11 days to go...

So just 11 days to go.....!!

Last week I have said goodbye to colleagues and students at my final ever British headship, and to the MAT I've worked in since April 2017.  I'm sad to be leaving my colleagues, I've enjoyed working and learning with them, and to students, where I've enjoyed supervising and talking to them.  I've missed teaching classes this term, as in my previous headships I was lucky enough to teach GCSE and A Level History.  However, I know that I'm likely to teach again in the future in QLD, if I get on to a supply/relief register.  I've packed up all my Christmas decorations (pink, obviously!) and all my office gear, ready to put in the loft... ready to be packed again by the Bishops Move boys on 2nd January! I wasn't sad to be driving up the A1 home again, though - I am heartily sick of driving and not living at home.

I've got mixed feelings about leaving headship, to be honest. I know I've made a positive difference to every school I've led, or where I've been part of the Senior Leadership Team. But headship has changed in the two decades I've been in British education. It's not a long-term sustainable role in one school, and the pressure heads feel around exam results time is unfair and again, not sustainable for heads' mental health over time. No head ever came into our profession to make things worse for students, nor to be penalised for students' outcomes. Yet that is how commentators seem to view our roles now. It's been interesting to watch the BBC2 programme "School", where there was a real genuine communication of what our world is like. As teachers, we came into the profession because we loved our subject and wanted to share that love with students. I'm always gladdened to hear from former students about their own love of history which I've helped to develop - one of my favourite moments in the last term was when a colleague from a former school shared with me on Twitter her daughter's lesson planning, now as a history teacher herself, using resources I had uploaded to the Internet in 2004-5! I'm optimistic though that the new Ofsted framework, which I was lucky enough to pilot through an inspection on curriculum, might bring a different perspective to this "football manager" syndrome for heads. I do hope so.

Now that I've finished working, I can reflect on the last four years as a self-employed interim principal/headteacher. In four years of having my limited company, I've lived at home for only two terms out of twelve.... that's just mad. And it's confirmed my view that whatever I do next, wherever it is, I'm not going to live away from my home. "Rebuilding my snowman" overnight is hard enough, but to do it away from your own things, the cats, special people, makes it nearly impossible. I'm proud of myself for succeeding at being self-employed and having continued to build my reputation as a school leader.  I'm also proud of being able to adapt to this different way of working.

Also, I can now turn my full brain on to the Big Move and the wedding. I'm so excited for the daughter's big day on Sunday 30th - I hope the weather is kind to them and that everyone who is invited enjoys the celebrations. She has been planning this since the engagement in April and she has put so much thought into each aspect of the whole day and evening. I cannot wait!

I've also had a delightful family weekend, with my son and his new wife, and my daughter and her fiance (wedding is under a week away now!) - we did Christmas food, but no turkey as they all did turkey with other family members on Christmas Day! I'm so proud of these two young people - in my head they are still toddlers! They have become such brilliant adults with a love of life and clear vision which I totally adore. 

In terms of things to cancel this week, it was finally close enough in time and date for me to ring TV Licensing for them to make a note of my leaving date!  Funnily enough, the TV Licensing team had rung me after I'd cancelled the Direct Debit to say that I'd have to pay for 3 months' licence from 1 Jan to 3 Jan .... and then claim a refund for February and March (note, not the remainder of January).... "so why can't I just pay for 3 days' worth of TV?... That's not in our policy". That's not consumer-friendly, is it?! I can't understand how archaic this is - but then, it's about funding the national TV channel, isn't it, not anything else. I'll just make sure that I'm watching saved TV (not live) on my ipad and not BBC I-player, of course, because you still need a TV licence for that.

I also continued cancelling Direct Debits this week to companies I no longer have any contracts with, or where I'm ending a contract.  Sky have been emailing and texting, saying "are you sure you want to leave us?"  I guess that's a good marketing strategy, in case people have second thoughts about leaving Sky. 

I've also had the final bill for the cats' transport - well over £3,500! That doesn't include the insurance for them either. But they are so worth it. I really hope they survive the trauma of the flights and the quarantine, and that they still speak to me on Monday 14 Jan when I pick them up in Brisbane!

One unexpected joy, which I haven't mentioned before in my blog, is that two months ago I got back in touch, via a mutual friend's comment, with an old acquaintance, someone I'd worked with way back in Allerton High days. We have reconnected and fallen in love, which is just amazing. I know - not what I was expecting or looking for! But it's fantastic and I'm very happy.  I feel sure that we will transcend the geographical distance and there will be frequent trans-Pacific flights both ways!

3 weeks to go...

So just 3 weeks to go - 21 days - and still so much to do!

