Tim, an associate-to-be, accepted a new role just before the end of the financial year. After spending the last ten days of June covertly making the move using techniques reminiscent of sneaking out of the house as a teenager, he is ready to go back-to-back on a job change - once his notice period runs out.

Tim used two sick days to attend interviews, which she validated by joking to friends that she was sick, "sick of my job that is, haha". The comment had been received to a mix of chagrined smiles and supportive nods. 

The job has set a start date of 17 July, which means that Tim will have accrued just enough leave by the Christmas holidays to take ten days off.

His plans?

Flying to the exotic lands of Rockhampton where his parents require an annual visit laden with the guilt that he does not call his grandparents enough.

Tim gave up trying to explain to his mum that Christmas in Rocky stressed him out more than a solo elevator ride with a senior partner. In fact, last year, he begrudgingly accepted that despite being 29 years old, he will continue to sit at the "kids table" with his primary school aged nieces until further notice.

"I am thinking ahead though" he shared over coffee, pulling out his phone calendar.

"If I tell everyone I have COVID in April next year, I'll get all the public holidays with some extra sick leave thrown in. Then I can actually spend my time off the way I want. Binge watching TV shows in my boxers and ordering enough food to my door that my delivery driver thinks I'm having a party."

"Success to me is securing time alone. Especially after I will have used my paid vacation in a dustbowl being told that I need to get a girlfriend, a haircut, and should have voted a certain way on the referendum."

"I'm so looking forward to my lounge room being a bach-pad for one!"

Tim's housemate could not be reached for comment.

Author: Ryan Aikens (pseudonym) | Editor: Dana Heriot