Goodbye to the Rig!

What a lot of changes have taken place over the last couple of days! I woke up on Friday morning to the news that Britain has voted to leave the EU by a narrow but clear margin. I was so surprised as I lay in bed listening to the news reports on the radio; I had been sure that it would go the other way. Interesting times no doubt lie ahead with all the implications for the country. The SNP will no doubt be keen to have another Independence Referendum because a majority of Scots (62%) voted to stay in Europe - but what about the 38% who voted to leave? The media are reporting it as if Scotland voted unanimously to stay which is by no means the case. And also only 67% of eligible people voted in Scotland, so in fact the Remain voters are only 62% of the total 67% - hardly an overwhelming majority. But I bet they make us have another "Neverendum" anyway!

As I was driving up to school I heard on the radio David Cameron's resignation speech. Please note that I am not mentioning which way I voted - there is a great deal of ill feeling about the result on social media so I'm keeping my head down - but I can't help feeling that the "Remain" camp are being very patronising about the "Leave" voters; they seem to view them as any or all of: old, racist, misguided, impulsive, and uneducated. But surely that is democracy! One person, one vote! Do they think that only a select few should be allowed to vote? It reminds me way too much of the angry and aggressive behaviour before and after the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014. 

Anyway, David Cameron was not the only person with a big career change on Friday! It was my last day at my current school after eight years. And what a strange feeling it was. I have had some really great times and opportunities there, and I have met and worked with some fantastic people. The whole day was a big goodbye culminating in my Leavers' Presentation in front of all the staff which was just lovely. I'm totally embarrassed by the generosity of my colleagues and also by lovely thank you notes and gifts from parents and pupils. I remained dry-eyed however, because I was mainly focused on ensuring that my last term as Principal Teacher and part-time Depute Head should end smoothly, and I let out a deep sigh of relief as the last pupil safely left the building!