OK. It's rant time.

So, I work in a building that was built in the 1930s for the purpose of building and sorting armaments for WW2. I think that's how the story goes anyway. It's old, cold, run down, rotting, leaking and generally unworthy of such important government employees as myself.

Until I started last June, there had been no women working in the building for some time (maybe a year or two). And before then, I think there had only been one (the woman whose position I have now). A couple of months after I started, two other women who are part of our team moved to this building too. They have the sunny side, but that's beside the point. We also have random female visitors who use the toilet too - clients, auditors, summer students etc.

So, needless to say, that after a while being neglected or maybe just ignored, the women's toilets now are used. They're old, but they're functional. When I started I noticed there was no sanitary bin... that's fine, I can deal with that, I'll just be unconservative with my use of handy towels wrapping things up so I can put them in the lined rubbish bin that the cleaners remove.

The first hassle I tried to overcome was male cleaners. Would be fine if they were around before or after work started, but they work in the morning, about 8 til lunch I'm guessing. So there were incidences where male cleaners would come in, knock on doors which were clearly occupied (can you not see that it's locked?!) and expect you to answer, yes, while you were * conducting your business *. On at least one occasion a male cleaner was observed actually looking under the stall door to see if anyone was in there. I have nothing against cleaners, or men, or men cleaners (that came out wrong) but COME ON! Does this not seem wrong to anyone else? I am aware that I am being probably slightly overly politically correct here, but it just made me feel uncomfortable.

Anyway, the result was that the cleaners would knock at the outside door first (unfortunately of course they still need an answer). And if there was noone there, they would put up a "Cleaning in Progress" sign so you know they're in there. OK, I can deal with that.

Recently I found something not very nice stuck in the throat of the toilet, which someone had tried to flush - I'm sure you can all figure out what I mean here. Who are these people? Anyway... after a bit of kafuffle I organised with the site maintenance guys that there be a sanitary bin put in there. So now we have one. Just one though, for 3 stalls.

So, today, I went for the regular little walk down the corridor to go to our female toilets. A toilet is flushing. And who comes out? A f***ing great tradesman. I just don't know what to write to explain myself here. Who do they think they are? Do they just presume that there are no women working here? Have they not figured out that there are male toilets in the building also, or are they too dumb to ask? Again, I have nothing against tradesmen in general, just people who are inconsiderate. And to be honest, I can imagine that your stereotypical tradesman is probably not the * tidiest * of men.

Ahh, rants make me feel a little better. Unfortunately, I still need to visit a bathroom. Perhaps one in the adjacent building from now on.

On a side note, during another, happier visit to the toilet this morning I had to laugh out loud when I discovered a cactus in the second basin. Yes, a cactus. And no, I don't know.