When I was posted at the Embassy in London, I was the most junior officer there with at least four Career Ministers, a Chief of Mission and an Ambassador all ranked above me. The running joke then was that I was perpetually scheming to carry out some King Ralph-type scenario that would propel me to be Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy for one day -- whereupon I would immediately retire so that I could claim a pension at the Head of Post salary-grade.
(As laughable and ludicrous as that sounds, I actually came close one year: one holiday season, the Ambassador post was vacant and most of the officers senior to me were either away on official travel or on leave. There was only one Career Minister left behind, and I kept on hinting "ang lamig lamig naman dito, sarap siguro mag-bakasyon sa Pilipinas". The CarMin actually did go on leave....but only the day after the next most senior officer returned to London and assumed the Chargé position. So close.)
Now, no such convoluted plans may be necessary here in Sydney because: there are far fewer officers assigned to the Consulate; our new Consul General has not been officially named yet; and the Acting Head of Post and Person I'm Numerically Replacing FerGer is completing his tour of duty and flying back to Manila today.
and, boy, will his arms be tired
Howevvverrrrrr.....
....batchmate ONE MAIN IDEAL is actually posted here at Sydney too and she arrived a whole year ahead of me which officially makes her more senior and thereby acting head of post which is fine because she's as nice and beloved as FerGer and there's a big summit coming to Sydney soon which will involve a lot of work and pressure and whatnot so we're gonna have to work together if we're gonna get through this ok bye
please direct any concerns in that direction
No comments:
Post a Comment