Monday 27 June 2011

The last times

NB Erin Mae is part of a plan which involves retirement for us both. It’s interesting to observe yourself during a period of disengagement, as you do various things for the last time. I have loved what has fallen to me for the last 25 years. Now the time has come to move on, I’m neither longing to leave nor resisting the change.

I've now given my last lecture, had my last tutorial, played my last staff/leavers volleyball match (we won – first time for about five years!), chaired my last course committee. Still to come: a considerable amount of marking (one of the things I shall not miss) and pulling everything together for a final exam board. It's one of the busiest periods of the year (no blogging for the last three weeks).

In the circles where I've worked, "the last times" is a code phrase for that part of Christian theology which looks forward to the future. In that context it's not only about wrapping things up and sorting things out but also about new beginnings. Sounds like a pretty apt tag for what's currently going on with us.

4 comments:

  1. Indeed. Went through the same process nearly two years ago after 37 years of teaching. And yes, lots of "last times" but no regrets and not too much looking back. The place didn't fall down and the scar has healed over nicely, where I once was. However lots of first times to look forward to and definitely new beginnings. It's your time now. I hope you both enjoy it as much as we have been, knee ops excepted.!

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  2. Thanks Mo. I've got an update on Margaret's knee coming, probably tomorrow. Not doing as well as she would hope, but we're still hoping to get to Erin Mae by the end of July.

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  3. I retired in February after 25 years in HE. Though I did want to go last year. Mags finishes at the end of July this year after 27 years in HE.

    There has been a re-organisation and so my old role as now been scattered by the wind of change into the laps of people who did not want it.

    Rosie was a significant part of our long term retirement plans. It is only a few more weeks to the new phase in life. I'm like a kid at christmas, its been some time since I was this motivated.

    From one M and M to the other M and M. Best wishes for the future.

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  4. Where do you keep Rosie, Mick? Or are you going to be continuous cruisers till the winters bite? It's nice to know whether we're likely to find you coming down the cut at some point.

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