‘What have you been doing all day?’ Hot Danish wasn’t being judgmental. He was worried I was bored. To be honest I’m enjoying my new routine – I go for a run in the Vondelpark; write a few emails; run a few errands; lie in the park (actually I gave up after the second day of getting a headache); emails; prepare dinner. I feel like a kid playing at housewife. I have started my job search and have opened my Dutch beginner’s course book (admittedly my racy novel set in 17th century Amsterdam is a lot more interesting) but who really believes any unemployed person who says they spend their whole day job hunting anyway? ‘I wish I was at home now – pottering about, baking… Hmmm, bliss. Work is overrated,’ one of my friends emailed from her workplace.
‘Got a job yet?’ Plan B emailed from his office after requesting some London-based work team night out suggestions.
‘I’ll let you know when I even get an interview,’ I replied. Apparently HD’s secretary has asked what I’m doing here. Natasha, on the other hand, has been tactful, ‘I don’t want to keep asking you about job hunting as it may get annoying for you, so I’ll wait to hear any updates.’
HD has started asking me if anything funny happened during the day while he’s been at work. It is like asking an out-of-work comedian to tell a joke. However, it reminded me of my mum’s phone conversation I once overheard. ‘I’ve been washing up… I did some food shopping… WLG is fine… Yes, the cats are fine… Yes, the door’s fine.’ (Her friend had fixed her door.)
HD wasn’t feeling well this week. I made him a curry – chilli and garlic would be good for a cold and fever – but I’d forgotten to buy him some medicine. The next morning he wrote ‘STREPSILS (buy at pharmacy)’ on a piece of paper before he kissed me and left, coughing, for work. Note to self: must try harder.
