It is ages since I sat down to write a blog and I am sorry that it has taken me so long. However, in my defence, I have been very busy!
I moved into my new flat in Bratislava on Thursday 30th October and by the Sunday evening I was totally moved in, unpacked and felt so much happier than I had for weeks. I returned to Trnava on Monday morning to complete my final week. It was easier than I had anticipated and everyone was very kind including the head and they seemed genuinely sad that I was leaving. It was hard to say goodbye to the friends I had made but as I set out on Thursday evening to return to my new home my heart soared and I sang along to my worship CDs all the way home.
I quickly packed and was collected by taxi at 6.30 am on Friday to catch a coach to Vienna to fly home to the UK for a week. It was thye cheapest flight I could find so it was via Munich but that was fine and I arrived at London Heathrow mid afternoon. John met me and we hired a car and drove to Gatwick. The next morning we met Mel and Rose as they arrived at Gatwick from Canada - a joyous reunion. They had had a good flight but were obviously tired so we set off straight away for Norwich. A wonderful week followed which seemed to fly by all too quickly. Poor dad, I think he wondered what had hit him with three of us in his house but he coped wonderfully and made us feel very welcome. I think that he rather enjoyed having a baby in the house again! I managed to see many friends, although briefly, but sadly time did not allow me to see all those that I would have liked to and I apologise if I missed you. Llse and Dave came over from Ipswich on Sunday which was great and it was wonderful that they got to meet Rose and see Mel again.
Mel and Rose and I travelled down to Matt and Marie's in Southampton on Friday and we spent a lovely weekend with them. Wel,l I only actually had one day as on Saturday night I set off for Heathrow to catch the 0600 flight on Sunday morning - never again!! Now I know why it is such a cheap flight. I spent 4 hours sitting in the car hire lounge waiting for a bus to take me to the airport and didn't actually get any sleep that night. Never mind, I had had a great week and now had a new job to begin.
My first week at the Forel School has been wonderful. I am one of two Year 6 teachers as a large Year 6 is being split to make two smaller ones. I spent a week working alongside the present class teacher who is wonderful and I learnt a lot from observing her as well as getting to know the children. Everything in the school is conducted in English and there is a fascinating mix of nationalities amongst both pupils and staff. I was made to feel so welcome and have begun to regain my professional confidence and feel like a real teacher again. I am looking forward to Monday when I take over my new class of 11. I feel happy, settled and professioanlly fulfilled again and also have a visit from Mel, Kevin and Rose to look forward to in less than two weeks time and then Christmas to follow.
Thanks again to all of you who are following my blog and supporting me with positive comments and prayer. I feel very blessed and can now look forward with optimism and hope.
I look forward to seeing many of you during the Christmas holidays.
Bye for now.
