The Monkey on Drugs (Part 1)

So here's another effect of joining IBM: I'm now addicted to coffee and Milo (cocoa drink).

Basically, the company (I won't mention the name but it consists of the letters V, a, l, e, n , t - haha!) used to have a well-stocked pantry: food to fuel us through our 14-18 hour workdays.

Especially good was the wide selection of biscuits. We had the usual assorted biscuits, the 'healthful' Jacobs biscuits and the occasional rich tea. Some newcomers were amazed at our selection of biscuits. I remember one of them 'hugging' the peanut butter cookies, polishing off all of them straight from the jar!

Now, the amazing breakfast selection. They gave us bread; and things to go with it: cheese, butter, margarine, jams, peanut butter, kaya! We had cereals - cornflakes, oats, Nestum. We didn't have fresh milk but the UHT milk from the box was good enough. Ah, there was this dude who poured himself a full glass to go with his toasted cheese sandwich every morning (yes..you know who you are Eric!).

Oh, those wonderful times of plenty!

Well along came Big Blue and with it the winds of famine.

In one fell swoop, gone was it all, replaced by a monster machine that dispensed instant beverages in tiny cups.

Initial reaction: 'Okay..let's not panic. At least it's free flow'. Ah, famous last words!

(to be continued)