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The Last Goodbye
Mar. 1st, 2020 06:26 pm
Monday was my last day cashiering, as I officially handed over to Diane at the end of the day, to alliw me to spend Tuesday humping old paperwork from the cashier office to the storeroom. That morning, I collected my Lionesses mug and my She Kicks calendar from the cashier office, the reality of my departure kicked in for the first time. In the main office I said as much to Lucy and Sarah, who said "No tears". I was fine but Lucy said she might have trouble holding it in.
Also on Tuesday, Annalies brought me her farewell present, a personalised Love Island water bottle. Beautiful. And Jenny came round with hers, six cupcakes that she'd made, one iced with 'Good Luck', one with a football, one with a St George cross and the others with royal blue and white stripes (Brighton), red and white stripes (Clapton CFC) and sky blue and white stripes (Coventry). They were delicious.
Wednesday was my last day. At 10 am there was a team gathering in the main office. Mary Hinge gave a speech saying she was proud of seeing my growth and development over my time in the office, Pauline said a few words about how much I'd be missed and Annalies, who I'd invited to come and join us, teared up. The team presented me cards with lovely messages from people around the section, a ticket to a Coventry Ladies game, and, gift-wrapped, an England Lionesses shirt with my surname and the number 7 (for my 7 years working there). Sarah and Leila yelled "Speech" and I just thanked them all for their friendship, help and support and said "Very best wishes everyone". Lucy called over to me "Remember we're still your friends wherever you go".
Then it was time for my exit interview with one of the HR girls, her asking me a few things about my time there and noting them on a form, then my farewell meeting with the CEO. She presented me with a letter of thanks and a posh pen.
Walked around saying goodbyes to some people in other departments. And then it was time for Pauline to escort me from the premises, me handing her my pass at the gate.
Drove home, watched Judge Rinder and got the bus into Leighton to pop into the Black Lion for their dark beer festival.
Thursday and Friday daytime were taken up with getting the last of my belongings together for the move.
Friday night was my leaving do at Revolución de Cuba in central MK. To my delight, two faces from the past, Amy and Susie, joined us. Kayleigh had declined the invitation to eat as she's on the Cambridge diet, but she did drop in to buy me a drink beforehand. I went for a mojito royale. Kayleigh made me 'pinky promise' that we'd go to a women's match together again some time.
Annalies got my next drink in; I chose a strawberry daiquiri and stayed on those the rest of the evening. Amy and I were standing next to each other at the bar when Leila turned round to face us and said to me "You've got your favourite then." I said "Strawberry daiquiri" and Leila replied "I meant Amy!" I draped my arm over Amy's far shoulder and eased close up to her.
The food was excellent. I went for a starter of ropa vieja testados, then charred halloumi sunshine salad with a side of Creole sweetcorn, and churros with rum caramel sauce and strawberry sauce for dessert. The portions were generous, we were all pretty full come the end of the evening. Diane presented me with one last gift, a framed selection of some of my photos of myself with lady footballers from Facebook. The decorations on our table included a lei of paper flowers; Annalies put it round my neck. Soon a second lei turned up. Mary Hinge handed it to me, so I announced "The Carnival King crowns his Queen" and draped the lei over Amy's neck. Amy said she was tearing up.
Drinks over dinner were 2 for 1 so I was persuaded to have a pair of strawberry daiquiris with mine. After main course, as several of us were swaying along in our seats to the mariachi band, Annalies said to me "Ask Amy to dance with you". I said "We've got to have pudding yet". Once we'd had dessert everyone was too stuffed to think about tripping the light fandango.
When we said our goodbyes, Diane, who had seemed well oiled in her conversation with me late in the evening, fell over and Lucy and I had to help her to her feet. As those of us not driving went to wait outside for cabs or lifts, Diane was stopped by a doorman who wouldn't allow her to take her bottle of wine out. There was a bit of a dispute, till we all went back inside. I don't know how Diane resolved the problem of the bottle, but we were able to exit from the door at the other end.
Yesterday was spent getting the room ship shape and loading for the drive. Having brought so much of my belongings down already over Christmas and New Year, I was staggered to find how much I still had left to bring. This morning the landlord and his wife came round for the keys, thanked me for being a good lodger and for my support during his mother's illness and after she died, said I'd be missed and wished me luck.
