All Change

Something momentous happened yesterday.

I left my job of 21 years.

I don't actually stop being a civil servant until 24th November but yesterday was my last day in the office and I'm now on leave.

A few weeks ago I mentioned I wasn't happy at work and once I'd had a good whinge and got it off my chest I started to apply for a variety of different jobs.

There was one job amongst them all which I really, really wanted and I hardly dared hope that I would get an interview.

As it turned out not only did I get an interview (the very afternoon after I had been interviewed in the morning) they rang me and offered me the job.

I was speechless. I was thrilled. I was so happy. I cried.

My new job will be working in a school office.

 So close by I can walk, no more dashing off to the train station. 

I will be working every afternoon.

There will be time in the mornings to do all the stuff that needs doing and then maybe some time to do something I want to do.

I will be home during all the school holidays.

I consider myself to be very, very fortunate indeed.

When I got to work yesterday I popped along to see the work colleagues from my old section and took them a box of chocolate biscuits to say cheerio. We had a little chat, they wished me well and when things started to get a bit tearful I quickly waved goodbye and scurried back to my desk.

I find saying goodbye very difficult and am always very emotional at times like this.

Not long afterwards I was packing things away from inside my desk when I looked up to see them all walking towards me en masse, along with my current colleagues. They were all there as my former boss was going to say a few words and present me with some presents.

I wasn't expecting this at all.

It was too much. I buckled being the complete emotional wreck I am and spent the next I don't know how long sobbing. 

Tissues were quickly found and passed to me to wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

What a mess I must have looked. 

I could hardly speak I was so overwhelmed.

When I eventually pulled myself together I thanked them and told them not to say anything nice to me as that would just set me off again!

My former boss, who is also a friend, had been to the Country Living Christmas fair at the weekend and she had been in charge of buying my leaving presents.

I was so thrilled when I opened this haul of Rusty the Fox goodies, pencil pot, plasters, baking label set, lunch box and flask.

Plus the most beautiful cup and saucer decorated with white birds. I haven't looked him up on the internet but the chap who makes these is based on the Isle of Wight and he was voted best newcomer to the show, or so I am told.

I felt exhausted yesterday evening and yet I woke up at 3.30 ths morning and couldn't get back to sleep again.
I have such a mixed bag of emotions inside me right now.
Leaving after so long was hard to do. I have so very many happy memories, but these past two years haven't been the easiest and the time was right to go.