Looking at my last post, I can't quite believe how much time has passed, how much has gone on and how much has changed. Its almost 6 months since that last post and here I am, writing the conclusion of my adventure.
I think part of me dreaded it because it would mean the realisation and the admission that it was all over. I'm not gonna lie, the past few months have been a roller coaster of emotion, from the joy of finally being home, jet lag and settling back into my life, missing everyone and every little thing, a slight hint of depression, stress, relief of being reunited with loved ones and those who i spent my year with...i could ramble on forever.
So my last week at Disney came all too quick. Filled with lasts, tears, packing, stress and memories that will hold a dear place in my heart, forever.
My last lasses was more emotional and draining than I ever thought it could be. I promised myself i wouldn't lose stand breakdown and I was doing well until we got to the bar.
My last day at work was strange. It didn't feel like the end but everything just seemed so odd, it was so..normal..not like I expected something amazing but you know when you feel like it should be something amazing!
A group of us went to an indoor arcade type thing in the evening which was so much fun and a great way to see everyone and say goodbye.
We had graduation on the Thursday which was the day myself, Lauren, Kylie, Alan, Kitty and Jaz were due to fly to New York, and to say the day was stressful, is a HUGE understatement. It was an amazing morning and so very emotional. I think we all cried on the way and at the airport.
Waiting at the gate to board the plane was horrific. I think we all stood there and silently cried to ourselves. The realisation that 'this is it' definatly had hit and it was overwhelming to know it was over.
We had an amazing week in New York, it was without a doubt the best way to finish off the most amazing year with the people who I had started my adventure with.
I landed in Heathrow on January 31st, literally a day shy of a full year of being out of the country and the reception I got, was overwhelming. My dad, sister and Sue were there, closely followed by Sam, Tom and Billo with a welcome home banner! Such a great way to be collected. Wish that could happen every time i land!
The first few weeks of being at home were so weird, it felt like i should be getting ready to get back on a plane and go 'home' to Orlando. I think after the 2nd week it hit me and I sank a little into a depression stage. It totally sucked. I spent hours applying to so many different opportunities, anything to get me out of the UK.
I went back to my old job in Wildwood after 3 weeks of being home. I was so grateful to actually being doing something again and not be sat at home, wallowing and feeling sorry for myself. That 3 weeks of doing nothing killed me! I mean sure i went to see friends at family and caught up with things and sorted my life out so i could fit back into it, but as soon as i sat and did nothing, i moped. I hate not doing anything!
I spent about 3 weeks in my original restaurant just as cover and then i became an opening manager, meaning that I would be travelling around the country to help open new branches of the restaurant.
I spent almost 2 months in Cambridge, commuting and staying up there, about 3 weeks in Market Harborough, just outside Leicester and finally I've spent the past 2 months in Ely, Cambridge.
In-between all of this I've been seeing family, seeing a lot of my Disney family who live down south, Megan, Antonia and Mo (the best people :)), visiting Sam who's working in Mallorca over the summer and I went to the Disney reunion in Chester, that around 50 people attended..amazing! So it sounds like a lot but Ive not really had much of a social life as of late due to travelling all over the shop and never being at home! Its been so tough and at times I've almost walked away but Ive learnt a lot and learnt a lot more about management and what it takes to run a restaurant. I'm so grateful for it but it has been a huge struggle at time and i have suffered a lot with health and lack of sleep.
My birthdays coming up next weekend so I have a load of my Disney friends coming up/down for it and I'm more than excited to see them, especially Lauren as Ive not seen her since we landed in London in January!
So i thought id finish off the last post of this amazing adventure with news of an new adventure.
I'm now employed with Disney, again :) I'm going to work for Disney Cruise Lines on August 7th, working on the Disney Fantasy, which does 7 and 8 night East and West Caribbean cruises. I'm too excited, cannot wait to start a new thing and get out of the UK! I'm doing it with Mo who I did the CRP programme with so Ill have someone I adore with me so I hope it will make it easier, for both of us! :)
So this is it. The End. A few months late, but hey ho, better late than never...you almost got never!
Id just like to thank every single person I met on my programme for making my programme memorable, for the ones who I was close to for making my life and for the memories that I have with everyone. Thank you.
Well near is an understatement really...its 5 days away..yes DAYS.
The best year of my life end in 5 days.
