Carefully Into the Unknown....

I've made the fact that I'm leaving at the end of the academic year general knowledge with the staff at work.  (It says something about the general climate that - even though it's 9 months away - I have discovered 5 other people who have already made the same decision!).  I intend to hand in my notice around February half-term so that there's plenty of time to find someone who is right for the kids.


This week I've started a new financial regime.  I am going to live strictly to the budget that will be the reality as of the 1st September 2015.  All the extra cash will add to the 'transition support fund' - just in case it takes a while for things to work as I plan.  I've always been a complete control freak over my income (even as a teenager when I started to make the odd £1.50 from teaching piano to the neighbours' children).  There are new columns in my little black notebook ('Escape Fund', 'New Budget Test') along side the regulars ('Housekeeping' and 'Holidays').  I've even created little rules about how and when I'm going to access the new budget.  Monday is going to be the new weekly pay day.


Current illness aside, I'm feeling more positive and excited about the future than I have done for years.  Whenever I explain to some-one that I'm moving on a new offer of work comes in.  I've already collected three piano pupils and a wedding 'gig' as a harpist.  There's even a vague offer of a bit of Year 7 and Year 8 teaching (plus instrumental work) at the local Independent Cathedral School.  Of course all of this has to become reality......but it's nice to think that I'm not jumping into some kind of 'career black hole'.  One of my lovely friends has even offered to create a professional business website for me for free!  I am lucky to have so many kind people in my life.

I am also delighted to find a way of getting photos on my blog again. (Insert photos into a word document then 'cut and paste' from there - DURRR - why didn't I think of this months ago!) This is a photo of the river Teme when we went walking near Ludlow a few weeks ago.  I adore Ludlow.  We've spent whole summer holidays there just walking, eating and chilling - even though it's only 45 minutes from home.  (If you climb the right hill over there it's actually possible to see back to the hill where we live near Worcester!) It's definitely one of my favourite places on the planet and I plan to do lots more walking in my new life.