oh bum what have I done?

[liarliarpantsonfire]

Sorry for the name change. I can't risk being outed.

I have cocked up dates big time and booked a family holiday when I'm suppoesed to be taking an important seminar at work. We have not had a family holiday for years (we're skint) and would lose all the money if we cancel at this stage.

If I fess up at work I would (rightly) never be forgiven for my total shambolic lack of organisation. Plus would be expected to cancel the holiday which would devastate the kids, dh and to an extent our marriage.

If I lie (invent a family emergency or funeral) I risk being discovered or suspected (what with the suntan an'all) but the seminar could be taken by someone else at a push.

Cancelling the seminar is not an option. It's an important part of a day that's been planned for ages, food, travel, venue etc etc

So what do I do..... help!!!

I would go with what katzg said... blame dh, defo mention 1/2 term etc.

I don't like the kama of invented funerals either. I thought I could give someone who has already died a second 'send off'

oh, I see - so they already know you are going on holiday the week before? Even harder to get away with a lie then I suspect?
Can you get back a day early or will flights not allow that?

think you would feel dreadful inventing something around a death/funeral - all your colleagues being sympathetic, they'd be FUMING if they ever found out....

I used to work with a bloke who had been having an affair with another colleague for donkey's years (it's probably still going non now, 20 years later). He used any excuse in the book to avoid the subject of leaving his wife, and at least twice to my knowledge invented the death of a close relative (his monther in law, his sister in law) as a reason for not leaving home (ie his wife needed him, going through a terrible time etc.) What amazed me was that the girlfriend believed him!

as they are already aware you are going on hol, I think you should go in and say you have just got the tickets and you cannot believe the return date etc etc, you told dh blah blah.

Do you have a colleague who could cover for you at the conference?

I once printed 3000 tickets for a gig with the wrong date on, how my boss laughed .

Just to thoroughly ashame myself here. If I lied my story would be (before I leave) that I needed to travel with dh to see fil who lives abroad and is dieing. (he actually died a while ago but I didn't tell work). This would explain any tan and why I needed to be away for a week. It would also give me time to hand over the seminar.

Oh, I knew you would all tell me to tell the truth. And now I feel more mixed up because you are all right!!

In that case (post of 12:37:16) I would simply come back a day early. Bummer to lose a day of the holiday but to me it seems like the best solution. Yes, there'll be expense but not as bad as losing all your money.

Could you not come back a day early and the rest of the family return as planned. Then the only expense incurred would be one extra single ticket?

I'd lie. Call me a bad employee but I would.

I would say the plane was cocked up and not your fault .

fess up and deal with it i reckon.
Maybe you are projecting some of your stress onto the company.

You are allowed to make mistakes in life-- how you deal with it is the real test of who you are i reckon

i don't think i could cope with lying and then going back

If you do as much as you can prior to conference and get the other person well on your side then it is just a blip in ahopefully glittering career.
hth and good luck