A change is a-comin' (and not just on the calendar)

Philippa will be arriving home anytime in the next hour or so, and a new phase of her life will begin. Since we’ve been together she’s only ever had one job, and that ends today. I’m expecting her to be a conflicted contradiction of scared, excited, upset, sad, reflective, terrified and elated, and I expect that to go on for a while. Some of the people who work there wanted to take her out tonight for a meal and some drinks but she politely declined. She said she’d rather save that until later in January, so there was something to look forward to in the New Year. I suspect that was just a way of deflecting and getting out of it without offending anyone, and that it will never come to pass. It’s hard to say how her Uncle Tom will be. He might see her off with a huge bunch of flowers and a tearful hug, or he might ignore her completely and let her walk away without a word. You never can tell with him. He wasn’t exactly pleased when she handed in her resignation, but once she explained why she was leaving - the daily travelling, the urge to be a mum, etc - he melted and became her uncle rather than her boss and gave her a big hug. So it might be okay. Or he might be an ogre today because he read his horoscope and the moon is in Asparagus or something. Actually, thinking about it, he’s taken the family skiing for a week so he won’t even be there!
She doesn’t start the training for the new job until Monday 15th January so she’ll have a bit of time for a chill-down and an adjustment. I hope it goes well, bless her, she’s very nervous about it and she‘s highly-strung at the best of times. She’s arranged a couple of days out with friends, and a trip somewhere with both my sisters, so that’s good. Best for her to keep occupied rather than sit and fret about ’have I done the right thing?’ for a fortnight. As someone who has moved around the old job market a bit in my time I guess I’m well positioned to help her and advise her, but the truth is she’d rather have a naked jacuzzi with Jeffrey Archer than ever listen to my advice, so maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and give her the occasional glass of wine. 
Speaking of which - I have a nice bottle of fizzy Pinot Noir that needs opening, ready for her return….

RC 30-12-17