1/ This afternoon's WFH film is Aliens vs Predator. I saw this at the cinema in the middle of the day. I was off work with severe back pain and decided that a couple of hours in a comfy chair couldn't hurt (I was right).

My boss however, wasn't best impressed when he tried to...

2/ call me at home and I didn't answer. Tried to have up me on a disciplinary because he was a classic workplace bully. I went into the meeting, sat down and when he said "Well, how are you going to explain this one away, then? You're off sick, you should be at home." I handed...

3/ I said nothing. Just slid a piece of paper across the table to the HR rep who was in the meeting. It was a letter from the hospital following my discharge with suggestions on how best to heal my back. It instructed against staying in all day. I should take regular walks...

4/ and get out of the house in frequent small bursts. It advised against lying down all day, saying sitting would actually be far more beneficial, especially in a chair with good back support. Suggestions for healthy ways to spend my time included short walks, interspersed...

5/ with periods of sitting somewhere "like a cafe or a cinema."

HR person put the letter down, turned to me and said "I'm sorry. This disciplinary is cancelled. You can go back to your desk."

Bully boss followed me.

"Not you," said the HR person.

When I got back to my desk...

6/ I noticed his boss taking a call. She then got up and went into the meeting room.

It was an incredibly satisfying moment.

I'd love to say that the bullying stopped there, but I had to make a further complaint against him before it did. And the feedback I received from that?

7/ "He's very sorry. He was mortified when I spoke with him as he didn't even realise he was doing it. It won't happen again."

I also recall when I sat in the cinema watching AvP that I had terrible toothache and I kept prodding at the swollen gum with the straw from my drink...

8/ And then the abscess burst. Inside my mouth.

The pain relief was almost instant, but the taste and the smell were not pleasant! There was much wiping away of blood and pus with paper towels.

The circumstances of watching it this time are much nicer.