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 #