uncleduck

Sorry about that slightly incoherant rant, yesterday.  I have calmed.  Balance has been restored to the force.

Sorry about the subject line, I wrote it after I wrote this blog entry.  
You'll understand it if you read to the end! 

6 months ago, we had a tutoring in schools student from a local higher-education establishment (let's call him John Smith). He asked me if he could work with us because I sorta-know him from outside school. He did an ok job but appeared to forget we exist - at least that's one reason why he might have failed to answer the email I sent asking how he was getting on.

Yesterday - email from him asking me to do a reference for him to apply for a postgrad. Yep, no probs, though as I'm a fairly honest person I don't think I'm his best choice. I think to myself, I'll get a letter about it in a week or so and worry about it then.

Today, as I'm about to walk out the door, I get a phone call from the office: "It's John Smith on the line." I want to avoid the call as he's difficult to talk to, but I go ahead.

He wants his reference emailed to him. Now.

"John, you only asked me yesterday."

"Well, you see, I'm trying to submit the application for this postgrad and I need my first referee to submit at the same time."

"I can't do that because I have not written it."

"When will you write it?"

"Well, normally people wanting a reference write to me and I reply within a week or so. As my boss if off sick and I'm doing her job too, I really can't rustle one up now."

"OK, but this application's really important to me and I need a reference to apply. They didn't tell me I needed the reference at the time of my application, I only found out about it...."

(I yawn to myself as he trots of an inconsistent bullsh-t excuse, when he could simply say he's left it to the last minute and is panicking)

"John, have you left this to the last minute?" (as ever, I think)

"Well, not quite, but you should have got an email from them telling you about my application and how I really badly need that reference."

"No, no email yet. However, I have one exam paper to have ready for tomorrow, another for Monday and another two for Tuesday. Once THEY are written, and the marking I have sitting on my desk is sorted, I'll think about your reference. It would be totally unfair to my wife to ignore her till midnight to write this. Ask your number two referee, or contact whoever you are applying to and tell them I only do pen-and-ink."

"So when do you think you could sort out the reference. I need it really urgently."

Inside, I scream. I have not time to write a flowery reference. I could write it now, but it would read "Totally disorganised and incapable of understanding that he is at the back of a REALLY long queue, and expects me to ignore the work of students who do appreciate a deadline means the time to hand stuff in." This would not help Mr Smith.

"I'll go and see if they have emailed me, and tell them I'll get back to them early next week."

"OK, but what will I do about the reference? I need it tomorrow."
I want to tell him precisely what he can do with his reference. I may teach in a posh school, but while you can take the guttersnipe (me) out of his council estate, you cannot take the council estate out of this particular guttersnipe.

"Then I suggest you ask someone else."

"But I've already told them I am using you."

"Then it will be next week. I HAVE NOT TIME RIGHT NOW!!! I will check my email and if there is anything from them, I will let you know."

I hang up. "Uuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn" I exclaim.

»Thursday, November 29, 2007, 7:48:47 PM GMT    »1 comments (0 )     »Send entry    

Posted by: uncleduck    in: My entries

Modified on November 30, 2007 at 4:58 PM