Stuff acquired from work
Discussion
vanordinaire said:
My former employer was getting the office heating system changed from kerosene to gas and we ran down the storage tanks to coincide with the changeover. Unfortunately without our knowledge, someone at our head office had changed the oil supply contract to one where the supplier automatically topped up the tanks whenever they got low.
Friday afternoon before the work was due to start on the Monday we discovered that the tanks had just been filled with 25000litres of heating oil. We contacted the supplier who offered to remove and 'dispose' of the 'now waste' oil for an exorbitant cost.
I offered to dispose of the oil free of charge, no questions asked, this was accepted and after frantically calling in a few favours, became the owner of about fifteen thousand pounds worth of fuel over the weekend. The job went ahead on Monday as planned, my boss was delighted, and I heated my house for free for the next 5 years.
Not the same scale, but nearly 40 years ago private diesel cars were very rare and although commercial vehicles had a chance of being pulled over to look for red diesel, cars were very unlikely to be tested. Our then neighbour had a diesel - Peugot, I think. The switchover to the new and plentiful (!now almost gone!) supply of N Sea natural gas had recently happened and the fuel oil:gas price ratio was unattractive so he changed to a gas central heating boiler. He must have inadvertently filled his heating oil tank just beforehand... anyway, he didn't have to go to the petrol station for ages...Friday afternoon before the work was due to start on the Monday we discovered that the tanks had just been filled with 25000litres of heating oil. We contacted the supplier who offered to remove and 'dispose' of the 'now waste' oil for an exorbitant cost.
I offered to dispose of the oil free of charge, no questions asked, this was accepted and after frantically calling in a few favours, became the owner of about fifteen thousand pounds worth of fuel over the weekend. The job went ahead on Monday as planned, my boss was delighted, and I heated my house for free for the next 5 years.
mel said:
DaveGoddard said:
mel said:
It's safe to repeat now as alas the "offender" is no longer with us (even though the bounty still is)
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
What's she called and is she still sailing? I'd be interested in seeing that.I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
probably not right as this one was built in 1974.
Back in the 90's-00's I used to work for a firm of management consultants in London. We had a really solid team - some of us would pull in big buck contracts and we had the consultants to do the work exceptionally well. All except our boss, who gradually become less and less involved in daily operations. Walk into his office and his laptop would have windows open with him speccing endless cars, luxury goods and office furniture schemes. We seemed to have a constant flow of decorators and contractors remodelling the office into the latest spec and design only months after the previous redesign. In fact our boss got annoyed if we interrupted him with THE DAY JOB and he asked us not to bother him.
Earlier on in the year we had a redesign and got a load of new Ligne Roset contract office furniture. The desks alone were the best part of £2,000 each. I was called in to be made aware of a forthcoming redesign and was asked to dispose of the furniture. So I asked if I could have it all. Once the new gear was installed I hired a Luton to remove nearly £75k of desks, shelving and sofas. I still have some of the stuff and most of it has been redistributed to friends and family.
Earlier on in the year we had a redesign and got a load of new Ligne Roset contract office furniture. The desks alone were the best part of £2,000 each. I was called in to be made aware of a forthcoming redesign and was asked to dispose of the furniture. So I asked if I could have it all. Once the new gear was installed I hired a Luton to remove nearly £75k of desks, shelving and sofas. I still have some of the stuff and most of it has been redistributed to friends and family.
A brilliant thread this, where there's a will there's a way.
It reminds me when I was an architect working in Dockland for my client on changing a new warehouse to suit his particular needs when the Fraud Squad turned up and interviewed me on when and how often I had met an agent who apparently worked for the landlord.
It turned out he was also working full time in a salaried position for the GLC ( disbanded 1986 so a while ago ), and it was noticed he was frquently disappearing' so people around him started asking questions.
I didn't hear the outcome but there was a time when Local Authority people and over-staffing could do this easily and I wasn't sorry that when money got tight, staffing numbers were scrutinised.
It reminds me when I was an architect working in Dockland for my client on changing a new warehouse to suit his particular needs when the Fraud Squad turned up and interviewed me on when and how often I had met an agent who apparently worked for the landlord.
It turned out he was also working full time in a salaried position for the GLC ( disbanded 1986 so a while ago ), and it was noticed he was frquently disappearing' so people around him started asking questions.
I didn't hear the outcome but there was a time when Local Authority people and over-staffing could do this easily and I wasn't sorry that when money got tight, staffing numbers were scrutinised.
Du1point8 said:
mel said:
DaveGoddard said:
mel said:
It's safe to repeat now as alas the "offender" is no longer with us (even though the bounty still is)
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
What's she called and is she still sailing? I'd be interested in seeing that.I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
probably not right as this one was built in 1974.
I worked at Lotus for 10 years from 83. Every year we used to get a big Bernard Mathews turkey for Christmas.
One year the nice fresh turkeys were replaced by frozen ones.
Most people thought it was an economy drive but apparently it was to stop some scrotes from stealing small car parts stuffed inside the turkeys.
One year the nice fresh turkeys were replaced by frozen ones.
Most people thought it was an economy drive but apparently it was to stop some scrotes from stealing small car parts stuffed inside the turkeys.
I'm not down with the whole stealing from your employer thing, but this has reminded me of something that happened to a friend about 10 years ago around Christmas.
I worked for a mobile phone retailer and one of the big networks was running an offer that when you sold a contract you got a go on a flash game they had, it was a racing game ala Micro Machines. The fastest time set would win you a price (top spec Mobile phone, I think it was a P800i)
Anyway one of the guys at another branch spotted that when you finished, the time was actually in the address bar, you could simply change the time and press enter and you got the time you entered.
