What Sophie Said

On 29 th May, I left my job. Without a new one to go to. There were lots of reasons why, which I won’t go into, but the main one was that the role taught me exactly what it was I wanted to be doing. And it wasn’t quite what I was doing there. I think part of growing up is learning to acknowledge when things aren’t working. Work will never be perfect, all of the time. All jobs have stressful periods. Most jobs have great periods. Throughout my childhood, and on into university and graduate life, I’ve taken huge comfort from stability, from always knowing what’s coming next. I moved through primary school, to secondary school, to sixth form, and straight to university. After university, I got a job, and I’ve been working full-time for the past two years. But when you leave university, or education at whatever stage you leave it, the world is a big place, and there are so many routes you can follow. And part of growing up is sometimes not sticking with so...

Over the last seven months, there’s been one particular train route I’ve done a lot of. Macclesfield to London Euston. The London trips started with work, and before long I was staying through the weekends too. I’ve taken the train there for work. I’ve taken the train there for fun. For day trips to London Zoo, to Guildford, around Canary Wharf. To watch shows. To see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Book of Mormon, Made in Dagenham. To hear music, specifically an intimate Pixie Lott concert at Pizza Express’ Strand restaurant. To visit Wimbledon. To sit in Centre Court and watch Venus and Serena. Federer. Andy Murray. To spend my 23 rd birthday. To eat. Lots. To meet new friends, and re-connect with old ones. And this week, the train journeys will stop (apart from trips home to see the family!) Because this week I’m moving! London is the venue for the next little chapter in my story, work-wise and in my person...