One Year in Tetsworth

It is now over twelve months since I left the lovely peaceful island of Coll to start another phase of my life.

On Saturday 12th January 1998 I travelled from Glasgow Central to oxford where I was to meet my new employer, Michele Gillou. The train journey was fine but after being on a train for eight hours I was glad to get some fresh air. I was a little bit apprehensive about what I was taking on and how far from home I was going.

As soon as I got here and met Michele I knew I was going to love it. Michele made me feel so welcome. After a half hour drive through the Oxfordshire countryside we arrived in a tiny village, with no shop, and it was announced to me that this was home!

When we went into the house I looked around and thought, this is way out of my league! I'd only seen houses like these on a telly and in my wildest dreams.

Then I saw him, the baby I was here to look after her and to fall madly in love with. Even at only six weeks old, Marc was cute and totally adorable. This is it, I thought, and I couldn't wait to get started.

In the week I work very hard cleaning a big house and looking after a baby for twelve hours a day. At the weekends when I first got here, Michele took me out for lunch and to visit different places. About five weeks after I got here I took Marc to the local playgroup. Even though he was too small to appreciate it, it helped me to meet people and Marc got to see other children. It was through playgroup that I met my two good friends, Jacqui and Elizabeth.

In May, Michele took me to Paris to visit her family. I had never been to France before and I really enjoyed it.

Before I went to Paris I was introduced to Jacqui's cousin, Garry and when I returned from Paris we started seeing each other.

Once a week we meet with Michele's ante-natal group for lunch. It is really good for the children to see each other and the other Mums and I can sit and have a chat about what our children are doing.

I think that my worst experience with Marc was when I had to take him for his injections. It is not easy trying to reassure a baby who trusts you that it really won't hurt too much.

Then in August I returned home to Coll, not alone I hasten to add. Oh no, I had to do the ultimate. Garry had to meet Coll and worst of all my parents. I was more nervous than he was. Fortunately Garry totally fitted in on Coll and with my parents.

It was great being back, although I didn't seem to fit in as well as before, perhaps people were right. Perhaps I had changed. When I got back to work Marc had learned to sit up and to crawl whilst on his holiday in France.

September 28th I'm an Auntie again to Ella Victoria. Yippee! Oh dear, my bank balance is sure to suffer. Especially as I'm asked to be Godmother as well.

By September Marc had mastered crawling and could walk if he was helped.

At Christmas I went to stay with Garry and his family for two weeks. Unfortunately I was ill for all of the Christmas period, apart from one day. Four weeks after Christmas Garry and I set out for Coll courtesy of Easyjet. We arrived on Coll after taking a car, plane, taxi, train and boat. I was totally exhausted, but I was really excited about seeing Ruaridh and Ella. The last time I had seen Ella she was just five days old.

The weather was very cold and the electricity went off. I think that it was quite a shock for Garry. The ferry only just made it on the day of our departure, as it was very stormy. While on our very long and tiring journey back to Garry's house in Woodstock we discovered that I had chicken pox. I felt awful. I had spots everywhere. Also Garry had a cold. We just couldn't wait to get home. I had to have another week off work, but when I did get back I had a wonderful surprise. Marc was walking.

As I write this Marc is sleeping and I am about to pack his bag as this weekend he is coming to Woodstock with me. I love my job and I think that I am very lucky to have found Michele. She has given me the break that I needed into childcare and I will always he grateful to her.

Honey Smalley