Starting somewhere new is exhausting. Being inducted into an existing organisation is exhausting. Assimilating systems, processes, finding your way round the building and a new city and learning names of people in the organisation is exhausting. And doing all this while juggling home and work and remaining positive and upbeat is… yes you have guessed it … exhausting.

I broke out my I’ve Got This t-shirt this week, the day before the students came back. This t-shirt from one of my ex-colleagues from my lawyering days brings me joy to wear it – as I hope it does for other people when they are behind me! Nicola’s friend designed the logo for Nicola’s company which focuses on addressing and supporting menopause in the workplace. While I haven’t reached this stage in my life yet, following Nicola’s posts have helped me understand more. When she created these t-shirts I knew I had to add it to my wardrobe.

The picture was taken at Glastonbury and it was apt then as I had carried two pints of cider through the crowds after Blondie’s set and a whole set before Elton. But on Wednesday when I wore it, it was a message to me, that in some universe I was good at my job in my last place and that in this place I would be just as good if not better! I just needed to give myself time to digest everything that I was being overwhelmed with.

Inducting new people is difficult, identifying what people need to know immediately and what can be left a couple of weeks is a difficult balance. Induction needs to be gradual. Our three days of induction was over in an instant, and the three days in inset with the other staff also didn’t feel long enough to get to grips with where everything is, as well as my role as a Head of House. I have 69 students and 6 staff across 7 year groups. Pastoral roles are vital in schools as it is these roles that have the holistic overview of the student. And while I can do the pastoral care bit, I am learning about the processes in the new school. I may have a lot of institutional knowledge but it is currently for the wrong school!

The computer systems are the same as the last school but not having used them for 8 months means that I am slower in finding my round the virtual space as well as the physical space but for those that have never used the multitude of systems that schools use on a daily basis must be overwhelming and again exhausting. Suddenly competent, intelligent human beings are rendered dumbstruck and in my case in tears and unable to make sense of anything. A goodnight’s sleep gave me a fresh perspective on things but Monday was a low day.

However, we have colleagues that are supportive and willing to help. We will find our feet and rooms and supplies.

The first day of students in was good. Family Crozier are happy and will take it one day at a time.

Perhaps selfishly, the best day of the week was on Wednesday when we left school, the boarders where arriving. I felt an enormous sense of relief for me and my family knowing that we would eat dinner together and that I could go to bed at 9:30pm uninterrupted. The staff in boarding are the unsung heroes. They take pastoral care to a whole different level and this is unseen by many.

The weekend is here, Friday night saw a dinner at La Maison right underneath where we live, followed by a nap on the sofa before heading out for cocktails at Life on Mars 5 minutes from our apartment.