Thread: Grumpy Old Man Syndrome

I think I've got Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. How do I get rid of him.

Originally Posted by tea lady

I think I've got Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. How do I get rid of him.

A bit of arsenic in the teapot?

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

A bit of arsenic in the teapot?

Or ratsack in the porridge. Powdered glass in the scones, or just change the locks.

Originally Posted by tea lady

I think I've got Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. How do I get rid of him.

I am thinking of having 'Grumpy Old Man' added to my business cards.

Originally Posted by rod1949

Any of you blokes feel / think / do suffer from this syndrome? If so have you sought any help / diagnosed / treatment / medication etc?

The extent of the is inversely proportional to the amount of shed time I get.

The other thing that works for me is to work with young people. At first my level of goes UP significantly, you just have to hang in there and get over their obvious Eventually their energy, enthusiasm and optimism rubs off. Besides they are dead and I laugh a lot which helps the !

Originally Posted by BobL

The extent of the is inversely proportional to the amount of shed time I get.

The other thing that works for me is to work with young people. At first my level of goes UP significantly, you just have to hang in there and get over their obvious Eventually their energy, enthusiasm and optimism rubs off. Besides they are dead and I laugh a lot which helps the !

'Cept my grumpy old man works in a university. Aren't those ones young enough.

Contact with first year undergrads as a sessional teacher is one of the most satisfying things I have. They're bright and good-hearted and mostly have values that give cause for optimism about the challenges we face.

However being a full-time academic and dealing with all the interpersonal and organisational sh*te was one of the least and I'm happy I jumped ship and went free-lance. The capacity to call it like it is or to walk away from something that's not going to work had an income cost but reduced the risk of hypertension big time.

[QUOTE=rsser;990940

However being a full-time academic and dealing with all the interpersonal and organisational sh*te was one of the least and I'm happy I jumped ship and went free-lance. The capacity to call it like it is or to walk away from something that's not going to work had an income cost but reduced the risk of hypertension big time.[/QUOTE]
Hmm! I don't think Hubby could deal with the uncertainly. B*^$#%^ mortgage. Oh to be free and on the road. 'cept where would I put my stuff.

Originally Posted by rsser

Contact with first year undergrads as a sessional teacher is one of the most satisfying things I have. They're bright and good-hearted and mostly have values that give cause for optimism about the challenges we face.

Agree

However being a full-time academic and dealing with all the interpersonal and organisational sh*te was one of the least and I'm happy I jumped ship and went free-lance. The capacity to call it like it is or to walk away from something that's not going to work had an income cost but reduced the risk of hypertension big time.

All sounds very familiar plus I line manage some 3 score plus people in my work unit. For the moment I can handle it. Firstly I work with a very good team of people, and as long as get enough shed/wood time. It's amazing how much I can tolerate after a day working my big chainsaw mill and taking apart a big log! I've often thought about bringing in a big chainsaw into work leaning it up against my office wall - I think the conversations might be a little less feisty than they sometimes are

Originally Posted by BobL

I've often thought about bringing in a big chainsaw into work leaning it up against my office wall - I think the conversations might be a little less feisty than they sometimes are

So what did YOU do on the weekend?

Originally Posted by tea lady

Hmm! I don't think Hubby could deal with the uncertainly. B*^$#%^ mortgage. Oh to be free and on the road. 'cept where would I put my stuff.

To make any big career change, whether in occupation or employment status, I think you need some kind of 'cheer squad'. It's hard to do it on your own. It also takes a good deal of analysis and planning.

BobL, yeah, it helps to have a good workgroup and key people that you've chosen too. When I've had this, and a worthwhile project or two that people have backed, the satisfaction and achievement have been high.

On the other hand, having line mgt responsibility for a hundred academics and general staff when the main work was what I called the 3 P's was no joy (Policeman, Postmaster and Paperweight). Add to that an organisational restructure about every 5 years with no clear purpose to any of them .....

Originally Posted by rsser

............................... Add to that an organisational restructure about every 5 years with no clear purpose to any of them .....

But Ern the reason is that every time you have a management change at the top they have to put their "stamp" on it by changing what was working perfectly well

Or just changing the name of the place along with stationary,uniforms etc to bring it up to "modern" times and all that costs heaps of money. Then they tell everyone how much better it is.

Originally Posted by tea lady

Hmm! I don't think Hubby could deal with the uncertainly. B*^$#%^ mortgage. Oh to be free and on the road. 'cept where would I put my stuff.

Started working from home about six years ago, only go into the office about once every two weeks, most days I am on the road travel to country towns spend nights away, no politics or shyt, can't understand why I didn't do it earlier. The best days are when I call on Lucas Mill, Lws Owen who makes the Wood Whiz and call on to Omega Engineering and see the boys that make the Stubby lathe (is that boasting? don't mean to)

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

Started working from home about six years ago, only go into the office about once every two weeks, most days I am on the road travel to country towns spend nights away, no politics or shyt, can't understand why I didn't do it earlier. The best days are when I call on Lucas Mill, Lws Owen who makes the Wood Whiz and call on to Omega Engineering and see the boys that make the Stubby lathe (is that boasting? don't mean to)

sounds nice. I had a job once picking up books for a book shop. 'twas nice catching up with people on the way. Got sick of red light by the end of the day though. Maybe I should look for another job like that. At least it would get me out of the house.