Love conquers all?

I didn't get the job I'd gone for but it's probably just as well as major changes are afoot here.

Last year, the company my husband works for got a new CEO - one who has no experience in that particular industry - and despite 24 years working his way up through the ranks of this same company my husband's official job quickly disappeared into the ether of several rounds of 'restructuring'. Still, at least - unlike so many others - he still had a job but then last week he was told that if he wants to stay with the company, the only role they can offer him will mean him working abroad for half the year - for a 45-year-old who loves his family and loves his home, living out of a suitcase is a pretty horrific thought. His CEO said 'You'll need to be prepared to make some significant changes in your family circumstances.'

Well, we are prepared for some 'significant changes in our family circumstances', but not in the way the CEO meant. I know my husband does a great job. He's rational, reasonable, a brilliant engineer and a good manager and I've yet to meet any of his employees who doesn't like and respect him. But it's been awful to see someone who loved his job for all those years start coming home stressed and irritable and I've told him it's OK if he wants to quit but it's hard for him to just throw away all those years of service. I've been unemployed, broke and homeless so threats like this don't scare me. I don't care if we have to sell the house, if I have to get rid of my car, if we don't have our Friday-night takeaways any more or exciting holidays. Our life will undoubtedly change soon but hopefully not in the ways that are really important.

It's my husband's birthday on Sunday so the kids and I spent this morning in Crawley getting his presents and when we had a quick break in the Food Court this beautiful mural struck me as a perfect illustration of our imminent big 'life change'. Looks lovely just beyond the gate, doesn't it? And that's just how I feel it will be.