Tiring

After listening to her complaining last week that she didn't want anyone staying late on her press day, I was not surprised to find myself staying late today because the Editor hadn't got her shit together. It is possible, going by what my designer said, that she only wrote her Editor's Letter today, at about 5pm.

This, and she kept telling the copy controller she was "busy" when he chased her for the features.

The Group Editor-in-Chief tried to placate us with bribes of Norwegian fruit and nut chocolate (which was nice), but it was still rather galling to have to wait for three pieces of editorial long after the ads had finished, and more than half an hour after the last feature finally made it into my hands.

After that, I had to stay even later to discuss with the new designer on my team how unacceptable it is to decide, first thing on a Monday morning, with no notification other than a text message, to go to the doctor. Of course he thinks he has a valid reason - back pain which comes and goes and, having been OK toward the end of last week, suddenly became 'agony' last night.

Some people just don't understand their responsibilities.

He also - somewhat laughably, considering the monkeys we work with - believes he is singled out and picked on. He genuinely believes this, despite the fact that every other monkey in Production has exactly the same complaint. Somehow, like the rest of those blind, insular halfwits, he never sees other people being dragged off for little meetings. I'd like to think it's because he's intent on his work... but it's more likely that the meetings I have are either over before he drags himself into the office, or start after he's left at bang on 5.30pm.

It's frustrating and tiring dealing with so many people who think they're victims.

Hell, being a manager is frustrating and tiring... Not to mention thankless.