A day of two halves

It started badly with a stand up shouting match between me and miserable M as he's made a mistake and is trying to blame me, when it is clear in black and white that he's in the wrong. I wouldn't have minded if he'd just put his hands up, admitted it and we'd carried on but he's lied about it to make out I'm the one who made the mistake to save his own skin and that I will not tolerate. However, I did not handle it well and the open plan environment well and truly worked against me as I lost my temper. When miserable M refused to come into a 'quiet' room with me to discuss it out of earshot of others, I saw red.

I ended up apologising to the rest of my colleagues who witnessed my outburst, going to see my HR lady and ringing my boss, as I could not pretend it had not happened. That said, everyone graciously accepted my apology and I think secretly one or two were delighted that someone had stood up to M for once.

I tried to bury the hatchet with him a while later and he grunted but I am fairly sure he'll not forget it as he is the type who forgets nothing and once crossed he will hold it against you forever. Eh well. I think I took back the moral high ground at the end (and I know I am in the right in the argument itself). However, it shook me up good and proper as I'm not one to lose my temper. Maybe once or twice a year, if that, and I really do not like doing so. I shake and it upsets me.

When I got home at lunchtime, I saw L who asked how I was and that set me off to crying so I quickly got a cab and headed into London on the train to get away from it all.

So, the second half of the day was great. I found the Penn Club on Bedford Place very easily and have a decent, basic single room for the night. After unpacking, I took the bus to the Royal Albert Hall and grabbed a bite to eat first.

We were up on the third floor with a bird's eye view and looking up I saw the wonderful mushrooms used to improve the acoustics all lit up (see blip). My niece P, who is 17, was playing violin in the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra at the Music For Youth Prom Concert alongside many other amazing school and youth musicians and singers. The variety was fabulous and the quality fantastic.

Margarita Taylor from Classicfm compered. It really was a super evening and all for £16. P's orchestra did the final Pomp & Circumstance, Land of Hope & Glory and we all had a good sing along. I notice the flags being waved by many of the children had the union flag on one side and some sort of Islamic flag on the other. A sign of the times methinks.

I then caught the bus back to the Penn Club where I hope to get a good night's sleep before Armistice Day tomorrow.