DAY TWO HUNDRED FIVE - I AM the chambermaid

Ever since Loraine released her housekeeping staff from their contracts in January, my duties around the hotel have become much more delineated: from 9 till at least 5, I am the chambermaid. Not bad work – I feel fulfilled at the end of the day, that I have put in an earnest day’s work. It’simple – not that stimulating, true – but compared to working in an office, where you can’t see physically that you’ve accomplished anything – in this case, what you have done is much more apparent. You can see where you’ve been, and you can see where you’re headed. I rather like that!

I’m SO experienced now that I could qualify for a certificate or something. (Hmm – I’ll have to look into that!)

Along with the agony of having to make up beds against the wall, there is the added annoyance of trying NOT to catch up the dust ruffle/bed skirt (‘base valance’ here – interesting how even in American English you can pronounce the word ‘valance’ with either a short OR a long ‘a’) as you go to tuck in tightly the bottom sheet – AND many times not fitted, either! (Almost as bad as driving a stick shift! Aargh - can all you bed changers relate?!)

Just a reminder that even with a college degree, plus, in addition, the realization of being in my dream country, you would think I’d hate that I’m working like a drudge all day, 6 days a week. Actually, I don’t. It is NOT rocket science, it is true; however, it is exactly what I set out to do – to LIVE in England and to take on the role of the common man. That’s me!! How did I get to be SO lucky?! (Actually – I KNOW how . . . because God has led me every step of the way, so luck has had nothing to do with it!)