Home > My Life Musings > An Unexpected Day Off!

An Unexpected Day Off!

I had a wonderful surprise this week. On Tuesday myself and a colleague reached ten years at our job. I was thinking maybe there might be cake, but no, way better than that!

First off, we get a day off to celebrate! Here’s the proof, copied from the holiday calendar.

10 yr service

Yay! (I’m “Ali” by the way).

At this point I’d just like to mention that in those ten years, I haven’t had a single day off sick. Not one! How healthy am I?

This is the best bit. After the speech we were each handed a little package. I was thinking box of chocolates but no, way better than that. Turns out the managers had been in contact with our contract illustrator and had sent a full specification for a great drawing, including all our favourite stuff. I’m even shown wearing my fluffy blue jacket (first worn by me as a PhD student in the early 90s – they don’t make ’em like that any more!).

Here it is. The ladies on the couch are the girls from the band Alisha’s Attic, one of my favourites, as they might appear today! Nice of them to come visit.

Ali 10Yr

Look, there’s even a DraliDoodle on the wall!

My box sets are there, my X-Files mug, my Sophie Ellis Bextor CD! It’s a high quality print in a lovely frame.

How great is that!

  1. Gilraen
    September 20, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Congratulations! What a wonderful surprise you got from work.

    Like

    • September 20, 2013 at 5:41 pm

      Yes, I was quite overwhelmed at the time and thought which went into the gift.

      Like

      • Gilraen
        September 21, 2013 at 3:20 pm

        Well it says something about what they think of you. I’d say they are pretty positive about you

        Like

  2. September 20, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    How nice to feel you are really appreciated!! Congratulations!!

    Like

    • September 20, 2013 at 6:56 pm

      It’s great to work at a company which believes that the staff are the most important resource 🙂

      Like

  3. September 20, 2013 at 6:06 pm

    Wow! That’s really a nice 10 year package there! Much better than the cheap pins and “X years of service” certificates I get for every 5 years at Mecca….

    Like

    • September 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm

      We’re actually the first two non-directors who made it to ten years so we didn’t know what to expect (we joined 3 or 4 years after the company started). They had to make up a whole new package just for us!
      The holiday is way secondary to the illustration as far as I’m concerned. The level of thought and detail is amazing.

      Like

  4. September 20, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    That’s awesome!

    Like

    • September 20, 2013 at 7:01 pm

      It is, and so unexpected! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the package and saw the framed illustration.

      Like

  5. September 21, 2013 at 4:41 am

    What a wonderful surprise!! Yes, you are appreciated. Two ten year life (land) marks, awesome vacation and possibly a new home all in one year.
    This is your year Dr. Ali.

    Like

    • September 21, 2013 at 5:15 am

      I hope so! That would be nice 🙂

      Like

  6. September 23, 2013 at 7:53 am

    Incredible, they must really love & appreciate you to go to so much trouble to provide such a personal gift. Congratulations by the way, I’ve never managed to last 10 years in a job lol 🙂

    Like

    • September 23, 2013 at 8:01 am

      This is the first time I’ve made it to the big one zero!

      Like

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