"You are trying to do something that is not possible!" She exclaimed.

She was sitting under a skylight, and as she spoke a ray of sunlight burst through the clouds to illuminate her. I felt like nature was silently voicing its agreement. .

"It is not impossible." I retorted.

"220 people have done it. My aim is to make that number 221." My voice sounded more confident than I felt. It was going to be a monumental challenge.

I was standing in the office of Anna, our Spanish Accounts Manager. We were due to finalize the figures from the previous month, but it was early, on a Monday, and the coffee had yet to kick in. Our conversation had drifted to life outside of work.

This year I was due to sit for the the Master Sommelier Diploma, a series of three exams covering wine theory, blind tasting, and practical service. If I succeeded, there would be a new member of The Court of Master Sommeliers. It was a dream, but you can't follow your dreams. You have to chase them.

"Did you want to start with the invoices or the inboices?" I grinned as I changed the subject.

"Your terrible." she smiled in mock annoyance.

"You never stop do you?"

She was right. I rarely stopped, and with the amount wine I needed to cover before the exams I would need to keep going.

Further insights on the MS and life as a candidate will be forthcoming. Feel free to drop me a line if you are interested.