is that alright?

(in a british accent)

it's amazing how the brits always manage to talk their way out of anything. 

last night i was telling d about a conversation in the office. my brit boss was on the phone with the bankers. he was about to reject a transaction. he starts off really friendly, "you alright? have you fallen off the roof yet?" (no idea what that means but it was friendly banter). and then he goes on to qualify how he has not been as close to the deal as his colleagues (i.e. juniors) but in the nutshell it is pretty rubbish deal. after about a minute spent breaking the bad news, he goes, "is that alright?" as if nothing bad happened. poor banker on the phone had no choice but to agree. of course i've heard this many times before, usually after you've been given some negative feedback, or some complicated task, but never quite thought about the power of these magic words. 

today, it was my turn to get tricked. i was trying to arrange a temporary blackberry for when i work in singapore later in the year. but somehow, the conversation deteriorated very quickly, and the subject became getting a permanent device. the flattery begins... you work so hard anywya, always in the office waiting for emails, logging in from home, a bb would be good for you, you can reply emails from home, work harder, clear emails on your way to work, etc etc.... IS THAT ALRIGHT? and what could i say. 

magic words, those. only if said in a brit accent. i need to learn. for now, goodbye life. up until now, i could completely erase everything work related as i walked through the main doors. walking through the doors again the next morning everything would suddenly come rushing back to me, just minutes before i plonk myself in front of my computer and open my inbox. i guess that's no more to be. owell.