Chief Apologist, Regret Management Unit

Started the day meeting one of the women at work that I mentor on the steps of the Library only to discover the cafe wasn't open. Repaired to Kingston for plan 2 and drank good coffee and listened to her. Pondered over why the business just isn't offering enough to keep bright, young women. Went into the office to be berated by Person From Procurement who was worried I had committed to something unseemly on my trip to Melbourne. Explained that the sub-contractor we usually use had signed exclusive agreement with someone else and though this was inconvenient it was not adultery and he was not the wronged husband. Got someone else in to mediate the meeting since I was at.the.end.of.my.tether. Went out to meeting at another clients which required me to walk through the perfume hall of David Jones. Squirted myself liberally with new Stella perfume by Stella McCartney. I like it. Signed contract for significant dollar amount to do something quirky and interesting. Wrote modest e-mail of self-congratulation to big boss. Instant messaged his off-sider crowing in an unseemly fashion about my skills and talents for achieving this in first week of new quarter. Ate avocado and tomato sandwich for lunch. Wrote letter of weasel words to customer outlining that we would do a modicum of free work but thereafter I would expect her to pay lavishly for our services. Filled in a third of a feedback survey for my boss going on, ahem, accelerated leadership training. It suggested "you may wish to print your responses for future reference" - and run the risk of him discovering what I answered to the question "Does Mr X remain calm in a crisis"? Phoned up another client to discover why we had been unsuccesful in a tender. After several abortive attempts to contact each other, got the following. "We got 69 responses. Yours was in the bottom third. You demonstrated no understanding of our business or our requirements." Well, that explains it then. Then he asked me if I'd like to have coffee with him. I thought this very odd since to my knowledge we have never met but it then transpired that he is looking to leave the public service and wondered if we might have any vacancies. Sigh, so now despite the stuff up, I have to drive to Tuggeranong to drink vile coffee with this man.