In terms of the cats, they are now all jabbed up and ready to depart on 2 January in their double crate. They'll be able to see each other but not touch each other through the dividing panel. They'll have another set of jabs/tablets in London before they are boarded on the flight. They are going Qantas to Melbourne, where they'll stay in quarantine for 10 days. If they are fit and well and free of any bugs, I can get them at lunchtime on Monday 14 January.

The removal firm also come on 2 January to begin the packing of the sea container. That will continue into 3 January. Fingers crossed my stuff will all fit into one 20ft unit - that alone costs over £5k with insurance. So I really need it to fit! Otherwise I have to pay for additional carriage as a part-filled container - "groupage" they call it. They've said that my belongings will arrive in Brisbane port on Saturday 23 February. I don't know how long it will take to clear customs and quarantine, but this gives me a good start point for having a flat/house to rent by that weekend.

I spent part of one evening this week cancelling direct debits - I was surprised at how many I still had on my bank account for things that are no longer needed. What was interesting was the response from a couple of them, almost immediately, saying "keep it open, we might need another payment".  I haven't re-started those - I think they can send an invoice and I can pay online/by cheque if I need to. One of those was the TV licensing team - they were the ones who wouldn't take my information over the phone?! Obviously the bank gets in touch with companies where you cancel the direct debit.

I've not heard anything back from Leeds City Council re: the council tax - I wonder if they've got a backlog of items to deal with?

Some of these were lottery tickets - I'm never going to check what the numbers are again in case they are mine! I've also cancelled postcode lottery, because technically, though I own the address, I don't live at it.

I've organised a cleaning company to come in and do a "deep clean", whatever that is, I just care about the oven and the skirting boards, on the day after the removal team leave. I had planned to do it myself but actually, I'm mindful of the stress of everything else and need to take care of myself a bit more - I cancelled a weekend away in Birmingham this weekend, just feel quite fragile and not 100% myself.

I created new spreadsheets last week, to monitor and predict my expenditure in the UK even when I'm in Australia, and to monitor Australian expenditure from Australia. It's hard to predict but I'm using what I spend now in the UK as a starting point.  People tell me that the cost of living in Australia is higher than in the UK, and I've seen some of those TV programmes who say that too. 

I heard back from one of my sister's school-friends who has links with rental agencies and he's given me another contact to follow up. I'm wondering if not having a permanent job will be a hindrance to me renting somewhere? Maybe I'll need an Australian guarantor?  

I've also withdrawn my ISAs because I'll need capital in Australia, particularly if I don't get work. I was intending to use my ISAs to buy a house, but that might have to be delayed until my pension kicks in, in Feb 2024, when I get the lump sum from the old scheme.

I've had some post this week at home from Sky for the new tenants - another thing that makes it real!

I've had more contact with old friends via the Christmas cards and from the blog - how lovely that anyone is reading it!

I'm feeling quite nostalgic this weekend - I've got a handful of decorations up for Xmas but without the dresser, sofa and corner unit, the house looks very empty. For Xmas and New Year, I'll be here alone with the cats, which is a lovely way to say goodbye to my house.

My last week ahead as a headteacher - probably ever, if my experience in getting a job in Oz continues! We had the Xmas lunch on Friday which the students and staff really enjoyed - lovely to be a part of it, though as an interim, you're never really there, particularly once the substantive is appointed and visiting.

Under a month now....

So now just a month away - 28 days to be precise. Wow! Only 9 days left in our academic year, so that's just a handful of long drives now.

This week has been all about giving notice on boring things like utilities, to be honest! For anyone embarking on this type of activity, moving from Leeds abroad, here's some relevant and hopefully useful info:

• Leeds City Council for Council tax - you download a form, complete it and post it back snail-mail
• Sky (for TV and broadband and phone line) - you need to ring up and to give 31 days' notice for the TV contract, 14 days' notice for the broadband and phone line. It takes a while to get all of the cancellation done, but it's all confirmed by email afterwards. You need to leave the direct debit in place just in case there's anything to come back to you.
• TV licence - you have to ring up... and then they won't take the information unless it's 14 days before you are leaving... so I'll have to ring again!
• Unions  - ASCL and NASUWT - you can cancel by email and then close down your direct debits from your bank.
• Yorkshire Water - need you to book a call-back from them, so they can speak to you in person about moving. They were very efficient, did it all over the phone and will organise any refund through direct debit.

Oh, and I ought to add - I always use the app, WeQ4u to dial these types of numbers. It is way cheaper than using traditional mobile calls and I think I've saved about £10 per month since I got the app.

