Last day of term

 

Following a lovely little phone catch up with Rosie, a cup of tea and cuddles with A we got up, load of washing in and one lot folded and I thought how hideous it's going to be having to do my own ironing. So to console myself I made another cup of tea, cereal with fresh milk and made A some crumpets. I sat in my garden, the wind consistently reminding me we have a lot of foxes around, as the smell of their urine was waffling past, I did feel a gentle contentment. Hopeful that Margaret will give us sound advice on what on earth to do with the garden. 

As we continue to slowly bring down stuff from the loft and throw out random broken items left behind it's feeling more and more homely. There is joy in rediscovering your stuff too, items I had forgotten we had, some going straight into the charity bag, but mostly bringing back happy memories. BigA headed off to a stag do and my Mum arrived, all the car parking sorted and Hilman was more than happy to be lumbering around smelling the foxes and neighbouring cat. We had a very enjoyable lazy day and just being together, using it as a chance to celebrate A's birthday and drinking wine together. It struck me as she left on Sunday that it felt so very normal and different knowing that we could see each other again with relative ease and it felt so much less dramatic. Another good side of being home. BigA returned from the stag do and brought with him our friend Nick, who we knew in Malawi, who after a cup of tea helped move the piano into its new home. Each room slowly making the transformation from not ours to what we want. BigA, despite his lack of sleep, then set to getting other bits of IKEA furniture set up and once again had the screwdriver out. 

For A's birthday, we went to get old favourite place for lunch and she had a few friends over for her birthday evening. I bought her a caterpillar cake. They didn't eat it but did have a huge amount of Pizza, A was also thrilled to be spending her birthday money. Going to see The Barbie movie being a highlight. They also went out to the theatre with their Opa and have been out on the bikes her grandad donated. They visited their other possible college choice, and even though they got a little lost finding it they said it was great and seemed to feel very happy about the prospect of going. It's my preferred choice for them. Even if it is one that didn't give me the job in February. 

I had my long awaited MRI this week too. I will have the clinic appointment in September. I'll keep you posted. But the technician did say she thought for someone with VHL I had good kidneys, she said most she's seen are a mess and riddled. So that cheered me. 

Wednesday was the day our freight arrived, along with everyone else's boxes from school. A bit of a significant mess up from my school's perspective but, eagerly and selfishly we got all our boxes so the day was spent unpacking that. Also a carpet man came. An evening out with friends, I had intended to have a few cocktails at a new place on Philip lane, but as I had an interview the next morning I was of course sensible and only had a virgin one. So I got up, dressed and set off on what was quite a long bus ride to a school who need a Head of Drama and after a short lesson, a chat with the 2 deputies (also drama teachers) I was given the job. So I'm working through an agency but have a job for September. Phew. BigA and I have already been discussing getting a car. It will halve the travel time and he could do with using it when he has training - given how unbelievably expensive the trains are.  It was also a day of even more deliveries and more unpacking and sorting, getting all the necessary paperwork for HR purposes too. I'm feeling relieved that I have something to start in September, i get paid in a different way to how I'm used to because I'm not technically employed by the school. I was able to be totally honest with them, so they know that I will be looking for permanent jobs in that term. And I get to teach drama, which is what I'm good at! It's an all girls school and the poor class I had to teach were quite well behaved considering, it was a random 25 mins on the last day of term and we all had to pretend it was a real assessment. As I left the room with the Deputy Head I heard a girl say 'Ms can we play games now?' 

The week has felt very full, so many things are slowly but surely being sorted. I've joined a teacher union for example and even did a bit of hacking at overgrown stuff in the garden. They left lots of pots and most of my gardening stuff as well as a strange amount of wood dye. I have met up with my newest friend, she's a proper giggle and I have a great feeling that we'll be good pals. And we have been getting rid of the ugly furniture we don't want and getting up a new sofa. One of the duller reports to make us just how much more efficient our oven here is. I keep almost burning everything because it takes significantly less time to heat up and to cook stuff. It's great, but I really do need to pay attention! 

I was reminded by my wonderful friend Sarah that it was Saturday this morning, and so this is perhaps a little later than I normally do, but I am also getting used to London life starting later in the day and ending later too. 

We're waiting in for another carpet fitting quote this morning - living the dream!