Working Mum: Meeting the new girl

Already I have seen the irritant that is Young Colleague - who now loses that mantle because of the arrival of even younger New Girl - in her needy-like fashion jostling to befriend the newcomer, wanting everyone to see how "nice" she is when it is more about her own ego and need than out of genuine friendship.

The New Girl in contrast is relaxed and comfortable with herself, slotting in to an established - and awkward - team with ease.

I like that. I get the impression she has weighed us all up and, knowing how each of us operates, is working hard to give an answer to our varied traits and needs.

Unlike Young Colleague this is done without calculation or manipulation. She is neither fake nor phoney.

Having this understanding at such an early stage in her career will I'm sure see her go far. She deserves to because she appears to be a genuinely lovely girl.

I happened to share the same Tube ride into work with her the other morning. We had a little chat about this and that, nothing of great significance.

It was while we were travelling on the escalator still nattering away that she mentioned that she had lost her mum to breast cancer two years ago.

She did that half-smile not really smiling thing, her brown eyes trying not to be blue. She is only a baby. I thought about Master A and all the travails that may await him.

In our office of egos and temperaments there is a refreshing - and much - welcome addition. We all can learn a lot from her...

- Working mum hugging Master A a little bit tighter, and praying harder each night.