You mean we get paid as well?!

Well, I have survived over a fortnight of actual, proper teaching. I have not yet been exposed as a charlatan, and have not even been asked by any pupils if I'm a new teacher (one of the advantages of going into teaching at such an advanced age, I suppose), and now that I have received my first pay it finally feels real.

I am loving it so far, and wish I had done it years ago. I have a couple of challenging classes (who knew that fifth years would be so unfocused?) but I never expected it to be all plain sailing, and I have an astonishingly nice S3 class to compensate. My new department is definitely my favourite of the three I've now worked with, and everyone is very helpful.

It could, of course, all go pear-shaped at any moment, but for now it's great and I am so glad I have made this move.

Hurrah!