“I'm really sorry, but our books are already full,” the friendly middle- aged woman in the office said. Her name badge said Sue.
I nodded, yet my spirit sank.
I'd kind of expected this. After all, who doesn't want to appear on TV, even if it's just for a a fleeting second or two?
I'd driven to the city today, especially to register with an agency that dealt in TV extras.
I'd been given the agency address from a close colleague of my husband's, Alan.
Alan's nephew, student Sean, earned a part- time living from being an extra.
As my hubby Chas and I were avid telly watchers, it sounded like a very refreshing change - only now it seemed that my journey had been in vain...
Sue must have noticed my downcast expression.
“Look, if you fill in this form and post it back to us, we'll place you on our waiting list, Mrs Broadbent. We'll need a recent, clear photo of you, too.”
I smiled. “That's great. Thanks. I'll do that and oh, please call me Jill.'”
I tucked the form in my handbag and bid Sue a cheery farewell.
I left and made my way to the car park. Well, I thought, so much for my dreams of mingling with the stars!
I'd worked as a receptionist at Lloyd's, a busy veterinary practice, for twenty five years. I'd enjoyed it but recently, at work, a young male sales rep had caught me yawning in an off- guard moment. I was nearing the end of a very stressful day.
I'd spent ages on the phone, tracking down medication for a ill ferret that had gone awry. (The medication had gone awry, not the ferret).
“Is the job tiring you out?” The rep had joked.
“No, not at all!” I'd breezed.
Yet he had a point about the tiredness.
As I was approaching sixty four, I'd wondered about retirement. My husband Chas still worked full- time as an in- demand engineer, so we'd be okay financially if I did decide to leave.
Then a vet came out. “Has my ten thirty arrived, Jill? A poorly ginger hamster called Boo Boo?”
It hadn't. So he went straight to Penelope Pipstop, a sulky yet very intelligent parrot.
At home that evening, I reflected.
“If I retired, I'd still want something to do,” I said to Chas.
He nodded. “Hmm..remember Alan at work? He has a student nephew, Sean, who works as a TV extra. Alan's always banging on about all the popular drama's Sean's appeared in and the famous faces he's met. Sean loves it, as he can fit his studies in around the work.”
“That sounds interesting. Tell me more.”
“From what Alan says, you'll be called as and when you're needed, so you must be flexible, so you could be working weekends and evenings. You'd be asked to drive long distance when required, too, Jill. That's the downside. But the advantage is, you'll have lots of spare time in-between jobs.”
I nodded. The flexibility and driving was fine.
It sounded liked a good arrangement, as I was keen to join the dynamic duo... my two sisters, Kate and Liz were retired teachers. The three of us had always got on well.
With husbands still at work, Kate and Liz liked to team up for various daytime outings.
They snapped up early bird, half- price theatre and cinema tickets.
Ella, Kate's 20 year- old daughter, sometimes joined them when she was in-between jobs.
It sounded lovely, and I don't mind admitting that a pang of envy pricked.
“We had a terrific time!” Kate reported, after a train journey to a seaside resort.
“Liz and I had fish and chips for lunch, we strolled on the pier and paddled in the sea. You'd have really enjoyed it, Jill.”
I was sure that I would.
Instead, I'd spent the afternoon dealing with an emergency, which involved a tearful three - year old and his panicky mum.
Her son had somehow got his sticky lolly stuck in their pet cat's fur.
Finally, there was a Great Dane, who managed to knock our leaflet stands over and leave little puddles over the floor!
Luckily, the mop and bucket were kept in a nearby cupboard.
So at work, Chas approached Alan. Alan asked Sean for the agency details and he kindly passed these to Chas - and then on to me.
With a thrilling thread of excitement, I checked the agency's website out. It looked brilliant!
***
“I've had some bad news, Aunty Jill,” my niece Ella began over the phone.
“The gift shop I work in is going to be shutting and trading online only. So I won't be needed in the shop.”
“That's a shame,” I sympathised. “Won't they want someone to parcel up the online orders?”
“No. It'll all be run by the existing owner, so I'm back job hunting. Anyway, in a few day's time, I'll be cat and house sitting for a friend in the next street. Their moggies, Misty and Toffee, know me already, as I pop in often.”
“Well, that's something to put on your CV.” I tried to sound encouraging.
She chuckled. “I can't see many employers being impressed by a temporary cat sitting job!”
“I wouldn't be too sure. Don't dismiss it. It shows you can take on responsibility, plus you can care for an animal's welfare and look after someone's home. Both require a strong sense of trust,” I added.
Ella and I chatted more, yet I felt out of sorts when we said goodbye.
Although she'd got good grades at school, Ella had decided against studying at university. She'd wanted to earn instead.
So far, she'd worked in a variety of casual jobs. However, bar work, factory shifts and stints in retail hadn't lasted long.
She'd loved the jobs that had involved animals best, from mucking out horses in a stables to dog walking. I wasn't surprised by the cat sitting...suddenly, inspiration struck.
That evening, over our evening meal, I ran my thoughts past Chas.
“Do you know, I think she'd make an excellent vet nurse,” I said.
He speared a carrot with his fork. “Hmm. I do, too. Why hasn't she thought about that career before?”
I shrugged. “Maybe it just hasn't occurred to her. Plus she wasn't keen on uni, was she? I'm going to gently suggest it.”
“Good. Did you post that application form back to the agency?” he asked.
“I have, and I sent my photo too. But as their books are full, I'm not expecting to hear back,” I replied. “It was a bit of a disappointment, to be honest.”
“Why not get online later, and carry out research? There must be other TV extra agencies out there,” he said.
I nodded, but I'd kind of lost enthusiasm. I wondered if it was really worth the bother. What if the other agency's book were full as well?
***
As it turned out, things didn't exactly go to plan....
At the weekend, Ella popped round for a cuppa. Before I could gently suggest anything, she launched straight in.
“While looking after the cats, I've had time to reflect... I'm going to apply to uni. To become a veterinary nurse!” she declared.
I beamed. “Great minds think alike. I was going to say exactly the same thing.”
“Were you, Aunty Jill? Mum and Dad are pleased.”
My heart warmed. “I am, too.”
I knew that Kate would be thrilled that her daughter had finally settled on a secure career.
I was so relieved that Ella had decided on a positive course of action.
Maybe I needed to follow her example, I told myself. I'd motivate myself. I'd do what Chas had suggested and go online to research other TV extra agencies.
Yet there was a surprise in store for me...
On my lunch hour on Monday, my mobile rang.
“Hello Jill. It's Sue, from the TV extras agency. You came to see us last week.”
“Oh hello! I wasn't expecting to hear from you.” I was taken aback but pleased to hear her voice.
“Well, things can change quickly in this industry. Now, in your application, you say you're planning to retire from your current paid position. When will that be, exactly?” she asked briskly.
“I'm handing my notice in this Friday.” I gulped.
Was I? The words were out of my mouth before I could even think about it. Well, I'd mulled it over long enough, hadn't I? It was time to take action.
“From our point of view, that's great news.” Her tone was upbeat.
“Just be aware that I'll need to work a month's notice first,” I added hastily.
“Of course. That'll give me time to secure this job coming up. One of my clients has broken her arm and won't be available for a run of 'Murphy and Mason'.”
'Murphy and Mason' was a popular police detective drama. Chas and I loved it!
My heart soared. “That sounds brilliant.”
“You're just the right age and gender, so you've hit it lucky, Jill,” Sue went on.
I smiled. “I'll look forward to working with you.”
The lull in-between TV jobs would provide me with time to join my sisters on their jaunts, I thought happily. Ella had made a big decision too.
The future looked bright for both me and Ella!
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