I left school after year 12. My mother was keen for me to graduate. She said it would make it easier to get a job. The truth was I had no idea what I wanted to do. So after graduation I settled on the couch or in my room and “thought”. It was maybe a month later mum finally got sick of me being under foot. “Your father and I had a talk” she said “and I have one thought for you. Fiona, get a job”. I tried to tell her it was hard to find work in our small town but she mentioned the fact that I hadn’t even tried. Of course she was right.

A couple of days later dad came home and said he had been at a local supermarket and they were looking for staff. Mum, at the same time, mentioned that she had heard a local couple were looking for a house-keeper. Of course she did mention I never cleaned my room so maybe it wasn’t for me. The thought of working in a supermarket didn’t inspire me. Packing shelves or being a checkout chick seemed boring. So I agreed to talk to this couple. Mr and Mrs Walden were lawyers and had a practise in town. I saw them, they seemed nice and so they said they would get me a trial. Mum and dad were very excited.

Bright and early the following Monday I fronted up to work. Basically I would clear the breakfast dishes after they went to work and then clean the house, make the beds and feed their dog. Oh yes, the dog. He was a golden Labrador called Goldie. Not very imaginative. Large and furry and cute. The time I saw him I fell in love with him. From the very first day he followed me around the house. I think he enjoyed having company for a change. His only strange behaviour was that when I patted his head he tried to muzzle my crotch.