The Ruth Whenham book collection is now available at Marston Vale Country Park Forest Centre and Fairies n Frogs in Ampthill. The full list of local stockists is available here!.

It’s been two years since I left my office-based career in the NHS well and truly behind me.  One of the first pieces of writing I completed at that time was a poem entitled Office Tick-tock. I was reminded of it again recently when, out of the blue, I received some lovely feedback from a poet in Louisiana. I thought it was due another brief moment in the spotlight of my blog.

Office tick-tock

Chit-chat, tappity tap.
Skirts flirting with shirts.
Geeks gazing at datasheets
 - the office is a buzz.

Kettles whistling, printers whirring,
'Go Slow' in the corner's stirring!
Footfall in the corridor.
We've all heard that clip-clop before.

Big bellied boss blusters in.
Brainstorm this.
Blue sky that.
Create, debate, update, regenerate.

Projected, rejected profit profiles.
We couldn't give a fax a-budget!
Everyone knows that management fudge it.

Tick-tock, as one we watch the clock.

Quick as a flash, people dash.
Files are filed.
Switches are switched.
Teacups flung, coats unhung.

Desks deserted.
The buzz, buzzed off.
Until tomorrow...
Tick-tock, tick tock.