Retrenchment Recess: Episode 8 – FINALE

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 8

The Finale

So, as it turns out, eye-roll-initiating sayings like, “There is always hope.”, do tend to be true.

There certainly is always hope. Thanks to ONE helpful friend who passed on contact details, ONE helpful UIF employee, and countless other ones who couldn’t give a damn, my UIF claim was eventually paid out!

A big victory for me – but I have to stop and wonder for how many people the light at the end of the UIF tunnel never becomes a good thing.

It saddens me to know that we live in a country with so many people being retrenched, cost of living going up, taxes going up, companies closing down; unemployment and crime are higher than ever, the ANC hosts events, and Dear Ol’ JZ builds mansions with taxpayer money. Of course, this topic has been discussed ‘to death’ in the media, the courtroom, and Joe Citizen’s house. Alas, as has become apparent when it comes to the ANC, nobody is accountable for their corrupt actions, their crimes, or their blatant disrespect for the people of South Africa.

Let’s consider the details of my UIF claim:

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 7

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 7

Sitting in the UIF line online…

Following my previous post, a few things have happened.

One of these was not the UIF fulfilling their pretty basic function and paying me the money I’m due. One would ordinarily start a sentence like that with “sadly” or “unforunately”, but I don’t even have the capacity to feel sad or unfortunate at the moment. I am enraged, in a strange calm and calculating kind of way. The UIF and its incompetence is an utter disgrace, and the people who work there should be ashamed of themselves and their superiors. And we should all be ashamed of the government, because they are letting us all down!

Let’s be clear – this post is not essentially about me and the money I am owed by the UIF. It is about a matter in principle. It is about the fact that there are countless poor people out there who are shoved down and trodden on by the government when they’re at their most vulnerable.

So, despite the fact that I started every conversation at the UIF centre in Randburg with, “I’ve applied online, but…”, it took multiple sessions of wasting-of-my-life there before I was told that they can’t process online application queries there and rudely sent away with an email address scribbled on a torn-off corner of paper. This address was for Deon van Niekerk, Assistant Director, e-operations…

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 6

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 6

Sitting in the UIF line…

Sitting and waiting for an undefined period of time is certainly not one of my strong points.

I think that the day of The Voice auditions was proof enough. Wake up repeatedly, terrified of oversleeping. Unable to sleep since 04:00. Arrive 06:40. Audition 15:40. Me = NOT a happy camper (since about 08:30).

However, it seems that the South African Labour Department’s UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) wants to prove it to me repeatedly, just for the sake of it. I’ve spent about 10 hours queueing there and have not yet actually gotten to the counter. It’s amusing how there are SO many unemployed people and SO many people getting retrenched in the last 5 years but the process is still an absolute disaster, stunted in so many ways.

Despite the fact that you can apply online, things are halted halfway through with senseless reason codes stated, which delay everything further. You then have to launch a query simply to understand the reason stated for the unsuccessful online application. Then you get told the employer didn’t submit the right document. You know, I don’t know whether the tail’s wagging the dog here, but I think that with the frequency of retrenchment cycles in South Africa, the large companies know EXACTLY what to submit. I’m not sure who’s fooling who here!

So, here I am, it’s almost the end of November. I’ve been out of work since end of June. I applied for UIF online in July. And… nothing! Someone somewhat officially involved in the process told me it’s like hoping to win the lottery.

This would probably be funny if there weren’t UIF contributions going off my salary for years, like clockwork, only for it to be impossible to claim when I need it back… I hear that some of my ex-colleagues got their applications in and done within 5 minutes by using (quite possibly paying off) someone’s connection. This is where I truly get irritated. Everyone is against corruption and fraud until it makes life easier for themselves.

I feel like there are people in South Africa who go out of their way to make things complicated. It’s a personality thing. There are people who want things to work, and to make South Africa a better place. And then there are people who don’t understand or care how simple a process like UIF application could really be. If your thinking is angled one way or the other, I think it’s quite difficult to cope with the opposition.

I try really hard for my posts not to become bitching sessions, but I’m viciously struggling to see the ray of light regarding UIF at this point. I suppose it’s quite simple. I’m going to have to change my strategy, take some music with me, and go try again. Attempt 4…

So please, pray for me. Think of me. Send me good vibes. I will go back next week. I will go and stand in the Randburg CBD at 05:00 hoping not to get mugged. I will wait for the place to open at 07:30.

I will not be unnerved.

And

I WILL BE SERVED!

photo credit:

caged growth

More Than

via photopin

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 5

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 5

When denial lasts too long…

This past Friday I attended a get-together noting the last day of work for a WHOLE BUNCH of my old colleagues. The retrenchment machine’s wheels keep going ’round and ’round. Don’t fret – remember, there is life out there!

One of the guys there asked me about my writing. I hadn’t realised he even knew of my site’s existence. So I decided that today I need to get a post out. When I looked at the date of the last post, I had to roll my eyes at myself: 28 August!

Well, here we are. I’m in a coffee shop, yet again. You folks must be getting tired of that. It’s OK; you can pretend I’m sitting on the floor in an art gallery, pondering gloriously intellectual thoughts about paintings I can’t comprehend.

I think I’m in denial. I mean, I’ve done a tiny bit of part-time work since I left my job, but that has come and gone, and, despite numerous interviews (and meeting some more truly great people), nothing seems to be cooking in the kitchen of my employment. I suppose I’ve always had a slight spoilt brat attitude w.r.t. becoming employed – I never had to attend a set of interviews at more than one company to find a job. Maybe now I’m having difficulty because I’m actually looking for a more focused something in a more focused manner. Maybe the South African job market is torn to shreds – that’s what everyone around me has been saying. It’s not like my Awesomeness Index has deteriorated or anything!

Bah! The really perplexing question is whether you would know you’re in denial? Am I, therefore, not in denial, about being in denial? Hmmm.

Indeed, like I’ve said many a time before, there is life out there. So I’ve been trying to throw off my self-sabotaging chains and follow my dreams as a creative. I attended auditions for The Voice SA this past weekend. After 8 hours queueing in the sun, I’m not sure what I sounded like; but the true point is that went, I did it, and I proved to myself that it isn’t nearly as scary as imagined. All the while, a new melody has been frolicking around in my head for a while now, and it’s time that it gets developed. I’ll be in a trance, drooling on the piano for a few days… Keep your ears open!

I’ve also been following (most of the time, anyway!) my dreams and goals in terms of Not Getting Fat(ter) Again. We went away for 2 weeks in September. The trip was amazing, with great company, but nutritionally, it became a huge binge.

It’s taken me up to last week to get my head right again regarding my eating habits. Luckily, with this overflow of free time, I have generally been exercising at least 5 times a week. Go look at my Strava.

Retrenchment has been WONDERFUL for my exercise schedule!

And…

If nothing else, I will get healthier day by day,

always ready to kick butt whenever required!

photo credit:

Inspector Clouseau … He is sleeping

Shadow Artist

via photopin

asinghlife alfriendo retrenchment recess scrum

Diving into the Scrum

Before you laugh, one moment.

This post is *not* about rugby.

Actually, I quite dislike rugby. I could probably easily write a few posts about how much I don’t like it, but let’s leave it at that..!

So, things got a little bit serious in the previous post…

Being one of The Retrenched*, the thoughts that grace my mind with their presence while I’m sitting at the how-many-eth coffee shop can get somewhat out of hand if left to their own devices.

I’m actually quite impressed with how unfazed I’ve remained although things haven’t been particularly exciting on the job-hunt-front… UNTIL NOW. [cue triumphant trumpet music]

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 4

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 4

5 Things being retrenched makes you wonder about

1) Was my job really that pointless and fickle in the eyes of the company?

As one sits for the umpteenth day at home, or at a coffice (yes, that is a real word!) doing something that seems important at the time, this question is bound to pop up, possibly even a few times a day. When being retrenched, one is naturally geared to go through the cycle of accepting change; and somewhere between denial, anger, and acceptance, it sinks in that the company probably had no real idea of what each person was doing or what it meant i.t.o. of the bigger picture. It often just comes down to the technicalities of headcount and companies doing marathon swims in that murky pool labelled cutting costs.

