Today is the first day...

...of the rest of my life.

Strictly speaking, I've still got the best part of two weeks to go before I officially leave the world of work behind, but on Friday I handed in my laptop and staff pass and walked out of the building for the last time.  The mug in the picture retired with me.  I bought it in 2004, to fit in with the colour-coded section of the Contact Centre where I was then working.  The sections were decorated in blue or purple, along with a vivid pink section nicknamed "Barbie's Castle".  All I can say is that this is what happens when you allow a committee of staff representatives to choose the decor. I bought the mug in Whittard's in Swansea and it's come with me at every move since.  I reckon it deserves its honourable retirement. 

It's traditional to have a whip-round when someone leaves and I asked anyone who wished to contribute to a gift for me to donate the money to Cancer Research instead. They raised over £150, plus Gift Aid on top of that, and I was very touched.

So - what am I going to do now?  Right now it hasn't sunk in yet.  It was very nice to not have the "Monday tomorrow" feeling and to unset the alarm on Sunday night, but that's what I'd do if I were on leave.  

And there are possibilities.  Tasks that I'd normally be trying to cram into two weeks can be spread out to suit my own timetable.  I can book for events without worrying about needing to get time off work.  I can get this blog up to date and maybe do something more with my YouTube channels.  I can work on my crafting. So far, I've been on a Ghost walk, booked for a ghost hunt, planned a day out in Cardiff, signed up for the Immersive Gunpowder Plot experience, Lucy Worsley's show about Agatha Christie, and bought tickets for Six.  I've bought a Railcard and intend to get my money's worth out of it.  I'm insanely excited to discover that there's a First Class lounge at Cardiff and I intend to check it out on my next trip - because, naturally, I shall be travelling first class.

The church at Llantrisant

The Ghost Walk was in Llantrisant, a place I've driven through on many an occasion and visited more than once, and my friends Dai and Anna came with me.  I only got slightly lost on the way there, which I blame on Anna as I got lost the last time we went on a ghost hunt together, so it was obviously her fault.  And I'd forgotten how very narrow the streets are, with cars parked all along them.  Driving along them in the dark and the rain was nerve-racking, especially as I didn't really know where I was going.  We made it eventually, though a bit late.  I had no idea how many ghosts were allegedly haunting the place. The weather wasn't the best, unfortunately - although it did add to the atmosphere. 

The outing was the first good run for my new car, which is the first that I chose and bought all by myself.  The last time we changed cars, David was feeling the effects of the chemotherapy, which made him unable to eat much and therefore very weak.  The lease on our current vehicle was ending and we needed to organise a replacement before the next session of chemo as we expected him to get worse before he got better.  We went to the showroom, said "I want one of those!" and went home again.  

Waiting for my new car to be brought round!

  

I was very happy with it, and only changed it so as to have a full three years before I need to have it MOT'd.  I also bought it outright so as not to have car payments going out every month.  I have to say that I didn't think the car ran well on the motorway so I've got it booked in for a diagnostic at the end of the month.  The clerk at the dealership tried to tell me that it was because the car has a small engine - but it's the same make and model as the car I exchanged so I wasn't having that.  I think something may need adjusting! 

The new car

Anyway... I'll do my best to keep you posted.

Thanks for stopping by!

Keren