THE ELLA CHRONICLES
MY CLIENT HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE SOME ANNUAL LEAVE
25TH MARCH 2021
So, the Ella Chronicles continues...
Those of you that have followed these episodes to date, will know my new pro bono client has extremely high standards and recently onboarded a new agency partner. It was a nervous period, I won't lie, I really did feel that now was the time to turn up the va va vroom and show her what I was made of.
Well, I came out the other side unscathed, and with my client in tow, phew. It was enough to keep the FD (aka my husband) at bay. However just as we're all playing nice and getting settled into our new cadence of loop team calls and meetings, she has now decided it's time to take an extended three week holiday to recuperate. Nice for some huh?
Ok, too judgmental perhaps...
It's been intense to be fair. I've seen her patience slowly wearing thin. She's getting ruffled at even the smallest slip up or typo, or if lunch wasn't quite up to her standards - we're in lockdown babe, cut me some slack. Clearly the pressure is getting to her and when the signs are there, I've learnt to heed them!
Anyhow, a holiday will do her good I reckon. It also means we can, ahem, put a few of the required deliverables on the simmer for a bit. The weekly WIP suddenly looks more palatable and we could all take a break from the relentless pace of the weekly catch up calls.
Before she signed off for her annual leave however, my client Ella was very clear about what she needed us to progress whilst she was away. Call it her handover notes...
Me: Of course Ella, whatever you need. I really do want you to enjoy your break so consider your every wish my command. In fact, you will be pleased to know that I've already got the Easter Egg Hunt planned for the bank holiday weekend and you're booked into Holiday Club for two days.
Me: I try.
Truth be told, I am very pleased she is taking a break. This year has been a real hard slog. Not only has she had to deal with me as a pseudo-teacher and part-time mother, but she's had to swiftly adjust to her new agency partner (primary school) with ease. And she has. Totally unflappable, she's taken all of this in her stride.
My client Ella teaches me so much about resilience and adaptability. Change can be scary for us adults, but not for Ella. Her innocence braces her for any type of eventuality. She seemingly glides through life and takes whatever the dice throws. I love that about my client. She reminds me that we can grab joy from the smallest things and that life is here to test our wits.
As for Easter, we'll continue making our own fun, and eating our bodyweight in chocolate.