Well, it's official. I will be finishing up here on the 2nd of December and not returning until the 16th of January.

6 WEEKS.

It hasn't really sunk in yet. I've been putting off actually putting my signature on the slip of paper for weeks. I'm not quite sure why I found it so hard. I suppose because it's one tiny step closer to resigning, and yet another step down or away from the career ladder. I don't care that much about career ladders anymore, yet a tiny part of me still struggles with not having the life I envisaged 10 years ago.

And then there is the money I could be earning of course. I will be taking three weeks paid leave and three weeks unpaid leave. But it's no different to the money I'm choosing not to earn by working only part-time, or to the money I chose not to earn so I could take longer maternity leave. I think if I can make this a regular thing - and ultimately arrive at a job situation where it's understood that I don't work in the school holidays at all, I could be a lot happier with sticking at my job. And we can definitely manage financially with that compromise. And if the situation changes, or the 6-monthly share payouts dry up, then I have the option of working more again. All in all it's a very good situation to be in.