Day 28: Hasta la vista, ferret

I arrived at work bright and early this morning to find that my team members are still ill and project meeting that was meant to happen yesterday has been postponed again to Monday morning. These germs must be lethal... Lucky I got that travel insurance, huh?

Okay, so I'm not that much of a germaphobe!

Just to be careful, my mum suggested that I buy hand sanitizer during our last-minute dash around the shops. I owe you one, Mum!

Instead of staying in my room and becoming paranoid about catching something, I went into the university and spent all day working on proofreading tasks. Most of the work formed part of my internship (editing the university brochure, the website etc.) but some tasks were for my other content managing job and a few odd bits and pieces here and there. I really do enjoy proofreading but I need to pace myself a bit otherwise someone may have to proofread what I proofread which would be a potentially painful proofreading problem. I think the word has got round that a native English speaker is working in the university and now suddenly everyone wants me to proof their translations. Quite a resourceful move on their behalf, I must say.

After working hard for about 5 hours straight (with a tea and cake break in the middle), I met up with my friend again: my ferret friend that is. I think she could sense I was in the flat. She hid in her cage, pretending to sleep. Whilst my friend was stroking her, I slowly walked closer to the cage. But who was going to make the first move? Her or me? It was just like watching one of those slow motion scenes in a film.

Kindergarten Cop: If Arnold can handle it, so can I! Man up, Gabrielle!

This is how the scenario would have gone if it were a film:

Gabrielle and Miss. Ferret turned their heads at the same time. Their eyes met and locked together. The ferret's look said it all [she couldn't talk afterall - duh!]

"Friends?"

I wouldn't say we are the best of friends just yet. I'm still slightly scared, I mean "shocked", that she is a ferret. I let her lick my hand. It's a start. She does have the cutest little face, little mouth and little paws... Maybe there's hope yet?

When I came home, the cupboards and coat racks were empty. My Latvian neighbours had moved out. It wasn't spontaneous; I knew they were leaving. I just didn't know how many essential things they were going to take with them. Like, erm, THE KETTLE! No kettle, no tea. How on earth will I survive? There's only one way to solve this problem. I'm off to make a fire outside. Needs must, right?