Festive season – from the trenches

I’ve always considered the time between Xmas and New Years to be the best time of the year. Silly season, at the beach, so relaxing! And yet, here I am at work. Bills to pay, leave balance to nurture. I have an office day before an evening supervising (= saving lives!) in theatre. I’m in an open plan office these days since being sidelined from scheduling a few months ago. My snug little office with window and  the freedom to play the music of my choice (within reason according to my office mates wishes) is but a distant memory. Whose idea was open plan offices? What a terrible way to torture your employees. I’m in a huge room with not a single window to the outside. It’s a ghost town at the moment but even with a couple of groups of my colleagues nattering away around their desks or in the tearoom, I’m struggling to maintain focus on the cricket. (What a fantastic game! Go NZ! I’m sorry I called you the Black Craps again yesterday but never again!)

The glorious and beautiful pot plant I was gifted on leaving my previous role is not looking any healthier. I’m concerned at my risk of catching Legionnaires disease. Also, I still have no chair. Have had to steal from absent colleagues (thanks guys! Will try not to spill my coffee on it.)

The worst part is my sister in law sending messages from the beach, complaining about how the new umbrella is spoiling her tanning plans, and is it too late for elevensies? I have worked out that the nickname “Gin Jordan” is not just for my husband.

I have been offered the job of editing our department newsletter, as Sheila is moving onto bigger and better things. (Congrats on 2IC, sisters are doing it for themselves! Woo hoo) She has told me confidentially that the provisional fellow who is the co-editor can be relied on to do all the work, but I’m still wary. I wonder what my chances are of getting a new office out of it?

….

A colleague trying (and not succeeding) to eat something crunchy discreetly just over in the next cubicle. I have told him he ought to be working on getting a publishable version of the Xmas quiz to me before New Year. Can no one multitask in this place? Cricket continues well.

….

10pm-ish, and still a little daylight outside as I scooter home. Whoever believes summer is not the best season is just fooling themselves.

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