"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, Freedom, and a little Flower." - Hans Christian Anderson (from one of Laini's spectacular cards!)
I spent the better part of Monday and Tuesday doing training for my job. Altogether now I have had four full days of training & I still don't really know what I am doing!! I start back to work full time on Monday and luckily I am beginning in the job I already know so it'll be a painless transition day for me.
People have asked me what it is that I do so I'll tell you now. I work at a small museum and garden on the south coast. Once a strange millionaire's house, it is now a garden, museum, and youth hostel. It sits high on a cliff on the sheltered side of an estuary so it's full of plants that don't usually grow in England. I sometimes feel like I work in an enchanted garden. Every corner brings a new surprise, a new element of charm or beauty. The gardeners don't want it to be a perfectly manicured garden; they want it to be more natural, so it is full of wild animals and insects and strange things growing out of walls. I love it.
I don't actually work in the garden, I work in the house. It is also unusual. It's a very Victorian sort of place, full of stuffed dead creatures and dolls and other odd things. I work as what the English would call a 'General Dog's Body.' I work in other people's jobs when they aren't there. So I work as a House Steward (maintaining the running of the place on a daily basis) and in the Shop and in the entrance area, and all over. I enjoy the mixture of things.
So that's kind of what I do. I do believe that there is magic there. According to one of our volunteers, there are two lay line crossings under the house - which means that it is quite a powerful place. Sometimes I can remember how unusual it is, and sometimes it is just my job.
This week it has just been my job. My brain has been elsewhere. Truthfully, my brain has been everywhere. My sister-in-law is in the hospital right now. She and my brother are pregnant and she's been having some scares this week. So I'm struggling with being so far away and worrying about her and my brother and her precious bump. I've been whirling with creative energy after writing the posts about wanting and reading other people's responses, but I haven't been able to do anything about it. It's been bloody cold here. Blah blah blah. I'm going ON - you don't want to hear this stuff.
BUT THEN! A bright sparkle to change my day. When Mark picked me up yesterday he told me that there was a package for me! He said it looked like I had sent it to myself because of all of the creative touches on the outside of the box. Inside was a lovely treasure trove of goodies for me from Alexandra and Laini (THANK-YOU so much! I can't believe how well you know me already. Wait'll you see what I am cooking up for YOU two!!!) Then today Mark and I went to Dartmouth after a meandering drive through the countryside. I made a purchase that delighted me, and now we're back with the promise of Japanese food for dinner (mmmMMM veggie sushi!) The stressful stuff is all still there, but it's nice to know that there is always going to be sweet stuff too -
I haven't forgotten my promise of my own list of wants - it's coming, but in the meantime, I leave you with another quote from one of Laini's cards - I think it's captures me pretty completely. I hope wherever you are, there is a little sparkle in your day!!
I spent the better part of Monday and Tuesday doing training for my job. Altogether now I have had four full days of training & I still don't really know what I am doing!! I start back to work full time on Monday and luckily I am beginning in the job I already know so it'll be a painless transition day for me.People have asked me what it is that I do so I'll tell you now. I work at a small museum and garden on the south coast. Once a strange millionaire's house, it is now a garden, museum, and youth hostel. It sits high on a cliff on the sheltered side of an estuary so it's full of plants that don't usually grow in England. I sometimes feel like I work in an enchanted garden. Every corner brings a new surprise, a new element of charm or beauty. The gardeners don't want it to be a perfectly manicured garden; they want it to be more natural, so it is full of wild animals and insects and strange things growing out of walls. I love it.
I don't actually work in the garden, I work in the house. It is also unusual. It's a very Victorian sort of place, full of stuffed dead creatures and dolls and other odd things. I work as what the English would call a 'General Dog's Body.' I work in other people's jobs when they aren't there. So I work as a House Steward (maintaining the running of the place on a daily basis) and in the Shop and in the entrance area, and all over. I enjoy the mixture of things.
So that's kind of what I do. I do believe that there is magic there. According to one of our volunteers, there are two lay line crossings under the house - which means that it is quite a powerful place. Sometimes I can remember how unusual it is, and sometimes it is just my job.
This week it has just been my job. My brain has been elsewhere. Truthfully, my brain has been everywhere. My sister-in-law is in the hospital right now. She and my brother are pregnant and she's been having some scares this week. So I'm struggling with being so far away and worrying about her and my brother and her precious bump. I've been whirling with creative energy after writing the posts about wanting and reading other people's responses, but I haven't been able to do anything about it. It's been bloody cold here. Blah blah blah. I'm going ON - you don't want to hear this stuff.
BUT THEN! A bright sparkle to change my day. When Mark picked me up yesterday he told me that there was a package for me! He said it looked like I had sent it to myself because of all of the creative touches on the outside of the box. Inside was a lovely treasure trove of goodies for me from Alexandra and Laini (THANK-YOU so much! I can't believe how well you know me already. Wait'll you see what I am cooking up for YOU two!!!) Then today Mark and I went to Dartmouth after a meandering drive through the countryside. I made a purchase that delighted me, and now we're back with the promise of Japanese food for dinner (mmmMMM veggie sushi!) The stressful stuff is all still there, but it's nice to know that there is always going to be sweet stuff too -
I haven't forgotten my promise of my own list of wants - it's coming, but in the meantime, I leave you with another quote from one of Laini's cards - I think it's captures me pretty completely. I hope wherever you are, there is a little sparkle in your day!!
"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." - Louisa May Alcott
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6 comments:
i would absolutely LOVE to work in the place you described. it does sound enchanting and ethereal and magical.
i wonder what magic will happen once you finish training and begin.
lovely gift from your girls, btw. so, so beautiful!
Hi Meg!! I'm back at last, feel so out of touch after not catching up on blogs for a whole week -- like you said in your last post, I'm hooked, too! Thanks for describing your job. It sounds like an amazing place. Makes me want to come visit all the more. That, AND Dartmouth -- what a lovely town. ah, Europe. Though I just came from a very picturesque part of the country, it's certainly more of a challenge here to get great photos on trips. In Europe, point your camera anywhere and it falls on some charming building or other. Here, not so much. Though I will hold the natural wonders of North America up against Europe's in a contest any day, when it comes to towns, cities and such, there's no contest at all.
Glad you received your package okay, and that you enjoyed it. I love putting care packages together, as I love shopping for stuff to put in Christmas stockings and Easter baskets! And I knew you'd love that Louisa May Alcott quote, though I think I actually paraphrased it a little. It may actually say "turned" her brain. Oops.
Hope your nephew/niece to be is okay!
Your job sounds enchanted! And I'm sending hopeful vibes to your sis in law, brother, and sweet little bean.
What a magical place you're working in. No wonder it drew you to it. I wonder what is waiting for you there!
And sending you and your family warm and supportive energy and wishing you all well.
I want to be able to say that I worked as a "general dog's body" too! What a wacky job title! Your job and the whole property sounds so unique and fascinating. Far more so than my white-walled, flourescent lit office building! I dream of carving a skylight in the ceiling and putting in a hot tub in next to my desk for the time between clients. (Probably not going to happen!) I am so glad you got our care package too safe and sound. They are treasures for a treasure!
the balance of the sweet and the stressful. some days it is easier then others. i hope your sister-in-law is okay. i am sending positive healing energy her way...
your job sounds so fascinating and magical. and i know that any job can feel like just a job...but it is good that you notice the magical bits in yours.
bravo for care packages. i think life should be more care packages and less stress!
blessings to you dear meg. take care of yourself.
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