28 days to go!!

It was pointed out to me by my friend K.d H that I hadn't posted on my blog in a long time - thanks for pointing this out and giving me a nudge!! My excuse is that I have been so busy!!

But 15th June was a long time ago!! 

A lot has happened since then....  I have:

• turned 28
• been round Birmingham on the 11 Route, having drinkies with my friends
• been to a party for my Auntie and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary
• had a picnic in the park with my friends
• watched my sister complete the swimming leg of a triathlon in Eaton Rowing Lake in a good time
• been going out with my boyfriend (of sorts) for 2 months
• packed all of my belongings into boxes bound for either Qatar or Kent
• finished work at Shireland Collegiate Academy, apparently giving the best and funniest leaving speech in over 5 years
• moved out of my house in Birmingham and moved back in with my parents
• been to 3 different leaving parties in 3 consecutive days (2 of which were mine)
• met another one of my new colleagues for lunch in St Albans
• visited my family in Devon for 4 days
• fixed my motorbike and ridden it from Birmingham to Kent
• sold my motorbike to my friend Ollie

As I said, it's been a busy time!  I thought that I would be more emotional about it all but I have actually so far been pretty calm.  I was expecting my leaving speech to be said through sobs but I held it together remarkable well - probably because I was so entertaining - my most genius lines being 'I never wanted to be a teacher' and 'I always saw teaching as a route into travelling, so when I came back from Mongolia and decided I didn't want to get married, I needed to get away and I travelled....to Birmingham.' - well, it was funny at the time.  Maybe it was by comedy timing and delivery...?!

The leaving parties were lovely - the first one being for Ian at a bar in town called Bodega.  I had never been there before but I really liked the fact that all of the cocktails were £4 before 7pm - I made sure that I took advantage of that!    On the Friday, I had a BBQ at my house for my closest colleagues - it was really nice and relaxed.  It was fab just chilling and messing about in the garden.  Then my sister arrived for the weekend and most of us headed out into town to go to the Jam House.  It was a fab night out, especially seeing as I managed to get a whole load of us in for free - yay!!  Saturday was another BBQ and party at the house with most of my friends coming along. 

I would like to thank...

All of my friends for coming and making the day so special  - Claire, Nicolle, Karin, John, Shaun, Wendy, Tharpinder, Bal, Dave, Sarah, Rosie, Alex, Jess, Param.

Special thanks to -

• Dave for being a star and turning up with two space hoppers!!  Awesome!!
• Thanks also to Shaun and John for making sure that the BBQ was always full of food.
• My sister Claire, the biggest, brightest star - not only for helping me pack my car, but for making a fab 'Auntie Pat's Lemon Desert' as well as sorting out most of the food which really allowed me to enjoy the day without feeling the need to rush around after my friends ensuring everyone was fed and had drinks. 

You were all so awesome and really helped me to leave with a bang!