I can't get my head around it.
I'm looking over my last post now and its all about Jenny leaving and New York, which feels like a million years ago, but scrolling up, it was posted 21st December..only a month ago. And now, here I am, getting ready to leave for good, with a short trip to NYC on the way...I mean, why wouldn't we?! It'd be rude not to!
So, a brief summary of whats happened since I last blogged. I'll try to keep it short and sweet because thinking about it, a lot's gone on since then!
So, Christmas day. To start with I worked in the morning, never worked Christmas Day before and it was horrible. Firstly, Lauren and I had our little present opening time which was fun, video chatted my sister whilst opening her presents, which were all covered in bloody glitter! GAH! Thanks. Spoke to daddy Nixon for a bit which was horrendous and I ended up sobbing my heart out on the phone to him..awkward. I had work at 12 so wasn't too early of a start but it was stinking HOT...totally wrong. All the guests (well most) were rude and no fun at all. I finished at around 4ish so went home to change and went over to one of the apartments in Commons where Antonia, Lee and Dougie had been cooking Christmas dinner for the whole of F&B, all day. It was one of those, when you're finished work/have no plans, drop in and join. It was AMAZING. The BEST meal Ive had all year. Turkey, all the trimmings, the lot. We made the best of what we had and it was an amazing time and I couldn't have imagined anything better.
Obviously, New Years follows Christmas, so it came round mighty quick! I worked in the evening, and to be honest, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The people who worked the morning shift, finished and stayed in the park and drank round the world and ended up eating in the restaurant which was nice, as we got to see them whilst working. The atmosphere was amazing though..everyone was so happy and up for a laugh so it made it a lot of fun to work. I did a shout out at 7pm here which would have been midnight at home, and the response was amazing. Literally the whole restaurant was whooping and cheering! Working on the lower deck of the restaurant was knackering as we were literally turning and burning the tables as quick as possible. No one was allowed to stay over a 2 hour time limit which was totally the best rule to ever have come out of the Rose and Crown! The restaurant was seating pretty much straight through to 11.30 so at 11.40 when Illuminations started, all of us pretty much left our tables to it and went and watched the fireworks out the back of the kitchen. They were absolutely amazing, the whole show was incredible and it was so great that we all got to bring in the New Year together. Its probably one of my favourite and best New Years so far if I'm honest.
Okay, so I'm doing well! haven't babbled too much!
So New years came and went in a flash and the whole mindset of 'I leave at the end of THIS month' kicked in. I'd kinda set my last few weeks here out in blocks...so Christmas, then New years, then a week of just work and then Tom coming out, which I had a whole week off for which was amazing, then 2 more weeks and I'm done. Well that's all gone and I have less than a week! Gahhh!
In-between Xmas and New Year, Megan left, which again was awful. She was such an amazing person, someone who could always bring a smile to your face and without her in the kitchen, it was just plain boring. I miss her so much but the upside to this sad tale is that she only lives in Canterbury, not too far from me and I'm following her as the next person to leave so there's not been a vast amount of time since I last saw her. Cannot wait to see her when i get home!
Tom, he came to visit at the beginning of January! :) It was so much fun and so great to see him again after such a long time. We did most things Disney; Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot (obvs) Fantasia Mini Golf...which I was AWESOME at! I swear, I'm crap at the likes of bowling and mini golf when I'm at home but in America, I'm so much better!
He got on so well with everyone out here and it just made me feel better and love my Disney family that much more but filled me with even more dread at the thought of leaving them. He ended up taking literally half my wardrobe home with him in his suitcase, which I'm eternally grateful for! Makes my life a little easier!
Ive literally started packing today. Ive bought a new suitcase as I had to give mine to Ilaria in her panic of not having enough space fore everything when she left, Its huuuge though. Totally got in it the other day and fitted! You can close the lid and pull me along in it too! No, i haven't tried that, but it could defiantly happen!
I really don't wanna have to pay for another suitcase but looking at mine now, I just don't know if i can fit everything into that, my hand luggage and carry on bag! Here's to hoping anyways!
I think I'm gonna sign off the before I bum myself out even more, great before going to work too...! But I am excited for my last Cowboys, Parliament, Lasses, last day at work and the Graduation so I'm gonna think about those for a while!
Its crazy to think that this time last year, I was sitting in on people lasts and now I'm at my own...
