by Kristie Theobald

Created on: June 17, 2009

MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION!

Today, I ponder my position and existence in this place known as work. I'm a receptionist at a reputable cooling tower company in western Sydney. Yet there are some days when I seriously wonder if I have joined the circus - a circus whose act just happens to be housed in a factory instead of a big top.

It all began last week. My boss sent me an email.

"Mr John Smith from ABC Company USA will be coming to visit. Can you please make sure we have enough coffee, and maybe find out what the good stuff is. Please let me know how many cups and saucers we have as I may need to buy some more. Please tidy reception and make sure the back filing rooms are tidy as he will be looking around and we want to make a good impression. Oh, and can you please ask the factory guys to take down the front screen door and store it somewhere."

The last part of the email had me chuckling. Take down the front screen door? Yes, it was a pretty crappy screen door - it had holes in the mesh. But it was old. Why not just replace the mesh on the door? But that cost too much money apparently. Standard mesh in a standard door. My dad, an experienced blinds and screens fitter, said he would be able to fix it for around 30 to 50 bucks.

But at the end of the day, it was a DOOR. Where did they think they wanted this guy to think he was visiting - Buckingham Palace? Finest crockery, the dodgy door disappearing, man, who WAS this bloke exactly - the President?

I didn't think it was that important. But on the Friday before the visitor was due to come my boss came into my office.

"Kristie, that door needs to come down today," she said urgently. "The cleaners are coming tonight to clean the front glass door and I want the screen door down before then."

We're in a financial crisis but it doesn't matter - as long as the VIP from the US doesn't see the holey screen door.

I went downstairs to the factory and informed the guys about what my boss wanted to happen with the door.

"She wants it taken down and stored somewhere until this guy from America goes home," I said bluntly.

I was greeted with a dozen or so blank stares. Then a burst of helpless laughter.

"WHAT!?"

"You gotta be f*kin' kidding!"

"What's wrong with just getting a new door or replacing the mesh?"

They echoed my sentiments exactly.

"Hey Kristie, I'll see if Scott can do it before he goes home, but he's flat out - he's loading a truck so it mightn't get done," the stores leading hand informed me.

"No

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