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May. 3rd, 2006 03:43 pmArriving on the office floor, I spotted Happy 40th Birthday balloons and bunting all over Carolyn's booth. We were called for a group hug at the start of the shift; Val told us it wasn't anything work-related, just to wish Carolyn a happy 40th and present her with a big bottle of wine and some smellies. Sarah #1 wanted to sing Happy Birthday To You to her, but Val stopped that, pointing out "Penny's on the phone." Carolyn's birthday was actually on Saturday, but today was her last shift before she went off for a break in Turkey.
On the nibbles table there were a dozen eclairs, two boxes of cold vanilla slices, and mini donuts with dip, with a sign saying 'Generously provided by Carolyn' and a footnote in red '(Only for people over 40!)' I'd already scoffed a vanilla slice and an eclair before I saw the sign - whoops! Thankfully, my birthday wasn't forgotten - there was also a plate of chocolate brownies and a plate of chocolate cornflake cakes by the notice board, which had 'Happy birthday Wilhelmus' in red along the top and was festooned with party streamers.
By the time I started my last interview, I was starting to think I wasn't going to get a card, that perhaps whoever was bringing it in didn't know I was off work tomorrow. I should have known the girls wouldn't let me down - at 2.15 Christine #1 came up to me and handed me the card. I was still interviewing, with one more person to do, at 2.30 so didn't get to say goodbyes, but as Carole walked past me she said 'Happy birthday' (aww, sweet). I managed to mouth 'Thank you' while the lady I was talking to answered a question.
Finished at 2.50, said my goodbyes to Val, Christines #1 and #3 and Phil, all of whom wished me a happy birthday and my mother good luck in tomorrow's Council election. I confessed mock-world-wearily to Christine #3 that I'll be 35 - she replied "You're still a youngster." Bless her. Then chatted to an Aussie girl, and hurriedly remembered to enter my payclaim for the bank holiday, as I waited for Sarah #2.
On the nibbles table there were a dozen eclairs, two boxes of cold vanilla slices, and mini donuts with dip, with a sign saying 'Generously provided by Carolyn' and a footnote in red '(Only for people over 40!)' I'd already scoffed a vanilla slice and an eclair before I saw the sign - whoops! Thankfully, my birthday wasn't forgotten - there was also a plate of chocolate brownies and a plate of chocolate cornflake cakes by the notice board, which had 'Happy birthday Wilhelmus' in red along the top and was festooned with party streamers.
By the time I started my last interview, I was starting to think I wasn't going to get a card, that perhaps whoever was bringing it in didn't know I was off work tomorrow. I should have known the girls wouldn't let me down - at 2.15 Christine #1 came up to me and handed me the card. I was still interviewing, with one more person to do, at 2.30 so didn't get to say goodbyes, but as Carole walked past me she said 'Happy birthday' (aww, sweet). I managed to mouth 'Thank you' while the lady I was talking to answered a question.
Finished at 2.50, said my goodbyes to Val, Christines #1 and #3 and Phil, all of whom wished me a happy birthday and my mother good luck in tomorrow's Council election. I confessed mock-world-wearily to Christine #3 that I'll be 35 - she replied "You're still a youngster." Bless her. Then chatted to an Aussie girl, and hurriedly remembered to enter my payclaim for the bank holiday, as I waited for Sarah #2.
