While I was at *work* today...

Yes, you read that right, I was *at work* today.

We were, as we have been lately, sleeping 'late', til about 9am.  I've been meaning to gradually get our 'wake up' time earlier, so that we don't go back to our weird day-time of waking at 9am and going to sleep past midnight.  So I got a phonecall (voicemail) at 8:50 this morning, from a recruitment agency (the only one which has actually been looking to get me a job - that I can tell!), asking if I want to do a quick one-day assignment, today!  I phoned back, trying to sound more awake than I was, and despite being hesitant and slow-thinking, I managed to say 'yes, I'll do it'.

I got ready as quick as I could, which entailed ironing my outfit as I hadn't pre-ironed it in preparation for such an occasion (who woulda foreseen this?), and I got there at 10:30 (thanks to G's chauffeuring skills).  I walked in and was about to announce myself to the lady at reception, when she greeted first "ah, you must be H..!" and she almost immediately showed me the ropes, and then took me to meet the admin manager who had arranged the job with the recruitment agency.  He greeted me warmly and then without further ado told the lady to show me the ropes right away.  Evidently I was much needed, as their receptionist was off sick rather suddenly.

All in all, it was exceptionally quiet.  The phone apparently rings no more than 50 times per day, AND there are admin assistants who 'back up' the receptionist in answering the phone (in that company obviously the receptionist doesn't have to "put her hand up and ask the teacher if she may leave the room" as I had to in my previous company!).  All I really did today was answer the phone, courier 5 parcels, fold and envelope a stack of letters, and update and print 4 copies of a 'meeting schedule'.

Stupidly enough, I didn't think to ask the recruitment agency what the pay would be for the day (I think it was too early in the morning for my brain's negotiating faculty to fire up ye olde lasers), so I have no clue how much I'll get for my 6 hours.  But I'll send through the timesheet tomorrow (unless they call me in again), and hopefully I'll hear about it soon.  Also, hopefully they'll call me in again, as it was nice working there (not that I'm hoping their receptionist stays sick for a long time!).

Luckily I had my phone with phone-msn though, so I was able to keep up to date with G with all the news at home, because a) without it I'd have died of boredom once the work was done, despite the fact that the receptionist had 2 antique magazines at her desk, and b) otherwise I wouldn't have heard about my parcel until I got home!

Now we know what they do when they have a parcel to deliver - we've been pondering it, thinking that they pop a postal-item note in the postbox, but no, they merrily leave it at the front door!  What a marvellous country this is!  After getting home and savouring the fact that I had An Unopened Parcel waiting for me (you gotta make that feeling LAST!), G and I sat down to a mug of tea each and I proceeded to tackle the parcel.

I lovingly opened the parcel, which contained my birthday present!

Apologies for the spooky looking lighting in the photos, my camera doesn't really like photographing without decent light.  But I really couldn't wait til morning to blog about this!

I haven't worked any further on Gentle Strength, due to working til 5pm today, so no pictures today.  I am going to be good and work my little heart out and finish Gentle Strength before starting with Spirit Horses.  Also, I would like to try finish Wedding Blessing... no, I haven't forgotten about it!

Watch-o this-o space-o!