Back from a very tiring weekend to Portsmouth to take Alex to his halls. Bad traffic jams and several trips up 14 floors to empty the car and settle him in made worse by an uncomfortable bed in a noisy hotel and I'm ready to hit the hay. We can only hope that Alex takes to Uni life as well as the other three did and makes the most of his opportunities. I know we will miss him terribly but hope that he will now spread his wings and fly building confidence in his abilities and realising that he is indeed a very lovely young man.
Friday had been an emotional day too with a lovely presentation during a Special parents' assembly at school and I can now declare that I am officially retired. I had a lovely butterfly brooch and a travel card with some euros on to spend when we get to Spain. I was amazed at the amount and have decided that it will be used on plants for our garden which will be our first project once we have settled in. Have promised that Michael can have a lemon and an orange tree but we should be able to get several Meditteranean architectural plants. The children made a fuss of me all day and some 'old' pupils returned to meet me after school along with their Mums to wish me luck - a really lovely touch. Monday evening I meet up with the rest of the staff for an evening so we can say our goodbyes.
Tomorrow we must start the final part of our journey and clear the house, pack the rest of the stuff to be taken to Spain and clean and tidy. Need a good nights sleep first though so will be away there now...
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Friday, 18 September 2009
One week until I retire
Just 5 more days of school and then I enter the world of retirement. Leaving do organised for a weeks time. Sorting and packing continues. Tomorrow is the 'family' bbq prior to Alex's departure to Portsmouth next weekend.
Animals have passports at the ready. Utilities have been informed of our pending departure. Know we've forgotten something - will let you know sometime what it is - that is when I find out what!
Quite a few parents have made some lovely comments to me about my leaving which has really lifted my spirits. It is nice to know that I have perhaps made a positive contribution to children's lives - after all that's what I've been doing the job for. I shall miss them but I feel that now is a good time to start the rest of my life (the pun is intended). I had thought that I would start to worry about the overall decision as the time drew near for our departure. I'm pleased to say that I am totally looking forward to it and although there may be a few regrets about moving away from family and friends we are not going to the end of the world and are no less available to them than if we went to live in the West Country or the Borders. Memories will, hopefully, accompany me in my journey and with modern technology such as this blog and the mobile phone communication will be as possible as it is from our English home.
To add to our excitement Michael has today received an email to say that he has won a competition with the local English speaking Spanish newspaper and the surprise prize awaits us when we go into Trust FM to pick up our post when we arrive in October. We have been guessing what the prize could possibly be - someone even suggested that it was probably a weeks holiday in Clacton!
Animals have passports at the ready. Utilities have been informed of our pending departure. Know we've forgotten something - will let you know sometime what it is - that is when I find out what!
Quite a few parents have made some lovely comments to me about my leaving which has really lifted my spirits. It is nice to know that I have perhaps made a positive contribution to children's lives - after all that's what I've been doing the job for. I shall miss them but I feel that now is a good time to start the rest of my life (the pun is intended). I had thought that I would start to worry about the overall decision as the time drew near for our departure. I'm pleased to say that I am totally looking forward to it and although there may be a few regrets about moving away from family and friends we are not going to the end of the world and are no less available to them than if we went to live in the West Country or the Borders. Memories will, hopefully, accompany me in my journey and with modern technology such as this blog and the mobile phone communication will be as possible as it is from our English home.
To add to our excitement Michael has today received an email to say that he has won a competition with the local English speaking Spanish newspaper and the surprise prize awaits us when we go into Trust FM to pick up our post when we arrive in October. We have been guessing what the prize could possibly be - someone even suggested that it was probably a weeks holiday in Clacton!
We have passed on invitations for people to come and visit - we are looking forward to people taking us up on this offer so that we can share the pleasure we feel when we arrive on that 600 sq.m. plot we will be calling home. We have already researched the dog walking facilities available - many happy hours walking through the surrounding campo. Let's hope that Tiffy appreciates it all.
Well, I'm off to pack a few more boxes....
Monday, 14 September 2009
Time ticks by exceedingly fast
Somehow I haven't found time to write on the blog. Boxes have been packed, furniture has been disposed of. We are starting to see the tip as our second home.
The days are ticking by all too quickly now - only 9 more working days to go. The kids are having a farewell bbq this weekend then one week until Alex is off to Portsmouth.
