a shift on sunday - i don't know what possessed me because i was already rostered for the saturday at my least favourite branch (read worst place on earth to work)...

i was working with den on saturday though, a vegan sister, and was looking forward to catching up with her, so it was going to be an okay shift (apart from the location that is)… having similar vegan politics and both sharing outrage at the treatment of animals makes for stimulating, comfortable conversation – and it’s so nice to be able to talk about food with a like-minded person and not be subjected to the vision of the brutality of the slaughterhouses that a carnivore talking about eating dead animal conjures up...

it was a cold, windy day with a storm warning throughout the state – so warm winter clothes were the order of the day… little did we know though that the least favourite branch was in tropical heat mode… it was soooo hot inside the library - well, around the circulation desk anyway – the further you went from the desk the less stifling it became, but unfortunately most library work is done at the circ desk!!! and no, the air-con is not just a 'turn of the dial' thing but a building maintenance issue and it's apparently been a problem there on and off for ages – so we sweltered… it was like being in a sauna – we were suffering – melting actually… we both commented through the day that we’d probably be sick after working in that oppressive heat…

well guess what – by mid-evening my throat was killing me, and i was on the decline…

i was feeling so much worse on sunday so i was a really grumpy womon by the time i had to go to work… at least it was only a half day shift at my favourite branch, so i got through it (no doubt helped by being dosed up on ibuprofen and echinacea) but by the end i desperately wanted to get home!!

and here i am on monday still feeling like crap – it’s more the runny nose, coughing and spluttering with a hint of headache now though… 

i was meant to be doing something with me mum, but as she’s susceptible to respiratory problems – pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy - with asthma and emphysema thrown in (and since her last hospital ‘stay’ they’ve told her if she gets even a hint of a cold she’s to get straight into hospital) i’m staying away from her so as not to spread anything… i really couldn’t cope with another hospital emergency – i’m way too run down… at least i’ve got allie and shadow to help console me – they’re just happy i’ve finally got a day at home with them… if only they could make me a cuppa, get their own dinner and clean up after themselves...

work - you wouldn't do it if you didn't have to hey!!!! maybe some of our jobs will become redundant once rfid is fully implemented and we'll be offered a package - i know a few of us would jump at the chance... hmmmm, guess we can always dream!