I honestly don’t know where the time goes! I can’t believe we are already into the final third of September. As always, life lately has been busy, but right now, I feel like I’m on the cusp of a lot of exciting changes.

University Open-Days

I spent the last two Saturdays at the Bristol University and then the Birmingham University open-day with Poppy. We’re going up to St. Andrews on Wednesday and that will be my seventh, and final, open-day. Poppy’s going to one more after that with my mum. I can’t go because I will be away, something I’ll come to in a moment.

Poppy moving away is becoming very real. In just under a year, she’ll leave our cosy, little tight-knit nest. I’ll miss her terribly. But I know that when I kiss her goodbye, I will do so, safe in the knowledge that I’ve raised an independent young woman, secure enough to dream big and ready to start the road to independence and higher-education. She’s working incredibly hard on perfecting her personal statement and is studying every hour for her A-levels. She’s also learning to drive and has a weekend job. You can probably guess that I’m very, very proud of her.

Football

Football season kicked off at the end of August which means I have resumed my “soccer-mom,” (I prefer “football-mum”), duties transporting and watching my goalkeeper son. I spend several hours on a Sunday standing on the sidelines, come rain, hail, wind and shine. It’s one of the highlights of my week. The club has a lovely, friendly ethos and I enjoy every moment with the other parents. It has a very strong sense of community and it’s great to see the boys, all of whom will sit their GCSEs in the spring, working together as a team. And I love listening their banter, (less so the occasional profanities that seem to escape the lips of 15-year-old boys…)

Optometry

I’m almost ready to return to work in optometric practice. I have re-registered with the GOC, (the “governing body” of optometry), and I’m just waiting to enrol on the NHS provider list. This is a lengthy process which could take another eight weeks yet.  In the meantime I’m studying as much as I can to refresh my memory, while reading around newer topics and protocols. I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying it. I’m using the clinical part of my brain again and I feel like I did as a newly-qualified optometrist- full of excitement and raring to go. And, earlier this week, I went for an informal interview and have been offered THE perfect job. It feels like it was always meant to be and I am overjoyed. More about this in due course too.

The other thing I’ve been doing, is thinking about work outfits! I haven’t kept anything from my previous working wardrobe, so I’ll be curating a capsule closet over the coming weeks and months.

A Trip To Stuttgart

In a related topic, I’m going to Stuttgart in early October. This is why I can’t go to the last uni open-day with Poppy.. (I mentioned this in my Hobbs jumpsuit post because I might take it to wear). It’s a two-night, three-day visit hosted by Stepper, the spectacle frame company. I’ve been writing for their blog throughout this year and they are based in Stuttgart. There is a small conference and then an evening at the beer festival. I can’t wait for this and my friend and colleague Liz and I have bought a dirndl to wear to it. The beer festival, not the conference. However, I am thinking about what to wear for the conference and for sight-seeing. We only have carry-on luggage so I shall need to think and plan very carefully indeed. Just last night though, I bit the bullet and ordered some trainers, (sneakers, kicks- I never know what to call them). They’re not from one of the ubiquitous Insta-famous brands, but they are an investment. I hope they’ll prove to be a worthwhile, stylish and comfortable one.

And Finally…

It’s been just two years since Ian and I met and it still feels like I might wake up from this dream. This time of year will forever remind me of the anticipation and excitement of our tentative first date and of wondering if this wonderful man would become a part of my life. Of our lives. Well he has and I can’t imagine it any other way. It’s been a life-changing two years, and, if this autumn is anything to go by so far, I can’t help but feel the best is yet to come.

Have a lovely weekend.