I'm a little bit jaded

Maria is asleep in the television room. The kids are lying around watching cartoons in Spanish. Everyone is tired. It is amazing how four hours of being sociable can really take it out of you.

In theory, four hours spent at a friend's house, surrounded by friends, a huge paella cooking on the chimera, sitting in the sun, drinking beers, chatting, no work today, no work tomorrow - well, it should be very relaxing. Substitute the words friend's/friends in the previous sentence for colleague's/colleagues and it all becomes a different ballgame, an afternoon of stepping over landmines. Agreeing about school politics, disagreeing about school policies, agreeing that that person is the best, agreeing that that person is the worst. The afternoon becomes one mad desire to get out of the place alive. To not upset anyone. To not do anything that will be talked about for the next four years. Believe me, these people can be extremely bitchy behind your back. I know, mainly because they were incredibly bitchy about one person until (surprise, surprise) that person turned up and suddenly it was all sweetness and light.

However we are home. Shattered, a bit down, but home. We left early (we left first) so there will probably have been some talk about us once we had gone. But it can't be any worse than if we had stayed. I'm not sure how much longer either I or Maria could have continued to smile politely.

So, it is done and our long weekend can continue. I am not going to Disney tomorrow as my passport still hasn't arrived back from Mexico City. This, in the light of today's events, could be a bonus. A day in bed is calling. Maybe two days in bed if we are lucky!

Comments

[Blue Witch]

Do you need us to come up with feasilbe excuses to avoid having to go next time?