Back in December, after weeks of anxious waiting and two truly terrifying interviews I received what is without a doubt the best answer machine message I have ever had in my life.
I was working in a shop in Bristol at the time in a temp job I'd found so I could afford to move to the area to chase wildlife film-making jobs. Having had my second interview for a researcher position I'd applied for on a natural history series a couple of days previously I was a nervous wreck as I tried to focus on my work and avoid the temptation to dash to the storeroom and check my phone. Eventually the tension got to me and I found an excuse to get something from the stores and quickly check my phone whilst I was at it. I had one message.
I was working in a shop in Bristol at the time in a temp job I'd found so I could afford to move to the area to chase wildlife film-making jobs. Having had my second interview for a researcher position I'd applied for on a natural history series a couple of days previously I was a nervous wreck as I tried to focus on my work and avoid the temptation to dash to the storeroom and check my phone. Eventually the tension got to me and I found an excuse to get something from the stores and quickly check my phone whilst I was at it. I had one message.
I could barely bring myself to call voicemail, but worked up the courage and waited with baited breath to hear the message that followed. When the words "we would like to offer you the job" reached my ears I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I went back to work grinning like the Cheshire Cat but in a bit of a daze and it was only on my lunch break when I'd listened to the answer machine message five times in a row that it began to sink in. Having phoned back the Producer who'd left the message to confirm it was real and phoned my mum and sister to break the fantastic news I finally realised that, despite still having to pinch myself to check it wasn't a dream, I had actually done it. I had got my dream job!
I spent the afternoon at work on cloud nine and I don't think anyone has ever done the washing up as happily as I did then. I was dancing around the kitchen as I worked, even after I realised that thanks to an unhelpfully placed window dividing the shop's cafe area and the kitchen, several customers could see my crazy dance moves!
I've spent the last few weeks becoming increasingly more excited to start my new job and getting my head round how unbelievably lucky I've been. I always knew that getting into wildlife film-making was going to be hard and although I kept telling myself that I would get a foot in the door eventually I certainly didn't expect to get a break this soon, or for it to be this big. I'll be working on a landmark six-part series being produced for BBC1 and the thought that I am going to get to spend the next couple of years working with some of the best people in the industry on a production this exciting still feels to good to be true. I can't wait to start and throw myself head-first into proving that they were right to give me this chance.
As this new chapter is about to begin I am sure that a very exciting year awaits. If you have enjoyed reading about my time chasing chimpanzees then watch this space, because I have a feeling that I'll be wanting to share my adventures of a new sort soon.
As this new chapter is about to begin I am sure that a very exciting year awaits. If you have enjoyed reading about my time chasing chimpanzees then watch this space, because I have a feeling that I'll be wanting to share my adventures of a new sort soon.