As I crossed the border from West Berkshire into Hampshire, I tuned my car radio to Wave 105. Arrived back at the parents' around 2 this afternoon. Unloading was a grueller, then came rooting through my bags for documents needed for registering my change of address with places like the DVLA and my car insurance. My room is packed to the gunnels with bags but I can finally relax.
Got to go catch up on Friday night's Celebs Go Dating.
Also on Tuesday, Annalies brought me her farewell present, a personalised Love Island water bottle. Beautiful. And Jenny came round with hers, six cupcakes that she'd made, one iced with 'Good Luck', one with a football, one with a St George cross and the others with royal blue and white stripes (Brighton), red and white stripes (Clapton CFC) and sky blue and white stripes (Coventry). They were delicious.
Wednesday was my last day. At 10 am there was a team gathering in the main office. Mary Hinge gave a speech saying she was proud of seeing my growth and development over my time in the office, Pauline said a few words about how much I'd be missed and Annalies, who I'd invited to come and join us, teared up. The team presented me cards with lovely messages from people around the section, a ticket to a Coventry Ladies game, and, gift-wrapped, an England Lionesses shirt with my surname and the number 7 (for my 7 years working there). Sarah and Leila yelled "Speech" and I just thanked them all for their friendship, help and support and said "Very best wishes everyone". Lucy called over to me "Remember we're still your friends wherever you go".
Then it was time for my exit interview with one of the HR girls, her asking me a few things about my time there and noting them on a form, then my farewell meeting with the CEO. She presented me with a letter of thanks and a posh pen.
Walked around saying goodbyes to some people in other departments. And then it was time for Pauline to escort me from the premises, me handing her my pass at the gate.
Drove home, watched Judge Rinder and got the bus into Leighton to pop into the Black Lion for their dark beer festival.
Thursday and Friday daytime were taken up with getting the last of my belongings together for the move.
Friday night was my leaving do at Revolución de Cuba in central MK. To my delight, two faces from the past, Amy and Susie, joined us. Kayleigh had declined the invitation to eat as she's on the Cambridge diet, but she did drop in to buy me a drink beforehand. I went for a mojito royale. Kayleigh made me 'pinky promise' that we'd go to a women's match together again some time.
Annalies got my next drink in; I chose a strawberry daiquiri and stayed on those the rest of the evening. Amy and I were standing next to each other at the bar when Leila turned round to face us and said to me "You've got your favourite then." I said "Strawberry daiquiri" and Leila replied "I meant Amy!" I draped my arm over Amy's far shoulder and eased close up to her.
The food was excellent. I went for a starter of ropa vieja testados, then charred halloumi sunshine salad with a side of Creole sweetcorn, and churros with rum caramel sauce and strawberry sauce for dessert. The portions were generous, we were all pretty full come the end of the evening. Diane presented me with one last gift, a framed selection of some of my photos of myself with lady footballers from Facebook. The decorations on our table included a lei of paper flowers; Annalies put it round my neck. Soon a second lei turned up. Mary Hinge handed it to me, so I announced "The Carnival King crowns his Queen" and draped the lei over Amy's neck. Amy said she was tearing up.
Drinks over dinner were 2 for 1 so I was persuaded to have a pair of strawberry daiquiris with mine. After main course, as several of us were swaying along in our seats to the mariachi band, Annalies said to me "Ask Amy to dance with you". I said "We've got to have pudding yet". Once we'd had dessert everyone was too stuffed to think about tripping the light fandango.
When we said our goodbyes, Diane, who had seemed well oiled in her conversation with me late in the evening, fell over and Lucy and I had to help her to her feet. As those of us not driving went to wait outside for cabs or lifts, Diane was stopped by a doorman who wouldn't allow her to take her bottle of wine out. There was a bit of a dispute, till we all went back inside. I don't know how Diane resolved the problem of the bottle, but we were able to exit from the door at the other end.
Yesterday was spent getting the room ship shape and loading for the drive. Having brought so much of my belongings down already over Christmas and New Year, I was staggered to find how much I still had left to bring. This morning the landlord and his wife came round for the keys, thanked me for being a good lodger and for my support during his mother's illness and after she died, said I'd be missed and wished me luck.
As I crossed the border from West Berkshire into Hampshire, I tuned my car radio to Wave 105. Arrived back at the parents' around 2 this afternoon. Unloading was a grueller, then came rooting through my bags for documents needed for registering my change of address with places like the DVLA and my car insurance. My room is packed to the gunnels with bags but I can finally relax.
Got to go catch up on Friday night's Celebs Go Dating.
