Abi Course

Abi passed her CELTA with a B. Well done Ab.
This is a good grade, some jobs require an A or B pass.
We celebrated with a chinese and she went out last night with all the course students for a curry. BUT, she remained sober! Why you may ask? Well tomorrow. she is off to the spanish job fair in Cordoba. Yes, this is the big weekend upon which so much hangs. Scary.

Abs job

We celebrated Abi completing her first week. She had a 1-2-1 with a complete beginner all week. It was a bit tough, she had to get him to the standard required for the beginners class. Then he got home sick and went back to Libya.
2nd week she had to cover for someone off ill - again in the deep end. Shes done really well. I think it gave me confidence to give my notice in.
They'd like her full time - but weve got too much prep to do.

My job

I did it, I did it, I did it, did it, did it.
I did it, I did it, I did it, did it, did it.
Now I can REALLY start panicing.

Jobs Latest

Abi has got a job!
Not in Spain (yet) but its a start. In fact her first morning is now. She working at a language school in York and starting with a one to one with a complete beginner. She felt sick this morning - nerves. But well done Abi. And before she has even qualified! Shes still at the college till 11 May I think. So shell be a bit busy for a couple of weeks.

Had some well scary spain forum news - brits are flocking back as recession hits hard in Spain. And it doesnt look like coming back is too easy either! Oh well.
I still havent handed in my notice. Too scared to. The jobs got to go anyway, so I dont know what i'm hanging on for. I mean, even if we dont go to Spain, i'm still going to quit. But its not easy.

Abi is going to a job fair in Cordoba by herself in late May.
Fly into Malaga, hire a car, drive to Cordoba, find a hotel, do some interviews, make some more contacts, check out the area - and all that with no Spanish. Barking.
She has 2 interviews lined up. We've opened up the job search to the whole of Spain. Originally, we had a few concerns about language and areas we didnt know much about. Or maybe, we were being a bit too fussy. Anyway, 1 interview is for a school in Bilbao and the other in Huelva I think, so thats one end to the other. And Lindsay has just given us a contact in Barcelona. So we could be anywhere.

The project plan

The plan is the size of a planet and growing.
The major milestones are:
Abi pass CELTA course (May)
Get job in Spain (thats Abi getting a job as an English teacher) (July)
Me hand in my notice at work (April)
Get the house rented (Done)
Move to Spain (with Tom and Jake) (August)
Find housing (July)
Get kids into school (b4 September).

So nothing much really. And not scary at all since I will have to hand in my notice b4 Abi has landed a job.
Anyway, we seem to have been a bit lucky renting the house - to 4 postgrads just starting phds. So if we're lucky, theyll stay for 3 years (and not wreck the joint).
I think I might start to get a little excited once Abi has got a job and we know where we are going. Till then, its just blind panic.
I keep telling myself that you only live once and that the recession and high unemployment shouldnt stop me handing in my notice.

The 4 year project

Move to Spain Sept 09.
Stay in Spain for 3 years.
Costa Rica for 6 months.
6 months travelling South America.
Home.
And if any or all of the above comes to fruition........
Still, you only live once!

Well I suppose this is the beginning, we've just told Andy's Mum our plans to go to Spain! The first of many family members who are going to question our sanity!