The Intern

We had a lovely individual in who did a but of work experience recently. I think it went rather well, they didn't complain at any rate.

 

He started out doing a bit of data entry for us, you can see the coffee cup on his desk - showing he's hard at work.

But as you can see, later on in the day, we found him clutching onto the wine to get him through the endless paperwork mountain!

We thought he might appreciate a rest from typing so we put him on the phones. He was pretty good at this, he didn't speak too fast which is always a plus point for telephone communication.

 

In order to make sure he got a good experience day we tried to make sure he got to do a lot of varied tasks. Including the ever so thrilling task of filing!

 

Time for another beverage break now and this is when we found out he's into the World Cup!

 

As you can see he had an excellent break looking through his player card album and updating his sticker album. He's got a long way to go though before he's got them all.

We did catch him listening to his iPod but we all do it so no one really minded.

 

 

Finally, he offered to do the afternoon tea round which is always appreciated.

 

All in all, he was a jolly good little worker and we thoroughly enjoyed having him with us. He is welcome back at any time.

 

Pip pip, Charlote xx

 

 

Escaping

The world is a busy place.

 

I might have mentioned before that I am a commuter.

I get a busy train. Walk through a busy train station. Spend 8+ hours in a busy office. Walk back to the busy train station through a busy city centre. Get on an even busier train home.

My weekdays are crowded, loud and hectic. Is it any wonder that sometimes I just want to get off the ride? You might be in the same situation and if you are, I feel your pain. (Unless you thrive on this sort of environment - good for you).

 

Sometimes you just need to escape. I know I do. But you can't just suddenly get up and say:

"Enough is enough! I'm going on holiday. See you in two weeks!"

Well you could... But you'd get sacked. And I don't know about you but I'm really keen on not getting sacked. Even if I do want to escape sometimes.

So what do you do instead? I don't know really but here's some things I think might help.

1. Nature sounds: I stole this top tip from this lovely lady. If I feel overwhelmed by the commute, I pop my earphones in and try to pretend I'm at the seaside or in a forest.
2. Music: Again, stolen as above, but nonetheless useful. Find a song that you find relaxing and listen to it. I find singing along very helpful but this isn't always possible if you're in a crowded place and don't want to look slightly mad.
3. Take a break. I don't smoke, but people who do go out for a cheeky smoke break. So why can't I have a break too? Make a tea, heck make a round! Or, just say you're popping it the loo. No one needs to know you're not actually desperate for a pee! It's 5 minutes way from your desk and that stupid phone that won't stop ringing.
4. Lunch: I used to work through my lunch break when we got busy. Now we're always busy I make sure I take my 30 minutes every single day. And I make sure I leave the office, even if it's raining.
5. Find water: I appreciate this might not be possible for everyone but I find water hugely relaxing and I am fortunate to work just about within sensible walking distance of the river. By just about I mean 10 minutes there and 10 minutes back leaving a 10 minute sit down in the middle. For me, this is totally worth it.

This is where I have started trying to go to at lunchtime. It feels like a world away and really let's me clear my head ready to tackle the afternoon without cracking up.

 

It is so important to take time out to look after yourself. Nothing is worth feeling horrible about. I am the worst at doing this but I am trying to retrain myself. Take those five minutes, you've earned them so thousand times over.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

 

The Perfect First Date

 

Fear not dear reader. This is not a top tips for a successful first date post. Nor is it me showing off about a successful date I may or may not have had recently. It is in actual fact, a theatre review!

The other week I saw Avenue Q but I have let myself become so disorganised that I am only just getting round to writing this up!

For anyone that doesn't know Avenue Q is a musical. But it's not just any musical.

 

Think puppets.

No, think muppets.

Now imagine muppets having sex on stage.

There you go.

 

All I can say is it was absolutley amazing! Much like my recent trip to see The Threepenny Opera, I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. And nothing I could've imagined would have been half as spectacular.