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 3

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 3

All the while, between writing songs, singing, and swanning from coffee shop to coffee shop, here are a few benefits of being retrenched that I’ve noticed. Yes, they’re all a bit tongue-in-cheek, because nobody wants to wonder whether they can pay their bills, and nobody is poking fun at being financially insecure or losing your job. I’m just trying to see a few rays of light while I’m here…

1) I get to spend a lot more time with our sweet pooches, Jazz (a.k.a. Fatty/ Sneaky, Beardy/ Jazz-Bum/ Schnackles) and Nibbles (a.k.a. Queen Nibbles/ The Niblet/ Little One/ Fluff-Bum/ Nibble-Stinks).

On a chilly winter’s morning, there are few things better than having a cup of coffee while these two give me some serious hugs! It’s been such a pleasure being able to spend more time with them. Nibbles loves to run and fetch the ball (she could be a little mental though, because it is a lawn bowl and could easily crush her, but that is the only ball she hasn’t been able to shred…). Jazz loves learning new things, like basic agility. The only downside to all this fun Furchild time is that I realise they bark ALL THE TIME (Hey, don’t look at me!)

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 2

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 2

A few months ago, I started singing lessons. I’d been coached for a while a few years ago, but the coach and I had some differences relating to genre focus, and the non-operatic capability of my vocal range, and as such, we parted ways eventually. I am really enjoying my singing lessons now, and I get along really well with my new vocal coach. Happiness.

So, it’s been quite handy with all this free time (when I’m not swanning from coffee shop to coffee shop) that I can go to class and then come home and spend the rest of the good and creative mood thrashing out some ideas on the piano while the music is still rushing through my veins, much like the waters in a raging river heading towards a waterfall.

Continue reading →

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 1

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 1

And so, at some point in your life, you will wake up and find that your employer no longer loves you.

*sad face*

*teary eye*

OK, they never actually did. And that is completely normal. But for some unknown reason, nobody tells you that upfront. A very strange picture is painted about how a company cares for its employees. But that is not its purpose.

The whole HR-arena is a completely misrepresented area of business, but I won’t even get into that.

In the last few days of employment leading up to my impending freedo(o)m, I found myself in uber-project-manager-mode, planning my intricate and strategic chess moves to sort my life out post-retrenchment.

And I actioned them.

Step 1, 2, 3. Mails bombarded my contacts, researching rates, routes, and other realities.

Plan, schedule, execute.

But nothing really came of it. Most people out there are too busy hustling to make ends meet for themselves, and they don’t have the capacity to worry about the potential non-meeting of your ends… and you can’t blame them either. Times are tough in South Africa.

And then,

I planned a bunch of small DIY projects at home that I hadn’t had the time or energy to complete previously.

And then,

I couldn’t find the raw materials or supplies I needed.

At various suppliers.

On various days.

Nothing.

And then I stopped.

FULL stop.

Sometimes the Universe just wants you to slow down and re-evaluate things, one day at a time. (You know that thing about living in the moment or being mindful? Yeah, that.)

It’s not like it’s news to me, but I do know that I’m generally a really bad student and I often, stupidly, ignore the glaring neon billboards that The Universe puts up next to the Highway of Life.

So here I find myself swanning from coffee shop to coffee shop to find inspiration for my writing or songwriting; to avoid the feeling that I’m staying in bed all day; or any other unemployed person cliché.

Continue reading →

Misconceptions About Creativity

It’s not something that just comes in a dream. You’ve got to work at it.

-Sean Lennon

There seems to be this truly unfortunate misconception about the arts.

I think many of the creative streams are viewed as hobbies or pastimes rather than Real Work. (I saw you smirking right there!)

It’s quite saddening, really, knowing that, and thinking of all the talent, skill, emotion, time and energy that go into creative activities.

Fair enough, I’m probably not an objective participant in this discussion.

However, even things I probably also view more as a pastime (e.g. mosaic) take an immense amount of preparation, thought, energy and dedication.

And money.

And disturbed fingertips.

Continue reading →

#ASinghLife

About a loudly-lived life's beautiful and cruel realities.

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 5

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 5

When denial lasts too long…

Diving into the Scrum

Diving into the Scrum

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 4

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 4

5 Things being retrenched makes you wonder about

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 3

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 3

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 2

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 2

Retrenchment Recess: Episode 1

Retrenchment Recess:

Episode 1

Misconceptions About Creativity

Misconceptions About Creativity