Page 100 - A Life - my Live - my path

Computerization of the cyclotron

This story came to an end almost at the same time as I
graduated from ULB with a degree in Business Informatics
and Human Sciences.
Anecdote: two watches
One day, the managing director calls me and asks me to
come with my boss to his office. I explain that he's at the
Fleurus Rotary Club luncheon, as he is every Friday,
representing the company. He tells me to pick him up and
report to his office at 2pm. The restaurant was 5 minutes
from the IRE. At around 1.40pm, I left to pick up my boss,
and when I arrived at the restaurant and explained why I'd
come, he said: " Sit down and have a coffee." I pointed out
that it's almost 2:00 p.m., but he insisted, so I had a coffee.
We arrived at the managing director's office at 2.04pm,

and as soon as we entered, he pointed out in a rather curt
tone, "You're late." My boss immediately explained: "It's
not his fault, I'm the one who held him up". He replied to
my boss: "You can arrive whenever you like. I told him
2.00 p.m. and he was supposed to be here at 2.00 p.m.".
A few months later, the President of an African country
was visiting Belgium, and on his itinerary was a tour of the
IRE, including a visit to the cyclotron. As my boss was on
vacation, I received a note with the details and an
invitation to a meeting to prepare for the visit. I go to the
meeting with about fifteen other people. The managing
director explains each person's role, and when he gets to
me, he says: "I’m expecting you at 2.00 p.m. at the front
door of the building, and you'd better have 2 watches".
Magnificent!

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