CHAPTER 11

 

AFRICA

 

SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT JOB





Absolutely all my possessions packed and ready to leave South Africa

 

 

 





More surfing on the internet began and browsing of job sites; applications were filled and CV's sent. We were beginning to think that our life in the UK was over before it had even started. 

And then it happened! We spotted this advertisement on Gumtree.

Couple sought for live-in position to look after gardens on private estate in North Yorkshire.  Good salary plus three bedroom cottage offered.  Horticultural experience essential.

We had been told by those in the know that estate jobs were much sought after and extremely difficult to come by. We understood that they were the cream-of-the-crop jobs for landscapers and we were determined to land this one.

John and I chatted on Skype.

“This looks like a job we could do love” John said, looking a little happier for the first time in weeks.

“I’m not at all sure I’m fit enough to work as a gardener” I told him, feeling rather doubtful.

“Let’s try love, it could be the answer for us.”

“Ok”, I agreed, “I’ll sort out the application from this end and you can do the interview.”

After applying to the agent and forwarding our CV's we were contacted to ask if we could attend an interview. Fortunately by this time John had resigned from his nightmare job in Kent and was free to drive up to Yorkshire. Firstly he needed to attend an interview with the agent, followed by an appointment on the estate in Yorkshire. Stressful times…..

Immediately after the interview, John Skyped me in South Africa.

“The interview lasted four hours!” he told me excitedly.  “But it’s a fantastic job.  The old couple are sweet and our jobs will be so easy”  He sent me photos of the gardens and the cottage that would be our accommodation.

“They liked me.  I think we have the job!” 

“And what about me?  What will my job entail” I asked.  Imagining sweating over a spade in a gardener’s overall.

“Oh your job will be fantastic! So easy!  Hardly anything to do.  You just have to look after the plants in the conservatory and prune the roses.  You’ll probably only work a couple of hours a day.”  My dear husband informed me with confidence.

Everything looked perfect.

The Agent asked to do a Skype interview with me and gave me a time of 2pm South African time. My preparations for this were in excess of preparing to meet Royalty. Hair and make-up were worked on meticulously while the area for the Skype camera to cover was considered well in advance; would the lounge coffee table suffice, with a background view of my best oil painting or would the dining room table be an improvement with a lamp placed strategically to pick up my best facial points? 

Finally, with everything in place and hair sprayed to within an inch of its life for fear of some frizz creeping in, I waited..............and waited.........

Around 8 pm that evening, I contacted the agent who explained that she had some problems with her connection but that she would keep trying. By 9.30 we were connected albeit without her camera working sufficiently for me to view her, but at least she could see and hear me. Thanks to the can of hairspray my cardboard stiff hair was still in place. The interview went well and she was obviously satisfied because I was then asked to come to the UK for an interview in person. I had hoped that on the strength of John’s qualifications and the success of his interview I would be given a little extra time in South Africa to wind up our affairs. However, the new boss and his wife continued to hound us as to when I would be arriving to meet with them. I think they actually expected me to make the long flight to the UK as though I were taking a local bus and then return to SA to complete my business. Fortunately by this time I was living out of a suitcase with John’s family as our house had already been handed over to the agents in preparation for the on-going sale. The urgency of this request meant that I had to pack up and leave almost immediately, leaving the final details of the house sale to our very professional estate agent and very forgetful lawyer.

Since, at this stage, I barely had the price of a one way ticket to the UK and no hope of returning shortly, I tied up any loose ends as quickly as possible and bought the ticket. I felt another step closer to my new life and sensed a quick departure would be best. And so I packed my bags and said goodbye to South Africa looking forward to a new life in a new country with what I expected to be an enjoyable and relaxing job.

I very excitedly believed I was returning to my country of birth ,”getting in touch with my roots” and moving back to the civilised first world where I would meet friendly people and enjoy living in a country run by a decent and honest Government.

I had no inkling of what I would need to experience before I reached the stage of accepting the UK as my preferred choice of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Bathurst, South Africa

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