This was a post I shared with my friends in 2016 on 12ᵗʰ May, following my last day working with Scottish Trunk Road, a job I had been doing for 9 years from 2007 to 2016.
This week when this post came into my memories, reading it again made me go back in time and I just could not believe it has been 5 years since I moved on.
12 May 2016
Yesterday was a great day for me! Completing my continuous employment of nearly 9 years of service working mainly on Scotland South West Network (Scottish Trunk Road) but also yesterday being Didier’s 40th birthday!
I woke up at 4:30am to be able to make a little nice surprise for Didier (thanks to the girls that woke up 5:30am half asleep) and I headed for my last journey of 100 miles a day that I have been doing for the last nearly three years!
With a week full of drama (One of them being my youngest has been in Emergency for Royal Hospital for Children due to a whooping cough – scary experience). I felt tired but I didn’t feel that much as and on my drive I was thinking how grateful I felt to have finally taken a decision to move on in my career, but also how this decision apart from being a smart career move in terms of adding to my set of skills it will also improve my overall quality of my working /home balance gaining at least 3 hours time, spent on the commuting! The new job being 15 to 20minutes from home.
Being my last day unexpectedly it was hectic as I had so many small things to do (meetings, emails and a leaving lunch)! What an amazing day it turned to be!
Straight after getting to my desk I found a beautifully gift courtesy of Emma one of her rare range of Scentimelts home made products. A limited range of Rwandan coffee by a colleague!
Just before my leaving lunch (Courtesy of Jane who organised it) I was surprised by some of my colleagues turning to my desk (thanks to my former manager) I almost wanted to hide because I knew what was coming (Although I had excepted to be late in that afternoon). Thanks for a lovely card and generosity of my colleagues at (Scotland Transerv)STSV I now have a TkMaxx gift vouchers (I should have been shopping but I can’t now, courtesy of the dentist 
)!
)!I felt blessed in that moment and every moment that day with the beautiful messages and kind words from colleagues I had spent some all those years of my career!
Leaving that office, I felt inspired and amazingly blessed . If we allow ourselves to see the real people, we open doors on amazing source of blessings . Thanks dear colleagues for yesterday and every single day I have been with you and spent at STSV. Because of you, I am a confident lady to take on more challenges, I have learned a lot and I have had opportunities to pass the knowledge on, but most importantly I have made great friends!
I can see myself years back September 2007 starting in Amey (My second professional job in United Kingdom, third overall in this career)! I was shy and career wise, my confidence level was at its lowest and for many reasons. I had completed my Masters (MSc) in a foreign country far from home, I doubted myself in terms of capabilities, to name a few! At times it was alright but other times it was disaster (I will put it to culture shock, being a construction industry and being a female in male dominated industry). I felt that for those who are there we have to prove ourselves more than others (my perception anyway). It was constant challenges at work and home as I had my two daughters within this time! Brand new in Motherhood plus childcare challenges. But also for so many reasons I was afraid to be myself! At times making myself small so others can be (Big mistake! Looking back I can see the opportunities I missed)
Starting the job, I was based in Edinburgh where our home is, until Summer 2013 when I had to relocate 50 miles (Glasgow – 100 miles commute everyday) from home ! I would never have guessed in millions years that this would last as long as nearly three years! I would not have done any of his without the greatest support of my husband Didier. Not only he had to put up with additional time spent looking after our kids at home, he also had to put up with me when things got heated up and the tiredness, occasional stress that came with the job or/and commuting, lack of enough sleep, etc kicked in but also when things got too much and I thought couldn’t take it anymore, he was there for me! I know sometimes it all got too much and got to us and I’m sure as a result some areas of our relationships suffered; but no surprise there, with less time spent together dealing with just priorities, I realise how strong we were. Carmella who hadn’t seen much of her mum in her earlier years and used to cry some days if she was luck to see me leaving to work earlier mornings! So was Lainey who had grown into a wonderful caring, intelligent, sweet girl!
Oh Lord, now I can see it all – I believe God was on my side all along, so was the support of colleagues and a great network of friends (Every one of you, some more than others). At home those who offered to babysit, Facebook times, friends calls to name a few!
Now at home, having been to the dentist appointment (that’s I have been putting off for the last 2 years), I had my wisdom tooth removed and I have been reduced to silence (numb after Anaesthesia and all that’s comes with tooth removal) hence writing this journal 
! I asked the dentist if my wisdom will be reduced by removing the wisdom tooth and he said: Wisdom doesn’t always come with the wisdom tooth – so no excuses if I write nonsense 
, I might still have my wisdom.
! I asked the dentist if my wisdom will be reduced by removing the wisdom tooth and he said: Wisdom doesn’t always come with the wisdom tooth – so no excuses if I write nonsense , I might still have my wisdom.Now, ready to move on to my new job next week! I’m so excited for whatever it may bring! Now dear friends, cheers to that!
Mimi MC
