2006-02-08
Quick update:The worst of the peak working week of the year is over at last and I’m hoping to get out the door at a sensible time tonight – hey it may even be before dusk! It all seems rather stressful this year and I was trying to think why, after twenty years of going through this process I was finding it so much hard going. And then I realised that I’m two people down this year – Jo out in the states and the ‘wonderful’ Lesley doing her part-time job as a juror on a fraud trial (should be away until May now!). On top of that Lisa, who is (don’t tell Jo this) easily the most talented and hard-working member of the team I’ve ever had with me, was going through the peak time for the first time and finding her feet (rapidly) and needing frequent guidance. So I guess it wasn’t so surprising I found it a struggle. Such a relief when it’s over though!
I mentioned to Jo the other night how well Lisa is doing – she was originally here on a secondment working for Jo so she really was the one who selected her and encouraged her to make the move permanent. What I said was something like ‘she’s getting through the work in her inimitable style’. It was the word ‘inimitable’ that Jo picked up on – and asked if there’ll still be enough for her to do when she gets back. Knowing her I know she’ll be worrying about picking it all up after a year away and I don’t want her to feel that she’s moved back in the ‘pecking order’ by being away. I want her to feel that she can come back without too much pressure to perform straight away, want to make the dual role of mother and professional work for her without worrying about anyone making comparisons so the word ‘inimitable’ was certainly clumsy.
She seems to be enjoying life in California OK. Certainly the weather seems to do her good, although it is obviously a struggle looking after a toddler and a seven month old baby all day alone. Little Alex was assaulted in a play sand pit the other day (some other child bashed him round the back of the head with a toy digger) and although other mothers gathered around apparently offering advice as to whether she needed to get him to a doctor to stem the flow of blood, none of them were speaking English. In the end she decided it would probably heal well enough without stitches, and if there was scarring it would be covered by his fair for the next forty-odd years.
The extension to Dave’s contract is currently only two weeks. Or so she says.
Anyway, the sun is sinking and I have to go and collect Lynne from the prison as Jack has her car today. Isn’t it strange how many of the women in my life (not sure about the use of the word ‘in’ there )
have an L initial? It’s looking like I may get, at last, to meet a diaryland friend!
Oh and if anyone’s interested I posted a second episode: