Day in the life of a vollie

Ever wondered what a typical day is like in the life of an Iona vollie? Well, you're about to see one that's pretty indicative of how I spent most days during 14 weeks on Iona as a housekeeper. Enjoy!

Saturday 22 July
8:00 am- Woke up early: acquired some toast and was marginally sociable in the vollie area.
9:00 am- Morning worship- Jane (a general assistant) led--Gillian played "Morning Has Broken" after the last bit of the liturgy: I sang it while walking through the cloisters to work.
9:30-10:30- Drying room: Ines and I folded sheets, flipped gloves, sang, and talked over boys and big life decisions. Also sang some Michael Jackson songs with Sam as he stocked the nearby shop store room. It's a wonder, actually, that we get so much work done in the midst of so much goofing off.
10:30-11:00- Tea break! After summoning the other vollies ("Kitchen!" "Housekeeping!"), Ines and I prepared tea break and now maybe a dozen of us are sharing tea, coffee, and chocolate cake. Needed this break.
11:00 am- 1:00pm- Tea-break clean-up, lunch set-up, more laundry folding. Ines and I started joking, making up a phrase that goes, "I'm sweating like a monk." In our self-entertaining in-joke, we devised an elaborate scheme to market bottled monk-sweat as though it were holy water, and have it as an alcohol-free communion substitute.
1:00-2:30- Lunch and clean-up. It was a staff lunch at the Abbey (though unfortunately not enough room for the continued Ben tradition of candle-lit meals for two). Sat and chatted with Simon and the two Andrews, then at clean-up bustled about in the jam-packed scullery and servery to get everything washed, dried, and put away.
2:30-2:45- Met with Gillian to practise for tomorrow's worship service--I'm doing the hands again to lead the congregation in singing an African "Hallelujah" and to "Mungu Ni Mwema."
3:00-4:30- Went with Andrew (shop) to the Argyll hotel for a cream tea-- tea, scones with whipped cream and apricot jam. Quite a warm, sunny day.
4:30-5:45- Practised playing guitar and took a cat nap.
6:00-7:30- First dinner with new guests (this was my half-day, so normally I'd be working during this time)--had introductions and staff wash-up afterwards. Listened to Jackson 5 and danced during the last bit to make it more fun.
7:45-8:00-Practise with Gillian for song teaching.
8:00-8:30- Staff choir practise in the music loft. One of my favourite parts of the week—we sing some really good stuff!
8:30-8:50- A casual chat with Paddy and Philippa, two other vollies who are children’s workers. We lay in the grass outside the Abbey and relaxed.
9:00-9:45- Communion service and our staff choir performance. After the service, as we recess into the cloisters, everyone’s singing and dancing together.
9:45-10:00-After-serfice teas in the refectory: a time to chat over a hot beverage and some biscuits (cookies).
10:00-11:30-Fellowship among vollies at Martyrs Bay Restaurant, home of the pub we frequent. Lots of laughter, bad jokes, singing, and storytelling.
11:30-11:40- Walk back to the Mac for bed. Sweet sleep!