Yesterday I drove down to London for my old pal Bryan Hartley's retirement party.  We worked together for 7 years at Globe School in Bethnal Green.  I was the Office Manager and Bryan was the Schoolkeeper.  Raani, also in this picture, was the Office Assistant.  The three of us were like The Three Musketeers - one for all and all for one!  We used to have such a good laugh together.

Bryan became Schoolkeeper at Globe in 1976 and retires this year at age 70 - a long career in one place.  I know everyone at the school will miss him very much.

His old schoolkeeper's house will now be turned into a new learning unit for the children, and is going to be called Hartley House in Bryan's honour.  No one I know deserves such recognition more; Bryan is a top bloke and has always done loads for the kids.

I couldn't stay to the end of the party as I had to drive back home to Suffolk - I had to be at the Beccles Farmers' Market this morning.  So I'm quite tired today after almost 6 hours driving in one day and an early start today!

I hope to be visiting Bryan in October though;  he hopes to be moving to Cumbria and I'll be able to stop off on my way to my holiday in Scotland.