application time

I haven't quite gotten used to mum not being here. It was so lovely to have her here that I wish she could come again. To compensate I cracked open a jigsaw that she brought and spent some of my weekend with that. I love a good jigsaw and a cup of tea. 

It was the Hillview Christmas bazaar last Saturday and A was keen to go. It was more of a social event for her. We all went along seeing lots of people we know and BigA bought me some lovely earrings. The traffic back was terrible all due to petrol tankers and the queues that come with them. 

Sunday morning I woke up knowing that 7 years before I had brain surgery and the importance of that journey will never leave me. I think it shaped me in a way that is partly why we're here now and why we will leave in July. A couple of weeks before, while in the school pool with my mum talking thoughts and through what we should do I said how comfortable I am here, how easy it is. My mum, knowing me well and wants that for me. Less stress, but in her eyes I saw that she knew what I was feeling before I said it out loud. 
'but I'm worried I'm getting bored and I don't do 'easy'.' I knew then that rather than apply for deputy and assistant head jobs I'd try my luck at headship. It's what I've wanted for a long time. It's why I'm doing the NPQH after all and so I've been applying for headships. 
I also finished my jigsaw, had crumpets, planted out some seedlings and had a cuppa with Keith. I've now got a spreadsheet for the various jobs I'm applying for. 

Tuesday was an emotional day, because of the early recruitment in international circuit, Sarah has to begin contract renewal meetings and so, it felt like the best thing to do was to let staff know we were leaving. An email went out so that it was done in one hit and Sarah said lovely things. Then I had a flurry of people hugging and crying and in a little shock in some cases. My goodness, I felt so loved and I'm not sure I'll ever quite feel like that again! One teacher, who told me not to say anything, but I'm telling you all said he was very sad and that he respected me the most of all the leaders he's had. The odd thing is that we're still here for 9 months and will now just get on with doing my job. A long goodbye. 

We thought BigA  was heading off on Tuesday and he did but he didn't get very far, I picked him up after he had sat at the airport for about 5 hours and on Wednesday he tried again. The frustration and expense are hard to swallow. He managed to get on a flight the next day and is now happily (well working) in the UK for a few weeks. Leaving me, A and the cats. Well today, just me and the cats as A has gone on a school trip to Lilongwe to take part in a sporting tournament. She's on the frisbee team. 

We went to a new shop that's opened to try and get snacks for her trip, traffic had been so bad - all due to petrol queues, but we did enjoy trying to work out what was worth buying and adding a couple of things to BigA  what to bring back list. We think the decaf coffee was about £15 so decided not to buy that! 

I haven't wasted my, now rare, time on my own. It's always nice to be able to just watch what you want and not worry about meals for others, well for a little bit anyway. Pizza out with my friend Tabitha last night and a meal with some new teachers this evening. I've also had a few chats with recruiters and one executive head about jobs. My CV doing it's job. I think the chances of getting a headship having been out of the UK for 6 years isn't high but I'm still going to try for a bit. It's still relatively early and more jobs will come up. 

A got a couple of applications to colleges in and got her mock exams timetable. So it's all feeling very real now. BigA  is going to try and get to some open evenings while he's there too. 

This comes to you early this morning as I woke up with all sorts running round my head and I can't get back to sleep. 

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