Being clean in the capital

I have had to go to London fairly frequently in the last 3-4 months and I am very pleased to have my trusty anti-bacterial handwipes with me :)

I think it is something about travelling on trains, then touching underground handrails and generally being in London that makes me really want to wash my hands when I get to my destination, and then when I get home.

Ah. there is nothing like clean hands.

Quite how truthful to be in your annual review...

This came up last week. I was having my annual review (or PDR - Personal Development Review) and was discussing how I would like some project management training. My boss told me about a course run through work which is 1 day a month over 2 years which would be great for me to go on. That was the point when I felt a bit torn. If I want to get to New Zealand on working holiday visa I need to get it before I'm 30, in 2 years and 2 days time. Having asked to go on a course, I felt it would look a bit stupid for me to then have no very good reason (that she knew about) for not doing it. So I said that actually my plans were to be in NZ by two years' time, which she was a little surprised by.

I am really not one for playing any kind of game at work, or being political (with a small p) about what I do, because I'm just not clever enough to make it work for me, so it's better not to try! However, basically telling your boss you are going to leave some time between now and a year and a half's time, just may not stand me in the best stead.

It's tricky. I wanted to be honest, but I also didn't want to have that 'she's leaving' label. However, I feel I couldn't have said anything else or I would have either lied or implied something different. So there we are.