13 November 2023

 1. What have I been up to since end of Aug?

2. What have the girls been up to?

3. What’s to look forwards to

1. So since my last post.....  I have now finished/retired again from working, totally! It was good - good for me - to work part time for the last 6 months. Brought structure to my time and a welcome boost to the bank account. As mentioned before, it was starting to really affect my back and it was clear I had to stop and (touch wood) my back has been pain free since finishing the intense ground work. The deliveries were fun but Cel at Forever Green clearly needed help to do what I was now not able to do. An unfortunate misplacement of an expensive order for plants made things awkward towards the end of my time there but still I am proud of what I did.

Now I am back to my 7 day long weekends, I am really enjoying having all these days to do pretty much what the heck I like. I’ve been walking miles and miles. Some old favourites are repeated (Felbrigg/Overstrand/Wells). My wobbly knees and ankles have been behaving and I’ve gone back to the odd short runs, including notching up 250 Parkruns, at last.  A sore shoulder has stopped cycling for about a month and sea swimming stopped at the end of October. 

Had a great couple of days with Simon and Richard in Winchester and an even better visit to Rosie in Cardiff in early October. The garden has slowed to a manageable level tough there’s always something to do. Had a couple of home wins recently too (not football), surprisingly quickly getting our tank emptied and also getting our hot water working again. Got a good stack of logs in for winter and there’s also a reasonable amount of oil to see us through  

The football had been very disappointing after the promising start to the season. Sadly seems likely that Mr Wagner may have to fall on his sword

2. The girls have been very busy. Jenny has just got back from her Far East adventure. She’s packed in loads in the last 3 months, all over Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. I’ve collated her photos on to YouTube and will share a link on here when she says it’s ok. Tomorrow she goes back to work - that must be quite daunting - but she always knew it was going to happen. Rosie spent a few weeks working for The Welsh Govt in August before spending a few weeks in Portugal and then back to Uni for year3. She’s on her way back to Cardiff right now after spending the weekend here with us. It was lovely to see her.  Debsie is still recalling from a school trip to 10 Downing Street last week, including chatting to the PM, She’s now prepping for what may well be her last ever ofsted inspection over the next few days. She will be shattered

3. What’s to look forwards to?

Christmas - hope that the 4 of us will be together. 

Sophie’s wedding on 23/12. 

Jenny to visit next weekend with all her stories of where she’s been

Still got a lot of the football season, and I will turn 60 in January. Nothing too grand planned (January birthdays are rubbish), but I’m fully ready to embrace it. Not sure I will do the pink-trousers-in-Holt that most old hits round here do.

August 31st 2023

 another bunch of months have gone since posting on here - no surprise 

So what’s been going on since Easter? Strange how time seems to fly by on a day to day basis - summer has come and (after today) gone, in a flash, nut I’m scratching my head to recall what’s gone on.  It certainly hasn’t been a long hot summer, more a mix of cool dry spells then warm/wet/windy weeks. The garden is only just now barring fruit - toms- the grass is greener and longer than ever and the apple trees are sparse. 

Norwich’s season did peter out into a waste of time and money but this season has started ver6 well. Amazed that Luton have finally made it back to the Prem. The Ashes ended in a draw and women’s cricket has really taken off (went to an Ashes T20 with Jen and Billy)

I did indeed start working at the flower farm. Bloody hard work - it has caught up with me and buggered my back to the point where I can’t carry on, so from today I am a flower delivery guy only, for about 3hrs a week. I’ve struggled with various joint issues again, from sore knee to achy back and now a sore ankle again.will think of other money making scams soon.

Had a good few days in the Lakes with Simon Richard and Graham in May after a lovely Barningham 10k , kept up a modest amount of cycling and swam in the sea most days, so not all bad

Just back from a welcome blast of heat in Crete with DG. A very relaxing break on old ground.

Deb is running loads, prepping for Gt NthRun in 2 weeks, working all the hours at school, but maybe for not much longer. Rosie has been home from a May till last week, before working for Welsh Govt and now on her way to Portugal with Owen for a holiday before 3rd year at Cardiff starts. As for Jen? She is at last doing her gap break from work, currently heading for Chang Mai. An amazing 3 month adventure.

April 17th 2023

 2023 speeding past. Can't believe its mid April already.

So what's been going on since January?

Globally - still a needless war going on in Ukraine. Be interesting to hear from Bessingham's Ukrainian family, how their Easter trip to Kiev has gone and if they have any thoughts on going back.

Covid is barely mentioned anymore though I managed to test positive about 3 weeks ago. Had a stinky cold for a few days that keeps rearing its head, but I don't feel too bad.

Dear old Norwich are doing their best to avoid getting into the playoffs despite all the teams around them doing the same. I think it would be awful now if they were to get to play off final and promotion. It would be a bigger car crash than the previous 2 seasons in the Prem

Feb/March were difficult months in that winter seemed to drag. Endless cold dark days, lots of rain - no snow though. Great to have Rosie home for Easter and we had a lovely day with the girls in London earlier in March. DG and jenny have just come back from a Caribbean cruise with Chris and then Jen went off to run Manchester Marathon in about 4:30.

