Moving on...

 I have begun the great clear out and started finally to throw away some of the rubbish I've accumulated in the last 19 years.  This was one of the piles of boxes which went out for recycling from my classroom last week! With only 9 working days left at my old school I'm frantically trying to write goodbye notes, wrap retirement presents, clear my room and bring home everything that's mine rather than the school's!  I'm actually quite enjoying the process.  The first of my 'fond fareweels' was on Friday at the house of a friend and former collegue where much wine was drunk and many interesting conversations were persued.  I was really touched by the cards, presents and beautiful flowers I was given (- and delighted that my former head of department's very moving speech in my honour was interupted by a vociferous demand for 'More Grouse and Partridge!' from a friendly heckler!)  I'm not looking forward to the last day of term, however:  there's a bit of a tradition of digging up old stories from the past when people leave our place and I'm a little nervous about what will be unearthed!!!! I'm already looking forward to the new school year and my 'reinvention' for a new location.  What I've seen and heard so far has been enough to make me very excited about what's on the horizon...