As i've said before, i seem to be an adept at attracting bonkers trainees who feel comfortable/stupid/(un)happy enough to tell me their life story.

Not the abriged bowdelerised version, mind you, ohh no, i get the whole story, warts and all.

S'funny though, it's only the middle aged wimmin or the truly mad young chicks who must've been dropped on their heads at birth

Today's (sad)story then: Mrs 'X' came and plonked her self down in front of my desk to go over her schedule upto the end of the year.

After about twenty minutes of changing days, dates and times (i didn't huff and puff too much) i really just wanted to get her out from under my feet.

As an opening gambit to start showing her the door, i asked her if she had any plans for the upcoming bank holiday y'know, weekend away in the country house, or whatever (which would lead me nicely into the "i've-got-tons-of-stuff-to-do-because-i'm-outta-here-from-wednesday-afternoon-so-kindly-button it- and-leave-me-alone" routine)

She wasn't having any of it ...

"Ohh noo, i'm just staying home with the dog in front of the t.v...there's nothing worth watching really but it keeps me company. My son doesn't come to visit me any more and my husband's an unfaithful bastard who's run off with his 25 yr old secretary"

"Ooops" i thought as i started shuffling paper from the in-tray to the out-tray and back again ...

" aaaaaannnd she's the same age as our daughter i'll have you know..."