The door burst open and Carol, the pool secretary stood looking desolately at me.  “Oh Gordon” she whined “I just can’t tell you how sorry I am”

“I’m fine, no really I am, just fine” I enthused

Carol’s face gazed forlornly at me as I sat clearing my desk of the day to day clutter that somehow makes you feel at home in the office.  “Have you got yourself another job then?” she queried entering the office and pulling up a spare chair.

“Not exactly, but plenty of irons in the fire” I replied “just not sure whereabouts I want to work”

“But you’re alright like,…….. only Mike Thomspon was quite upset last week when he went” she reminded me.

“Yea I remember” boy who could forget, he was escorted screaming and crying from the building, what a complete embarrassment.  “Anyway, mine’s more voluntary, than compulsory” I reminded her, as another personalized mouse mat went into the box.  “Anyway must get on”

“But you are alright?” she interrogated.

“I’m fine, honest” I replied

“Well, if you’re sure.  Do let me give you my home email address, only my Dave has contacts you know, he can help you get an interview if you’re having problems”.  She continued

“I’m not having problems Carol, really I’m fine, abso-bloody-lutely  fine, OK”

Carol marched off, glancing sorrowfully over her shoulder at me.  But the truth of the matter was, I really was fine, in fact I was better than fine, I was ecstatic.  I was finally in love.  Let me explain.

‘Life’s a funny old thing’ my Dad always used to say ‘just when you think you have it sorted, it takes a turn and throws you on your bum’.  Not exactly Shakespeare, but I was beginning to see what he meant. 

I had spent all my entire life trying to be someone important.  I studied hard at school, passed all my exams and when onto to Bristol University. It is situated in the heart of Bristol, one of England's most attractive cities. Its great Gothic tower dominates the Bristol skyline and makes you feel so very special.  I worked whenever I could helping to crew any old vessel that was desperate enough to hire me and also did a couple of evenings at the Citizens Advice Center.  It left limited time to study but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Work I have always felt, is such an anti climax to studying for it.  Suddenly all the fun goes out of it.  Gone were the late nights and lazy mornings, to be replaced with hectic running for the train and imaginative excuses for being late.  But I felt I had made it.  It wasn’t the very best law firm in Bristol but one that was renowned for turning out good lawyers.  I finished my training and was offered a position, I naturally took it.  I hadn’t intended to spend my life in Company Law, but it was where the money was.  I visualized myself in the future, Senior Partner with at least two secretaries running around after me and numerous assistants doing all the work while I raked in the money.  Dreams……Instead, I made it to the heady position of Senior Assistant, still the money was starting to roll in, and I got an office to myself.

It was while moving offices that I first met Nina, she had been sent to make sure I settled down ok, and that I knew the pecking order on the floor.  She advised me that I always had to go through the co-ordinator if I wanted any work done otherwise all hell was let loose.  I tested it, and sure enough Nina was quite correct.  Nina was allocated to be more or less my secretary.  We started to have lunch together and as things do one thing led to another.  Of course I had been warned never to screw your secretary if she is any good, as trying to replace a good secretary can be very difficult.  But there was something about Nina that just stole my heart away.  We just seemed to fit in everyway possible, we liked the same sort of expensive holidays, liked the same classy food, and liked the same classical music.  Or at least I thought we did until the moment when she left me and run off with Eric the messenger.  They both left the firm to travel the world in his beat up camper van.  I had never seen Nina look so happy.  I was speechless and inconsolable.  It was something I would have loved to do but never considered or even thought to ask Nina if she would.

But of course the law has no time for emotions and client’s needs are far greater then ones own.  I threw myself back into the fray and got used to Olga the Orc, my new secretary. 

But I talked of love earlier and have so far found and lost it.  My new love came to me in a most peculiar way.  It was at the firm’s summer ball.

The ball was to be held at the Harbourside Centre which has “tantalizing tropical reefs in the inner city rainforest and a dramatically themed Wildwalk Foyer” – or so the hype said, but it did have a roof top terrace barbecue and I am just a sucker for a barbecue. I dug out my tuxedo and booked a room at the local hotel to save the worry of getting home.  Needless to say, the venue was packed and each of “us” senior staff was allocated a dinner table to be head of.  I was with facilities.  Not so bad I thought.  The table was placed by the side of the roof garden which gave views over the water.  The topics of discussion grew steadily worse as the wine flowed and my imagination was stretched to the limit when listening to an account of Suzie and her pet snake.  I gazed around the place to see how the others where fairing that’s when I first saw her.

Just outside the venue was the brightly lit marina,  her bow kept catching the light as she sat bobbing up and down in the water.  I could see her mast standing proud of everyone else’s and she looked just beautiful.  I made of note of where she was in the marina, and rushed through the rest of the evening.  I have to say though the roof top barbecue was delicious.

I had set the alarm to go off at 6am as I wanted the chance to see her in the daylight.  I woke up at 5-30 and was standing by her side ten minutes before the alarm was due to go off.  My heart missed a beat, she was amazing.  None of that modern moulded plastic that they use today, but good old fashioned wood. Painted on her side was the name “Willow” and on the decks red sails lay rolled up.  I noticed a sign on the cabin window it read “For Sale, 30 foot canoe sterned auxiliary gaff cutter  £34,950.” Please phone Bristol 455689.”  I scribbled down the number.
Back at my desk later in the morning, I kept thinking about her.  The only problem was the money.  £35,000 give or take 50 quid I thought, I just didn’t have that sort of money put by.

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t poor, my apartment was all paid for, likewise the BMW I drove but £35,000 going spare I didn’t have.  Now this is where life turned round and knocked me on my bum.  I was called into the Senior Partners office and informed that due to the recession  and the slow movement of company problems, they were going to make drastic cuts across the firm.  Some people, he informed me, had already been selected for the axe but others, could, if they wanted, take voluntary redundancy.

The lawyer in me insisted on all the details and benefits I would get if I was to choose to leave.  As luck and providence would have it, it worked out very beneficial indeed.

I phoned the Bristol number that afternoon and made an offer on Willow.  It was accepted. 

Our first date went extremely well and I spent my time wandering around her decks and looking at her plush interior.  She had two cabins, a well appointed galley and there was also little section on deck especially for barbecues.  We have been inseparable ever since our first date together and have traveled right down the Mediterranean to Spain and along the  Italian coast and believe it or not we really do like the same music, places and food. 

Love can be a strange thing and I wonder just where I would be right now if Nina hadn’t run off with Eric.  I would like to see her one more time just to say thank you for giving me this wonderful gift of Willow.  Anyway, just recently Willow and I met a very pretty girl when we sailed around the Greek islands.  Next year we hope to see her again and who knows.

My new job I hear you ask, well it’s hard to explain, I guess I don’t really do anything.  I rent the flat out which gives me a modest income and I sold the car and bought a nice little pushbike.  In Spain, I often take some of the not so fortunate kids out to see the dolphins, what a joy.

When I am in Bristol, I take a few folks out from the Old Codgers Club for a trip around the coastline, the look on their faces when the gentle sea breeze lifts their spirits is worth far more money than I could ever earn in law.  It may not be the most important job in the world but I am at my most happiest.