Bob's Spanish Adventure

Goodbye to the dear people at North Primary (Part 1)

What a day! One I've been dreading for a few weeks as you'll know if you're following my blog. The day started at 5am, way too early considering I was out until past midnight having drinks at Clare W's. But I woke before my alarm and instantly recalled the significance of the day, so falling back to sleep was never going to happen. I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. Looking at myself in the mirror as I shaved, I half expected to see tears already welling up in my eyes but so far I was okay. All I felt was the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. I was very anxious about my last day of teaching at North.

Well, I managed to get to school without spilling oil on my trousers or breaking my glasses (that was yesterday!) and quickly settled down at a computer to get some jobs done. I was just getting started when Ray, our caretaker, walked in. We shook hands and he wished me all the best in my new adventure and that was all it took. Suddenly, I was too choked up to even speak. Thus began the roller coaster ride. Suddenly I was terrified of going to assembly, standing in front of the entire school blubbering like an idiot to say my farewells. I even walked into the headteacher's office to tell him I was unlikely to be able to speak.

I was on playground duty before school so had to face the parents and children who, as soon as I walked outside, came over to wish me well and hand me gifts and cards. I was being remarkably brave, all things considered, but I can't say the same for a few of my precious pupils. Rowan, came over and attached herself to me, throwing her arms around my waist and refusing to let go. Others were already in tears. I didn't realise that my leaving would have such an affect on them. Inside, the children piled their leaving presents at my feet as they came to sit on the carpet. To cheer everyone up and to distract them, I reminded them that the main purpose of today's assembly was to present some of them with Governors' Awards and reiterated that it's a great honour it is to receive one. That seemed to do the trick as they started to chat amongst themselves about who they thought would win the award.

The bell rang for assembly.... More later. I've got to get to my staff leaving do! 

Farewell Party at Ye Olde Albion

Thought I should write a quick blog to let anyone out there who might be wondering know that I did indeed survive my leaving party. In fact, it was the most perfect send off I could have imagined. At least 60 friends came to say goodbye. If you're one of my guests and are reading my blog, I just want to say thanks for making the night so special. It was lovely to see everyone together having such a good time. 

I couldn't believe the massive spread of delicious food everyone prepared. Three cheers to ALL of you and special thanks to Jason for his amazing paella, Tony for the delicious tortilla and Geoff for the patatas bravas. 

 Also, thanks for the lovely cards and the nice things you wrote in my book. Rowhedge is an amazing place because of all you wonderful people! It's going to be hard to leave but I console myself in the knowledge that half the population will be supporting Ryanair (and global warming) by coming to visit now and again.

Robb Johnson played magnificently and it was great fun dancing and singing our heads off, especially to 'Anarchy in Hackney'. Well done to 'All Is On' for sorting out my new digital camera and taking some photos that WEREN'T blurry! Be prepared, everyone, because tomorrow I shall be uploading all your smiling faces onto my website!

I've got to get some sleep now. I'm absolutely shattered after only three and a half hours sleep last night. I'm up at half past five for work, as usual, but only for another 5 days! Yeah! It's going to be a hectic and emotional week and it'll be even worse if I'm exhausted. Goodnight! 

Counting Down

According to Mission Control, there are 16 days, 1 hour and 15 minutes until I depart this green and pleasant land. It's been a very busy week, in terms of work and socialising, and my head is spinning with all that is left to do before I close my suitcase and  climb aboard the Luton van, destination Spain. The pile of work to do at school casts a LONG shadow and, to be totally honest, I can't see getting everything done so will concentrate on the crucial things (as I always have in during my life as a teacher!). There are so many friends to see one last time before I go, as well. Hopefully, many of them will be at my leaving party at the Albion tomorrow night. I've booked the room upstairs and friends are bringing food. I've bought a lot of 'tapas' for a little taste of Spain. Robb Johnson, a favourite musician, is playing downstairs. If I've not posted another blog by this time next week, assume I died of acute alcohol poisoning. Ha!

I saw my precious daughters, Ellie and Imogen, on Saturday. We went to town for lunch with Ellie's best friend, Anny, and ate at our favourite Turkish restaurant then went to the Castle Museum. We hadn't been there since Imogen was in a push chair so we were due for a visit! Then we went back to Rowhedge for tea at the Bush's. While Clare and I chatted over a cuppa and prepared a meal, the girls were outside mixing up some mud which they then used to decorate their faces. As they ran into the house, they resembled a scene from 'Last of the Mohicans'! Ellie, Imogen and Anny enjoyed a bath together before tea but my girls had to get back into their filthy clothes as they were only visiting for the day and had nothing to change into! Ha! It's entertaining to imagine what their mum was thinking when she picked them up! Ha!

