The staff party...

Dear Diary,

So anyway, I should have been bustin' my ass for the old ball and chain today, my only one day off a week, so I should have been working. Anyhow, Chairlady Mao called, wanting me to look at some paper on organic chemsistry then electric vehicles in Hong Kong (which, like the paper I edited on Wuhan some months ago was essentially an exercise in propaganda masquerading as well-being: it's political).

Anyhow, I went to some dive this evening and played some music. They were all pretty cool actually, even the 20 year old burd that can't sing for toffee that all the 40 something blokes enourage her (for less than honourable motives, myself included). Anyway, she seemed to be interested, having followed me outside, but I ignored her, being much more interested in a luthier, an instrument maker, that also happened to be pretty cool. Sure enough said young lady with her fine rack and slim posterior soon shacked up with another man, her age, which is for the better.

Then came the "staff party". I tried my best to contribute, after a long walk in the rain, to no avail.

I'm crap at poker, so lost (despite my crash course in psychology after 11 pints of 8% cider and beer...). I had a head start.

There was, however, one moment when I was translating Latin in front of them, and the big boss and his younger thug brother were there, and I said, truthfully, "Do you know what this book is I'm translating from Latin? It is a book on astrology, the only one of its kind. It is a gap in the market, which means I have a monopoly on its translation, and which also means I am destined to never have to take orders from you people, ever again." The look on their faces was priceless: from dictators with absolute power to nobodies working in fast food. I would be dishonest if I said I didn't savour this particular moment...

Never mind these brainless brutes calling me a "fucking 'master'". They all wore their caps, uniform and McDonald's outfits this evening (I wore a suit, of course), and they always will wear that "livery". I however, tread a different course, one of knowledge, wisdom and success.

Max.