I was excited to be moving to England. I had never been to England just to London. All I knew about England was through Midsomer Murders! I was disappointed that there was no John Lewis in Oxford but never mind.
I was excited about finding a job in England. In Scotland, I was self employed. I was nervous about working in the outside world but I needed to get stuck in.
Despite being well qualified, I wasn’t getting past the interview stages. I was frustrated. There was a firm in our village and I decided to email my CV to the owner (who was to become my boss). Just that they were not hiring!!!’ I got a reply the next day. I started work on the 21st of September! I was elated. It was my dream job!
Sadly for me, I knew by day two that I was unhappy in that office. My boss was a couple of years older than me. He was hot tempered and got very angry at the drop of a hat. I was often afraid that he might throw something at me! His behaviour was erratic. Was he a bully? I had never met a bully before so I quickly brushed that thought aside. How wrong I was!
I didn’t want to resign because it had been so so difficult trying to find a job.
My boss monitored my every movement including my emails, phone calls. etc. I knew I was being monitored. Thankfully I could walk home for lunch so was able to get some respite. I felt trapped.
I dreaded going to work.
By Christmas that year, I was so stressed that I had developed ulcers all over inside my mouth. Despite all the emotional sufferings, I never missed a day’s work!
The final straw that broke the camel’s back was one Friday in February when my boss CONFISCATED my chair for about 2 hours!!!! I had to type a report standing. He found it all amusing. Was this really happening to me? Me a middle aged woman being treated like a naughty child?
I served my one months’s notice.
What was supposed to have been a very happy start to my life in England had made me homesick and miserable.
A few years later, just when I thought that I had put this very sad chapter of my life behind, I heard that this person was preparing to become a Church of England Ordinand!!!!! Don’t these things only happen in the movies???
It has been many years since this happened but it still feels very raw. I will always remember the 21st of September for all the wrong reasons!