My biggest change is that I've decided to commit to something after all. I've taken on a part time job at Forever Green, helping produce flowers for local florists and delivering to  the good people of North Norfolk.

Other than Covid, health wise, keeping fingers crossed that all is well. The job will test knee. ankle and back but it will be good to earn a few quid again and the fresh air and sunshine will be welcome.  

January 27th 2023

 So

A whole year into retirement - a whole year and 2 days. Still getting asked very frequently "so how's retirement?" and despite the flippant "yeah it's great", there's not a straightforward answer.

I am loving it, don't miss work at all, have very few pangs to be out and about working again - very proud of what I did, still fond of lots of folk who I worked with, that are still there etc but to have time for me, lots of time, is wonderful.

I've thought about maybe dipping my toe into doing a bit of paid work to help things along at home (and maybe that will be necessary - and maybe the ideal opportunity will arise) but I already feel that I don't want to commit to any days away from my meanderings round here. I guess if I was kicking my heals and watching TV all day then working would be a far better use of my time, but daily fulfilment isn't a problem. Even through my 1st full winter of dark nights and cold days, there's been very little down time - despite rolling my ankle before Christmas and only just back up to walking without pain.

As the daylight increases each day, there's so much to be getting on with. I guess winter will still come back and bite me on the bum, but here's to brighter days

Quick update on family. Jen flies to KL today for a two week explore before a few months travelling later this year. Rosie is smashing Cardiff. Can't wait till DG and I go and visit in Feb 1/2 term

January 3rd 2023

 Well - my plan to revise this blog more often hasn't quite gone to plan, though the start of a new year is not a bad time to reflect on what I/we have been up to since last June

It's been a lovely Christmas and New Year. Intentionally quiet but having both girls home for a while was more than I could have wished for. Some of the usual festive events, some quiet days, a bit of running around, but nearly all exactly as desired. My annual "shopping" trip with Simon and Richard (and JB) changed to Borough Market area and was lovely - good old beer up. OS festive do felt a little flat despite now being on the other side and among the ex-OS lot. I'd been carrying a cold since October time and just not really feeling too festive - but good to catch up with some not seen since pre-pandemic years. I still feel part of the current OS Norfolk lot and plan to meet up with them reasonably regularly again. Rosie came home around 18th Dec and is still home till 9th Jan. She is very happy with her lot in Cardiff and Owen came to stay with us through the New Year. Jenny was home 22nd - 30th. Happy resting, knitting, running and swimming - we all did the Boxing day dip this year - brilliant. Me being a silly arse, sprained/twisted my ankle a couple of weeks ago so have hobbled painfully through till now. Will need another week or so to rest up and recover before running again. DG really embraced time away from work. Plenty of rest with added running, lots of football and happy to be with the girls. Throw in a visit from Jim and Hayley with nieces and partners and lovely Molly - then a day later Graham's lot for the day, it really has been a good way to end the year

I couldn't be more proud of my girls just now. Still sad (for me) that Jen and Jack went their own way but fully understand. Jenny is going to have the most amazing year this year with her travel plans along with loving being with some really good friends in Finsbury Park. At last she will be doing what she wants to do. Rosie has thrown herself into Uni life in Cardiff and clearly loves it there. Owen is a lovely lad, an absolute bonus on top of really enjoying living way out west, to the point she seems happy to make it her home when the studying is done. In my heart Jenny and Rosie will both be living near by here in North Norfolk but their path to happiness shouldn't rely on what their silly old dad wants and I support them 100% in whatever they choose to do

The football will hopefully drag them back to Norfolk occasionally, that and my amazing culinary skills, lovely coast and beautiful countryside. However, Norwich City aren't being very appealing just now. Currently on an awful run of form and awaiting a new manager to get things going again. DG loves having her own season ticket and we still love going to the games. I'm taking our Bessingham Ukrainian family to the match this weekend coming. Hope they don't mind! Sally has been hosting them at the other Barn Cottage.  A very noble thing to do for a lovely family, though I wish it wasn't necessary at all. I don't see an end in sight to the needless Russian attacks on Ukraine though maybe common sense will prevail and Violetta and the boys can be reunited with their dad later this year

My retirement is always the 1st thing anyone mentions when I see them - "how's retirement going?" - which is fair enough as I made the decision to go earlier than maybe I would have and while I haven't thrown myself into charity work or volunteering or other paid work, I am having a really enjoyable time. Those who know me will know that I'm not very good at lazing about, watching telly all day so try and fill my days with plenty of activity - be it round the house, wandering along the coast, photographing everything, cycling, swimming, cooking, occasionally running - and occasionally resting. I do feel fulfilled. I've helped some friends do some building work on their new house, I've helped our Ukrainian friends with school runs and the like and I went big on selling plants out front of Barn Cottage - plants raised in the polly tunnel (way too many tomato plants but who cares?). Raised around £300 for the DEC Ukraine appeal. Maybe this year I will take on a bit of paid work or do some voluntary stuff but I have enjoyed not committing to too much other than my weekly bike rides with Roger, Andrew and Philip

