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!!