Yesterday Andrea informed me I had a meeting scheduled with her today 10:15am-10:45am, a Q&A meeting thing. I had a little feeling inside it may not be as simple as that as usually it is Gillian the QA lady who would give people feedback on their calls. So 10:15am came, I came off my call and sat next to Andrea, put on a headset and watched the screen capture.

Things got a bit awkward when I saw eBay website during the call. Oh my gosh - Wednesday morning, few minutes after 8am, my first call, and all got captured! How I searched for info from customer's VIN number, how I took up eBay website whilst waiting for customer to tell me VIN etc. Oh dear! Only the week before did I sign an 'agreement' saying I will not use the internet during work - only at breaks and lunch. *gulp!* Luckily, Andrea said I will not need to attend a hearing about this, as it's my first offense and Andrea is not going to pursue it further. I apologised and I have learnt a valuable lesson.

Sorry God, sorry Andrea!

There is justice! God is just! =)

Tuesday 13th December I used Buy It Now to purchase 40 Mach 3 Turbo blades from an eBay member for £36.97 and paid instantly through Paypal. Two days later 15th Dec I got email fom seller advising her suppliers had been delaying the stock and next available delivery date would be 21st Dec. I had a choice of sticking with order, to be delivered 21st, or a full refund. I chose full refund and asked for confirmation. 19th Dec still not heard from seller so emailed to ask for update - still nothing.

28th Dec still no sign, so emailed seller asking to settle the case amicably or I shall report to eBay if no notice within five working days.

4th January, five working days were up - I reported situation to Paypal. They looked into the case and attempted contacting seller on by behalf. Gave seller till 14th Jan to respond. No response from seller by 14th and she was asked to supply proof of mailing out product to me.

Yesterday, 17th January, I came home from work and found a white jiffy bag sent to me by recorded delivery. I picked it up and saw it was opened at the corner of the seal. Inside it was empty! Cat signed for it easlier in the morning. So, puzzled I was, I checked for parcel status on Royalmail website and it said package held - strange. Called customer services who gave me number of nearest holding office to call this morning.

I called during this morning work teabreak. Was advised packed delivered and signed for yesterday. Must be that envelope!!! I advised envelope was opened and I wanna complain. Girl advised it was signed for in that condition, cannot do anything =(

Called home to tell mum, also felt lousy, like I was conned my money. Work got busy, not much chance go online. Came home and checked email after dinner and saw Paypal ruled the case in my favour. I was refunded £36.97, what I originally paid the seller. I am so happy. Just wanna praise God - thank Him for His justice. I think after five working days I'll buy blades from a better seller. =)

A second thing to give thanks for in two days. Work was very quiet today compared to the rest of the week. Our team was rota'd on 09:30am-6pm.

It was so quiet all the teams had their callbacks completed and they started drawing names out of hats to send people home early.

This began at 2pm, then another at 2:30pm, 3pm and 4pm. By 4pm Greg was already moaning that he wanted to go home early. There were four people in the 9:30am-6pm 'hat'. At 4pm Greg got chosen, and so did I! We were really pleased that we got let away two hours early on last day of work. =)

I felt so 'lucky' if that is the right word, but ultimately I know it is God's gift.

I came home, did devotions, then went to church centre to watch Fast and Furious with Ah Tung =)

I want to praise and thank my Heavenly Father today. Wow! So amazing!

Last week and this week at work they have Christmas prize draws for people who have met certain targets. For CRC agents we had to do ten courtesy calls to customers and catch them in. Up to last Friday I had nine done with the one let being a customer who finishes work around 5pm but cos we finished 4:30pm last week Andrea couldn't get him.

I reminded Andrea to call customer on Tuesday which she did and my name was entered into the draw from yesterday onwards. Pauline from my team won the Samsung dvd sound system and a bottle of Moet =)

The draw took place 3:10pm today. I just treated it like every other day, every other draw. I just sat at my desk, typing away, getting on with my cases. Gary Irvine, Operations Manager, accounced he was going to pick a name out of the hat. Some people were watching, but I wasn't paying much attention, until I heard it was someone from Andrea and Alan's team - that's my team! So I listened a bit more, thinking what if he called my name? Yeah right, as if that'll happen! Then Gary said, "The winner is... Gordon So." Wow! Amazing! Me!! =) I stood up and walked towards the group of people at the draw.

Gary picked out another piece of paper and told me I won the mountain bike! Oh my gosh! Could not believe it! People clapped and I got a little red-faced. Gary said I could pick up the bike today, tomorrow or even next year! Haha! Also got a bottle of Moet.

I sat back down, full of smiles, prayed to God to give thanks for nice surprise then texted a few folks to inform them of the good news. =)

Later I arranged to take bike to Aaron's and Alethea's house for a few hours of safekeeping before I picked it up by car.

I thank God for the lovely Christmas presents He has given me this year. Mum can have the champagne. Hehe!

Praise God, I passed my three months probation from work today.

My stats targets were all met, and despite receiving only two survey returns, each at 10 and 100%, I was accepted to pass my probation. Alan and Andrea also explained that even if I did get a third survey return, at score 1, my average would be 21 divided by three, which would result in a 7 and I would pass anyway.

So now I can close my own cases, authorise my own goodwill and qualify for Ford privilege scheme; up to 30% off brand new Fords.

An amazing night tonight!!!

Tonight El and I discussed about her coming to attend the Student Welcome on 30th Sept and staying the evening. We didn't think anything would happen: that El would ask, that her mum would say it's ok to go. But guess what? It happened!!!

During the phone call I sought advice from mum about what we should do etc. Mum advised to pray before doing anything, before asking. Mum prayed for El and her mum came home so El could ask her. El was nervous and so was I, but she asked anyway.

She explained that it was a church student welcome happening on Friday 30th Sept in Glasgow and she'd like to go - and it would involve her staying over. Her mum just said it was ok as long as El didn't have to work. Whoo-hoo! Amazing Grace!! God has softened El's mum's heart and she said it was ok for her to stay in Glasgow! So mum and I prayed straight away to give thanks to our gracious Heavenly Father.

The only issues we have left now are: what time El finishes uni on the Friday? What time I finish work on the Friday? Will I have time to pick Jessie up? Will Ellen enjoy herself? Will Cat be ok about any 'noise' we might make when we get home? Will El be allowed to come down to Glasgow for Christmas and/ or New Year?

N.B. (HoLam and Diana's wedding on Sat 24th Sept 05, El came down and return on the same day and I went up to Aberdeen with her.)

Just realised as I was praying before sleeping that I haven't had one day of absence since I worked at Capital BBC Information. Although I have been late for work a few times, even called up to find out if I was absent, which were not my fault, I have had 100% attendance and I thank God for the good health.

There are/ were time when the symptoms of a cold or illness would appear. But thank God, after Beechams, water and prayer, my symptoms were not allowed to develop. =)

Let's hope the same could happen with this new job =)