Paradox?

Today was my last day at my school and it was both the saddest and funniest day of my relatively short-lived teaching career.

This year will see the biggest turnover in staff at my school for years. Most are moving on to better things - head of this or that at another school, moving abroad or looking forward to a well-earned retirement. Many have spent their entire careers there so it was a strange mix of tears and laughter, as they related stories about their time there, and it was obvious that this was more than just a group of colleagues, it was a real family.

As for me, I had to rush home in period 2 as it seems one of our school stationery suppliers still had my house as the delivery address from when I had an emergency supply of plasticine delivered to me a couple of months ago, and my husband texted to say a huge load of boxes had just been dropped off! This caused much hilarity at school, and jokes about checking the invoices for 50-inch tellies, etc! If only I had thought of that! There's a big car boot sale every Sunday in the next village so I told them I was setting up a stall there and I could do them a good deal on mini-whiteboards next weekend.  ;-)

A few students blocked the gate to try and stop me leaving but, unfortunately, it's not that easy, is it? After all the students had gone home, the staff sat on the grass with glasses of Pimm's while the headteacher thanked us for how well we'd coped this year and made glowing tributes to the leavers, including me (better late than never I guess!). We then all headed off to the local pub - again! - and it was a nice way to end my time there, surrounded by people who have become - and will remain - good friends.  

I got lots of cards and gifts from both staff and students, with lovely comments that made me cry, had many, many hugs (stuff you, Covid-19) and my car boot looks like an off licence delivery! By far the very best thing, though, was this card that the resources room staff made me. I hate to admit that it is a scarily-accurate likeness and they've surrounded me with what they called my 'catchphrases', saying they'll really miss all my funny stories. They definitely got 'the last laugh' - brilliant!

Sooooo... definitely the end of an era for me. For now, I'm no longer 'GeoJuli', I'm 'JustJuli'. No idea what the future holds but I guess that's what makes life interesting?