‘Welcome to the EMIRATES Spinnaker Tower, as I legally have to call it.’
‘It was going to be opened in 2000 and be named the Millennium Tower, but due to political ineptitude, it didn’t open until 2005, so was renamed ‘Spinnaker’, a type of sail.’
‘The tower sits on Gunwharf Quay. In the 18th-century it was an ordnance yard, supplying the Navy with armaments. Now it supplies Portsmouth residents with over-priced consumer goods and refreshments.’
‘From here you can see the English Channel, which separates us from those godawful Europeans, whom we are apparently far superior to.’
‘Enjoy your visit.’
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Unlike Bob’s cynical tour, Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth is an impressive structure and well worth a visit – Wikipedia.
Iain Kelly 
102 responses to “BOB’S LAST DAY AT WORK”
I love this tower, the incompetence surrounding it was incredible.
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A definite trend among a lot of these big structures – years of planning and political incompetence, but somehow they get there in the end – see The O2 Arena / Millennium Dome as another prime example. At least this one was worth waiting for 🙂
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Yes that was another one. I think it was more a sign of the times. But they really couldn’t organise stuff back then.
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I posted it 🙂
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oops… sorry wrong person lol
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A little bit of politics this week, Iain?
‘political ineptitude’ and Brexit are synonyms, I think.
Nice one.
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Brexit is the latest phase. I wonder if there ever has been, or ever will be, a time when politics wasn’t/isn’t dominated by ineptitude?
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Bob certainly didn’t hold back! What a way to go!
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I do like to imagine when I reach my retirement day, I might go round and tell some colleagues some truths before I go!
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Ha! I imagine I’d be very similar on my last day. “Welcome, get out.”
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It is a fantasy for sure, I look forward to the day 🙂
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LOL!! I was thinking when I read the title that maybe it was his last day because of getting murdered. Must still have your last post in mind of the hand waving bye! 🙂
Glad he is still alive and obviously he is not shy about speaking his true feelings. 🙂
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Thank you – managed to steer away from any bodies in this one 😉
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lol. If he wasn’t planning for it to be his last day, he certainly made sure it was.
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Going out in style 🙂
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Ha ha, loved the tone of this piece
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Thank you 😉
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Dear Iain,
The title pretty much says it all. Love the snarky tone of it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, I feel I can do ‘snarky tone’ quite well, not necessarily in writing 😉
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You are still little worked up over Brexit and ‘ineptitude’ seems apt here. Lovely story, Kelly.
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Thanks Neel – Be prepared, Brexit and the fallout is going to last at least another couple of years – I’ll try to not write about it in every story!! 🙂
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Way to go, Bob. Just hope the pension is fully proofed.
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They wouldn’t take it off him, would they?…
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I enjoyed this, Iain. You let Bob have a pop at everything, don’t you?!
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I think he may have been holding it inside for awhile, letting it build up!
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So many millenium projects weren’t ready, but we love them in the end. It was probably the same with Stonehenge…
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Ha, I can just imagine 🙂
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Ha! 😀
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🙂
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A little delay is not bad. It came up eventually and offers a grand view. Nice story. A little sarcastic.
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Bob is a very sarcastic man.
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I like Bob. Going out with a bang! (And not a jump as I feared!)
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No, he would only have jumped if they had told him he had to keep working there for another ten years before he could retire! 🙂
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Exackery!!
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It’s rantier than mine, but who doesn’t enjoy a good rant. Speaking of which … that bloody Theresa May! Don’t get me started. And the wee orange bampot in the White House. Nuff said
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In other stories for other prompts I realise I have been going on about politics far too much. I need to find a different topic to take my mind off it all!
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All life is political
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For some reason that fact makes me despair.
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Does all politics is life create more hope?
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You must know some different politicians to the ones I see on the news everyday 🙂
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Oh them. They’re life too, but just not as we know it, Captain
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I’m glad some of you knew what this was. It looked like a sail, but I didn’t have any clue, even after I googled the picture 🙂
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It was designed to look like a sail, so at least you spotted that 🙂
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Ouch! I wonder how many people actually see through their intention to get something like this off their chests on their last day. Strangely, the photo reminded me of a visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, when we were looked after by the best guide I’ve ever met at any attraction. I can’t imagine him doing a Bob.
I enjoyed your take on the prompt Iain.
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I should add a disclaimer *other tour guides are available* 😉
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“Overpriced consumer goods and refreshments”… We have quite a few such towers here in the Middle East.
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All these towers, what will they keep filling them with?
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They’re money making machines
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LOL I love Bob! Now if you could turn up the snark a few degrees he would start to sound like some people I know. 😲 Great story Iain.
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I think everyone has this snarky side – we just don’t say it out loud! 🙂
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I’ve always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory like Bob. My theater group used to brain storm, on a long drive to a gig, what we’d like to do at our very last ever performance. Not for the faint of heart. 🙂 This made me think of those times, and laugh at Bob’s chutzpah!
