I will be acting a lot over the next few days.
Not with a drama group though.
With a client.
OK so I won’t be officially acting,  as I won’t be pretending to be someone I am not. There are no lines to learn or stage directions to memorise. But there is certainly a role to be played.

That of an efficient professional. Now this is not remotely beyond the realms of believeability. I am good at my job. I perform it well and accurately and I deal with an important account and need to make sure that a proper service is provided to them. Face to face meetings are a different kettle of fish than email or telephone conversations though. You can read so much from people’s body language – what type of person they are. Whether they have a good sense of humour. Whether you like them or not.

The intention of the meeting is to encourage a good relationship and I fully understand the idea behind these meetings. But that’s not to minimise how nerve-wracking they are. You have to be friendly and open. But you’ve got to remain on your guard – don’t make any promises that you can’t keep. As we will be fine-dining in the evening there will be wine flowing. I’m thinking it’s probably wisest to have a solitary glass of vino and then to switch to the Diet Coke. I don’t mean to be a killjoy partypooper but I’m new on the job and I am still in a learning phase so I need to keep my wits about me.

This will be fine. I am worrying over nothing – as I always do. I am one of life’s worry warts. Smile, give a firm handshake, make sure your shirt is ironed and pretend that you are having the time of your life.

It’ll all be grand.

In happier new, angry South African lady was on the bus again this morning. With a face that would curdle milk. She’s quite an attractive woman but there is misery on that face. Now if I didn’t know her better I’d give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she (like so many of us) is afflicted by resting bitchface syndrome (whereby despite feeling very content this happiness is not visible on your face). However I have listened to her rages several times so I know that the anger is real. This morning she was quiet. I hope her loved ones are OK.