There are two TV shows that I can hardly bear to watch – Utopia and The Hollowmen. Both are basically my previous workplace. The writers of those shows must have great connections in the public service. Anyway, twenty years later, it’s still too raw. I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue is similar in close-to-the-bone satirical tone. The author captures the mild (and not so mild) irritations associated with colleagues, workplace culture and the fact that we spend a good portion of our day with people that we might actively avoid ‘on the outside’.

The thing about annoyance is that once there’s a spark, you can find more things to stoke it.

We meet Jolene – disgruntled, depressed (although she doesn’t label it as such), seething. She loathes the people she works with, especially her manager.

He nods and names everyone he passes like the damn president of Clown Town. Continue reading →