An update on applications for leadership posts - three more knock-back emails this week, so again I've asked for feedback, so I can see what the main issues are. One piece of feedback said that I needed to put in applications how I'd used the Australian Curriculum, Literacy strategy and data-driven inquiry cycles - it makes me think that the shortlisting process must be very precise, with the successful candidates being able to tick all these boxes. I've paused the process of applying for things now - having applied for so many posts and having been rejected for so many, I'm going to wait and see once I'm actually there, with an Australian mobile number and address. I'm not feeling particularly positive about a leadership post in the QLD system - maybe it's time for a complete career change.

Cats are due at the vets tomorrow for their final vaccinations before their flight on 2 January. I've confirmed their flights (they're going Qantas) and their travel crates, so all systems go for them. I feel guilty every time I see their little faces!

5 weeks to go..

Wow - just under 5 weeks left in the UK. I can't quite focus on how quickly this is all going. For so many years it's just been a dream. Then it got closer in Jan 2017 when I went for a month... and now here I am with just 34 days left before I can realise my life-long dream!

I used my Australian repatriation life goal with staff when I did some CPD a couple of weeks ago - I was saying to colleagues that we all have goals that we work towards.... and I was querying out loud with them, what my next goal would be?

I've given quite a bit of thought to that now. I think it will be to have replicated the quality of life I have now - but an improved version:

• Hopefully living at home, working nearby so I don't have to live out of a suitcase - I've been doing that since I became self-employed in 2015! 
• Having great relationships with my grown-up children and their spouses, being ready to welcome new grand-babies eventually!
• Having a wide circle of Australian friends and knowing people to go to the pictures with, for a meal, etc. 
• Re-connecting with my Australian cousins and seeing them much more often than every 2 years. 
• Building my own support network - facials, massages, nails, waxes, hair, yoga, pilates and then the boring support bits like plumbers, builders, car mechanics - boring but essential!
• Living my life outdoors - every meal outside, walking, cycling (if it's flat!), being on the beach as often as I can
• Being happy at work, doing something useful - but maybe not in education
• Being happy generally in my life
• Receiving lots of UK visitors, to keep in touch

My "last ever" list has increased this week - last ever UK full governors' meeting on Wednesday, last ferry to Isle of Man to see my mum for a while, last ever Christmas cards sent with English stamps on, last set of monthly direct debits to a whole range of things, such as my teaching union memberships!

I've also caught up with some great friends who found me from Twitter and read the blog - so lovely to be back in touch with special people from my close and distant past.  I am loving this long goodbye - I can't fit everyone in for visits in the next 34 days, but I'm in touch with them and that's enough.

I've been checking off items from my lists - if you remember, I've got them as a page per month plastered over the walls... when I started there were 10 pages from April through to January... now of course, there are only 3... 

I'm finding these last few weeks being away from home quite tricky - I think it's because I've lived away for the vast majority of the last 4 years and I can see the end ahead of me (13 more school days to go). I miss being around my own space and obviously my cats. I still have so much to do for the Big Move, despite being so very organised.  

I had another knock-back from a QLD state school this week. I found it more disconcerting than getting no feedback at all! The post was for a deputy principal position. The Principal emailed me and said:

"You have extensive knowledge and skills in leadership which is evident from your significant leadership journey but they are all overseas.  For a position as a DP in a school, you must have current knowledge of the Queensland Education system and Queensland classrooms.  Unfortunately, I do not have the time to be teaching you about Queensland Education as well as inducting you into the school. Could I suggest that once you return to Australia that you undertake some supply work to familiarise yourself with Queensland operations."

So this made me think, is my experience is invalid because it's "overseas" - but I've lived "overseas" for all my working life so it would be "overseas"? The whole response made me feel quite helpless and hopeless, to be honest. I'm thinking now that I forget all about senior leadership and just look for a job in the classroom. It's just as well that I like teaching!!

6 weeks.....

So now just 6 weeks today until the one-way flight!!

In terms of keeping myself focused and fit for the Big Move, I'm doing yoga in my digs at night, following the DailyOm Fierce at Forty course - I'm at day 16 now!! I'm also doing minimum of 25 sit ups every night, to try and reduce tummy for the wedding on 30th December! I've also sorted out my Xmas cards and labels for envelopes, etc., so this week's job in the digs at night is to write and post them.

Last week I finished my online Chakra course - glad I did it; it's been really interesting to learn about chakras and what is linked to what. I didn't know anything before I started it. When I saw Lisa for my 4 weekly massage last week, she said my blocked areas were solar plexus and heart; so I've been eating orange and green things and trying to think them unblocked!