Tuesday was a great day as I finally completed the purchase of my home in Spain! What a huge weight off my shoulders to know everything has fallen into place and what an amazing feeling to own a house outright. No mortgage or rent EVER again! (Only the small matter of feeding myself!) I had a great evening celebrating with my friend Marion. She invited me for a fab meal at Strada, a new Italian restaurant in Colchester.

Since Wednesday, however, I've started to get anxious about leaving. It's really happening now. It's not a dream or a fantasy any more but something that's REALLY going to happen. My excitement and positive outlook on my future in Spain are just as strong but are being briefly overshadowed by my dread of saying farewell. Worst of all, I keep rehearsing it over and over in my head. I know I shall be in a flood of tears on my last day of work and, though I'm not afraid to show my emotions, don't really want to go through the whole day like that. Children throughout the school have been saying such touching things since they found out 2 weeks ago that I'm leaving. Vivienne, a pupil from three years ago, came up to me on Monday and sheepishly handed me a card and gift, telling me that I've always been her favourite teacher. It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears. The best thing about leaving, perhaps, could be having a chance to be told how I've touched people's lives. It's a bit like attending one's own funeral, I reckon. Sorry, don't mean to be morbid. Really!

Off to the pub for a quick pint with Tony. Later! 

 

Things I won't miss!

Working all week and Sundays and never feeling caught up, the DfES and OFSTED, the litter-strewn streets of Colchester, exorbitant council taxes, unhelpful and impolite shop assistants, chips with everything, stinking of cigarette smoke after a night in the pub (Yeah, I know that's about to change but do let me have a whinge!), Big Brother and programmes like that which make stars out of complete and utter idiots, traffic in Colchester, grey skies, a certain parish councillor famous for bad-mouthing just about anything. To be continued, almost certainly!

Things I'll Miss

Sailing and canoeing with friends on the River Colne, drinking and darts down at Ye Olde Albion (my favourite pub!), sitting outside the Heritage Hut enjoying cake and a cuppa on the quayside with friends, attending plays at The Mercury (the best regional theatre in the world!), the smell of the sea, singing with the University of Essex choir and especially the camaraderie with friends Clare and Mark, singing bawdy sea shanties with the Stowboaters, Thai and Indian food, real ale, the children I teach and all my colleagues at work, my favourite telly programmes (too many to list here!). To be continued, I imagine! 

Another hiccup!

Yesterday I should have completed my purchase of the house in Spain. Rather, my Spanish solicitor should have done it on my behalf but it didn't happen. I was looking forward all day to a phone call imparting the good news that I'm now officially a Spanish property owner but none came. So, at five o'clock our time I called my solicitor, Juan (Que?). He sheepishly explained that in spite of his efforts the completion didn't take place. In Spain, completions of property sales take place in front of a notary who witnesses the exchange of money and documents, then signs and stamps all the papers. Apparently the vendor should have delivered his documents to the notary last week but forgot! (I got an embarrassed email from the estate agent to confirm this.)

 In any case, I've been assured by agents and solicitors that the notary has now got everything he needs. Unfortunately, I've got to wait until next Tuesday because Juan only works Tuesdays in Alcala and is in Malaga the rest of the time. Never mind, as long as everything's done and dusted before I arrive on 11 April! Ojala!

Just when you think it's easy....

I was days away from completing my house purchase in Spain and thinking 'Hey, this is easy!' when I was brought back down to earth, at least for a couple days! I was sending an email off to my bank manager in Spain, to confirm details of the completion on Tuesday and details of payments to be made, when I discovered the estate agents made a BIG error in calculating how much I was left owing for the house and fees. In a hurry, I had to wire another 2000 Euros to Spain! Fortunately, I had the money in savings so not that big a deal. Then, that same evening, my solicitor in Spain rang to say I needed to send some original documents to him BY TUESDAY! Well, I went to the post office Thursday lunchtime and it cost me £73 to post them! For 2 sheets of paper! Bloody hell! I suppose in the scheme of things it's not really that big a deal but it did get my blood pressure up a bit!

Spain, here I come!

Well, there's no turning back now! I've sold the flat in Rowhedge and sent my life savings to Spain to buy my new house. I'm really excited and chomping at the bit to be in Alcala la Real right now! Unfortunately, I've got to work out my notice at school. As much as I love the kids, it's going to be a VERY long 5 weeks! I can't wait to start my new adventure