It is 6 weeks since our return from our little Spanish idyll and I am officially sick and tired of the grey, drizzly, wet, cold and windy weather that has been relentless in the North-West of England since our return.
We are due to return to Spain in 4 weeks but I said to Deb, ‘Why can’t we go earlier? I am absolutely cured of the weather at the moment. I don’t really care what the weather is in Spain but it has to be better than the conveyor belt of misery that is our current climate.’ ‘You really do exaggerate don’t you?’ She responded. ‘Mind you it is pretty poor at the moment. Let’s see what Ontinyent is doing’ She then proceeded to cheer me up further by informing me that it is currently 21deg in Ontinyent at the moment.
‘So why can’t we go a bit earlier?’ I repeated, like a petulant child. ‘What about trivial things like work and commitment to clients?’ She replied with an element of common sense. ‘Well you have a look at getting an earlier flight and I’ll work out what I need to do before we leave.’ Tasks allocated, we got to work.
Those of you who follow my globally renowned blog will be aware that Deb is now working for me. Strangely, she was finding it extremely difficult to find an employer who could accommodate her 63 days of holiday already booked for 2020. We therefore discussed it over Christmas and, because I am an employer with modern and flexible approach to staff holidays, it made perfect sense for Deb to bring her technical administration skills to benefit my small Company.
This move has proved to be inspired for many reasons. Firstly, Deb deals very efficiently with all my paperwork, diary management and all things logistical. This then frees me up to be far more productive and deal with Client’s projects far more quickly. Being more efficient and productive allows us more flexibility with our holiday dates. Finally, Deb working for me means she doesn’t have to seek approval from some narrow minded boss who insists on sticking rigidly to some archaic holiday policy.
‘We are due to go on Thursday 27th,’ said Deb, ‘we could get a flight a week earlier? I thought about this and was sorely tempted. ‘Let’s go for it.’
Deb looked at me a little concerned. ‘Realistically, can we afford that amount of time out of the business? Bear in mind we return on 8th March and then go again for 2 weeks on 14th April. I think that’s a push, so what about going on the Sunday, 4 days earlier?’ ‘Brilliant! I knew there was a reason I employed you.’ I said joyfully. ‘Let’s get it booked.’
So we are off back to Spain four days earlier, which brings Debs holiday total to 67 and it’s still only February. At this rate she’ll she’ll have more holidays than work days.
Four days may not sound a lot but psychologically it is one less week of work and more importantly, almost one less week of this woeful Winter climate.
One of the many, many things Deb and I love about Spain is the fact that all businesses and shops close on a Sunday, allowing everyone to concentrate on family for the day. Only one downside to this that we can see is when your flight is on a Sunday you end up at Spanish home, late afternoon, with no essentials, such as ice for your G&T or leche for your café. Oh well, can’t have it all.
