To Go To Melbourne, Or Not To Go?

My sister and her son are going to Melbourne for a short holiday. Naturally I am happy for them. It’s summer. I imagine that the weather in Melbourne must be really hot, which is the way I like.

My sister asks me to come along. So far I've never given it a thought to join them. I am busy with my work at the moment and don’t think the timing is right for a holiday.

‘Come on! You only need four days. It’s not that much.’ she says.

She’s actually worked out how to save time for me. She has booked her holiday deliberately so that she can utilise a weekend, which include Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. She convinces me that I only need to take two days off which by all means is not too much to ask from an employer. It seems my nephew is very keen for me to join them also. I guess that he’ll no doubt write some interesting travel journals like he always does.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't think that’s a bad idea. However, I am really reluctant to tell my boss that I want to take two days off, because at the moment, another colleague of mine has already applied for some leave, and her leave happens to be the same days I want. Not only has she applied for leave prior to me and has been approved, as a team we have worked out an arrangement already which is for me to cover for her on her absence. What happens if we are both absent? It doesn’t look like it’s going to work. I have always been very aware of my responsibility to my clients.