AS the champagne was being bought, tables booked and my witty workmates were crafting my spoof front cover ahead of my leaving party (a tradition that dates back to 1729), everything changed.

I am no longer leaving.

There are many reasons why people quit their job, some fall out of love (if they were ever in it) with their jobs, they find a better offer elsewhere or want a complete change of career.

None of these reasons applied to me.You see, I love my job and always have.

While it can be acutely stressful it is also challenging and fun.

My reasons for leaving were different. My work-life balance was off kilter, my autistic Teen needs me, the Dog needs me and I was spending WAY too much time in a car. I also have a half finished book on the go, which won't write itself.

"JK Rowley wrote her book in a coffee shop in about a week," chirruped my mother.

"And she had about five children."

"For one thing it is Rowling mum. JK Rowling. And she had two children. And you know how busy I am with the Teen."

"I know Karen. But I worry, that's all."

I was already having a little bit of a wobble and really did not need this.

But then, just a few hours later, my Best Boss in the World found a way for me to find balance while still keeping the job that I love.

Hurrah. And now I feel like dancing on my work station.

My mother of course is delighted.

However, my colleagues were more concerned that they had wasted 20p on a leaving card and were no longer crafting my front page.

"Oh. What about your front page now?" said one colleague in a flat tone.

Another piped: "For Goodness Sake Bate. What are we going to do with all those bottle of fizz now and the deposit we put on the table at the Ritz?"

"That's easy," I laughed. "We will have to have a Non Leaving Do. I still want my front page though. And you can be as rude as you like."