Its done.... On the grounds of staff cuts I will finish up at the end of May. Its a big relief because the stress was really getting to me. No I feel I can spend a couple of weeks relaxing, getting my strength back before really attacking this language.

The key in such negotiations is diplomacy. Rather than telling my boss he is a right w**ker and doesn't have a clue about the real world, I instead told him that with my existing German I did not believe I could be productive to the necessary level required by him. No blame, no accusations, we both get what we wanted.

My only problem is I feel I am abandoning my team; a really good bunch who worked really well together. But they understand and knew I didn't have any real choices.