Preparations

After a lifetime of work, mainly in education - it's time to take some 'me' time. Following early retirement from the stresses and strains of being a primary school teacher, I'm off in search of whether there is life after teaching and mothering.
Having been accepted by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) as a volunteer, I am off in February to assist with Teacher Training in Ethiopia. All of the views expressed or to be expressed on this page are my own.
This blog will record my experiences over the next 12 months and is set up to inform, entertain and hopefully amuse my friends, family and anybody else who might be interested - particularly all those people who have expressed a desire to follow a similar path.


Preparations
I've taken part in the preparation for volunteering course - excellent and thought provoking materials on the purpose of aid and development. I've accepted the offer of a place in Ethiopia and begun the preparations.
This weekend, I'm in Derbyshire checking out all the outdoor shops for suitable equipment to take on my travels. Have bought a large bag, small but light rucksack, and a combination hiking boot come sandal. Tomorrow I'm off to Birmingham for another week of training. Then home again to complete the storing of my personal items. Two months to go and feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety.