Morning all/afties, evening Pat. Hope hubby is ok. Not really what you need. As I wasn't on here yesterday, I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year again, although I think AB would prefer a Tardis so that he could go back and move that hyacinth.... Hope today is better for you AB. It's currently gone up to minus 4 here, LP, so you're probably around the same. It was minus 5 as it got light at the back of eight. Lovely and white and sparkly. Sorry you're back to work today chicky.It's always a bitof a scunner after a break. Which brings me to my news. I've decided to make 2019 a very different year for me, as I'm going to retire. It'll mean a few changes, and a few different investments until I'm actually of pensionable age, but I've decided I've had enough. Lots of reasons for it, which I won't bore you with. I'll have a quick look round now before I go and paint again. I didn't do my flower count thing, although I took photos.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Frank & Fairygirl, the Hyacinth flower spike decided to bend into the room away from the window for some reason best known to itself -so yes with some 20:20 foresight I should have moved it, but at least I am sure it toppled over all on its own. Worse I only put it there because the Christmas house guests said the scent was too overpowering in the lounge. I have another 5 small pots of forced bulbs I was planning to bring them in in sequence to flower indoors. Not so sure now.
Allotment Boy I used to bring them on in dozens as Joan and I loved them though I also found many people hate the scent so we had to move them out for the big parties we held. I always staked the Spike, if the temperature or watering is not to their liking they fold down. Frank
Early retirement is an excellent idea @Fairygirl. You wont regret it. When my daughter was here on Sunday she was saying she though she might take it in three years.
Fairygirl (is it still Daughter?) retirement can become whatever you wish to make it. I made a job of retiring not exactly what I had planned. The Army then ICI to start found me with Joan still at the School plus I landed with a bounce into her well settled lifestyle having spent much time apart at previous occupations suddenly being under her feet all day wanting to do exotic things rattled her a bit. One day she said "if you do not get something to keep you busy I will be packing my cases" sudden enlightenment in my case as I saw what I was doing. I was retired not her she loved her job with the children at school, change of plans. I had a HGV from the Army so went part time HGV driving one day then two then asked if I would do overnight I retired again. Then again and yet again from other driving jobs. White van man 3:30 am rise down to London by 8am deliver to Bow then Westminster and back home by 4pm, two days then three then four and asked if I would do Southampton on the fifth "whoa up says Joan" and I did not blame her. Why are you doing it we do not need the money, she retired and we did all the things we had planned, the problem being Joan had enough of flying so it was boat train and drive. we were both happy with that until she became to ill to travel. Health is important in retirement. First you need a pot as back up we had that for others it could be a problem as the retirement payment age goes up. You need something local that gives you companionship we both played bowls and I helped with work on the greens, was treasurer and helped organise the Dances and Dinners. I had the garden Joan had her needlework and tapestry, you do have to keep busy and not sink into the west I we saw many people do once they finished work, they thought their lives were over, no it is just the start. Do it Fairygirl and I think I know you well enough in that you will plan carefully for it and keep active but above all enjoy the change it brings. Frank.
Thanks Joyce and Frank/Dad I'm not a big spender, and I don't go out much to places I'd need to spend much money, so I know I can manage. My qualiy of life is more important, and I don't need the stress of working in that place. There's a couple of other things I want to do which may bring in a little income, but to be honest - the pension [I'm five years away from that] isn't much less than I earn anyway, so that isn't even a big change. I own my own house, so no worries about rent or mortgage. If I'm stuck - I'm sure I can find some paid work somewhere, part time. How is your daughter Joyce? I know she had some health issues a while back, so hope she's ok.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairy, I second the other comments. Do it! It’s great being able to set your own timetable. I admit that I did get a bit bored until I got together with the Ukelele group. I’m sure you’ll have plenty to keep yourself amused.
Frank, i envy your energy. I have to take things a bit easier nowadays.
Hello to all ive not mentioned. Too tired from the persistent heat. In bed now and planning lots of sleep.
Fairygirl/Daughter, You will find things pop up unexpectedly, they may divert you onto a totally different path, the story of my life actually. I Have a relative in Annan she is eighty and you would think going on twenty one, you never catch her at home as they all go merrily off adventuring. When we went off in the car Joan always packed sandwiches I would say we can eat out she preferred to have a picnic on the moors looking out over Whitby or some secluded wooded glen to a noisy busy place that cost the world. Enjoyment can be a walk in the Lake District with the proper gear map compass and little Westy, not one of those stupid GPS phones and sand shoes and so many do. We both loved Scotland and had some great holidays up there, the UK is a wonderful place to travel with so many interesting places to see. Do it then enjoy it /Daughter as I am sure you will. Frank/Dad.