I put the oak dresser and corner unit on Ebay last week - if you remember, I decided it probably wouldn't go with any Australian decor, given it's 30 years old and quite dark. A lovely guy from Bury came to get it with his daughter; it's great that my furniture will be loved again by a new family.  I had to pack all of the contents away - so now the cats have two towers of boxes to jump around!

I had another interview for a job as Dean of Students (like a Pastoral Deputy I think) at 5am on Wednesday. I thought it went well - I could answer all the questions, wifi and Skype were strong enough to survive an hour's interview. But I wasn't successful this time. Disappointed, obviously, because I thought I could make a difference to the team there. However,  in a way I'm sort of glad I didn't get it because it's so far up north and I'd have a tough time trying to look after Nattie & Pete on their honeymoon in January if I was based there - 13 hours' drive from the Sunshine Coast.

Today I'm planning to email my CV out to my lovely cousin Kate's list of people in independent and Catholic schools in the right geographical location. I haven't made any progress with jobs in the state sector - I'm not sure why, I've asked for feedback on a couple of applications I'd made.

Zoe at Smart Leaders has put me forward for more posts in QLD. I've got a good relationship with Zoe - she seems as keen as I am for me to have a job! It seems that faith and independent schools use agencies like Smart, but the state sector doesn't. That's an interesting difference, isn't it.

I spent time earlier in the week talking to HMRC about "double taxation", non-resident landlords, etc - really helpful and I'll be registering online asap. It links to my personal tax online account, which is sensible. I have to register as a non-resident landlord (official form NRL1), so that all income from the letting is taxed at right rate, or not at all.

Purple Bricks have managed to secure me a great tenant and  they are doing all the paperwork - have had to pay for a lot of certificates (gas safety check, legionnaires, inventory and checkin) but they'll last for a year or so, so they'll be valid for the next tenancy too. I started a lettings spreadsheet so I can track all the outgoings, income, etc for accountant to put into my self-assessment

In terms of staying sane (!!) I know I have enough money already banked in Australia to survive for a few months without ANY work. I'll leave enough money in my UK bank account to cover DDebits etc which will continue for the foreseeable future. 

I do still have investments in the UK that I can access if I don't find work within six months.
As soon as I have an Australian mobile number, I'll be on the DET list for supply work and that will bring an Australian reference hopefully, which should enable me to get a permanent post at some point.

So, all in all, lots of progress this week. I've been really touched by comments from my friends about the blog, and how they are keeping up with each week's progress for me.

49 days to go...

This week I seem to have been paying for things! So far, I've paid for a year's worth of redirection of my post - it will be interesting to see whether post comes weekly or monthly to Oz? I've also paid for the removal of my possessions, including the packing of everything into the sea container, and insurance for these, in case the container falls overboard! Just the thought of all my work shoes and suits falling into the Pacific Ocean is terrifying!! But my son said, "Well Mum, you'll get to buy more brand new things!"  I've also moved more of my savings into my Australian bank account - so that from the moment I land, I've got cash in the bank to use. And I've booked my car hire for the first month, so that gives me a way of getting about (big distances, remember) until I can buy a car, or lease one if I've got a permanent job.

I've looked again at my calendar and worked out that there's only 8 weekends left until I actually fly. And in that time, there are trips to Bradford with bestie to see Sarah Millican, to the Isle of Man to see Mum and sister, to Berwick on Tweed to see bestie and husband, to vets for final jabs, to Birmingham for cousins' joint 70th birthday party (they are twins), a Christmas meal with kids and spouses ... as well as the fabulous big wedding for gorgeous daughter! Last weekend I had the best day with her as we sought my mother of the bride outfit - I had booked a personal shopper - Gail - at Debenhams in the White Rose Centre. What a brilliant experience! Lots of lovely things to try on and no rushing about the store, that's what Gail did! I also managed to persuade daughter to let me buy her a "going away outfit" for the plane journey on her honeymoon. So now I'm all set for the wedding on 30 December - such a lovely couple, so proud of them and excited for them.

Having planned this move for so long, it's surprising how quickly it's all rushing towards me. I'm still super-excited, but sometimes the fear factor kicks in, particularly when I think about my children and being on the other side of the planet from them, and about being financially stable in Oz.  

One of the most touching parts of this long goodbye is the opportunity to catch up with people I like and to re-connect before I depart. I did this on Sunday over in Brantingham (near Hull), in a super pub called The Triton. Lovely food, great atmosphere, fab smell from the log fire - and the chance to get all the gossip from an old friend. Brilliant! And lots of my friends are saying they would like to visit me in Oz one day.  I hope that does happen, it would be good  for me to maintain contact with my friends network. 

