In December, we welcomed a new member to the family, a sparkly navy, souped-up, new to me BMW 4 series named Lady Balls (or LB to the children). The story of how this car came to be started over a year ago when we had just moved to Houston. It was 100 degrees in the shade and I was outside in my pyjamas, braless, and struggling to get the godforsaken car seats into my new Mini Cooper.
The neighbourhood welcoming committee slowed down her mini-van, loaded with children, in front of my driveway to introduce herself and welcome us to the Havergate subdivision.
Keri, “Hi! I’m Keri. I live down the street. I think our husbands work for the same company”.
Me, “I’m not wearing a bra and I look like death warmed over.” This woman will never want to be friend, ever, look at me.
Keri, “I thought someone threw up in there and you were cleaning them up.”
Me, “Seriously, I’m wearing my pyjamas. I have sweat in places that I didn’t know sweat”.
Keri, “How old are your kids?”…..
And that was the start of a beautiful friendship.
A few months later, filling our bellies at an all-you-can-eat sushi bar, she got sick and tired of me complaining about being a SAHM.
Me, “How on earth do I get into the big pharma company in Woodlands Town Centre? I’m losing my head at home”.
Keri, “My old boss used to work there. I’ll PM her and introduce you on LinkedIn”.
Me, “How on earth does this restaurant make money with the amount of sushi we just ate?”.
Her friend introduced me to a gentleman with a long French name. I smelled a Canadian. I met him the day after Trump won the election. We shared our shock, our love of Adele, and despite my lack of private sector and big pharma experience, he hired me. It took me six months and the power of personal connections, but I got a job at one of the oldest health care Fortune 500 companies in the US. And my friends back home called me Ladyballs.
When I got the news after only six months on the job that I had to resign, I was gutted (as they say here). Actually, I was sick – high blood pressure, herpes simplex like rash on my face, stress induced sick. I worked at my job until the Friday before our Sunday transatlantic flight to London. I made connections, I finished projects, I kissed ass. A group of women at work encouraged me to approach our President for overseas connections. I did and he was happy to help me out. I had two interviews booked in the UK before our plane left the tarmac.
My new job is service design manager, designing home care services that take pressure of the public system and/or services that help advance the sales of new drugs in the marketplace. It is probably not my dream job, and not where I thought my career would be at 40, but I am happy to have it. I am using skills I have mastered a few years back. Each time we move, my salary takes a little hit.
It is field based position and I work from home most days. (And I don’t have to take part in a multi-level marketing scheme selling makeup or workout videos). I take the kids to the bus stop. I am home when they get home. My job has lots of potential and I really like my colleagues. I’m gaining new experiences, learning a new health system and the silver lining of it all is driving around the English countryside in my new wheels Ladyballs.
Epilogue:
- I know it’s just a car and this could all be gone in an instance, but I have always wanted a BMW. It has never been the sensible choice for a family / mom care, value for money, good in the snow, blah, blah, blah. The fact that I got one with my brain, without a car loan or any approval from anyone, well it feels good. It turns out company vehicles are a common part of compensation packages in the UK and from an economic perspective cheaper than offering higher salaries. BMWs are actually pretty cheap here and there are tonnes on the road. It’s a lovely car nonetheless.
- When I was interviewing for my job in Houston, I picked up this lipstick from Too Faced, it is one of those awesome reds with an awesome name. It gives you a powerful feeling when you put in on. I think I am wearing it with my dear friend Keri in this picture below. Miss you lady and see you soon.
https://www.toofaced.com/lip-makeup/lipstick/melted/melted-matte-lady-balls/50224.html
More blogs on English life coming soon and I am trying to do a VLOG about some of the joys of our house.