A Surprise Visit!

Our official office launch is not until 22nd November 2010.

Somehow this morning....somebody got up, went to the office and as her hundred and one assistants and minions were going thru her schedules for the day, she was informed that she will have to be present for some official do at the Mandarin Oriental. Then someone mentioned that the Bureau (the Ministry's latest offspring) is located in that vicinity too and she thought...... hhmmmm....it'll be good to see what these people at the Bureau are doing....

And so...she announced "let's stop over there and see what the kids at the bureau are doing..."

And so, the PA called the Director Generals's Office who later picked up the phone to call the Bureau's CEO, who in turn, picked up his phone and called his Corporate Communication Manager, who..... once was informed of such visit....ran out of her room and screamed "OMG! MINISTER COMING! MINISTER COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Once that announcement was made ....you can imagine the chaos and furore over what an one hour visit caused:

The GM and Corporate Communication Mgr started getting all the managers to update on the latest figures and statistics;

The CEO feigned asthma attack and left all the work to the Senior Managers. He only showed-up refreshed and fully rested half hour before the VIPs and VVIP arrived;

Somebody went and informed the building management to allocate a VVIP parking area and to block a lift during the Arrivals and Departure times. Luckily this office management is used to similar VVIPs visits and knew the drill and protocol already;

The Cleaning Lady polished and repolished the still new gleaming office main door, reception area and board room;

The Receptionist started tidying the Reception area;

The Admin and Finance Manager checked and checked the company account, tidied his books (just in case he gets asked which, to his dissapointment... he did not get asked at all);

The Sales Managers started to study and update themselves with their current projects and latest figures (yeah, just in case they got caught and questioned too...but to thier delight, they were not);

The Cleaning Lady after completing her 'pimp the office' tasks was ordered to go out and buy Ovaltine and Air Kelapa Muda because said VVIP favours these drinks only; Ovaltine???? yeah, ovaltine...not milo.

The Trade Industry Manager started calling nearby hotels, requesting which hotel can deliver some cakes and sandwiches within that short time period for this important visit. None of the hotels wanted to take up that challenge, citing 'not enough time' as excuse. Stupid hotels, they will be blacklisted, mark my word!

Finally the Convention Centre, closest colleague and ally came to the rescue. They  said 'not as problem, we luvvv to help you!' and they delivered perfectly beautiful and tasty afternoon tea spread. Unfortunately, none of the guests touched the food that took up nearly 20 phones calls to make before one materialised but fortunately, all the staffs devoured within 10 minutes after all their guests left;

All other staffs were asked to tidy up their cubicles and work area;

All staffs were ordered to wear suit or coat - Male staffs were ordered to put on their ties, Female staffs were ordered to tidy up their hair, slap on some make-up, if anybody need to go back home to get their jacket or coat, they are allowed to do so.

All in all, it was a very exciting day for all. We learnt first hand what kind of protocols involved when your highest HOD (Head of Department) decides to grace his/her presence in your little domain of an office and the kind and size of the entourage that came with it.

With all the excitements, nobody did any real work at all...