In terms of jobs in Oz, this has been a week of nothing but set-backs to be honest. The job where I had the interview with the organisational psychologist - remember the dawn interview? The school didn't take me to the final panel interview; and two other posts I'd applied for (deputy jobs) didn't shortlist me. I found that hard - there must be something wrong with the content in my applications? Is it that the employers think my UK education knowledge isn't good enough? Or is it that I'm not yet on the same continent so employers don't think I'm a credible candidate? I don't know. I just know it's hard to hold my nerve in this process. 

In terms of my current work, it's been interesting over the last ten weeks -  with five weeks to go until I hand over to the new Principal. I am racing to get more of the job done, so that she has less to do in her first term.  On Wednesday I joined the other Principals at a London academy - what a privilege it is to walk around someone else's school. I always learn loads from doing that. And that was the last Principals' meeting I'll do in the UK!

I'm still doing yoga each night, whether at home or the digs, with my 25 sit-ups  and I've nearly finished the online course for balancing chakras. I'm eating well, with quality food (M&S of course) to ensure I've got enough energy. I'm planning to break up the weeks from now to the end, so that I have a night at home mid-week, to boost my energy levels. I've always known that being in my own space reboots me in a positive way - and I get to see my fur babies too. I'm using every possible method I know to stay calm and focussed, even though I'm about to create a huge disturbance in my own support network. I think realising and accepting that this is a huge deal helps - I'm not just moving house to a neighbouring street, or a new town. I am moving to another hemisphere, time zone, climate, culture and network.
#Australia #BigMove #carpediem #emigration #moving #Queensland #education

59 days to go....

So, now there are just 59 sleeps until the Big Move Day!

This week I've been applying "cold" to 15 secondary schools along the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, which is where I was brought up, to the age of 11. It's not ideal, because I can't physically go and call in yet, but at least I'm raising awareness of my availability to the school leaders. 

I did the interview on Monday of last week - if you remember, I was getting up super-early to be suited and booted! That was a screening interview for a Deputy Principal post by an organisational psychologist, who decides on which candidates are put forward to the interview panel stage. I found it interesting, much of it about my application, resume, etc - but I don't think I've been interviewed by a psych before! I should hear by Monday of next week whether I've been recommended for the next stage.

One of my fab cousins in QLD has sent me lists of independent and faith schools in QLD so I'll attack that this weekend when I'm back up north. Again, it's applying "cold" but it will get my CV, or what QLD are calling "resume", out there.

I've taken part in another Webinar by QLD Education - again, fascinating to hear the experiences of the school leaders and what they're looking for. It was another 7am call! After the UK clocks went back, QLD is now 10 hours ahead - I didn't remember that QLD doesn't do daylight saving, their times always stay fixed. I guess as a child (last time I lived there was 1975) I wasn't much interested in clocks/time, etc.  I also emailed all of the QLD Education teams in the different regions (there are six) to indicate I'm ready for work - most of them have replied back to me and have found my original application from April 2018, where they're waiting for me to have an Australian mobile number. So at least it's all joined up!

I've also applied for a pastoral role in a very rural North Queensland school, which sounds amazing. It even has stabling for those students who want to bring their horses to school! Fingers crossed! I spent quite some time re-writing my application as my day to day job as Principal isn't so focused on pastoral, it's more about academic progress and organisational issues. 

And I've begun packing moving boxes!! I've decided not to take the large oak dresser and corner cabinets - they match my lovely house in Garforth but unlikely to match Australian décor, as most is stripped wood and white tiles, I think. So I need to put it on ebay or gumtree - and I need to make sure it's empty!


I've had more contact with my removal firm, the fabulous Bishop's Move - I used them to move from Headingley to Garforth in 2013. The same guy came out to check on the loads! Apparently I'm going to need just a little bit more than the 20 ft container I'd hoped for.. so they add it as "groupage" in another container which is shared with other people. On the day, they might be able to fit it into the 20 ft unit - I hope so! I've got to make sure that I get rid of stuff I really don't want to take. That's hard - I spent some time in the loft at the weekend, going through things for the children and what I wanted to take with me. 

Had a call earlier today from Purple Bricks, the lovely Ross, who is the lettings manager - my little house is going on the rental market on Monday of next week and he is planning viewing sessions. This makes it sooo real! I'll be coming back to the house at the end of the week to a "To Let" sign.... gosh!

70 days to go...

OMG how time is flying past!! I can't believe that it's just two months until I leave. My lists are getting shorter, I'm updating my spreadsheet daily and I can see clearly until the end of the year - amazing!