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Thank you, sounds like a great idea – I can just imagine some of the responses, or maybe not! Glad it brought back happy memories 🙂
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Bob won’t lie on his last day at work, would he?
He can finally let it all out without having to worry about the repercussions.
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Exactly! Thank you 🙂
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just telling it like it is on his last day at work. well, he’s entitled to it. 🙂
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…although the management may not be too pleased 🙂
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I am wondering if he said all this(the truth) because it was his last day, or it became his last day when he said all this 🙂
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It could work either way round – but I think Bob knew what he was doing either way.
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hahaha – that is funny that wiki said:
Unlike Bob’s cynical tour, Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth is an impressive structure and well worth a visit
and really clever way to expound on that for your fiction
– still laughing.
and we took a boat tour in June and the host on the loudspeaker was bias and opinionated and it is really funny when this happens.
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Thank you – I think it is always more entertaining and enlightening when you cut through the corporate speak and just be honest about these things 🙂
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Yes – honest and no head games
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I don’t think Bob’s heart is really in it 🙂
I would have set my story in Portsmouth if I’d recognised the structure. Why is almost everything in this country sponsored by Emirates? I don’t even know what “Emirates” is…
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I know – we have an Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Manchester has the Emirates Stadium, Emirates Tower… Who are these Emirates? They didn’t build any of these things!
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I bet they’ve got a ton of money though…
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As you say, somehow they get there in the end but what amazing incompetence. Maybe those involved shouldn’t start off thinking they are all-powerful. A bit of humble in the pie would be welcome. But Bob, oh I love Bob. Who wouldn’t want to let loose like that on the last day. Go Bob!
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I would want to have Bob as my tour guide for sure! 🙂
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Last day of work freed Bob’s tongue to speak his mind. I’ve had those moments when I ached to just say what I thought!! I could feel Bob’s angst, maybe he was fired so he thought, “Why not?” Well-written as always!
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Thanks Brenda. I would love to be in that position too, where I could just say ‘why not?’!
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Iain, it’s interesting how different ones of us see something different in the photo and what that’s about. I decided to focus more on the stairs and only noticed the sail shape after reading a few of the responses. Bit concerned about Bob’s mindset. Sounds like the type who’d go abroad and complain about the foreigners.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Haha, very possibly, but I think he would complain with a knowing wink and smile 🙂
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Bob is a builder, surely he can fix it? Every once in a while everyone needs a good rant 😉
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Ha, you have no idea how much Bob The builder is watched in my household. I’m a big fan 🙂
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I’ve done my share of watching 😉
In a way I miss those days, they are precious.
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I love the sarcasm in the tour guide’s voice. Let’s hope no butt cracks were exposed in the building of this tower.
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Perhaps Bob’s very final act will be to deliver his own eyeful.
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This is really well-written, Iain! With a bit of attitude and sarcasm yet also quite likable. Love this!
Blessings to you 🙂 and very interesting post.
Debbie
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Thank you so much Debbie, so glad you enjoyed 🙂
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I like the tone of your story, a sort of world weariness, some cynicism perhaps about how things are. Do the Emirates own the Spinnaker ? Bet Bob is counting the minutes til he leaves. Topical stuff Iain- well done
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Imagine what you can do on your last day at work… I need to make plans.
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I’ve been storing up plans for years, but I still have so long to wait!
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Brilliant, a bored cynical tour guide, there must be plenty out there!!
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I think more should speak their mind! 🙂
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Absolutely, I met a bloke who did gin tours of his distillery the other week, he was bladdered and was telling me I should have gone with him to see it there and then! Would have been fun I think!
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Nice touch, a guide with attitude.
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Thanks James
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Before I begin my comment, I wanted to give you 5 stars for having so many comments. It is a testament to your writing. Your descriptive account presented in such an enjoyable way. I felt like I had taken a tour of a historical place. Wonderful 👍
Isadora 😎
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Thank you so much. Getting lots of comments and feedback makes it worthwhile coming up with these stories each week 🙂
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Good writing will do that … 😎
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Sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm – but how I love it! Also I am a sucker for historical facts.
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Thank you Anshu, glad you liked it 🙂
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Love Bob! Great job.
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Thank you Lisa, Bob seems to be quite popular 🙂
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Nice bit of history I wasn’t aware of
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Thanks Michael
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What a grump!
You’ve portrayed him well.
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But a lovable one! Thanks Dawn.
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I would’ve liked to be there to hear Bob’s rant… it would certainly have been a memorable experience. Topical and humourous take on the prompt.
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Thank you 🙂
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I think I’d have enjoyed Bob’s tour, if only for the cyclical humour. Enjoyed the history behind it too. And well done for touching on a very hot topic in such a satirical way.
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Thank you Fatima 🙂
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Ha! Go, Bob! Now I understand why it’s his last day of work. Very scathing and well done, Iain!
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Thank you Sascha
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