I'm coming home from work exhausted these days. Every day the bar seems to get higher.
'Tina' started with us on Wednesday, fresh-faced and smily and has given me so much inspiration already, confirming my belief in her being exactly right for the job. I do already worry though that the job is right for her. Would I drive for an hour each way to work with us? Hmmm, bset not to go there.
Tension have been higher since I persuaded D and J to meet up and talk about their issues, and it blew off in a huge (and very petty) argument in front of everyone on Wednesday. I need to consider very carefully how I react and deal with situations now, and that in itself is both unfamiliar and tiring.
Increasingly often, I find myself taking her side in their dispute because she is inevitably right and he is almost always inconsiderate and unfair. But that doesn't help. he has expressed feelings of isolation and despair at times, leading him to questionmy loyalty which, I suppose, should really lie with my business partner. But his emotional and professional immaturity worries me a lot, and his lack of respect for the opinions and feelings of others is really becoming quite an issue.
But I will not take 'his side' in a situation where he is wrong, and I just need to work out how best to do this.
But Tina is great. I fear that our unreliable network and rather ragged systems are frustrating her at the moment, though inevitably it is very early days.
There is a weird kind of 'bonding' going on already, and I came home from the office tonight with confusion in my head simply over her physical presence. It is as if we have known each other for years. Sometimes, 'familiarity' can be very unsettling and I'm well aware of how to deal with it from my point of view. She's very forthright, and wants to talk through design and layout issues rather than sit and be left to get on with it.
And she's very tactile, which is also a little disturbing on the first lap.
If I were more perceptive, I could probably read somethng in her appearance, which was this morning totally different from the first day. Not that I mind the four-inch heel kinky boots and the cleavage, but it could maybe ask a few questions...

Good atmosphere this afternoon with four of us together, and perhaps the first time too that I have really had time to sit and talk with 'Paul' our distribution manager. Wicked sense of humour and a very amiable Cockney, absolutely loving every minute of his job with u s and getting very involved with Nev, his nice new van.
It's all very exciting, very challenging but does worry me. I am concerned for the effect this fundamental instability with D might have on everyone else and feel I need to step up and deal with it. he has challenged me to 'manage' him too and so I have taken on the title MD, but I need to find the most effective way of persuading him to respond to criticism, instruction and systematic practice.

It was very satisfying to look up from my desk yesterday and survey the growing world of WD. Four members of staff now, and relationships between them coming into play. Responsibility gives life such inspirational added value.

Cell tonight. It kind of drifts along. Like Woolworth's I think. At the moment, my faith is solid and there, comfortable and dependable. I know where I am with it, and enjoyed the restorative prayer and conversation this evening, but it is not a Big Deal.