THIS is Jenna Weekes signing out Well, almost - Friday, September 1 will be my last day as a Daily Echo reporter and boy, have I enjoyed it!

There can be few other professions that allow you to meet people at the most interesting times of their lives and even sample their way of life.

I have had the great privilege of interviewing grieving families and writing tribute articles about their loved ones, I've been in court to witness some of the county's nastiest individuals being banged up for lengthy spells and I've met locals who have achieved remarkable feats.

And there have been some hare-brained moments too like the time my news editor thought it'd be fun to send the office's only vegetarian turkey-plucking for a Christmas feature - I returned dishevelled with blood all over my shoes.

Or the time my role as fire reporter took me to Westbourne Fire Station for a training day and I ended up with a nerve-racking bird's eye view of Bournemouth from the top of the high-rise appliance.

A definite highlight was sitting on Bournemouth Pier in a boiler suit and ear-defenders as shells from the Friday night fireworks showered around me.

I've ridden the world's longest bike, completed the London Marathon, spent a night in the police fast response car and have been whisked away on a whistle-stop tour of Queensland courtesy of Bath Travel.

I have been lucky enough to have interviewed Tony Blair, David Blunkett, John Reid, Liam Fox, John Simpson, Fergal Keane, Martin Clunes and Darius Danesh and unlucky enough to have met the Duke of Edinburgh.

But by far the most satisfying part of my job is meeting everyday people with stunning ambitions or resilience.

If ever I need a reminder of just how lucky I am, I call the Sivess family.

Their youngest daughter Sophie, six, contracted blood-poisoning through a chicken-pox spot and, in order to win her fight for life, had to have her leg amputated.

Now she's competing in school sports days and has learnt to ride her bike without stabilisers, just the same as other children her age.

She's also a fun, giggly and positive little girl who it has been an honour to meet.

We might not be a huge county but we can boast some amazing characters - people who campaign tirelessly to protect our countryside and charity volunteers.

To all those who have called me with stories or taken the time to answer my questions, thank you.

I sometimes get invited into schools to talk about my job and every time my message is the same - journalism is the most enjoyable career I can imagine. But after five years of challenges I feel I'm ready for a rest.

I'm heading off on a round-the-world trip for six months and then... who knows?