Day 238 - Work It

So, as Dad_to_Be says I have started my maternity leave. It is kind of a weird feeling really. When there were 8 or 10 weeks left to go I felt like I was counting the hours but at it got down to the last few days I started to feel odd. Because we would eventually like to move further north, where we could afford a downstairs, it may well be that I will not return to my old job in London in a years time. It was a strange situation because it was like a leaving do but without actually being a leaving do! I am very lucky in that my maternity cover is someone who we have been working with for a while and so I have every confidence in her abilities. I guess it comes down to me having a really low guilt threashold, cause although I know that even if I do go back to this job in 2008 (!!!) I shouldn't worry about it in the meantime I can't help but wonder how everything is going and if my cover is getting on ok. I suppose it is just in this waiting period and once the baby comes worrying about my old job will be the least of my problems!

It was really nice to know that I am appreciated by both my immediate colleagues and also the faculty I look after. Both bunches of people signed huge cards with kind messages of support and I ended up with 2 lovely bouquets and a huge wad of Mothercare vounchers. The thing that meant the most was people saying how much of a difference I had made in my job and how much they appreciated everything I do. It is good to know that you do make a difference.

Things I'll miss:

• Some of my students
• My lovely friends and colleagues

Things I wont miss:

• Some of my students!
• Commuting an 80 mile round trip everyday
• Standing on the train because pregnancy has somehow made me invisible to business men

Now I just need to work out what to do with myself for the next 5 weeks. I predict lots of costume drama and meeting up with various chums.