Marseille

I'm in Marseille. My first time. On business. It makes a change that one of our offices is in a sunny and picturesque place. And so this evening I spent the evening dining on a restaurant on a boat in a harbour full of yachts, trying to understand French.

My two colleagues A and A are both French and hence have no problem conversing with the local office - most of whom speak very little English. It's rather uncomfortable to be mute on a business trip - where ordinarily I would rely on my own communication skills to get my work done and to get a point across. Now I have to "be translated".

Apart from meaning every important meeting runs at half speed (while the translation goes back and forth) it is strangely dis-empowering (if that is the word). The translator drives the meeting.

Still, it's great to listen to the French, pick up some new words and try desperately to piece them together mentally.

It all makes a nice change from the office in London. No harbour view there.