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(aka Bike) Part 1113 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved. |
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The night passed without note. Simon grunted in his sleep when I woke to feed the wain, but otherwise he was a slightly distant normal. I wondered if Tom or Stella had said something to him, but there was no way I was going to ask.
I saw in Cycling Weekly that Cavendish had done well, winning some back to back stages of the Vuelta–so is first Brit since Robert Millar, to win stages on all three of the big tours. I was reading the CW when the girls came down for breakfast.
“Other girl’s mothers read newspapers at breakfast,” commented Trish.
“I can’t help that, sweetheart, they obviously don’t know what they’re missing.”
“Hmm,” she thought for a minute, “perhaps they don’t like bikes,” she suggested.
“Don’t like bikes?” I pretended to be horrified; “But everyone likes bikes–don’t they?”
Trish was in earnest mode and the fact I was teasing her went straight over her head. Livvie, however, noticed and smirked at me, hiding her expression behind her hand.
“Not everyone will like bicycles, Mummy–I mean not everyone likes chocolate or ice cream.”
“They don’t?” I gasped.
“No they don’t,” continued Trish, chattering like someone in their sixties.
“Why don’t they?”
“It comes down to a matter of taste,” she continued.
“Are you inferring I don’t have taste?” I challenged her.
“No, Mummy, ‘course not–you have exquisite taste.”
“We learned that in English before the holidays,” betrayed Livvie.
“What’s this about a major incident in Portsmouth at the weekend?” interrupted Simon.
“I have no idea–what sort of incident?”
“It was on the radio, an earthquake or something?”
“Oh that–it was...” I began.
“A stimulation,” Trish threw in before I could finish.
“A what?” asked Simon.
“A stimulation, really, Daddy, you should know that–it’s a pretend thing, so they know what to do in case it happens for real.”
“That’s a stimulation is it?” Simon asked.
“Yes, silly Daddy,” she said, walking away from the table.
“Did the FT arrive?” Si asked me?”
“Did you order one?”
“No, I asked Bev to do that for me.”
“Your long suffering secretary has plenty to do if I know you.”
“As secretaries go, she is well remunerated.”
“So she’s a well paid slave, then?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Cathy, she gets weekends off, so how can she be a slave?”
“I don’t,” I sighed.
“You don’t what?”
“I don’t remember seeing the Financial Times on the door mat, this morning.”
“That’s not good enough,” he picked up his mobile and whilst I poured him coffee, he sent a snotty text to his secretary. His phone peeped a few moments later and he said, “I might have known, it’s the newsagents–they didn’t have one. We’ll have to get a new supplier.”
“No we won’t,” I told him, “They send my Guardian every day, they remember the children’s various comics and Tom’s Independent. If you put in a regular order, they’d get it for you.”
“Hmmph,” he seemed livid. “They send trashy things like your Cycling Weekly, but forget the best newspaper on the planet.”
“I get this direct from the publishers each week.”
“Well there you are then, finished looking at the pictures, have we?”
“Why, do you want to look at them?”
“No, I’ll have a quick squint at this rag.” He picked up my Guardian and began leafing through it.
“It might be a rag, but they were the only one to approve of your advising Gordon Brown.”
“Not the only one, the FT did as well.”
“Bloody pink papers–I thought that was a term relating to gay newspapers?” I attacked.
“No, that is the pink press, the FT was printed on pink paper long before such things existed.”
I decided, that given my own situation, I wasn’t going to throw stones whilst living in a greenhouse. “Well, if you put in a regular order with the newsagents, I’m sure they’ll get you one each time.”
“I’ll make do with this now,” he started leafing through my Guardian. I walked away before I hit him–patronising twit. Where was the man I married, why the change? Maybe I’d speak with Bev and see if there was a reason for it from the bank. If I talked to Henry, he’d give Simon a rollocking, which won’t achieve anything. I want to make things better, not worse.
I fed the others and even offered Simon something cooked, but he stuck with toast and marmalade plus some cereal and half a pot of coffee. If I drank that much I’d be twitchy and hyper. He wasn’t unless this recent outburst was an example of that. Something to think about, all the same.
A day of domestic chores and keeping out of Simon’s way. He went off to the bank about ten, he was chairing some high powered meeting with the council and spending cuts. They use his bank, which brings in income, so he has to sweet talk them–even though it’s not his usual area. If the Chairman’s son is involved–it’s got to be good for customer confidence.
I suppose he’s under a lot of pressure–they made four billion profit since April, not as much as the very big banks, but enough to be next in the ratings after the big four–and growing more rapidly, even in bad times–or are those yet to visit us?
I’m convinced the government are setting us, the public, up for an asset strip of public sector resources. They won’t go short that’s for sure–whingeing about expenses, after what went on before, haven’t MPs and the banks got the message yet?
