Today has been the first time in a few years where we haven’t been saying goodbye to someone in the team or saying our own farewells on the last day of term – the department is stable and we have no one leaving either. I know this isn’t the case for lots of departments out there and the Mathematical Association have been doing a 60-second survey, which is due to close shortly so if you haven’t responded, please do by clicking here.

The results of this survey really are eye-watering (you’ll get to see it after you respond!) and it is easy to forget the reasons for teaching when you’re “in it up to your neck” but yesterday I was given a lovely reminder from two students I teach who gave me a poster they’d made with some really thoughtful messages on it. For some reason I was taken aback by it – genuinely touched – so much so that I got a little choked up. I know this shouldn’t bother me, it’s silly and we cannot always control our emotions but it’s been playing on my mind and I don’t know why. Maybe I’m tired or maybe I’m going soft in my old age or maybe I’m not as much of a tough nut as I think I am. 

Anyway enough about me because I know that tonight lots of you will be feeling a little “odd” and have mixed emotions as one chapter of your life comes to an end but the next isn’t quite about to start. It’s ok to feel whatever it is you are feeling right now … no, it really is – we all deal with things differently. Just take the time to enjoy the next few weeks … life is a journey and sometimes you end up where you thought you would and sometimes you don’t. The important thing is to enjoy the ride because it is just too short.

#blogaday