The songs are catchy. The characters are varied and they suck you in so that you care about their lives. Even the puppeteers were incredible. Some were voicing two puppets at once. Holding conversations with themselves. These actors had serious skill. The entire thing was hilarious. Hilarious barely even covers it. I'm not sure the last time that I laughed so much.

I'm not going to go into the plot as I think that would be wrong. I went into this not knowing what it was about and if you haven't seen it before then I don't want to ruin the surprise. You can google it if you really want to know. Rest assured though it has everything. Romance, betrayal, ambition, personal struggles, pop culture references, cartoon clips, and of course comedy. I will (and there is no question about this) be going to see it again.

So why did I start out this post talking about the perfect first date if all I wanted to do was rave on about a stage show?

I think this would be the perfect icebreaker to a relationship. First of all, you find out if you're both theatre type people. Very important to know in my opinion. Even more importantly you will find out if you're going to get on. If one of you isn't laughing then it's probably safest to call it quits before you get too invested. You obviously don't have the same sense if humour and as we all know from various polls that are wheeled out on slow news days: sense of humour is very important when looking for a spouse.

It gets all the awkward topics out in the open and dances them naked (not literally... Oh wait there is that one bit...) in front of you. Communication is surely the most important thing in a relationship. Even more so when it comes to difficult, awkward, controvsial and embarrassing topics. Now, dear fledgling couple, you don't have to worry about bringing them up. And if you still can't talk about what the internet is really for then go your separate ways now before you find yourself crying into a bottle after chatting to the bad idea bears.

 

Sunday Morning.

She blinked the sun out of her eyes as it found it's way in through the chink in the curtains. She never could sleep through sunrise. Must get that loft conversion finished. Then she could have a proper blackout blind on a nice skylight.

Despite it being far earlier than anyone should be up, he was already gone. She could tell, firstly by the lack of his breath on her neck and his arms around her, but also by the note on her nightstand. Well, not so much a note as a vague drawing of a cup and saucer, a downward arrow and a kiss. Tea downstairs.

She stretched and swung her legs over the side. Not one for slippers her feet found the smooth wooden floorboards as she slipped yesterday's discarded hoody over her head. Dressing gowns just aren't as convenient or comfy she had decided.

As she skipped down the stairs she started to think of all the things she could do today. A Sunday. Full of potential. But first, tea. Everyone knows you can't start a productive Sunday off without a tea.

As promised, there was her favourite mug sitting on the side with a flask next to it. He always took a flask when he was working overtime, it made sense to make her one too. And this way, it didn't matter when she got up, there would be hot tea waiting for her, as if he'd just made it.

She poured a cup, added milk and a sugar (it was Sunday after all) and set off to the garden. Whenever possible, starting the day in the garden was her preferred way. Especially this early, when it felt like no one else in the world was awake.

She listened to the birds chirping and watched a bee lazily bob in and out of the fox gloves as she sipped her drink. Instead of a proper breakfast she picked at the strawberries and raspberries. And then found herself eating fresh peas. Maybe not a traditional morning meal but one that made her happy. They could have something together later on when he got back. Maybe pancakes, or scrambled eggs on toast.

Having drained her mug she made her way back into the kitchen, poured the second cup from the flask and found her apron. She clicked the oven on and started rummaging in the cupboards. She found everything she needed, goodness knows she wouldn't let herself run out of anything. You never know when the urge to rustle something up will strike and it had been known in this household for guests to arrive, there to be no cake in the tin and 30 minutes later fresh butterfly buns to be presented. Cookery doesn't have to be fancy, just good. She plugged in her iPod, selected the playlist called 'Favouites' and began.

Over the next couple of hours, a sponge cake had been baked and was now soaking up lemon syrup, bread dough was proving nicely ready to be plaited into rolls for tomorrow's packed lunches and a giant pan was bubbling away on the hob. Jam. She had always wanted to make jam. And now she could.

She was so immersed in her own little world of bubbling fruit, and the music was turned up so loud that she felt she could sing along at full volume too, that she didn't hear the gate. She didn't hear the door. She didn't hear the thud of his work bag being dropped to the floor. The first she knew was his arms around her waist.

She spun round in a mild panic. The kitchen was a state. She'd meant to clean up but she had lost track of time. She was going to make the pancake batter, or at least get some toast ready but alas, she hadn't managed any of this.

"Busy morning?"

"I'm sorry... I lost track of time.. I-"

"Is that cake?"

"What? Oh, yes. But I was going to tidy up and make breakfast and-"

"Cake for breakfast it is. Come on, take this out to the garden. I'll put the kettle back on."

 

You can have cake for breakfast on Sundays.

 

Worrying

Everyone worries. It's just one of those things.

 

I worry, and one of the things I worry about is how much my worrying is affecting me.

 

Two things:

1) How stupid and illogical is that?

2) I've used the word worry too much now and it is starting to both look and sound weird.

 

I've always been a worrier I think and as I've gotten older, it's not gotten any better. If anything, it's getting worse. If I can worry about it then I will. Sometimes I think that I'm doing really well and that I've managed to be really blasé about something that I could worry about, But actually, there's a constant little niggle going on somewhere at the back of my mind saying, yes but what if?

 

Worrying makes me unhappy.

It makes me nervous.

It makes me not want to do the things I want to do.

And every now and then, when I least expect it. It makes me stop functioning.

 

Imagine the scene. You're having a particularly busy time at work but everything is on track. Changes are happening and there's a lot of pressure being felt around the office but overall you feel okay with what's going on. Some things have changed in your home life. But that's good. You're enjoying the changes. Although they've brought a whole new set of things to worry about. But actually, you don't feel like you're worrying about them too much. You're just trying to get on with things. Because you deserve to be happy.

And then you're putting some stationery away, you notice that you've ordered the wrong toners and suddenly you feel as though you're standing in a furnace, that the walks are closing in. You start to hyperventilate as you leave the cupboard. You tell yourself to stop hyperventilating but you can't and you start to cry.

You are panicking.

About ink cartridges????

Not really.

You want to hide. To calm down. To sort out in your own head what the hell is going on. Someone finds you because you're in an open plan office where there is nowhere to hide, even the offices with doors have windows in them.

You get taken into a room. They leave you to get you a glass of water. By the time they come back you are shaking and you can't speak when they ask you what's wrong. You didn't realise you were shaking.

You get taken to go stand outside.

You start to calm down.

You start to feel better.

As you walk back up the stairs though into the office you can feel the anxiety creeping. You don't want to do that again. It wasn't fun and this is where it happened. Don't be silly. Snap out of it. You'll be fine.

You have to explain to the manager what is going on because they are concerned.

You can't explain.

You want to say... You know when you just start to panic? Only unless they do, they really don't.

You end up being allowed out to take a walk. This makes you feel somewhat guilty.

On the walk you want to call someone. Someone who you think will listen. But you know if you do, you won't actually be able to say anything. And you don't want them to worry, you don't want to be a burden. This is your problem. Not theirs. Don't rain on their afternoon because you can't cope.

You get back to the office (again). You really do feel better now.

Now you feel embarrasesed, guilty and awkward. What if people see you now and think you were somehow putting it on? You weren't.

 

And now you're worrying about people thinking you're mad. And worrying about this happening again. And worrying about when you're going to have the time to figure out how to avoid it happening again.

#teatrials

I'm a cup of tea sort of girl. None of that coffee rubbish. (Apologies to all coffee lovers).

Until last month, I just drank tea. You know. The proper stuff. Tea. Milk. Maybe a sugar if it's a bad day. Then everything changed and I got sucked into the world of different teas. That picture up there, I never thought I'd be the sort of person who would frequent that aisle. But, 31 days and 31 teas later I have a secret tea stash in the office (of 5 different types of tea) and I can honestly say I like alternative teas. Although nothing is going to beat a good old builder's brew.

 

I want to share my trials with you, the highlights (and the low points!) and hopefully inspire you to try something new.

Days 1 - 9

Day 1: Peppermint and Everyday Blend 7/10 (This has made it to the regular tea stash)

Day 2: Jasmine 3/10 (One of the absolute worst!)

Day 3: Oolong 4/10 (Tasted like tea that had been left at the back of the cupboard for a few years)

Day 4: Vanilla Chai 8.5/10 (Basically like a pudding)

Day 5: Apple 7/10 (Pretty nice, a bit like hot squash)

Day 6: Lemon Green Tea 5/10 (Meh, average)

Day 7: Earl Grey 9/10 (Haven't had this since I was little. Reminded me of my Grandpa)

Day 8: Garam Assam Chai 6/10 (Not as good as the vanilla chai)

Day 9: Lychee and Mango 9/10 (Vey nice, again just like a tasty hot juice)

 

Days 10 - 18

Day 10: Superior Tea 5/10 (Not superior at all. Bit thin in flavour)

Day 11: China Rose Tea 10/10 (This is my absolute favourite! I loved it so much I bought a whole box of it)

Day 12: Chocolate Tea 6/10 (Not chocolatey enough)

Day 13: Camomile and Honey 4/10 (Not very nice at all, pretty boring)

Day 14: Honey Green Tea 4/10 (Another not very nice one, had to down this one cooled)

Day 15: Gingersnap Peach 5/10 (Didn't really taste much of peach)

Day 16: Asian Tea 8/10 (My friend brought me this in a flask. I wish I knew the recipe!)

Day 17: Vibrant Mandarin Orange 5/10 (Smells lush, not enough orange flavour)

Day 18: Peach 7/10 (Slightly artificial taste)

 

Days 19 - 27

Day 19: English Breakfast 8/10 (Just a nice tea)

Day 20: Cranberry and Raspberry 7/10 (Nicer than I expected because I don't like cranberry)

Day 21: Pear and Caramel 7/10 (Strange, but tasty)

Day 22: Blackberry, Ginseng and Vanilla 6.5/10 (I think it was the ginseng that made it taste a bit funny)

Day 23: Redbush Citrus 6/10 (Has a nice citrus but not brilliant)

Day 24: Spice Imerial 3/10 (Not a lot of flavour and certainly not very spiced)

Day 25: Redbush 2/10 (No. Not for me at all)

Day 26: Ginger and Lemon 3/10 (I acidentally inhaled ginger which might have contributed to the low score)

Day 27: Pure Green Tea 4/10 (Drinkable. Definitely better with lemon in it though)

 

Days 28 - 30

Day 28: Camomile and Spiced Apple 6/10 (If it wasn't for the camomile undertone this would've been nice)

Day 29: Raspberry Leaf 8/10 (Pretty darn tasty)

Day 30: Nettle Tea (Tea 1) 4.5/10 (If I can find evidence it's actually good for you I would drink this)

Day 30: Women's Tea (Tea 2) 6/10 (I had been dreading this one. It sounds ominous, actually quite nice)

Day 30: Afternoon Blend (Tea 3) 5/10 (Disappointed by this. I thought it would be much nicer)

 

Day 30 - 31

Day 30: Licorice (Tea 4) 7/10 (I really thought I'd hate this. I don't like Licorice. This was surprisingly nice though)

Day 31: 1886 Blend 7/10 (Probably the best 'normal-ish' tea I've had but not the best overall)

 

As you can see, I went a bit crazy on day 30. It was a Friday and therefore I was in the office. I decided it was a good idea to try and drink up as many of the teas as possible.

 

I am currently having #teatrials withdrawal. I miss the excitement of trying a new tea, even if some of them were awful. I miss being pleasantly surprised by the ones I thought would be horrid. I miss letting other people at work try them and watching their reactions.

 

Thank goodness I've got a challenge set up for June!

 

Toodle Pip, Charlotte xxx