Advent Day 5

Sometimes you know what's in a box. And not because you go rooting through drawers and cupboards, or fight with dust bunnies under the bed in search of cunningly concealed Christmas pressies.

No. It's because you have been waiting for something you know is going to happen because a series of fortunate co-incidences have been working together behind the scenes and the Universe is working for you to achieve the best for you in a peculiar turn of life events.

'You've got a new job!' announce Daisy and Primrose in unison, as they fling open the Advent Box and a shiny new occupation jumps out and dances a nifty jive on the kitchen floor.

And indeed I do! And here is how it all came about.

Four weeks ago, I was on the website Gumtree. I can't remember what I was looking for - some craft item, or something to do with DIY I think - and I noticed that they had a jobs section.
'I didn't know Gumtree did job adverts,' I thought.

So anyway, I had a look and found an advert for an English teacher required to join a private tuition academy. Straight away, the urge was there to send an enquiry email, which I did, and thought no more about it.

A week later, a phone call from the principal of the academy. Would I meet him and his academy manager for an interview? I did. We all got on very well. The job would be tutoring small groups of students (no more than 12 in each group) at a centre, with my own teaching assistant to help, and with hours to suit me. I would be able to run classes how I thought best, and with my own methods. There would be no data analysis, no inspections, no unnecessary implementation of faddy methods. Just pure, honest, no nonsense teaching with students who want to learn.

Another week later, I have had two more phone conversations with the principal, who is asking my advice about different class focuses that could be set up. There is talk of me being a leader in the new centre that is opening.

And today, the arrival of the job offer. And a very good salary. I shall be able to work part-time evening and weekend hours, which will give me time during the day to be proper writer. Less hassle, more proper teaching, no behaviour issues, a variety of students from ages 5 to adult education. I am suddenly very excited about teaching again. I am even more excited that I shall have time to write properly.

It it the coming together of an ideal world, work-wise.

Advent. The keen awaiting of something new to arrive.

'You are keenly awaiting, aren 't you?' says Primrose.
'I am,' I say. All smiley!