At Least Afloat

So, this morning commenced with a series of bad decisions.

Once again I went to bed really rather late (but before midnight!) having finally been persuaded by my parents over the phone, and my girl best friend over text, that I should go and eat something. I ought to ask my landlady at what hours the kitchen is usually free so I can fix something up. When I cook, I usually require a decent amount of space and utensils, as I generally make stuff from scratch. The kitchen isn’t very big, and I don’t want to step in anyone’s way.

So, advice no.1 of the day: For your own sake, ask.

You have rights.You can’t go about walking on eggshells around everyone. Coming back to yesterday’s post, you have a right to exist and be happy as much as anyone. Which is more, in my case, I am paying rent, and my rights sit in my contract. I ought to use them.

Still, 7 hours sleep didn’t quite cut it.

I woke up of my own accord, I think, at very nearly 5am, and heard showering, and mildly panicked. Then I looked at the time. I slept until my 6.50am alarm. I went back to bed having switched it off. That was the first poor decision. I then got up some 10 minutes later, scrolled for a few minutes, and went and washed my hair. Poor decision no.2, under the present circumstances, as anyone who knows me will have commented that I am a modern-day Rapunzel. My hair takes an ice-age to wash and dry.

I quickly said hi-bye to my landlady and her daughter. My landlady asked me as I was halfway out the door if I wanted her to sort me a duvet, as I’m currently sleeping under just a duvet cover. She said the nights are getting colder. I can’t feel it yet, so I politely refused her offer. It is very sweet of her to look out for me. I was hoping to catch the 7.58. I ended up just missing the next bus. Which is more, I haven’t eaten a proper breakfast. A flexible start time is great, but such a right should be used within reason, or else it is abused. And, once I got on the bus, and asked to buy a ticket, the driver started the bus. I managed to knock my head (oddly enough, third knock today) into the glass before him, and lost a 50 cent piece in the commotion. What was his problem? Eventually he told me (driving), as I struggled to find the correct amount (not that the jolting helped) that I should pay by SMS – a possibility with buses here. Unfortunately, I still haven’t sorted a mobile plan, although I do have a SIM. I had more luck with the driver this afternoon, who told me that I was using euros very well after I asked him to forgive me for being more accustomed to pounds.

Fortunately, I arrived at the end of my bus journey at a time I could work with. I walked and gobbled down some biscuits, and prayed no Frenchperson would see me and understand immediately that they were witnessing a foreigner, for all her YSL-esque navy-black get-up. I came into work at 9.20, and left just after 18.20. The time debt accrued from Monday is being caught up on.

Today I sorted some post, sent a letter, filed some invoices, put some signs back up, had a training session, and made a final report on the Big Bad Situation With The Staple Stock. We have a lot of staples, and most of them are incompatible with the staplers we have. It is a nightmare. I feel ill just thinking about it. My mum and dad chuckled as I explained it to them yesterday. It’s a very, very serious matter! Anyway, I’ve counted what we have, and written it all up on a sheet of pink paper, which I have left on my boss’ desk. I will go mad. I may well have already.

I also talked to the Country Manager about putting some more signs up. They need to be made and printed first, and whilst my boss is technically in charge of that, I’m told that I will be able to help. I had a lovely lunch with our IT manager, who is leaving today. He lives abroad and comes into the office only once a month, during which time it seems he is never allowed an idle moment. We got Chinese again, and I translated for him, as he speaks no French. My days are spent in-between 4 languages now, I swear. It’s tough. One of the interns told me today that she was struggling going between two languages that weren’t her native ones – she felt tired. I wondered if maybe I do, too. I’m told my French is good, though, almost or completely without accent, which is what I needed to hear.

What tires me is the screen. And, obviously, my own imposed penury of slumber. The training today was over Teams, and I cursed my lack of sleep. I stretched, fidgeted, even stood up just to stay awake. But, as I told the Country Manager, I still took good notes, and I did manage to answer most quiz questions at the end. My boss and I were worried as I was supposed to be on duty in her stead that afternoon, but couldn’t due to the scheduled training, but everything went OK. The postman and DHL were supposed to come in that exact time window, but a colleague took care of that, fortunately.

Advice no.2: There is a good reason Italians (proverbially) don’t drink coffee in the afternoon.

Some of you will say that doesn’t apply to you, and maybe you are immune, or British coffee-dependants. Those of you not used to coffee – don’t. Especially not a doppio with two sugars. Ça tue. You slow down in the afternoon, generally. Let me rephrase my point into something more universal, and non-prejudiced towards those of us who can and will drink a cappuccino after 1pm:

Utilise the morning/peak energy time to the best of your advantage, and then reserve lower energy tasks, if you can, for the afternoon/lower energy time.

Now I, who have depleted my energy store, but am feeling the other effects of concentrated caffeine badly, will go and cook dinner.