We used to have two Development Departments but merged them together. The original one was for what we then called “Legacy” software since it was our older product, and emphasis was moving over to our new flagship product which I was working on. The “Legacy” Testers seemed a much older group, and even the younger ones were less technical, yet maybe more socially quirky than our group.

We also noticed different behaviors and preferences. They seemed to have much more stationary so didn’t just have a small notebook and a single pen like we did, but would have a more impressive collection of post-it notes, hole puncher, stapler, and assortment of coloured pens or highlighters. They would often want an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, with a fancy chair. They seemed to love using the printer as well.

No idea if their work actually called for any of these items, because our job certainly didn’t require it.

There’s that meme template “X starter pack” so a colleague liked making ones for the likes of the Legacy Testers. So he included an ergonomic keyboard, fancy chair, excessive amount of stationary and stack of printed paper.

He made a different one which I think had walking boots, wrist support, a programming book used as a monitor stand, and Lego.

With our group, there was a subgroup that loved multiplayer computer gaming, and loved Marvel merchandise, often having figures like Funko Pops or even Lego on their desk; so maybe they were the most alike.

“when there’s a lack of people in the office, it’s either because there’s a new game out, or it’s the Testing Conference”

One thing that I miss about office working is the emergent stories you get from people interacting with people. It can be fairly innocuous scenarios that escalate or become inside-jokes. A classic example is when the cleaner Pauline wasn’t allowed to let us use her towels in the kitchen anymore. One day, a colleague emails to declare that Pauline was taking home the towels for the final time.

Pauline used to take home and wash all the tea towels, but after some office politics with her employers she doesn't do it anymore, hence no more tea towels.

Cheers, 
Isobel Johnson

Nick has offered to buy tea-towels for the kitchens if we volunteer to take them home at the weekend to wash them (there are no facilities to wash them here).
 
I don’t mind doing this once a month (for the upstairs kitchen I use). If you currently use the paper towel and prefer to use tea towels and don’t mind washing them now and again then let me know. (Or if you use the downstairs kitchen and want tea towels and are happy to wash them, also let me know.)
 
Cheers, 
Isobel Johnson

I’ve bought some fresh new tea towels for the upstairs kitchen.
 
Please consider others who might want to use them. Please don’t use them to dry your hands or wipe coffee stains from the inside of your mug. There are blue paper towels for that stuff.
 
Cheers, 
Isobel Johnson

One of the tea-towels is missing from the upstairs kitchen. Please can you return it if you have it so that I can take them both home to wash.

Cheers, 
Isobel Johnson

There are fresh clean tea towels in the upstairs kitchen – I’ve replaced the missing one. 
I’ve bought these and wash them weekly so please look after them.
 
Thanks! 
Isobel Johnson

So a thing that you take for granted; having a tea towel in the kitchen – has lots of “office politics” and requires organisation. Isobel initially managed to get the development manager to buy the replacement towels, but soon became stained then one went missing. Absolute disrespect for those towels.