Yesterday I met my ex-boss for coffee. Unlike a lot of people who resign, I have kept on good terms with my colleagues. My ex-boss soon became a friend as well as my manager but had only been with the company for three months when I handed in my notice, through no fault of his!
Throughout our lives there are people with whom we can immediately build a report and those who, no matter how hard we try, just can’t find any common ground. That’s life and we need to cut our losses and move on. This is what I did so I became a ‘Lady of Leisure’ a bit earlier than planned. I have never looked back.
Who would have thought that there would be two of the same coffee shops within a couple of miles of each other. And, who would have thought that I would be waiting in one and my ex-boss in the other! We had arranged to meet at 12:00 pm. At 12:05 pm I decided to send a text message to check that we were meeting in the correct place. Our text messages crossed and that was when the realisation dawned! For years I had driven past this particular coffee shop, unnoticed and much closer to the company. The obvious choice!
But I couldn’t just get into my car and join my ex-boss, who had a finite lunch break and I had all day! I had dropped my car off at the garage about a mile away and walked to the coffee shop. In high-heeled shoes and still aching feet, there was no way that I could get to the other coffee shop within a few minutes and without considerable pain and discomfort!
So, coffee ordered and ready to collect, we met at ‘my’ coffee shop! It felt like catching up with an old friend. The commonality, despite our short history, was our department and colleagues. There was so much positivity. My ex-boss had impressed me with his work ethic and honesty and this was still very prevalent. My ‘work family’ were in good hands and the last small shadow lingering over my former life had lifted.
I walked back to the garage happy and relaxed, hoping endorphins would soon kick in and numb my aching feet! They didn’t so the relief when climbing into my car was great!
Another week has flown by, busy and eventful. I’m off to do the grocery shopping and will slip in a bottle of Prosecco. It’s cloudy and cool with the forecast of rain. It’s Friday but I have more than the weekend to enjoy my garden. I have the rest of the summer …….👠
Jenny Burrell 