Starting to get the pangs of anticipation now, think that tiredness is also starting to set in and it's not going to get any easier before we land in Spain - we will then be able to take our time.
The dog is also very suspicious and like velcro. She keeps an eye on me when I'm not at work just in case I slip away. She's helped pack several bags now! I'm convinced she understands what is happening - after all it's not that long since we moved here and we went through the packing process then.
We are slowly working through the remains of the food cupboard (contents that is!) Tonight we finished off with Christmas pudding, very nice too. This weekend will be the final blitz on the kitchen so that Alex has some cooking utensils to take with him to his halls, he is lucky enough to have his own kitchen there. We will pack the final few bits when Jimbo arrives to take our last load off to Spain in 3 weeks.
The days are ticking by all too quickly now - only 9 more working days to go. The kids are having a farewell bbq this weekend then one week until Alex is off to Portsmouth.
Starting to get the pangs of anticipation now, think that tiredness is also starting to set in and it's not going to get any easier before we land in Spain - we will then be able to take our time.
The dog is also very suspicious and like velcro. She keeps an eye on me when I'm not at work just in case I slip away. She's helped pack several bags now! I'm convinced she understands what is happening - after all it's not that long since we moved here and we went through the packing process then.
We are slowly working through the remains of the food cupboard (contents that is!) Tonight we finished off with Christmas pudding, very nice too. This weekend will be the final blitz on the kitchen so that Alex has some cooking utensils to take with him to his halls, he is lucky enough to have his own kitchen there. We will pack the final few bits when Jimbo arrives to take our last load off to Spain in 3 weeks.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
5 weeks and we're gone....
Well it was back to work this week after several hectic days of packing and visits from all the kids over the bank holiday weekend. Was lovely to see everyone as always but we had a couple of days of frantic work to catch on our schedule - don't want any more last minute panics than necessary.
Yes only 5 weeks from now and we will be in our villa shortly after landing in Spain (I am updating this a 3 am Friday) - all starting to feel very real now. This week we had emails from friend Lynne to say work is underway on the wrought iron fence being put up to dog proof the garden before Tiffy makes her debut and this evening we spoke to the builder doing it and our next door neighbour who confirm that progress has indeed been made and all is well. We are so lucky to have such lovely neighbours but then I suppose it is very much a venture for like minded people and much on the same wavelength. But nonetheless it is great to have such support to ease the passage and ultimate transition.
Alex took his driving theory test today and passed so that is another hurdle out of the way and he can now apply for his practical test. His instructor is hoping to be able to get him a cancellation as the tests are coming up in the middle of October at the moment and he only has 3 weeks before he's off to Uni. How quickly did he grow up? We are nearly packed for his move although his bedroom hasn't seemed to have improved much!
The last few weeks have brought back many memories as we have sifted through family paperwork and photos. It has, in all, been an enervating experience and quite cleansing -letting go - and the future feels bright. Whether I will be saying this in a few weeks time remains to be seen. Weekends are becoming booked up and dates kept aside as we start the final 3 weeks until I retire and join Michael in a busy retirement...
Yes only 5 weeks from now and we will be in our villa shortly after landing in Spain (I am updating this a 3 am Friday) - all starting to feel very real now. This week we had emails from friend Lynne to say work is underway on the wrought iron fence being put up to dog proof the garden before Tiffy makes her debut and this evening we spoke to the builder doing it and our next door neighbour who confirm that progress has indeed been made and all is well. We are so lucky to have such lovely neighbours but then I suppose it is very much a venture for like minded people and much on the same wavelength. But nonetheless it is great to have such support to ease the passage and ultimate transition.
Alex took his driving theory test today and passed so that is another hurdle out of the way and he can now apply for his practical test. His instructor is hoping to be able to get him a cancellation as the tests are coming up in the middle of October at the moment and he only has 3 weeks before he's off to Uni. How quickly did he grow up? We are nearly packed for his move although his bedroom hasn't seemed to have improved much!
The last few weeks have brought back many memories as we have sifted through family paperwork and photos. It has, in all, been an enervating experience and quite cleansing -letting go - and the future feels bright. Whether I will be saying this in a few weeks time remains to be seen. Weekends are becoming booked up and dates kept aside as we start the final 3 weeks until I retire and join Michael in a busy retirement...
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