Today most schools go back for the start of a new academic year. And I might be one of the few teachers for whom this day just can't come soon enough.
It has been 693 days since I was made redundant and experienced the sensation that a trap door had fallen open under my feet. If feels like a long wait.
Unlike thousands of other people who have experienced the same thing in the past few years, I was lucky. Because for me it was only a few days before I'd managed to re-orientate myself. Because I was able to dust off a qualification that I had from twenty five years ago. And because I was able to get on to a course that enable me to start a new life.
Admittedly, I had to wait through a nervous year of ducking and diving before the course began - but thousands are now permanently consigned to the ranks of the precariat. And admittedly I had to go through the emotional and intellectual roller-coaster of being an old dog learning new tricks on my teacher training course. But thousands of other middle aged people are now being put on the scrap heap half way through their working lives - and even more young people are never even getting the chance to start a working life.
So despite feeling a sense of excitement, nervousness, and generally being overwhelmed, that I have not experienced since the last time I faced my first day at 'big school' - today I am feeling generally pleased with my lot.
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