Prelude 4 - New Years Eve, 2006

I fly out of Heathrow.

Prelude 3 - 3 months before the end of calendar year 2006, CityPoint, London UK

I give notice. The partners, I have to say, are not hugely surprised. I tell them I’m taking a year off to just travel and cook and I’m not going back to the law. The partners don’t really get that bit.

Prelude 2 - Easter 2006, Hotel Brighton, Paris, France

I am trying to get to the coffee. My dad is between me and the coffee and this is making me even more cranky than I would normally be in the mornings (and after 10 years of getting up to face clients, opposing counsel and my secretary, I have become extremely unlikable pre-caffeine).

He appears to be talking to me.

“... concerned... you’re not happy... mother and I… something something something…”

I heard this before, it is a conversation that never goes anywhere. Today, driven to respond so that I can get to the plunger, I turn around and say “Fine, I’m very unhappy, I hate my job, I’m always inside the office, I only meet other professionals, my most enlightening conversations are with the cat, and I can’t work out where I made the pivotal decision that resulted in my life being so fucked up.”

He looks confused.

“Why don’t you leave then?”

I tell him I will. And I get my coffee.