In Times Which Seem Like Self-Psychotherapy He Says To Himself:Oh, Vienna

Novel: Times 1–4, Chapter 57 I also need to know a little of the Russian language

We work on Saturday morning, the environment is more relaxed than during the week days, but we still move on at quite a pace. We are designing, pricing, preparing specifications and drawings; all of this to be coordinated, and pulled together into a formal presentation.

I will be leading the presentation team in St Petersburg, I need to know the detail, I also need to know a little of the Russian language, and something of their culture. I spend all day Sunday on the Internet, letting the Google and Wikipedia facts soak into my almost overflowing brain.

Monday to Thursday goes by very quickly, I am back in my office in Vienna by Friday lunchtime, I meet with my directors, to update them on our progress. They are pleased with how the job is panning out, but say that I will have to return to Berlin for two more weeks, also this time I will have to take a colleague with me.

They introduce me to Alexandria, who as it happens speaks fluent Russian, she is a first class lawyer; we are dispatched from the boardroom to spend the afternoon together. Alexandria is determined to get up to speed quickly, she interrogates…