27 November 2009

Final day in the office was emotional. Picked up by Liz (since I'd sold my car!) early with a stinking hangover - despite living in Hitchin for 3 years it took me to leave before I had a beer with the next door neighbour, we drank the house dry and then after he left I had to do more housework, including quite a bit of silicon sealant, mmm smells good, so I actually went to bed with a headache.

Got to the office and had a final fry up with Ed. Mmm. Didn't go for doubles of everything, but enjoyed my final meal. Also left with my work card in debit, hee hee. Was wearing my Turbo Guiness T shirt under my work shirt, heh heh.

Had quite a few bits of work to do which I didn't manage to finish, final mentoring session, which was very productive - before I knew it it was time for my exit interview and I accidentally spilled a cup of green tea (tekoe.com wasabi blend). Exit interview was very brief, completed the legal parts and left.

Back to my desk and still trying to do those bits of work, 10:30 came and my parents were picking me up at 11:00 - that was starting to look very foolish.

First present came! A wonderful visor buff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z02rv8Dp-E from Annie, Emma and Ben - essential gear for ginger blued eyed freckled types living in hot countries. Then it was time for my official farewell speech - touchingly several people had come in even though it was their days off or working from home days, very special. Speech seemed to go down well and I was pleased that I wrote it down, and that I held it together as I thought I could blow at any moment. Received several cards and a wonderful tea set from everyone from http://jingtea.com/ complete with flowering dragon tea. Wonderful gift, came in a huge box and I had no idea how I was going to get it to Italy.

Lots of hugs and goodbyes, very glad to have held it together, a few tears, some final emails and it was time to go. 12:30!!! I'd left my parents outside for 90 minutes bless them! Sarah saw them on the way out which was funny. Some satisfcatory goodbyes, and some unsatisfactory which I took as not goodbyes as I'm planning to see those people again and again.

Back home and way too much to sort out, thank the lord my parents were there to help. Had to go to the estate agents to hand over some legal documents for renting status and then stash lots of things in the loft and generally tidy up and throw away. I had to leave to get the train at 4pm and my parents didnàt leave my house till 9pm after completing everything!

A few more tears from my mum at the train station and I was on my way from Hitchin train station to Gatwick Airport, with the world's heaviest suitcase. Train journey was a bit tough, passing through Knebworth and Welwyn and Stanborough Lake and all those areas I'd hung out for the past few years. Quick stint on the tube, not sad to leave that behind, and on to the Gatwick Express and to the check in desk. Bag was 5 kg overweight - £60 charge. Well worth it and I'll see if I can charge it across. Made my final few updates on Facebook and Gmail and even checked my work email account and then turned my iPhone off - how will I ever survive without the unlimited access and internet?? Window seat, sat next to by a couple with a baby which turned out to be very quiet as I dozed all the way to Florence, listening to: The Mighty Boosh radio show - The Tundra, Alan Parsons Project, and Resistance by Muse. Landed in a very wet Florence and met by Dawn with a sign. Great to see her and in to my second Fiat Punto of the day, this one clearly Italian, a bit dinged up. Drive home very much in the style of Italian driving, never sure what lane they're in and indicators don't appear to have been fitted. Italian radio strange as ever - it appears that Italians listen to English language 80s music on Friday night, lots of it, everywhere. The Italian language stations were listening to what sounded like 15 year old dance music. And not in a good way!

80 km trip to Siena and to the new flat, lovely. Relax on the couch with a local beer - Birra Moretti and watched series one of Phoenix Nights before a long long sleep.