This week (half-term for me) I've transferred my mum and her cat and belongings over to the Isle of Man, where she is sharing my sister's new house, with her 3 cats, on the top of a cliff! Four trips with a van, backwards and forwards, and still another to do.

It's a fantastic location and I spent a lovely couple of days unpacking, storing, cleaning, scrubbing with my mum to settle her in. We also tested out the bus and taxi service to Ramsey. I really liked the Island and I can quite see why my sister and mum have chosen to relocate there. One more visit over for me in a few weeks' time, to take the final pieces from mum's house, and also to celebrate an early Xmas.

I've also met with the removal company this week to double-check on the size of the shipping container - yes, it's 20!! That's only £5k+ then, not £9k! Gareth from Bishop's Move also gave me some boxes, tape and wrapping paper so I can make a start on crockery and china in my quiet moments!

I've had confirmation back from the Melbourne Quarantine centre, who are housing the cats from 3 Jan to 14 Jan, which I've paid for now.  They are planning to house them separately, because that way they can work out who is using the litter tray, who is drinking and eating. I've asked my vets in Garforth to do a letter, saying the cats might be better together, and the Quarantine centre have said they'll keep an eye on them. It's hard to predict how very stressed they'll be after a 26 hour flight over 3 legs. One of my old school friends said he had done the same thing with his cats when he moved to Canada - and that both cats had run away within 2 weeks of the move! I need to remember to keep them in, or maybe buy some leashes.

In terms of work, I've applied for 2 Deputy Principal posts and 1 Principal post, all in QLD obviously. I've been shortlisted for a Deputy Principal post in a Catholic College - first Skype interview tomorrow at 6.15am! I'm not sure how many stages there are in these interviews, but I'm excited/nervous!  I also listened in on a webinar last week, where QLD Education explained how to apply for posts with the State. There were two of us from the UK on the webinar, 7am.  I found it useful but I'd done most of what they were telling us to do - I think it was aimed at newly graduated colleagues. This coming week there's another one at 8am with principals telling candidates what to say in interview.

The clocks went back last night in the UK - when I took off my watch, which I always leave set to summer time - I thought, "this is the last time for a very long time I'll be wearing you!". Since I made the decision to move, I've had a brand new watch set to QLD time on my desk, in my eyeline, so I always know what time it is there. I've made a start on the kids' Xmas stockings too - want to be ahead of myself!

Having checked my calendar ... I've got ONE WEEKEND "free" between now and the flight. That's lovely but also daunting! I've got lots of people to see and catch up on, which is fab. And of course the wedding on 30 December - so excited to be mother of the bride! 


#Queensland #education #secondary #high #BigMove #cats #emigration #Australia #newchapter #restofmylife #goinghome #LeedstoQLD #BishopsMove #IsleofMan 
#DeputyPrincipal #family #

99 days to go.... this has been a really reflective week, a week of “last evers”... some very thought-provoking moments. Most of this week, I’ve felt close to tears. What’s that for? I’m thinking it’s because some things are ending, and I can’t yet see the replacements, the beginnings of the next chapter. So probably the tearful moments are spiced by fear of the unknown.

On Wednesday I led my last ever UK Open Evening, welcoming parents, carers and future students to their secondary school. This is my twentieth year of secondary education, my tenth as headteacher. I wonder how many parents, carers and students I’ve welcomed in that time? How many Open Evenings I've fronted? It’s always lovely to see and hear the passion that subject teachers and leaders have for their subject, how they encourage students from before they start with us to love their world.  

On Friday I chaired my last ever meeting of the Teachers’ Advisory Group (TAG), part of the Transformation Trust charity. It’s been a key, non-negotiable part of my working life for the last decade and it has taught me so much. I’ve met so many amazing people at and through TAG, from Sir David Carter to Andy Buck, to Amy Leonard, our inspirational CEO and Susannah French, “Mrs Money”. I’ve worked with so many fantastic headteachers who passionately care about education and who happily give up three or four days a year to help steer the educational programme of the Trust. I’ll miss it enormously - I’ve asked if they’ll let me dial in for the first meeting in 2019 so we can eyeball each other!

In relation to all things QLD, this week I’ve been in touch with estate agents in the area I think I’ll be based, to register with them and to begin getting the paperwork together for being a tenant. Having not been a tenant for well over 30 years, I was curious to know what is required: so far it seems I need passport, bank account details, employment evidence of the last two salary payments, references from employers and/or guarantors in Australia. I emailed and asked what I do when all of that is UK based? One agent kindly got back to me and said she would accept English docs, that I could do it all now and be ready to move quickly when a property comes up. For the cats, I need to do an application page for each about them, with a photo of each!  I wonder if that’s to see if landlord likes the look of the pet?! They also have something called “On the Move” which seems to be a one stop shop for getting utilities turned on in the rental property. That sounds like a great idea but suggests not much competition in terms of providers of electricity, water, internet, etc. Does Martin Lewis Money website extend to Australia!?

