February

February 1st

Interview goes well with future boss's only concern being that I might get bored. Refrain from reply that I don't doubt for a second that I will be bored, but need the money, as not conducive to impression of enthusiastic and committed job seeker. Agree instead to 3 days temporary work to decide whether we are both happy with my performance.

February 3rd

As favour to friend of HTB's we agree to pick up tires for car from obscure place in Wiltshire going by name of Little Fogbottom or some such and deliver to friend in Shropshire. This involves driving past house of both dear friend Laura and Fond Parents so make arrangements to see both.

Laura's house both immaculate and exquisite and more like the sort of house I drool over in Vogue or Home and Gardens than usual home of contemporaries. (This slightly unfair to several friends with lovely houses and no insult is meant, but Laura's house also the size of Heathrow airport and decorated in white and granite with views of her paddock and beyond that rolling hills.)

Laura and I discuss my new job with famous purveyor of luxury cars and her job, which she hates so much that she says it is a monkey on her back, an invisible and figurative monkey obviously, not an actual monkey. HTB and I then suggest several possible solutions to monkey all of which Laura vetoes on the basis that better the monkey you know. I start to suggest that with her mortgage that a monkey in the hand must be worth two .. but thankfully complete the sentence in my head before uttering it and keep silent for fear of what it might imply about Laura's relationship with the monkey.

Instead I put forward the theory that despite her dislike of the monkey her reluctance to get rid of it says to me that she is in a co-dependant relationship with an invisible monkey and needs help. Laura replies that the monkey says bite me and HTB points out that since I am now being insulted by a non-existent monkey that Laura is translating for, maybe we all need help and we move on to other topics.

Laura says did I see the article in the Observer about chappy with muliti million card company from our home town, and I say yes I did. She then goes on to say that she had very nice reply from him to her friends reunited email in which he says that he thought he might as well put his old nick name to good use hence the name of his company. Laura then pauses, looks at me and says, wasn't it you who gave him that nickname? Horrified silence ensues on my part during which I dredge memory and sure enough some vague recollection surfaces and I admit it does sound like the sort of thing I would have said then. I am mortified and halt own plans to contact chappy as imagine he does not have fond memories of me – if he also remembers who gave him nickname. (The fact that I have done best to forget all about him also is entirely beside the point as obviously I inhabit fluffy bunny world where every male I have ever met continues to have high and fond regard for me regardless of my feelings for them.)

14th February

Feel great nostalgia for single days when post brought mystery valentine's and foolishly try to explain to HTB that have traditionally always felt that Valentine's Day is a day to receive missives of affection from unknown admirer's or nostalgic exes and that I rather miss the not knowing.

Complete turn around in opinions as day brings champagne breakfast in bed served by HTB, box of chocolates, large bunch of dozen white roses and tickets to Glen Miller Concert and I find myself positively enthusiastic about the joys of valentine gifts from very known and current beau.

Glen Miller concert is marvelously romantic and I hum tunes all the way home.