Last day at work, and of course I've got a million and one things to do, not least of which is to reassure Sophie that really, I have every confidence that she'll do fine filling in for me while I'm away -- she's been stressing out about my imminent departure since Monday. She approaches my desk and asks for my help, her voice shaky, her face drawn, her hands clammy. I don't know why she should be so worried: as far as the tasks I've set her are concerned, a trained monkey could do them. What am I saying? An untrained monkey could do them! But I wisely swallow my comment, smile, and show her again how everything is supposed to work, and I've asked all my counterparts to go easy on her, help her as much as they can. I've also left her detailed written instructions...what more can I do? Anyway, for the next 10 days, even if everything should go wrong (which it won't), it's none of my problem!

Because I'm going to be concentrating on de-stressing in the lovely Kent countryside, where I'll be staying with the equally lovely calove and her family. My original plan, of coming to the capital with a friend, has fallen by the wayside, but I'm not unhappy. I'm looking forward to seeing calove again, who I spent a fabulous time in NYC with earlier this year; and looking forward to meeting bogwitch and hesadevil for lunch next week.

Before I leave though, I'll have to get the flat in order, so I plan on spending tomorrow on a belated spring cleaning initiative. I'll probably lose my steam halfway through the morning, but I'll make the initial effort of doing the washing up and cleaning the floors and windows, maybe even stretch so far as to do a bit of hoovering...and then I'll get packed, and get going!