I did spend a lot of my summer on the beach in Comer - with temperatures rising to 40 it was the best place to be - and probably the only place where I truly relax. I've had a few folk say that they saw me there, but I was asleep. Lovely

So to 2023. A strange year in that no one seems to have any money - things are tighter round here than expected, hence the thought of maybe earning a few quid. The unknown of  how the Ukrain situation will end. A horrible uncaring government with a revolving door of PM's and other senior folk - that won't change till the next general election. A health service on its arse, lots of strikes and at the moment, warmer weather seems months away. DG and I will return to Crete in August. Last went there in about 1989. DG and Jen have a fancy Caribbean cruise planned before Jen sets off to who knows where. Rosie has taken to bargain trips abroad (Barcelona in 2 weeks time). I have little planned so far other than a trip to Cardiff and The Lakes but that will change, though if I have to spend every day round here, that will be just fine.

Hopefully my ankle will allow me to get back up to full speed again soon. I was doing ok for a while in December - did the Holkham Beach 5 mile run in an ok time. I may enter the Norwich 10k to give myself a target but it would be great to think I could run a lot more Parkruns this year than I managed in 2022. As ever at this new year time I think to myself that I really should loose some weight (weighed in at 15stone 5lbs this morning - about the same as I have been for 10 years or more), cut down on the booze a bit - dry Mondays may become dry Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays and eat more healthily (portion control Jeremy). Having written those things here may make me more likely to stick at them - so will report back on my next post.

That'll do for now. Time to take down the dec's

June 8th 2022

So, now a bit of time has passed and things have settled down, its time to tke stock of what "retirement" entails

Since my March update I have learnt that I'm not on an extended work break. My time is my time - I can really do what I want (within reason) and that feels great. Speaking with similarly long standing colleagues, the cynicism has become overwhelming and seems there's a lot of unhappy bunnies at the workplace just now. OS has lost it's way with how it treats it's staff and really isn't listening to those at the coal face.

I wrote to the CEO to explain my upset at not hearing ANYTHING official from them despite 37+ yrs there. A crappy apology and an acknowledgement that they could have handled things better was about it.

I really should let it go but I do feel sorry for so many friends that are in the difficult time of wanting to finish but maybe need another 2-3 yrs to get finances right.

Finance is starting to weigh on my mind as things move forward. Cost of everything is spiralling eg diesel now nearly £2/litre - was as low as about £1.10  during pandemic. My electric bill was nearly £200 last month and only £70 for same period last year. I'm not too proud or lazy or stubborn to have to go out and earn a few quid if needed though I'd like to think I shouldn't have to

My/our problems are in truth rather small compared to many who are struggling to get by and it's desperately sad that violence in central Europe seems to be ongoing with such a needless conflict affecting so many people. That on top of being governed by a lying useless buffoon makes the future a little bleak

But - summer's on the way (it's raining just now), the sea is warming up. Rosie is soon to be home for a few months and Jenny seems happy, which makes me happy. Malaga was a lovely trip even if the weather was bit rough. Can't see us having another lavish family hols for a while together but there's plenty of other good things on the calendar to look forwards to. DG will now be counting down the days to the end of term. Time will fly by no doubt and it won't seem too long till she's able to make the same decision that I did earlier this year

I'm spending many hours in the garden - my polytunnel - a surprisingly good purchase - has been great and we should soon be able to feed the whole district as long as they like tomatoes and chillies. The weekly rides, the sea swims, fishing, walking and still watching loads of football. I'm a lucky boy 

14.3.22 Getting into this retirement lark

About 7 weeks have gone by since I hung up my map case. Still feels like I’m on some sort of sabbatical though the thoughts of the daily grind are dissipating slowly. I’m truly not missing work at all - I thought I would, but the freedom to choose how I spend my time has been fantastically liberating. I have limits, particularly financial, but also not wanting to do too much without DG. She’s supported my decision to finish, every step of the way and though many have asked if I will be off travelling or buying motorbikes etc, I am more than happy to wait till we can go exploring together. I am also very happy pottering around here. Can’t wait for some warmer, sunnier days and get to the beach - that will be my extravagance for the time being.

I’ve managed to up my exercise regime - back running fairly regularly (4 consecutive Parkruns is a good sign), lots of walks and now with added cycling with my Bessingham chums - a lovely unexpected addition to my time.

Been great to have seen the girls over the last week or so. Rosie is home on a long weekend just now and Jenny was here last weekend. Jen starts her new career today and we are so proud of her. Not long till we are all together for a trip to Malaga and hopefully home for Easter. 

With the awful awful things going on in Ukraine just now, family and Norfolk and happiness and hope are so important. I wish the atrocities would end now - there's absolutely no need for the violence. Coming through two very worrying Covid years, straight into a dreadful war in Europe makes you wonder where it will all end.

Maybe the futility of this aggression will ultimately bring the world family closer together and compassion will win through