Last week’s retirement celebrations were completely overwhelming, and I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the children, parents and staff for the incredibly thoughtful gifts, cards and kind words. Nothing was needed — your friendship, support and shared memories over the years have always been more than enough — but everything was so deeply appreciated and genuinely moved me. It has taken me until now, Tuesday, to even get everything out of the hallway at home!
Thank you as well to everyone who came to my leaving do and made it such a memorable occasion, from what I can remember! 😉 It meant a great deal to see so many staff, parents and children together in one room. For anyone unfortunate enough to have been within earshot, apologies for the truly terrible karaoke rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia – I’m very clearly not destined for a retirement gig as a Glady Knight tribute act, or even as one of the Pips.
I have a special box to keep all the cards in and I will treasure those.. There is a veritable mountain of lovely trinkets, mementoes, vouchers and plenty of beer, wine and whisky. I was completely spoilt with sweets and chocolates, literally a car boot full — so much so that I could never possibly have eaten them all. I have a famously sweet tooth and huge capacity for sweeties and chocolate, but even I have my limits. So… a large portion has now been donated to good causes at both the Refugee Forum and the Women and Children’s Shelter. I hope that this is OK with everyone. It seems to fit our values and that has trebled the joy for me: the joy of being thought of, the joy of being receiving and opening, and then the joy of being able to give again on your behalf and bring a bit of pleasure to people, adults and children, who might really, really need it.
The incredibly generous monetary gift from staff has already funded my first retirement adventure. I am off to spend a week in Madrid next week, fulfilling a long-held goal of watching Rayo Vallecano play in their own beautiful and historic stadium before they are in all likelihood forced out at the end of the season. These have long been on my bucket-list, with proud, working-class roots and very left-leaning political identity. I’ve already made some contacts amongst their more extreme Ultras! It feels very fitting to begin this new chapter with this – and a jaunt up to Glasgow this weekend coming to see the mighty Thistle (losing in all probability) away at St Mirren in the Scottish Cup 1/4 final.
Two days in, I am wonderfully relaxed, have cycled over 100 miles across two rides, practised the bass, completed multiple Spanish lessons and — perhaps most impressively and thrillingly of all — have sorted out my chaotic sock drawer! I am going to let myself take a few weeks or even a couple of months and then will either find some part-time work or do some volunteering. Or both. I’ve already registered to help at the Refugee Forum and our local food bank.
Thank you again for your generosity, kindness and warmth. I leave feeling grateful, proud and very fortunate to have been part of such a special community. Some people asked if they’d be able to keep in touch and I did promise to pass on a personal email address, which is phillier64@outlook.com. What would be nice would be if anyone has any photos from my last day to send over as I managed to get precisely none myself! I’d be delighted to attend any appropriate community events and I’m determined to at least get up in July to see off Year Six and sign their shirts and leavers’ books etc this year.
For anyone interested in my travel, football and music writing and photography, I’m on Instagram as ZiggerZagger67 – new followers very welcome!
Wishing everyone all the best for the coming weeks and months,
With love,
Pete