Cue lots of adjusting of times to just be 1 second ahead of anyone else (as not to raise suspicion) and we all won new phones
I worked for a mobile phone retailer and one of the big networks was running an offer that when you sold a contract you got a go on a flash game they had, it was a racing game ala Micro Machines. The fastest time set would win you a price (top spec Mobile phone, I think it was a P800i)
Anyway one of the guys at another branch spotted that when you finished, the time was actually in the address bar, you could simply change the time and press enter and you got the time you entered.
Cue lots of adjusting of times to just be 1 second ahead of anyone else (as not to raise suspicion) and we all won new phones
wildcat45 said:
When Atlantic Conveyor sank in the Falklands war she was carrying a lot of vital kit, not least Chinook and Wessex helicopters.
Someone once told me that for years afterwards it was discovered all manner of equipment had been hastily packed into the ship prior to her sailing for the South Atlantic. Stuff that was lost included a marquee, a mobile disco and office furnishings. Oh and spare Land Rover parts. Lots of them.
I have it on good authority that, some time afterwards and after all the claims had come in, a memo from the top brass came out asking all units to review and revise their estimates of what they had lost on the Atlantic Conveyor because "at current estimates; she would have sunk without the aid of enemy action..." Or something along those lines.Someone once told me that for years afterwards it was discovered all manner of equipment had been hastily packed into the ship prior to her sailing for the South Atlantic. Stuff that was lost included a marquee, a mobile disco and office furnishings. Oh and spare Land Rover parts. Lots of them.
My younger brother used to work at a mobile phone shop part time whilst at Uni. He was allowed to take home the dummy display models when new colours and display updates came in anh he would give them to The Vikingettes to play with. A week or so later I was pushing the trolley in Tesco with The Vikingettes in the toddler seats to overhear an atonished remark: "Those two babies both have iPhones!!!!!" 
Vandenberg said:
When I contracted on a large Electronic Patient Record project, we shared a building with one of the big four consultancy firms, (think blue suited yanks) who basically made a dogs dinner of the project, and when they pulled out of the project, they abandoned the building never to be seen again.
A couple of days later my boss asked if I wanted to work late as he had a special mission, as soon as all the other staff were gone we set to work and
re-homed a whole bunch of office furniture, supplies and tech. Mainly Herman Miller desks and chairs and enough supplies to keep our office going for at least 3 years.
We both kept a desk and chair each which is still serving me well a number of years later.
Leeds Accenture office?A couple of days later my boss asked if I wanted to work late as he had a special mission, as soon as all the other staff were gone we set to work and
re-homed a whole bunch of office furniture, supplies and tech. Mainly Herman Miller desks and chairs and enough supplies to keep our office going for at least 3 years.
We both kept a desk and chair each which is still serving me well a number of years later.
Butter Face said:
I worked for a mobile phone retailer [...snip...]
I contracted as an IT developer for one of the big mobile operators from 1994 to 2000. I got for myself a very nice mobile number (they cost about a grand each) and an almost identical mirror image one for the OH, but I wasn't daft enough to do this through the CRM system, oh no, I actually logged on direct onto the actual system concerned and executed all the commands directly, so my number ports were effected direct. No audit trail. Still have the numbers now, and every time I give the number to someone they always say "ooh, that's a nice number".
Dog Star said:
I contracted as an IT developer for one of the big mobile operators from 1994 to 2000.
I got for myself a very nice mobile number (they cost about a grand each) and an almost identical mirror image one for the OH, but I wasn't daft enough to do this through the CRM system, oh no, I actually logged on direct onto the actual system concerned and executed all the commands directly, so my number ports were effected direct. No audit trail. Still have the numbers now, and every time I give the number to someone they always say "ooh, that's a nice number".
I get that too. My number is in the format 01123112311 and was bought by a former employer. When I left after 10 years they let me keep it. I got for myself a very nice mobile number (they cost about a grand each) and an almost identical mirror image one for the OH, but I wasn't daft enough to do this through the CRM system, oh no, I actually logged on direct onto the actual system concerned and executed all the commands directly, so my number ports were effected direct. No audit trail. Still have the numbers now, and every time I give the number to someone they always say "ooh, that's a nice number".
Justayellowbadge said:
Dog Star said:
I contracted as an IT developer for one of the big mobile operators from 1994 to 2000.
I got for myself a very nice mobile number (they cost about a grand each) and an almost identical mirror image one for the OH, but I wasn't daft enough to do this through the CRM system, oh no, I actually logged on direct onto the actual system concerned and executed all the commands directly, so my number ports were effected direct. No audit trail. Still have the numbers now, and every time I give the number to someone they always say "ooh, that's a nice number".
I get that too. My number is in the format 01123112311 and was bought by a former employer. When I left after 10 years they let me keep it. I got for myself a very nice mobile number (they cost about a grand each) and an almost identical mirror image one for the OH, but I wasn't daft enough to do this through the CRM system, oh no, I actually logged on direct onto the actual system concerned and executed all the commands directly, so my number ports were effected direct. No audit trail. Still have the numbers now, and every time I give the number to someone they always say "ooh, that's a nice number".
Justayellowbadge said:
I get that too. My number is in the format 01123112311 and was bought by a former employer. When I left after 10 years they let me keep it.
Mine is of the format 111222 and the OH's 111333. I also appropriated one for the boss (he's emigrated to Oz so I can actually quote it) which was 0410 000001 - that's actually harder to dial than you think because of all the zeros.
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