W1B-009 From abroad-1.txt
22/10/97
Dear Aoife, Thanks for your letter. Glad to hear that your Ph.D has worked out, although you must have been a bit worried for a while.

Well, I 'm still in London but I 'm probably heading home early next week. Bad news and some good news on the job front. None of the interviews I did here resulted in job offers. Basically, my problem I haven't done any work experience and therefore they are questioning my commercial awareness and my commitment to commercial law! It's very disheartening but I 'm remaining philosophical in believing that everything happens for a reason. The good news is that the firm in New York called me and said they wanted to hire me. I can't go yet though because they have to get a work permit or some sort of immigrant visa for me. They are working on that at the moment but it takes quite a while to process. So I just have to wait and see what happens. I 'm hoping that I 'll be able to go before Christmas. At least they sound like they do want me to come over so I 'm quite positive about the whole thing. Once I get some work experience I could reapply for jobs in London or I 'm actually thinking of staying in New York and taking the New York Bar exams. The law degree from here is recognised over there so I wouldn't have to do three years of law school, I 'd just have to do a crash course to prepare for the exams. It certainly wouldn't be easy but I could qualify much quicker over there than here. Tommy is actively encouraging me to stay in New York and qualify there if I get the chance as he doesn't recommend doing the LPC. He is bored to tears I think. I 've seen him a few times since I 've been here. Before Bill left, we met up a couple of times, once with Ed and Ronnie and Laura (PGCE). I saw him a couple of weeks ago – we met for a drink in a pub in Fleet Street. Ed organised it but never turned up (apparently Pierre was over for the weekend so that may have been this excuse!) Tommy's friend William was there (one of the guys who was at the Hughes Ball) and Dan McShea, the Canadian guy who was on the LLM.

Tommy rang on Friday but I wasn't here so I must give him a call and meet up before I leave. I went to Normandy last Wednesday 'til Sunday. My cousin Laura was visiting from New York and she and her friend Rex who work for the same bank in London rented a house so she asked me to come too. There was also Rex'brother and a friend of his from Oxford. It was really good fun. We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and the house was about 1/2 an hour from there.

This weekend I 'm thinking of going to Cambridge on Friday and then Nottingham on Saturday to see my Italian friend Tina. I also want to see a friend of mine who's in Chester doing the LPC. I haven't seen him since graduation last year and if I don't see him now I won't see him for ages. I 'm not sure I can fit all that in one weekend!

I 've spoken to Bill a few times since he left. I called him on Monday night – his mother answered the 'phone and told him that it was someone with an English accent so he said he knew it was me! He's in good form but a bit bored although he's busy filling in Ph.D funding applications. He finally got his e-mail to work and has had lots of messages. He heard from Steve Wright who seems to be settling well in LA. He said all the women are hot but not very smart so you don't get very much intelligent conversation!! Charles and Julia are doing very well and are very excited about their imminent arrival. Due date is November 27th.

Bill's brothers are on reading week from college so he and Tommy are going camping in Algonquin Park for a few days. I 've really missed him since he left so if I end up in New York at least I 'll be able to go visit.

Well, I must go. I 'm busy here painting the bathroom for my lovely sisters! So I must get that second coat on! When I go home I 'm planning a trip to Belfast to visit several people who I haven't seen in ages so I 'll give you a call when that happens. I 'm going to work for my brother in Dublin and stay with Margaret at: 199A Griffith Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 – so now you can keep track of me!

Take care, Lots of love, Violet.

PS Say hi to Sarah Jane, Jacinta and your Mum for me.
