Title says it all really. Was having a rubbish day having had our cat of 18 years put to sleep. Fell over a tree branch on a dark street on the way home having gone out for a meal (couldn’t quite face going home to an empty house without her there).
Visible cut to lip, some grazing to cheekbone and both hands are cut up.
Meeting colleagues I’ve been working with remotely for the last 18 months having not met them in person. At least one of them knows the cat was put down yesterday so can’t pull a sickie to get away with it.
I am a woman so at least thank God some make up is an option, but I look (and frankly feel) like a hot mess.
Advice?
24 comments
It’s fine, Make up will hide it all and you can explain to them your not feeling great and reasons.
Tell them what happened to you? Or am I missing something?
Just say what happened. Seriously you’ll just joke about what bad luck you had. They won’t think you’re the Yorkshire ripper.
Not like your walking in looking like a panda with two black eyes now are yah. Just explain that your clumsy and tripped over something whilst having a bad day. They will laugh and forget about it within an hour.
If they ask you what happened just say that the first two rules mean you can’t talk about it.
I wouldn’t worry about it. It’ll be a good talking point and an ice breaker.
I once had to give a presentation to 30 people one Monday after a weekend where I drunkenly face-planted a patio while kicking a football and got myself a fat lip.
Aww I’m sorry to hear about your kitty, I’ll be devastated when anything happens to my little beauty.
I’d say just be honest, you were feeling a bit out of sorts not looking where you were going and tripped over, I presume you’ve had video calls with these people before so not like they’ve seen you with a battered face every week and will think your spouse is beating you or that you’re some arsehole that goes around getting into fights in pubs.
Hope you feel better soon.
No analysis or waffle needed. Today will be gone tomorrow. New day, new things to talk about.
Tell them what happened to you, make a joke of it, tell the story. People will like you more and it wont appear as weird as just ignoring the face you look like you were sat behind Mike Tyson on that flight.
Outfit you feel comfy and confident in, makeup if you feel like it (but be careful using products on broken skin, most of us do not clean our products or brushes anywhere near enough), explain what happened and unless they’re monsters they’ll be sympathetic. If you want to lighten the mood/move the topic away from your loss there’s a half hearted joke about it being sods law you fall over the day before meeting them.
So sorry for your loss
“My cat died yesterday, and I tripped over in the street later and buggered up my face/hands. It was a REALLY SHITTY day”
Don’t go overboard with the makeup. Makeup on injuries always goes weird and crusty, making you look and feel worse. Just own the misery.
(I’m sorry you’ve had such a horrible day, friend)
Just be honest, I’d say. I think people still know how to be polite, professional and respectful for the most part.
Or, if you want to have fun with it, tell them someone borrowed your pen/scissors/stapler and didn’t give it back, and your marks are as far as they got in their self-defence efforts.
I’m so sorry about your cat. Any of your colleagues who are worth knowing will understand how awful you feel so don’t be afraid to say something. Your colleagues are likely nervous about meeting too so chances are if you can’t make a joke of the fall, you’ll make them feel loads more comfortable because they won’t have to be the first to say something interesting. If you do make tripping up a funny sorry then don’t talk about your cat last, or everyone will feel bad for laughing. This time tomorrow you’ll have got through this. Hope it goes well.
If they ask, tell them it’s classified.
thinking about it. ive never really noticed someone having a “bad day” looks wise. i mainly just worry about myself. that’s the british way. they’re all probably having the same worry
The main fear that a few of them will have is that you could be a victim of domestic violence, as you’ve probably guessed. Whenever I’ve gone into work with a visible injury, I’ve usually joked about it and said that I *wish* there was an interesting story involving (cool and dramatic events here), but unfortunately I just (extremely mundane explanation here, usually involving me doing something ridiculous).
Don’t worry about make-up; just wear a mask.
I’m sorry about your cat. I know how it feels, and how difficult it is to adjust to life without them. As for your face, I’d just explain. One of my colleagues had both arms in a cast and cuts to her face when we first met. It ended up being quite a good icebreaker and led to a really productive meeting.
“Don’t worry. You should see the other guy”
Skiing injury
Tell the truth? I have no idea why you think you need to lie about this sequence of events.
Don’t say anything except ‘I’m not allowed to talk about it’
First rule of fight club…
Had a similar experience. In 2005 I started a new job, met some colleagues at my local and walked home. Got jumped by a few twats, busted nose and 2 black eyes. Just have to explain it as it is realy.
Thanks to you all for advice. I was really anxious about it (and trains being delayed through Farringdon this morning really didn’t help – so I turned up both banged up, and late). I was honest about what happened and as it turned out my new colleagues were pretty nice about it. Appreciate both the well meant advice, and the humour. Thanks guys!