Kirstie Nicols works in sales but hopes to become a journalist. Fame, unfortunately There’s no doubt about it, I’m going to have to quit. It’s not because of the money, nor the people, nor the hours; and it’s not even because of the work. It’s because this week, I have managed to embarrass myself in such a way that the story will be told not only at this Christmas party, but probably next year’s. And the following one. And the one after that…
Last Tuesday was supposed to be the day that I went on a long anticipated trip to our head office, along with a couple of new girls. Long anticipated not because I was going somewhere else to work, but because they trusted me with the keys to a brand new, hardly used Jeep, along with the fuel card. So quite happily that morning we all trundled off to the nearest petrol station to fill up, handed over the fuel card, only to be told that they didn’t accept them. Cue embarrassing run back to the office to collect a work credit card to pay, leaving everyone laughing as I ran out again. I managed to get over this mishap, paid for my petrol and we started on our journey. We made it maybe half a mile, before it became obvious there was something wrong with the car. I kept quiet for a minute, but when I couldn’t turn the steering wheel properly I decided it was probably for the best that I pulled over. It was just when I was about to pop the bonnet when the horrifying truth dawned on me. I’d filled up a brand new, hardly used Diesel Jeep with an entire tank of unleaded petrol. Torment Kirstie WeekCalling my boss ten minutes after I’d left the office to explain that I was only a few hundred yards down the road and had already managed to break the car, is a call I really don’t want to remember. I’m lucky in that he is a very laid-back guy, and after my heartfelt apology didn’t feel the need to give me too much of a telling off; in fact he saw the funny side of it more than anything. Unfortunately, so did the rest of the office. And our head office. Oh, and so did the other countrywide offices. So the past week has been renamed ‘Torment Kirstie Week’. I have a new nickname, Diesel (original I know; I did think of a better one but I’m not stupid enough to tell them all!), I constantly ‘overhear’ conversations about the sales reps being a car short, and whenever I go to make the office a tea (my idea of repentance), I get reminded to put teabags in, not coffee. The best one was when I received the email from one of the MDs, which had been sent to all employees, reminding everyone of my mistake. Give me a breakAlmost a week later, and the office still hasn’t got tired of teasing me. I’m starting to really look forward to next week when I have a week’s holiday; not that I have anything planned for definite yet. I imagine I’ll spend much of it in bed! I’ve been bugging a friend who works at the local BBC radio station to let me come in and have a look round the newsroom department; she’s still a bit unsure but I figure if I keep pushing I’ll eventually get my way! I’ve also spoken to the local newspaper I did some work experience at; I’m hoping to be able to come in for at least a couple of days. So although it’s a holiday, I’m hoping to be relatively proactive…though I could just be being optimistic! Now it’s finally December, I’ve become one of those annoying Christmas enthusiasts; the type who has ‘Jingle Bells’ as a ringtone. I haven’t done any shopping as of yet (except for myself), but all the decorations are out by the shops, and everyone is starting to wind down to prepare for the New Year. People are starting to take it easy at work, and the most important talk is now who’s wearing what to the Christmas party and whether or not it will be a white Christmas this year. The office is full of alcohol that either we’ve been given by suppliers, or we have to give to customers; and we no longer buy unhealthy cookies as a snack, but instead unhealthy mince pies. So I’m going to finish on a cheesy note, by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a fantastically drunk New Year. Read Kirstie's previous blogs | 
