Word of the Week - Welcome

I started a new job last week in a school. It's normal to start a new job at the start of term, but we were in Australia visiting our son and I didn't start till 3 weeks into the new term.

I met with my line manager on the first day and various other departments to go through school policies and to get my ID badge and sign into the safe guarding and health and safety training links. Had a tour of the school and on day 3 started shadowing and on day 5 went solo.

Everyone has been very helpful with codes for doors, behaviour policies, signing into school registers, helping me make safeguarding concerns and making sure I new about dress up day last week and including me in the photos.

I stumbled across two staff briefings, that I now have in my diary as regular events. Every Monday and Friday at 8.15am in the staff room and a woman photo copied the front pages of the school diary for me with the dates of after school meetings held monthly and when I've asked about anything I've been given the information I need to help me do my job.

But I've not actually been introduced to anyone, not formally. I've sat in the staff briefings, I've been in classes with teachers. I've introduced myself to the students when I've taken a class, and the odd person has asked me how I'm finding the job, but no one has asked me where I used to work, where I live or even if I'm married or have kids. Some staff members have introduced themselves at break time, others just walk in and sit down and haven't said a word other than 'morning' and just start talking about things as if I've been there all the time.

I'm an outgoing person and I have joined in with the odd conversation and I've mentioned that I used to live around the area 30 odd years ago, where I previously worked and that I have grandchildren. They're not a cliquey group, they just don't ask subsequent questions.

The students don't seem to be bothered either, they're not fussed about who I am, although they have been keen to tell me what they think happened to my predecessor. One student asked me if why I had a Birmingham City pen and proceeded to say Birmingham Shitty over and over and another asked me about my lanyard and I told them I'd done a sponsored walk and what it was for, but that was it.

I can't say I don't feel welcomed. I've just slotted into the existing framework for the time being. 

Week 39 - One Daily Positive and Project 365 - All about Bowels, Stephanie and Walking.

Lots of people have commented on the weather we had in Australia, both on my blog and in conversation. It was winter when we visited, August and September, just coming into Spring. It was the wettest winter on record in 27 years. On previous visits we've been walking around in shorts and t-shirts most days. Winter is warmer and dryer further north and previously we've swam in the sea in the Great Barrier Reef up in Cairns at the same time of the year, where as Melbourne is more typically like a UK winter. We also had snow in Tasmania

Sunday 

Day 263 Not a good day at all. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to meeting new people and having to talk about Stephanie. We're coming up to the first year of her death and that is stressing me out. I spent most of the day in tears, I was angry, anxious, switched off, cancelled a coffee date with a friend that I desperately needed to be with and generally self sabotaged everything. I did some gardening, cooked a roast, had a bath and binge watched Eastenders, and went to bed late. I had nothing ready for the morning as at this point I wasn't going in. In hindsight, I feel I needed this, to let it out.

Monday

Day 264 Had a good sleep, waking just before my alarm. Got my lunch ready, made a coffee and drove to Bromyard 20 minutes away. All was good I enjoyed the day. Back into Malvern by 4pm. Met a friend for coffee and home for dinner, get ready for the morning and watch TV before a bath and an early night.

Tuesday

Day 265 A good 2nd day in work. Picked Peter up and we went for coffee and to collect my prescription. Wed moved some pots and plants around so we can access the herbs more easily and there’s a lovely scent when we step through the front door. I sorted a costume for European Day on Friday and Sky installed our new broadband.

Wednesday

Day 266 Home from work via a friends house to collect a head dress from her daughter for my costume, had a cup of tea and a natter then home for dinner, did some packing for my trip away on the weekend, had a bath, did some blogging and bed. The cat has been really needy the last few days and quite clingy with both of us.

Thursday 

Day 267  Some spoils from the garden. Home from work via a meet up with Peter for a coffee. A spit of gardening and while I packed the van for my trip away, Peter sorted out the hot and cold water tanks. We watched tv and had an early night.

Friday 

Day 268 Off to work then drove 2 hours to Henley where I’m camping for the night ahead of the #ultimate50challenge in the morning in memory of Stephanie. I spent the evening in the van after collecting my registration kit, watching tv, reading and blogging.

Saturday 

Day 269 25km walk in memory of Stephanie. I’m physically and emotionally drained. I averaged around 5km per hour for the first 15km and an elevation gain of 486m. There was a 30 minute rest stop and I finished in just under 6 hours.

Things to make you smile:

So called friend sending messages of support and then racing away at lights pretending they haven't seen me. Thankfully I'd seen through their strange behaviour a while back and had distanced myself. It's not just me, who has found their behaviour odd.

Things that made me happy:

Completing 25km of the #Chiltern50Challenge and raising £825 for Bowel Research UK. Despite my initial concerns this week about talking about Stephanie, I surprised myself by being able to do so and it wasn't as frightening as I'd anticipated.

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week

Word of the week - Motion

Wildlife in Australia

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Post Comment Love 26th-28th September 2025 - Bowel Research UK

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

I started a new job this week at a secondary school about a 25-35 minute drive away. I've a choice of several routes, all of which are on country roads with some quite narrow passing points.

It's a much smaller school than my previous one and I'm quickly learning the staff and the students names.

I'm on my way to Henley Show Ground this weekend for the #chiltern50challenge raising funds for Bowel Research UK in memory of our daughter Stephanie, who died on October 7th 2024 from an Ischemic Bowel which claims the lives of 3000 people each year and is almost impossible to diagnose.

I'd really appreciate it if you could share this post and hope spread awareness and raise funds.

You can sponsor me here and read more about why I'm fundraising.

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Word of the week - Motion

My word of the week is Motion. It has many meanings and there are 4 meanings that relate to my week.

Motion - To begin. I started a new job this week.

