Both of us were feeling like we needed an escape. Work has been too much recently and the desire to drop it all and walk has been almost too strong to ignore. Teaching in the UK system is gruelling, no matter how committed you are to it. I'll be honest, only a strong will and a firm eye on the future have kept me in it: an inflexible system, mindless rules and ill-fitting expectations have conspired to bring the black dog prowling again. I know enough now to know this is unac