I am employed on a thirty year contract with my employer (yes it is a government agency). I have given twenty eight and a half years loyal service and hard work and paid contributions continuously into my pension fund.

Three years ago I was summoned to the Occupational Health Unit to review my medical conditions. As I get older, like many other people, I have started to suffer from certain physical failings; in particular, Gastric Osophogial Reflux and Irritable bowel. Common enough conditions but controlled by simple, and in my case, effective medication. My only real needs at work are to be allowed to take my medication as needed, a little understanding when I feel under the weather and the nearness of a lavatory for when the irritable bowel strikes. I was put on medically restricted duties. This basically meant that I should remain in the office environment that I was already in and not put into any confrontational situations.

So for the last three years I have continued working much as before contributing to the work of my department, to the full satisfaction of my managers (apparently) and all has been sweet with the world. I am reviewed annually by the Occupational Health Unit and, as I have been told by my consultant that my medical condition is unlikely to improve, my status has not changed with regard to my employment.

This year as I had my annual review at Occupational Health I was informed that I would be reviewed further on behalf of the pension fund. Nothing to worry about but necessary. I was asked to sign consent forms to enable my employer to access my medical records and assured of total confidentiality etc. The review was to be conducted by an independent Doctor.

Today, I have had my review and after discussing my medical condition the independent doctor went out of his way to tell me that he could not recommend that I be classed as permanently disabled and that it is unlikely that I would receive an early medical pension! His manner was apologetic but he did reassure me that in his experience people in my position are rarely moved and that it is highly possible that I may remain in my current role.

I found that reassuring!

But hey, wait just a god damn minute. Who ever asked for an early retirement? Who asked to be stamped as disabled? Who actually asked to be put on restricted duties in the first place?

I am just an ordinary, hard working, conscientious tax paying pension fund contributing guy. I never asked to be in this position. I am not after early retirment and when I do leave this employment I intend working on (part time hopefully) at something else, contributing to the wealth of this great nation of ours. I believe in doing my bit.

So I have to keep asking "What was that all about?"

Well 10Loves10 thanks for your comments and welcome aboard. You are officially the first viewer of my first ever blog so you get place of honour.

I am pleased to note that I am not the only person who feels like this about poor service (I include my wifes sentiments as part of the 'I' bit.) Perhaps if more people just said "e-nuff" more often the message would start to filter through. Trouble is in our modern society you are just as likely to provoke a punch on the nose as an apology!

I suppose I am really just a grumpy old (middle-aged!) white Anglo Saxon male, lost in the whirlwind of an ever changing and rapidly accelerating world. But recently I have found myself getting more and more fed up with bad service, ignorant attitudes and total selfishness displayed by my fellow occupants of this beautiful planet.

Not so very long ago, when purchasing a service from a company, a 'customer' could expect good manners and good service. The customer was paying and, therefore, had a widely held right to expect good service. After all; if the client wasn't satisfied he would go elsewhere and the service provider would lose income and eventually his means of earning a living if enough clients were dissapointed.

Today many 'service providers' have adopted the attitude that the 'customer' should be gratefull for whatever level of service (often very poor) they (the service provider) choose to give and damn the consequences.

'Little Britain' that wonderfully humerous TV comedy run on the BBC have a very good sketch; you know the one...."Computer says no!" -You don't know it? Well if you don't I won't try to explain it. But I would suggest you watch 'Little Britain' next time it is on your tele. If you do know the sketch you will understand what I am ranting on about.

Anyway, the point is, "computer says no" appears to have become the methodology for may company employees these days, with the ability to think laterally (...in some cases even to think) removed!

Surely it isn't just me who has run up against the brick wall of incompetence and non-sensical logic when it comes to getting mail order or internet retailers to understand that the very people who can afford to purchase their goods and services probably work for a living and that often means away from home during the day. Does it take super human effort to realise that if the delivery driver knocks on the door at midday and gets no reply the likelyhood is that they won't get a reply at midday the next day either. Is it too much to expect that the second attempt at delivery perhaps be made later in the day?

Well of course it is the fault of us hard working 'customers', because we shouldn't expect delivery drivers to work after five in the evening. Neither should we complain at having to make a fifty mile round trip to collect a parcel that we have paid postage and packing on! And we should know when an unsuccessfull attempt has been made at delivery without the need for a note through the letter box.

Yes I have had a few bad experiences with a certain well known, global, despatch company by the name of ***. What makes it worse is the original internet retailer, from whom I have ordered the goods from didn't give a damn that his customer was upset. Needless to say the goods never arrived I got my money back (eventually) and that particluar retailer will never again receive an order from me or anyone else I know who may have been tempted to purchase from him.

The fact is I have had enough! Want to join my e-nuff campaign? Then add your comments and lets fight together for decency, honesty and shear common sense!