Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Allow me to use hyperbole in the most appropriate sense. I'm back... by popular demand. 

There's been a considerable gap since my last post and some gentle readers have made their feelings known to me on this. 

"Is Govstooge an A/Sec now?" 

"Has Govstooge defected to the private sector?" 

"Is Govstooge in prison having finally followed through on that threat to stab a HEO through the jugular with a letter opener?" 

The answer to these is no, no and ummm...

...no.

I've spent the last few years in a sort of cat like state, clawing desperately at the door of my Department wanting to go out, only to find that when I'm outside, I want to get back in. Plus I've been sleeping a lot and shitting in a box. 

An incomplete Ph.D thesis on "Motivating the unmotivated: Six Case Studies on the use of Medieval Torture Equipment on Recalcitrant Clerical Officers" sits on my desk. I have been unable to source funding for this from my Training Unit so I won't be hiring a Tudor bonnet any time soon. Philistines! 

I've moved Departments yet again. Pedantry got too much for me, an English Language Purist such as myself could not cope with the increasing deluge of badly spelt correspondence liberally sprinkled with poo emojis (or maybe it was actual poo. I don't know. I didn't smell it. I was too scared. I saw enough of that in the Department toilets).

I've contested countless promotion competitions, to the point that, when I hop off the Luas at Jervis and cross over to the Public Appointments Service, I get the greeting, "Ah, it's yerself. What is it this week? HEO, AP or Witchfinder General?" from the services officers.

And yes, I have been successful and am no longer an embattled EO. I can still be seen on Middle Abbey Street but in the Academy these days bopping to the likes of Electric Six et al. 

 The intervening years since my last posting have been interesting. But! Fear not! I have many EO - level rantings and ravings to belch forth before I move onto aspects of my current situation. 

Remember, it is the civil service. And regardless of what has happened, rancour, ennui and frustration are the order of the day. 

Once again, it begins.