This is not the blog I intended to write but I cannot let this day go by without recognition of its importance. I have never set out to be gratuitously offensive in this blog which is why the ‘c’ word doesn’t figure. If swearing is required then so be it but only if the plot… Continue reading Thank God it’s over, over there
Review of 2013 : The Retirement Year
A happy new year to all my readers whoever and wherever you may be. I hope you are enjoying reading this blog, I certainly enjoy writing it. It has been something of a lifeline at a difficult time for me i.e. the first 4 months of what some people call retirement and others call the… Continue reading Review of 2013 : The Retirement Year
More on elderly parents and retirement
I’ve written before about my experiences in retirement of ‘supporting’ an elderly parent. Here are a few more thoughts. They are meant to be kindly although I admit they don’t sound that way.
My dogs can swim and eat vomit
The following is what was on my phone when I looked at it next day. It’s the ‘transcript’ of the text ‘conversation’ between my daughter and I when she found out from her mother that there had been a bit of a drama with the doggies. It made me smile, which is good, because jumping,… Continue reading My dogs can swim and eat vomit
Vineyard 9 : Review of the Year
I thought I would write a quick summary of this year for us and a few other bits and bobs. It’s been a year half in work and half in retirement. The vineyard was always designed as a retirement project so all is going well in that planning sense. I will finish this year’s vineyard… Continue reading Vineyard 9 : Review of the Year
Ghost story number 3 : Welcome On Board, Sir
Just to let you know I’ve published the latest in my series of ghost stories. This one won a short story writing competition. To read it go to the title bar above, click on ‘That which lies beneath‘ and choose this story. Hope you enjoy it.
Vineyard 8 : The Ties of Retirement
Can there be very much to write about the vineyard at this time of year? If we were a proper vineyard, i.e. one that had grapes, I’d probably be writing about our wine making exploits but we don’t and I’m not. I could write about one of my blogs being published in The Grapevine, the… Continue reading Vineyard 8 : The Ties of Retirement
Psychology in China: How Do You Really Feel?
I’ve fallen a bit behind with posting about our friends in China. One of their posts got so much in the way of spam comments I had to take it off the blog and this meant my additions got out of whack. But I’ve just received this blog and thought it was so interesting that… Continue reading Psychology in China: How Do You Really Feel?
Retirement and The Ashes
Just had Matt Prior on the radio talking about fight and passion. Brilliant, did we need to wait until now to zero in on such basic concepts? This is not why I retired. I do not believe there is a more miserably vicarious sporting experience than that made available to the English cricket fan when… Continue reading Retirement and The Ashes
In retirement I spit on sport
Retirement brings many things – a respect from one’s children for a career well-spent maybe or perhaps just general all round admiration? Well, no, at least not right now. After the second day of the first Ashes test match my daughter sent me a text saying ‘thank you for ruining my life’. I’d introduced her… Continue reading In retirement I spit on sport