Last day at the office

Today is my last day as an M.Phil student at the University of Birmingham. I have cleaned all my equipment and cleared out my desk; all that remains now is for me to leave. I have mixed feelings about going. On the one hand I will be leaving friends behind, turning my back on the efforts to prevent environmental catastrophe and saying goodbye to the possibility of ever being called Dr. Matthews. On the other, I am going back to live in the greatest place in the world, face new challenges as a probation officer/teacher and get back involved with the faith community I grew up in. A strange mixture of sadness and excitement.