I fed my wain again and played games with the kids while the washing did itself, then found a few moments to call Bev, Simon’s secretary.
“Hi, Bev, it’s Cathy Cameron, Simon’s wife.”
“Good morning, Lady Catherine, what can I do for you?”
“Simon’s been like a bear with a sore head, is there anything at work which might be helping to cause it?”
“I can’t give details of bank stuff, I’m sorry–he’d shoot me.”
“Only if he found out.”
“This is true–I don’t know, it hasn’t got in the press yet.”
“What hasn’t?”
“Okay, but you didn’t hear it from me–okay?”
“Guides honour,” I said back even though I’d never been one.
“Okay–he’s got to make several people in his division redundant.”
“Ah, that might explain his strange behaviour.”
“One of them is a very old friend.”
“Oh dear.” That could explain why he’s been a bit strange, if I had to sack anyone, I’d be a nervous wreck.
“Yes, the poor chap has no idea what’s coming.”
“I thought the bank had done quite well?” but who was I to know these things?
“We have, and being spare of staff has kept us in the hunt. However, Lord Simon doesn’t like doing it; he’s clever but not ruthless. He’s far too nice to be a banker.”
“Is he now? I suppose he is. Thanks Bev.” Well that explained some of it–maybe he’s on the male menopause or whatever they call it? Anyway, I’ll try and avoid any extra pressure on him for a few days and see if he talks to me. Food for thought–now–food for kids–lunch.
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Comments
Cool
Nice to see that this story is still going strong, read it from chapter 1 - missed a year of it last year - but still has me hooked
And to see a fellow brit writing here - my writing skills are miniscule compared to yours and my story has 1109 chapters less
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1113.
Love this new look at Simon.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Doesn't stop Simon
being a supercilious, overbearing, chauvinist twit, does it?
I mean; he could tell his wife he had a stressful task at work without revealing secrets.
TG I'm not married to him.
Susie
Everyone is awfully hard on Simon ...
... but the truth of the matter is, men don't usually share their pain quite so easily, and often turn to posturing to hide that there's something wrong. When something in their world is out of control - something they HATE but can't avoid - they try to exert control over other things in their lives to make up for the fact that the really important thing, the one thing they wish they could control, is totally out of reach.
The other day, Simon tried to be playful with Cathy and got his head handed to him, and now he's stuck in a place he can't avoid and doing everything he can think of to feel like he's steering his own life when he's really not. And he doesn't think she's accessible to him anyway because everyone else comes first (and with kids, that's usually how it should be). But another truth everyone seems to forget is that Cathy has proven herself to be a self-centered cow on more than one occasion, and even if Simon isn't another child, he IS her husband. Sometimes, husbands need support, too, and wives know enough to remember who they fell in love with and what being married really means -- being there for the ONE you love.
And if Simon was really a "supercilious, overbearing, chauvinist twit," why the hell does she love him? He HAS to be more than that, or she's hitched herself to an anchor. He's a loving Dad and a loving husband more often than he behaves badly.
Jeez, people - cut the man some slack!
Randa
With no current villans to boo, Simon's handy, Randa -GRIN-
I understand his pain.
The powers that be at our modest mutual savings bank -- that means we are depositor owned, not a stock bank -- just announced closing or selling off 25 percent of our branches. These were all small volume/small asset branches or on the far fringes of our promary market and feared to be soon unprofitable due the the huge banking reform bill recently passed by congress.
Some very compitent and nice people I work with will likely not have jobs in a few months though the bank is scrambling to retain as many as practical. I feel very bad for the neigborhoods affected as several are areas with urban blight and struggling to redevelope. Many of the customers do not have decent transport so using a branch five or ten miles away is not viable.
I would never want to make such a decision. I had to let a few go as a retale assistant manager some years back and it hurt, believe me.
Sometimes Simon is a little boy but then all men are little boys at heart and all women little girls at heart, to some extent. When we lose that we loose our humanity.
Great stuff, Ang.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
You go girl!!!
I very much like Cathy being sensitive. It sure beats her more churlish days when he just sucked it up.
Now she's got, what seven children plus Simon, Tom, and Stella. I am sure glad that they got a Nanny, but wonder if it just provides more fodder for the cannon. Good on ya, Cathy.
Gwendolyn
Rolls Eyes
Whatever. He still has to grow up and learn to do the sharing thing. Making excuses for his shortcomings only means that he will forever rely on Cathy to decode his convoluted thinking and inability to grow his emotional space. Frankly I am not as generous in my evaluation of his character. He is still a young pup who has never had to work out ways to cope with bad circumstances in a constructive manner. He cannot grow up unless he is brought to task for the boneheaded way he deals with the hard edges of life.
