so this is how any budget-based organisation works.

ok, so we got a brand new shredding machine today. thing is, we've been asking for one for months. apparantly, the reason we got this one is, there's a surplus in the budget (unforseen, of course), so they're spending for all they're worth to make sure that they get the same or more money next FY.

oops. there seem to be no guidelines on which type/model/etc of shredder to buy, so our dear CQ went out and got a "heavy-duty" shredder. this one eats paper like nobody's business, and lots of paper, at that. however, it doesn't conform to a certain department's guidelines on shredders. the spagetthi that comes out is 5mm wide, which apparantly is 2-3mm wider than guidelines. also, it's a straight cut shredder, whereby a cross-cut would have been better. so that's another big oops. now onto the shredder itself. the paper strips don't actually fall properly, so we keep on getting "bin full"messages when in actual fact the bin is barely 30-50% filled. keep having to open the f$%^ing door to flatten the paper. ah well. another $500 well spent. i think.

and how about this for communication. there's some american big shot coming tomorrow to get some medal or other from one of our big shots or other, so there's a guard of honour parade. all nice and cool, right? wrong. seems that someone from FMLB forgot to notify JMPD about the parade, so the flowers and all weren't actually ordered till 4pm. so they arrived and set up at around 5.30 (kudos to the efficiency of the flower people - flower power?). at the same time, at 4pm, APC SAFPU were blissfully unaware of the ceremony tomorrow. chalk up another big oops for the SAF. frighteningly enough, these are the same people we depend on to defend our country.