Motion - To awaken suddenly. I acknowledged how angry I was with Stephanie dying this week. 

Motion - Beginning point of a race. On Saturday I am completing my sponsored walk in memory of Stephanie for Bowel Research.

Motion - Bowel Movements. Much improvement since a change in my medication. Which should relieve the diverticulitis I was diagnosed with after a colonoscopy. 

I'm off to Henley Show Ground this weekend for the #chiltern50challenge raising funds for Bowel Research UK in memory of our daughter Stephanie, who died on October 7th 2024 from an Ischemic Bowel which claims the lives of 3000 people each year and is almost impossible to diagnose.

I've hit 70% of my target by walking an average of 10 miles a day while we were visiting our son in Australia and on our stop over in Dubai. 

Please consider a donation to Bowel Research UK by clicking on this link and share this post to help raise awareness.

Stephanie's death has left a massive hole in our lives and if I help prevent another family going through this then every step I step I take in her memory will be worth it.

Wildlife in Australia - 2025

'Oh I couldn't go to Australia with all the snakes and the spiders'

I'm sure they're there somewhere, but I've only seen two snakes. A diamond python sunbathing in a tree over a walk way in Manly, just outside Sydney and a mildly venomous collared whipped snake in Cairns. I saw them on my last visit in 2023.

This visit other than a trip to Tasmania, we didn't venture outside of Sydney and the local coastal area. It also poured with rain for most of the visit and spring was late this year so we didn't see as much wildlife as we've done previously.

I did however take a trip to the Aquarium and the Wildlife Park in Darling Harbour as I wanted to see the Koala's.

I love how obliging this wallaby was lining up under his sign so I didn't miss him. Sadly several of his friends/family had been hit by cars in the neighbourhood in Tasmania.

These Ibis are known in Australia as Bin Chickens as they scavenge through the rubbish.

The magpies are a real pain the end of winter start of spring. We watched this one attack 4 people in the park, chasing one woman, pecking at joggers hats and swooping down on a bloke who was reading a book. We did issue verbal warnings. 

There are signs warning you about their behaviour.

Rainbow Lorikeets.

Parrots.

Cockatoo.

Beach Turkey. An absolute nuisance, but protected.

Cormorant.

Heron.

Dolphines. We saw a whale breeching but I didn't get a photo.

Black Crab.

Water Dragon.

We saw loads of Galah's, bright pink birds, but I failed to get any photos and the same with the Kookaburra's although I did get recording of their laughing at 5am every morning.

Week 38 One daily Positive and Project 365. Dubai to UK.

I forgot to add to last week's post that when we checked into our apartment in Dubai we were asked if we wanted a smoking or non smoking room. I hadn't realised that this was still a thing.
Smoking in Australia is pretty much outlawed everywhere, even walking through the city. In Dubai it doesn't seem to matter, yet.
I've missed being in Dubai, not the weather, it's so hot and it's coming out of summer now into winter. We did a lot of walking both inside and out but I walked through the train station's air conditioning when I could.

Sunday 

Day 256 7am and off to the beach. Peter actually went for a swim. He’s not a fan of the salt, water and sand combination. Back to hotel for breakfast, shower and off to Mall of the Emirates to do some shopping. Dinner at the Souk Madinat and back to pack ready for an early flight.

Monday 

Day 257 7am and off to the beach. Peter actually went for a swim. He’s not a fan of the salt, water and sand combination. Back to hotel for breakfast, shower and off to Mall of the Emirates to do some shopping. Dinner at the Souk Madinat and back to pack ready for an early flight.

Tuesday 

Day 258 Dubai Museum of the Future, drive by photography on the way to the airport. Flight was uneventful and I got some sleep. Train home, unpacked, Peter did a food shop while I did the washing and we struggled to stay awake going to bed at 8.30pm.

Wednesday 

Day 259 Drs, coffee, food shop, washing, reading and an early night. Granddaughter asked for Barbie in a wheelchair for her birthday ‘just like Aunty Stephanie’

Thursday

Day 260 Cat collected from mums and off to visit grandchildren. Home at 7pm and off to bed.

Friday

Day 261 Early walk to town for coffee and the post office and rest of the day spent gardening. I was in bed and asleep by 8pm.

Saturday

Day 262 9am train to Birmingham, coffee and walk to the ground. A tense game winning in extra time. Train home and lazy afternoon/evening in front of the tv.

Things to make you smile:

Video call with my grandson who said to his dad 'stand up daddy' My son asked why and grandson replied with 'I want to show Granny how big you are'

Things that made me happy:

Despite having the best time with child 3 and our holiday in Australia and Dubai, it is lovely to be home and back in our own bed. Birmingham won 1-0.

On the blog this week:
Word of the week - Brunch (in Dubai)

Post Comment Love - link up with any post written this week

Walking in Australia - Part 2

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Post Comment Love 19th-21st September 2025 - Dubai to the UK

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

We're back in the UK after 3 weeks in Australia and 4 nights in Dubai. We just about broke the time  difference of 6 hours after our stay in Dubai and now trying to recover the 3 hours plus all the flight times and missed sleep.

I'm starting a new job on Monday and may have booked a few too many things to do. I've got policies to read.

We've continued with the walking and the reading and for now we're leaving the garden other than picking the abundance of over ripe tomatoes and cucumbers.

We unpacked on Tuesday and started the washing. Wednesday I had a Doctors appointment and we did a food shop and set up Sky TV. I had an online training course on drugs and suicide on Thursday then  collected the cat from my mums and visited two of our grandchildren. Sky broadband is being installed toady. It was our granddaughters 6th birthday on Tuesday. She asked for Barbie in a wheelchair, just like Aunty Stephanie. We're off to Birmingham to watch the football tomorrow. Sunday will just be a chill day.

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter