Retired!

That's it! No more teaching in schools as of 3pm yesterday. 

I had a lovely send off by the school. All the children were seated in the hall with me sitting on the 'special' chair at the front, while various children stood up one at a time to say what they had enjoyed most about learning to play the recorder. Then a presentation of a huge card signed by all of the children I've been teaching this year, some other cards from individual children, a beautiful bouquet, and a card from the admin staff (see photo). I can't show the huge card as it has all the children's names on it but I can share the poem they'd written inside, which goes ...

Roses are red, 

Violets are blue, 

You are retiring, 

We love you xx

I will see them all again in the not too distant future as I'll be going back to the school in September for an afternoon to run a brass instrument workshop with the year 3s in the hope of getting some new learners at the youth band. I also plan to go in and listen to reading from time to time, and my name is staying on the list of helpers for school trips.

I felt quite emotional last night and this morning feel a bit 'empty' ... not sure if that's the correct word ... but I know I've made the right decision so now it's time to look to the future and get on with enjoying this retirement lark!