Of course, I am not yet sure exactly which town or area of QLD I’ll be in, because the jobs I applied for haven’t closed yet. That’s another three weeks. I saw on LinkedIn today another two potential posts, I’ll check them out in more detail to see if I could add value to those schools.

I spoke this week with my lovely ex-mother-in-law, who has always been a superb supporter of everything I’ve done. She’s so excited for me, but worried how I’ll fit it all in while I’m working and helping my mother to move in with my sister in the Isle of Man. It’s a hiatus of change all round!  She also got me thinking about Christmas, where will I be? I think I’d really like to be in my own house, for the last time.

I also had text/message contact with two old friends, one from my Bradford days and one from Leeds. Both great people, getting on brilliantly with their own lives but both making time to be in touch with me, wish me well, make plans to catch up before I leave. I found that really touching, out of the blue. It reminds me of what a fantastic life and network I’ve built for myself here in the UK.

Someone today said, “you could always come back to the UK if you don’t like it”. My current thinking on that is that I’m giving myself one calendar year to build a new life. If I’m not 100% happier on 7 Jan 2020, then I’ll come back, having had a working holiday. I suppose that’s a safety net; I still have my house as a base and a resource.

So in summary, I would say it’s been an emotional time. And now just three months until that one way ticket. How exciting!

#Queensland #education #secondary #high #BigMove #cats #emigration #Australia #newchapter #restofmylife #goinghome #LeedstoQLD

110 days to go....

So, with the countdown continuing apace, only 110 days til the one-way ticket. Still feeling as much excitement as terror, to be honest!

The majority of people I've told have been excited for me, some quite envious, some openly so - and a tiny minority of people who, as a response to my news, explained why THEY couldn't be doing the same thing. Isn't that interesting. That some people see my next chapter as a threat to their own lives?

The cats have now got their quarantine booked in - ten whole days together in Melbourne, with a flight then on 14 January up to Brisbane when I'll get to see them. So in all, they're leaving me early on 2 January and I won't see them until the 14 - a whole 12 days of flights, take-offs, landings, new smells and people and maybe not even seeing each other when they're in quarantine! I do hope they'll be OK. They've got used to me working away Monday to Friday over the past 3 years, with their lovely cat-sitter visiting them twice a day - thank you, Sally. But how will they be when there's NOTHING familiar? And when I pick them up, I'll have to buy new pet carriers because my belongings will still be in transit - so again, it won't smell of our house. But I suppose they'll have me, that should be enough!

I applied for a job last week - in QLD, obviously. And as a Deputy Principal. I'm not sure if I'd maybe be over-qualified but it could be a good way to learn the QLD rules and what's different from the English system. The closing date is really far away - 18 October - that's a long lead-in time? I've re-drafted my covering letter and application paragraphs, so fingers crossed.  

I'm continuing to check off items on my month-by-month "to do" list.... September and October are relatively quiet in comparison to November and December! And it's amazing how many little things come to mind - what will I do with things like the hoover, the carpet shampooer and the handheld Dyson, when I'm not allowed to take anything with dust/dirt/earth etc into the country? Answer - give them away to family and friends who haven't got one/need a spare!  And what about the wine, beer, cider I have in my wine racks at home? The removal firm's guidelines say I can't take alcohol into the country, because I'd have to pay duty on them.... OK, so I drink it or give it away!!

The photo above is of a fantastic beach in Caloundra, very close to two of my cousins in Golden Beach. I stayed there in Jan/Feb 2017 and found it had changed and improved since my earlier memories of it. It really is the place I want to be and to set up my new life.

And the photo to the right is of a beach called Currimundi, which is where I learned to swim in the sea as a child. When I went back in Jan/Feb 2017, it was exactly as I remembered it. There were lots of families there enjoying the weekend, and teaching their children to swim. Full circle, then?

When I've tried to explain my plans to move back, I often say "it's the smell". There's a beachside plant in QLD called banksia, lots of them growing wild along the sand dunes. It has a particular smell - a bit like rosemary but stronger and more like eucalyptus I think. It's the smell that I think of first, when I think of my homeland. And soon - 110 days - that smell will not be a memory, it will be an every day smell. I'm so very lucky - and I know it. 

#Australia #memories #childhood #Caloundra #cats #quarantine #GoldenBeach #Currimundi #Queensland #education #jobs #BigMove 

120 days to go....