Kim
Some folks can...
Some folks can easily make the hire/fire decision. Some folks don't seem to care whether it's someone they've known forever. Others, apparently Simon's on of them (I know I am) don't do that part of the job quite so easily. It's one of the reasons I got OUT of management. Having to decide someone had to go, and then tell him. It chewed me up. Perhaps had he been totally incompetent and not care, or had he done something unethical, I might have not had such a problem... But, upper management decided there wasn't enough business to keep all of them and I got to decide who was let go, and tell the person.
So, yeah, I can understand how Simon can feel stressed. And, as others have mentioned, I can understand why he'd hesitate (right now) to tell Cathy.
Is he being a twit? No question about that. I'm also (as I believe I've mentioned before) glad I'm not married to him (perhaps because I don't want to be married to any guy?). But, I'm also not sure I'd want to be married to Cathy. She's got as many issues as anyone I know (myself included)... (No. I'm quite happy with the spouse I have!)
Anne
Better Ways to Do Things
Having been made redundant many years ago, I feel that the way we do it in the good ol' US of A is not the best. I was talking with a well (in Arkansas, anyway) known political writer a few nights ago, and he mentioned that there are some countries that take a much more humane approach to a down turning economy. Instead of laying someone off, everyone takes a cut in salary. That way, no one goes on the dole. People can still make the major payments. They retain their pride and jobs. When conditions get better, their pay goes up. I think Simon is bothered because deep down inside, he is a very good person. Maybe someone could suggest a better alternative. How much is he making anyway?
Portia
Portia
Is it better?
It happens right here, in the USA. My company did an across the board 5% pay cut (except in those countries where laws said they couldn't). They claimed it saved almost 2,000 jobs.
In many ways, it seems better. However, a 5% cut hurts those at the bottom of the stack more than those at the top (No - not in total $ cut, but in the ability to make ends meet at the bottom. Those that were close before the cut, had real trouble for the year.)
There's NO simple/easy answer.
Anne
cathy, is getting sacked!!
S
Funny....
My thought exactly as the assistant was explaining the situation. Oh well, she really doesn't need the money and she is married to the boss. Beside, I think Cathy works for the board, not an individual. I can just see it - complain to Henry that Simon fired her.,.
You're amazing
What with being the de-facto host of GabyCon (or so I read), you managed to keep up with our fix too. Thank you!
Now, as to Simon & Cathy talking - about important things that are stressing them. It's far easier said/suggested than done. No matter how loving a couple - it can be tough sharing stress. If you've not been in the situation, it's hard to explain. If you have, you probably know what I'm talking about.
But, the simple way to put it is both try to keep the cause of the stress to them selves, so as to not burden their partner/spouse (Doesn't always work, as is seen in the story). Not all of us (can we say not many of us?) have the option to ask "around" our partners to discover they're stressed.
Interesting joking with Trish, early on. She's usually more "with" it...
Thanks,
Anne
Decruit
A term for dismissing someone from employment. It almost
sounds like they are doing you a favor and your part of the
process that makes the business more profitable. It must be
hell if your human to have to let someone go when you know
the effect is marginal on the balance sheet but it will turn
the person decruited upside down financially. Simon has reason
to be in state of conflict especially if it is a friend he has
to let go.
It would be good...
...if Cathy and Simon were able to improve the way that they communicate with one another.
Thanks A+B+I (nearly cooked breakfast, plus lunch). I really appreciate the way you've managed to feed our collective habits, despite being heavily involved otherwise.
Personal Sharing
Bike Resources
Bike Resources
Redundancies
Always a painful duty for those who are human and humane though some others might enjoy it. I suspect that these latter creatures are often the ones who climb the corporate pyramid by sticking their knives into their colleagues unsuspecting backs then using the knives as pitons. Though in Simon's case I suspect the knives or swords or skein-dhus or claymores were used generations ago.
I mean four billion in profits!! and they still have to sack a few small salaries, that's psycopathy or is it sociopathy or is it simply good ol'e corporate greed.
Billions of pounds, redundancies and so on, - something of an 'everyday' chapter for Cathy but still a good read,
Still loving it Angie.
OXOXOX
Beverly.
Growing old disgracefully.
So Cathy is going
to try and avoid putting pressure on Simon, Hopefully she will succeed, But Simon is like most men, In that his problems are not shared....If he could somehow open up, He might find life is a lot more enjoyable...
Kirri
Simon is only human
He is very good at his job, and he cares about people. He loves his family. All in all, not bad recommendations for someone.
Nice to see a Corporate
Nice to see a Corporate Banker with a heart. Simon is upset because he has to decide who to lay off, a long time friend,or a younger, more valuable, person.
It's killing him, and affecting his behaviour at home.
Cefin