Not in the mood for work
Typical, just as I’m about to go on holiday I get presented with a file that had “PROBLEM” written all over it. It was the type of problem you’d rather delegate to somebody else but somehow you knew you wouldn’t get the best result unless you did it yourself. Giving it to somebody else would only mean so much checking up and sorting out and delivering constructive criticism that you might as well do it yourself anyway and save the hassle of upsetting somebody else or even worse putting somebody’s nose out of joint. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no perfectionist or control freak or anything like that but I like certain things done a particular way. Anyway, to cut a long story short I packed the file in my hand luggage. The flight was about 8 hours long anyway, so I had time to spare with little else to do - or so I thought.
Anyway, there’s three of us sat at the back of the plane near the toilets and a noisy bunch of teenagers, getting right up my nose. The first thing I do is pull this problem file out, find the music that takes my mood on the old iPod and get a little comfortable. But I cant do it, I just cant concentrate; I’m reading but nothing registers. “Knock, Knock” – the lights are on but nobody’s home… I’m just not in the mood – after all, I am supposed to be on holiday!. Okay, no worries, I’ll get back to it later; After all, I’ve got 8 hours to go…
I must have been really exhausted as I drifted off, only to be woken by one of those ever so friendly “Trolley Dollies” whisking efficiently up and down the aisle serving food and beverages. My daughter was fidgety, wanting to use the toilet or dropping the games from her DS all over the floor and insisting that I find them for her because she couldn’t reach them under the seats in front whilst strapped into her own seat. She sweetly reminded me of the announcement “keep your seat belt fastened whilst you are seated”, but I had to undo mine anyway to rescue her games and it actually would have been easier for her to do it, with all the room they give you in aircraft seats these days. It seemed like we’d been flying for ages but it turned out only 45 minutes had passed. Just a little fidgety myself (so my wife observed…) I decided once again to attempt to do some work, but that only led to her giving me one of those killer ‘dirty looks’ we husbands have all seen once or twice, before commenting that we were supposed to be on holiday and you must relax a little and cant it wait until you get back? To be honest, it was a fair point, plus I really wasn’t quite in the mood. But I thought I’d wait for her to fall asleep then have one more go at the file.
She never did fall asleep but instead had me playing interactive games and watching a nice selection of really quite decent movies over the in-flight entertainment. I even managed to finish the book I’d started reading on last year’s holiday, so I was feeling kinda proud of myself, but I still couldn’t get any work done. I picked up the file, flicked through the papers, and put it down again. It was more than I could focus on right then. So I made an ‘executive decision’ to give myself a break and put it all on ‘pause’ until my head was straight. Maybe once I’d adjusted to being on holiday, got a bit more relaxed, laid back, chilled; maybe after a few rum punches I’d be ready. Maybe. But all the time, there was this niggling little feeling – I knew if I didn’t get the work done I was up for getting my ass kicked when I got back and most likely would blow my opportunity for promotion. I was just a little worried this tricky job was on the way to spoiling my holiday.
So I’m at the pool side reading the newspaper (no, not the file) and watching my little girl in the kiddies area. As you do, you get talking to the other parents about nothing very much really, just a little general chit chat and sporting banter. I got dragged into a conversation about the price of oil and fuel surcharging worldwide which evolved into a massacre of the stock exchange, a doom-laden diatribe on the cost of living, oh, and how the government is ripping us off and talking up “The Credit Crunch” rather than actually doing something about it. One guy seemed to be making some very good sense, a lot of sense actually, so when the other guy had to leave to get some lunch with his family, we carried on the conversation and then I asked him out of interest, what job he did for a living?
I could have kissed him when he told me that he was a customs broker. Christmas had come early as this guy was very knowledgeable about the changes in the rules and regulations of H.M. Revenue & Customs. When I told him my dilemma and that I had a deadline presentation to write for the entire organisation across the UK, he told me not to worry and over a few drinks gave me the answers to all my questions. The documentation that I had brought with me in that “PROBLEM” folder was all too complicated, open ended and just a little ambiguous – but being in the business, he understood it perfectly, and what’s more, he found a way to explain it to me that made me understand it too!
Look, I’m only sharing this story with you because I do believe it will do you, your colleagues and your organisation some good to get in contact with www.customsclearanceuk.com and see how they may be able to help you. Customs regulations are complicated and it’s easy to misunderstand, or miss some important detail. These guys will help you avoid the pitfalls – and they might even help you enjoy your holiday too!
12th Sept 2008