I was lucky to be just in with getting my pension at aged 60, my OH is planning to retire when he’s 60 he’s just about had enough of humping great chunks of granite and slate about, getting covered in granite dust despite masks, stone masonry is not the romantic job you see in Thomas Hardys books and films. Good luck Fairygirl, you’ll enjoy every minute of it.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Fairy I too echo what has been said above. I stopped work having been made redundant at age 60 I did look for work for a while but it was my OH who said "you have been at work over 40 years why not pack it in". I don't regret it at all, one of the first things I did was to do the RHS course at Capel Manor (1 day a week) the first time I truly did something just for me. Now I have persuaded my OH to stop too, she is only a year younger than me but one of the early 1950's ladies caught out by the pension changes. Like Frank I am sure that I will need an adjustment when we are both here all day but we are making plans to do things we have not had time for before. It took me a while to realise it but my fitness had really deteriorated sitting behind a desk for most of the last 10 years of work, that with the stress & commuting into London every day I know now it was literally killing me. When we go into London now my OH regularly says how did you do this every day? When you are stuck on the treadmill sometimes it's hard to see there is a life out there waiting to be enjoyed.
Posts
As I wasn't on here yesterday, I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year again, although I think AB would prefer a Tardis so that he could go back and move that hyacinth....
Hope today is better for you AB.
It's currently gone up to minus 4 here, LP, so you're probably around the same. It was minus 5 as it got light at the back of eight. Lovely and white and sparkly.
Sorry you're back to work today chicky.It's always a bitof a scunner after a break.
Which brings me to my news. I've decided to make 2019 a very different year for me, as I'm going to retire.
It'll mean a few changes, and a few different investments until I'm actually of pensionable age, but I've decided I've had enough. Lots of reasons for it, which I won't bore you with.
I'll have a quick look round now before I go and paint again. I didn't do my flower count thing, although I took photos.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I always staked the Spike, if the temperature or watering is not to their liking they fold down.
Frank
When my daughter was here on Sunday she was saying she though she might take it in three years.
I had a HGV from the Army so went part time HGV driving one day then two then asked if I would do overnight I retired again. Then again and yet again from other driving jobs.
White van man 3:30 am rise down to London by 8am deliver to Bow then Westminster and back home by 4pm, two days then three then four and asked if I would do Southampton on the fifth "whoa up says Joan" and I did not blame her. Why are you doing it we do not need the money, she retired and we did all the things we had planned, the problem being Joan had enough of flying so it was boat train and drive. we were both happy with that until she became to ill to travel. Health is important in retirement.
First you need a pot as back up we had that for others it could be a problem as the retirement payment age goes up. You need something local that gives you companionship we both played bowls and I helped with work on the greens, was treasurer and helped organise the Dances and Dinners. I had the garden Joan had her needlework and tapestry, you do have to keep busy and not sink into the west I we saw many people do once they finished work, they thought their lives were over, no it is just the start.
Do it Fairygirl and I think I know you well enough in that you will plan carefully for it and keep active but above all enjoy the change it brings.
Frank.
I'm not a big spender, and I don't go out much to places I'd need to spend much money, so I know I can manage. My qualiy of life is more important, and I don't need the stress of working in that place. There's a couple of other things I want to do which may bring in a little income, but to be honest - the pension [I'm five years away from that] isn't much less than I earn anyway, so that isn't even a big change. I own my own house, so no worries about rent or mortgage.
If I'm stuck - I'm sure I can find some paid work somewhere, part time.
How is your daughter Joyce? I know she had some health issues a while back, so hope she's ok.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Frank, i envy your energy. I have to take things a bit easier nowadays.
Hello to all ive not mentioned. Too tired from the persistent heat. In bed now and planning lots of sleep.
I Have a relative in Annan she is eighty and you would think going on twenty one, you never catch her at home as they all go merrily off adventuring.
When we went off in the car Joan always packed sandwiches I would say we can eat out she preferred to have a picnic on the moors looking out over Whitby or some secluded wooded glen to a noisy busy place that cost the world.
Enjoyment can be a walk in the Lake District with the proper gear map compass and little Westy, not one of those stupid GPS phones and sand shoes and so many do.
We both loved Scotland and had some great holidays up there, the UK is a wonderful place to travel with so many interesting places to see.
Do it then enjoy it /Daughter as I am sure you will.
Frank/Dad.
Good luck Fairygirl, you’ll enjoy every minute of it.