How does a year fly by so fast?

I cannot imagine how this year has gone by so quickly. It seemed interminable to me. Work and family life, overcame and overpowered me to such a point I actually was put on sick leave for the last two weeks of the school year. (I have rarely given in to illness and even when I sprained both ankles, still got in to work!) The doctor said it was stress... hairloss, weight gain (wish it had been the other way round!!!) and sheer panic about how I was going to get through it all. I did, but in doing so, I felt I had let a great many human beings down... mostly my class.

I look back over the last year and so many months between entries, with sadness. I had had a great holiday with hubby in Scotland, but the lengthy driving (2000 miles in two weeks) caused my back to create not so 'merry hell' (I was lacking sleep for over 6 weeks) ending in sciatica. The pain was excrutiating as I am sure other sufferers will appreciate and I should have taken time off then, but didn't. The very happy school became something it had never been before, with new people in charge. Observations were ramped up for us all, but particularly for those of us considered 'below parr'. I couldn't get my act together, having lost a great deal of confidence as the weeks went by; worked on areas of issue, but as one thing was corrected something else was considered 'not right' and so, after that , I decided to get out. My decision, but it hurts that after 30+ successful years... I am no longer in the job I liked. My health is more important to me. That's life!

I have a few amazing friends who have supported me throughout my personal dolrums; without them I don't think I would have stayed mentally intact.
Thank you girls. You know who you are.

We had a relaxing week in the Lake District courtesy of one friend, (still drove a 1000 miles in total but no issues with the back.... just the knee, ankle and ... ) so, I now want to look forward to the possibilities life always seems to offer. What to do and where to do it? Those are the fundamental questions which as yet I have no answers to, but get them I will. Who knows, perhaps my crafting may be the area I can develop to earn me a crust or two... it certainly won't be my photography. Too many shaky pictures... but the ones that work!!! Anyway, DH is also experiencing his own set of doldrums so I suspect our answers may come together... we need a change of direction. If anyone has the answer to that one... offers to.....! :-)

More.. another time!
Keep smiling folks.. this recession won't go on forever!