One month on from thinking I was going to cough myself to death in a hotel room in Casablanca, I am in a hotel room in Brussels, cross checking figures and rehearsing tomorrow's presentation.I'm not 100% better, but I'm well enough to travel. Normally this kind of meeting would warrant a one day trip on… Continue reading Another month, another hotel room
How do you book a holiday?
For anyone expecting a how-to guide, I apologise. This is a genuine question from me. I don't understand European package holiday destinations. How do you choose one over another? If all you want is a week in the sun, it seems so easy, but how do you choose between Spain, Portugal, Greece or Turkey? And… Continue reading How do you book a holiday?
Reasons to be cheerful #3
I head back to work tomorrow after three weeks of mandated sick leave to recover from a chest infection (or possibly whooping cough, or I ever get the blood test results), so it may be a strange time to reflect on reasons to be cheerful but here goes. 1. Listening to music with headphones Mostly… Continue reading Reasons to be cheerful #3
Sick #2
I have been off work sick for three weeks now. My cough is getting better, thanks for asking, although it's not gone yet. But I'm getting bigger blocks of sleep, and longer stretches during the day without wheezing to near unconsciousness. My muscles still hurt though, and with it being spring, I am occasionally sneezing… Continue reading Sick #2
Sick
In my last entries, my cough was a sub story to the main event. Here it takes over as the main subject itself. I am in my third week of coughing now. Three weeks of physical spasms, interrupted sleep, gasping for breath and involuntary regurgitation. Being so unhappy at work, I have often recently thought,… Continue reading Sick
Business travel diary – Day 5 (&6)
My last full hotel day. I will miss this hotel and the little touches of care I find from the cleaners every day, whether it's tidying my shoes, folding my pyjamas, sorting my toiletries into neat arrangements, arranging my slippers and towels in a decorative way, or even leaving me a flower! I end up… Continue reading Business travel diary – Day 5 (&6)
Business travel diary – day 4
Today is the best day of the trip. It's the day we go on outside site visits and I get to see the companies behind the names on my spreadsheets, and see the investments they have put in place and what practical difference they have made. Our first stop is a bakery, and our first… Continue reading Business travel diary – day 4
Business travel – diary – day 3
When I wake up coughing at 1am or something, I decide to reset my alarm, skip breakfast, and go to the awards ceremony after the opening speeches and join during the coffee break. In my mind, I message my boss that I won't make the 8am meeting. But only in my mind, I don't use… Continue reading Business travel – diary – day 3
Business travel diary – day 2
Night from hell. No, not the bright red light on the TV opposite me keeping me awake. No, not the street noise, that has quietened right down. It's the GHAAARFFF EUGLEGH WUCHLAO of me coughing not mater what position I lie in: flat, propped up, face down, on left side, on right side. I get… Continue reading Business travel diary – day 2
Business travel diary – day 1
When does Saturday night feel like Sunday? When you have to get up early on Sunday to head off on a business trip, that's when! I shouldn't bitch too much, after all I only travel for work about twice a year and I have the compensation that I get to travel business class this time.… Continue reading Business travel diary – day 1
Tales from Tobhamhor 