Mind the Gap!

Most people have heard of 'writers block' but there is a lesser form of this that I read about. Instead of their minds being a total blank, there's just a moment's pause - a soupçon of hesitation right before they release the technicolor scenes, characters and plots that have been brewed in their imagination pot. It's referred to as 'the gap'.

I think I have this... as I my brain seems to stop frequently.

Today I proudly announced the cancellation of a non-cancelled course. I telephoned the delegate and this is what happened:

[porridge for brains] - ah good morning, soon to be distressed listener. You know that course you booked onto? Well I'm cancelling it.

[distressed listener] - oh, oh right. That's a shame.

[porridge for brains] - yes we're all terribly disappointed too, but there simply wasn't enough interest. We did try out bests, but sadly we've taken the decision to cancel.

[distressed listener] - ... and so soon!

*** brain processing pause*** - result = nothing

[porridge for brains] - we did try to hold off as long as possible before cancelling. I'm sorry about the short notice. In hindsight, I should've called you sooner.

*** silence ***

[porridge for brains] - well I'll keep you posted if it gets rescheduled. Thank you for your interest.

*** call ends ***

[porridge for brains] to [belly bulge - a pregnant colleague] - She was a bit sarcastic... cheeky mare!

I shrugged it off and thought nothing more about it until I was processing the cancellations and discovered that I'd phoned and cancelled a booking for MAY! No wonder she was confused and couldn't understand why I was cancelling it so soon. Sheepishly I had to phone her back and explain - her response was a relief although it did smart a bit. She laughed very loudly and kept apologising for laughing. It seems that I made her day. Her closing comment - "you couldn't write stuff funnier than this, huh?"...

I shouldn't be allowed to talk to people, its a hazard my ego finds hard to cope with and leaves my 'gap' painfully on display.