Gilberts' Fridge

My last day and Martin's trial day...

My last day at Hewden was yesterday, and I was actually quite sad to go. I had such a good working experience, and I had needed one so desperately. They bought me chocolates and a goodbye card. All I got at Volvo was 30 minutes to clean out my desk. Everyone was so lovely, and I am so ready to go out there and get a new job now. After Volvo I just wanted to hide in my house for the rest of my life.

And Martin's trial day--he is going to spend this evening managing "The Place," the restaurant he applied for the job at. They just want to see how he works, and I think that's a really good idea. Part of me really wants him to get the job, and part of me really doesn't. He would be working strange hours again, I don't know how that would affect our home life. But it won't be an issue if I get the day spa job, because I will be working strange hours, too.

Everything seems to be in this strange transitionary phase right now. The weird part is, we are both OK with that. Martin has always been flexible, but I am fairly rigid. I like my traditions and my routines. In fact, Martin's spontanaity (sp?) is one of the things which drew me to him in the first place. But I am really OK with not knowing what the future holds. I know that things will work out for the best, no matter what happens.

Bonfire night was really fun--bonfire weekend for us, actually, since we went to parties on Saturday AND Sunday nights. The fireworks were great, and so was the company. Since (sister-in-law) Cathy split up with her boyfriend, she has been coming to more family things. He didn't like to come, and she stayed behind with him a lot. It's so nice to see more of her. Laurence and Christine managed to not fight for the whole evening, and that made it a good night.

Church stuff is going well. I am absolutely loving my new calling, though I still feel over worked at church. The choir are improving in leaps and bounds, and my heart is so full when I hear them singing something beautifully, and I know that I taught them to use their talents so well. Their sound has deepened, and we are really singing as a group now. On Thursday we learned the parts on "The First Noel." Just the one from the church hymnal, but the arrangement in there is so beautiful. We are doing a Christmas carol service on Sunday the 17th, so our focus is all on Christmas music right now. We split up, men in the Primary room, women in the chapel, and learned our parts. Then we came back together to sing it. I went to the ladies room really quick when everyone was coming back in, and they were singing it when I got back. I have never heard it sung so beautifully. I was quite literally moved to tears. The crazy thing was, they were, too! This group of typically English people, unwilling to show emotions at the most private of times, let alone in public, were visibly moved. I don't think they knew that they would sing together so beautifully until this week. I love it!

The massage course is going well. Just my test to take in Health and Safety, and it should be a piece of cake. I have to take a test on the skeletal system the same day. I am busy and unable to attend class on Wednesday so I have to go in early and take the test. I am also getting plenty of practice--mostly on my friend Emma. Technically, she shouldn't be having massages since she is heavily pregnant and stimulating her pressure points could induce labour. But she has been in so much pain, and she is ready to deliver any day now, and she asked me if I would be willing. So I am careful, use only a light touch, and don't massage the soles of her feet or the palms of her hands, where most danger areas are. I think I am getting pretty good, but it's hard to say. I will be starting to work on paying customers in January. Scary stuff!

Anyway, I need to clean my house as I am hosting a Creative Memories scrap-booking party tonight (my friend Sam is a rep and needs the business--plus it's fun anyway), and I need to make some goodies and clean my house and get a hair cut. And I want to go down to Water's Edge and feed the swans and ducks. Love and miss all my American friends and family, and I will post again soon. I will have more time now that I have a few weeks off.