So now it's 120 days to go....

Still so massively excited about this Big Move - it's a whole new way of life, with undercurrents and memories from my childhood which was incredibly happy and settled. And I'm excited about creating new memories for me in this time of my life.

I'm working my way well through the lists - about four months ago, I started creating a page of things to do per month, leading up to the big day, which is 6 January. So each week I've been ticking things off each list and removing them as they're completed. I have them pasted up near my desk at home so I can see them, add to them, tick things off, etc. I've also now created a list of post-flight... so from 7 January onwards. That makes it so much more real too!

The cats have now had their provisional clearance from the Queensland quarantine team, so now we're just waiting for them to guarantee the dates. I can't believe how helpful the team at www.PetairUK.com have been, particularly Emma and Rachel, who have answered every query an anxious cat-owner could have! I'm so glad I went for the Gold standard on the export, which means that the team at PetairUK do all the organisation and get the clearances. Brilliant!

Now that my Queensland College of Teaching provisional registration has come through, I can apply for jobs in Queensland. The education terms are different, obviously - in QLD there are four terms of 10 weeks each in an academic year and it starts towards the end of January, around the 24th. So I'm actively looking for work. I've registered with agencies - I did this when I visited QLD in Jan and Feb 2017 as my preparation visit, so I'm registered with SmartLeaders and Hays, as well as with Seek and using LinkedIn and Adzuna, where I get daily alerts of potential posts.  I've updated my CV and been researching carefully for the geography of where each post is - QLD is a massive state and I'm aiming to be somewhere close to my three cousins who live on the Sunshine Coast.

I've organised the letting of my house too via Purple Bricks, with a full managed service, which means that for a while I'll have security in the UK, just in case anything happened and I decided not to remain in Australia. I'm not sure how long I'll keep it - probably up to two years I think, but it could be less. Trying to sell it now, alongside packing and moving, would be too stressful I think - also the sales market in the UK is quite stagnant, it seems.

All systems go then!

#Queensland #BigMove #cats #quarantine #SunshineCoast

135 days to go ...

 So....here is where it starts! Today it's 135 days until my plane leaves to take me back home to Queensland, Australia.

After a lifetime of living in England since 1975, where I've grown up, worked, married, had children, divorced - I'm now returning to my homeland, to the stunning beaches and the laid-back lifestyle of the Sunshine Coast.

I'm equally excited and terrified, to be honest - excited that I get to live my dream of returning "home"; terrified that I will be lonely, won't get a job, have become too English to adapt back to Australian life. Someone wise said to me in July - "but Heather, those are two sides of the same coin" - what a great way to look at this!

What made me decide to go back NOW? It was always my plan to retire in Oz, but not to go now. Well, a number of factors coincided to bring me to this point.

Firstly, both my children (now aged 30 and 28) are getting married before the end of 2018 - my son got married in June and my daughter will be married late December. So in a way, I feel that "job done" applies! Their dad, who I'm still very civilised with, will remain in England and will be their port of call in a crisis. And my mum and sister will still be in the UK too, so another set of "hands on" family for them.

Secondly, I noticed that lots of people who were my age (54) were in the press, sadly at the end of their lives, or having accidents, and I thought, "why am I waiting? What if something happens to me now and I don't get to do this?" I guess it's "carpe diem" at its best.

Thirdly, a long term relationship came to an end - after five years. My ex-partner had always said he wouldn't move to Australia, he's a typical Yorkshireman! So I always knew that at some point, we wouldn't be together. Although it was my decision to end the relationship, it was really tough - I suppose heartbreak at any age is. I miss the life we had as a couple - but I'm coped OK since. And having my departure (-135 days!) ahead of me has helped me cope with the break-up. So has the Internet - thank goodness for the superb Noah Elkrief (find him on www.liveinthemoment.org) who has excellent guidance and sensible talk for those who are bereaved at a break-up.

I've reflected so much in the last five months - on life, on love, on families, on relationships, on work - and I feel strangely calm about this Big Move. I know it will be sad  and lonely at times, for me and those I love, but I'm very excited about starting a new chapter. My final chapter, but back in my homeland. I was very lucky to be brought up in QLD as a child of the mid-60s, lots of fresh air, cycling to school, not wearing shoes, in a happy household.

The vast majority of family, friends and colleagues have said to me, "that's great, good for you, go do it". Only a couple have said ...."well, I couldn't do it because..." I think that says more about their own situation and feelings than about what I'm doing? That they wish they could do this? I'm so lucky - I have an Australian passport and I can just fly back, one-way ticket.

Fingers crossed, then!