Red Tape

One fine day I did a little favour for Desmond*, by helping him contact an old friend, Edgar. Edgar and I were once course mates back in a good old training institute with a department named W. All that Desmond needed was a TSR file (found only in department W) for a safety seminar he was to conduct later during the week. So I called Edgar for help.

Edgar was as helpful as ever. But unfortunately, he was away when I called, so he directed me to call department W. I did just that, and Henry answered the phone (Henry was once one of my instructors during an overseas attachment). However, even his senority couldn't help. And once again, I got diverted to call another person, Perry, who was the department's in-charge of all sai-kang and TSR files. Perry immediately gave his approval, but stopped short of sending the file over to us, saying that his boss, Lee, needed to first receive an official email, before giving the "black and white" approval. And the problem was that Desmond himself had to personally go all the way to department W to collect the file.

I relayed the situation back to Desmond, who then tried sending an "official" email over to Lee. Sadly, Lee wasn't very nice about it, and requested that someone of a higher rank send the official request, since the file contained some sensitive information. Faced with such adversity, Desmond could only refer the matter to higher authority, namely our boss, Jeremy. As of now, I can only pray that this seemingly simple yet complicated matter has been resolved. Aimicably.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

Sounds like a scene from Just Follow Law? Nope, it's happening right here man. Right here. So much red tape.

Anyway, my ATP's tomorrow. It'd be nice to attain the level of marksman proficiency. More importantly, do pray that I manage to pass in the first place, and for safety. Not nice to have accidents in front of cadets you know.