Travel plans

[darkemeralds]

*biting nails*

I just requested vacation time* for my proposed trip to the UK. Waiting nervously now for my boss to do his usual waffling, "gee, I don't know if we can really commit to letting you be gone for three weeks" song and dance. I always suspect that he's waiting to see if a more legitimate person** in the office has a more legitimate need*** for vacation at the time I'm requesting.

Everyone think good thoughts, 'kay?

*August 18 through September 6
**Which is to say male and/or married
***Involving children

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

*crosses fingers*

[tehomet]

^^ That was me, sorry.

[darkemeralds]

Ah! Thanks for the finger-crossing. I've never worked in a place where they were stingier with the vacation requests. I've got hundreds of hours on the books, and lots of workaholics coworkers have hundreds more than I do, but TPTB would love it if we'd just forfeit, I think.

[tehomet]

I mean, no offence, but you're American so you get hardly any leave as it is. *shakes fist* I have zillions of American cousins and one of them came to visit a couple of years ago. She had great difficulty getting a whole week off to visit another continent. We were all horrified.

I'm Irish and I get five weeks plus Christmas plus bank holidays - I think it's about seven weeks all told, and I would get more if I got promoted. I have German friends who get three months off a year. :) We should all move to Germany.

But seriously... how can anyone work effectively if they don't take their leave?

[darkemeralds]

Yeah, as a public-sector employee with some seniority, I'm way up in the ranks of American vacation-havers, and I earn three weeks a year (plus official holidays) after 20 years' service. It's absolutely insane.

[branchandroot]

*thinks good thoughts for you and boot-to-the-head thoughts for your boss*

[darkemeralds]

LOL! Well, thanks.

[executrix]

If you're back to feeling the printed-word love, save a few days for Hay-on-Wye! Or, maybe Hay-on-Wye will kick-start it again!

[darkemeralds]

Wow. My father would have LOVED that place!

[(Anonymous)]

You're coming over? Whereabouts will you be?

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry, that was me, Cathy, harmanhay.

[darkemeralds]

oh! I was planning to email you and see what the odds might be of a meet-up. I'm going to be in London and points south for a week or so before flying up to Glasgow to stay with Kispexi and her family. The timing is awfully close to when you'll be going to Haiti with Misha, but if there's a chance we might meet, I would be so thrilled.

[darkemeralds]

London for a week, and then Glasgow. I'm hoping to get some meet-ups organized while I'm in London.

[kis]

Anyone with a job and a kid isn't going to want a three-week vacation! The job is the vacation!

[darkemeralds]

That's probably true, but if my being gone for three weeks would inconvenience the more acceptable people on the team,...well, I'm letting my fear and paranoia make me anxious. The boss approved almost as long a vacation last year at the same time. It's the travel part--the non-refundable tickets, etc. --that get my anxiety up.

[kis]

**nods** Some bosses are such asses about agreeing leave. My brother (the postie) has a terrible time getting his holidays settled. They keep him hanging for months.

[darkemeralds]

I'll play the family card in another few days if I don't get a response.

[kis]

Good plan!

[altariel]

Hope you'll think of a day trip to Cambridge, would be awesome to welcome you here.

[darkemeralds]

Really? Oh, that would be such a treat! I've never been to Cambridge and would love to see it and meet you.

I will include it in my plans, and consult your schedule, as soon as I get the actual vacation approval. Thank you! What a wonderful suggestion.

[altariel]

It's about an hour from central London by train. Would be amazing if you came, wonderful to meet you.

[vampirefan]

omg exciting!!!! \o/

and don't let them make you feel guilty or anything! you deserve your vacation time!!

i've always had to remind my bosses when i was going to take vacation. they would say yes, i would book my tickets and almost inevitably, one of them would schedule a business trip at the same time and would act surprised when i would remind them that they approved my vacation. they would always get this look in their eyes, like they were about to ask if i could postpone/reschedule and before they could open their mouths i would say: non-refundable plane tickets/event tickets at my destination/meeting friends there/CANNOT CHANGE MY PLANS. and that would be that. until the next time we'd have the same conversation again. lol!

[darkemeralds]

I figure I'll take the trip as planned one way or another! Bosses are funny creatures. I don't get them at all.