We arrived back in England in the middle of a deep depression. After staying with my parents for a couple of weeks we found an apartment in the city of Coventry. Getting the children settled into permanent education turned out to be a nightmare. Plenty there for other short stories.

 

To add to the distress the bank in Australia had not transferred our funds. We only had enough cash to see us settled, which was fast running out.

I stood in the shopping precinct looking across at a large prestigious looking bank, and with my fingers crossed approached one of the cashiers.

 

'Can I see someone about opening an account"

'Yes, I'll get one of the managers" and took me to a small room to wait.

I sat there knowing how rigid the banks were, and being new to the country without any background conjured up in my mind the fact I would probably be rejected.

 

"Hello Mr. Bonner what can I do for you?"

I explained the whole situation, including the fact that our bank in Australia had not yet transferred the funds.

 

I waited for what I thought would be the inevitable, and got a shock.

"What are your immediate needs"

" We have no transport and just moved into an apartment"

" No problem Mr. Bonner we can open an account now for say £2000, and we will get your Australian funds transferred within 2 days.

 

I left the bank in a daze. With all my efforts getting the family settled in turmoil I had just been delivered a boost.

 

We were both unemployed and the chances of getting work slim.

Dorothy as per Australia would take her usual walk every morning.

On this particular day her

"Don't think about it just do it." Kicked in.

 

"Did you have a good walk?"

" Yes, I got myself a job" I was speechless.

This is how it happened.

 

About 10 minutes walk from our apartment was a large Chrysler motor car agency. She just went in and asked if there were any vacancies.

 

" You'll be working in their accounts office then'

"No, the director in charge was a lady. I start as her secretary"

It was unbelievable.

 

A few weeks later I found a position in an electronics laboratory, which lasted about 3 years then the depression deepened and they closed down. I was out of work for nearly 2 years.

 

We moved to a new house in another town and Dorothy had to leave her secretary's job. The employment situation had got even worse and the chances of getting any work slim. Then Dorothy did another. "Don't think about it just do it." and started work at a local office within walking distance from our new home.

 

She remained employed during the remainder of the depression.

Throughout all of Dorothy's working life anywhere in the world, I can say categorically that she never visited an employment agency.